Tribute to Fred McGourty- a true great of the garden world

17 years ago

Found this today and wanted to share this with youall.

"Written by

Walter Fekula (New York, NY USA)

A National Treasure, June 4, 2006

On April 27, 2006, Fred McGourty passed on a few months short of reaching his 70th birthday (October 26). I initially met him in September 1954 and was his roommate at the University of Pennsylvania. We remained lifetime friends. After college, Fred spent almost 20 years at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens as editor of what became the highly respected Handbooks series. In 1978 he won the American Horticultural Society's coveted G. B. Gunlogson Award. Shortly thereafter, Fred inherited a 5-acre plot of land in Norfolk, Connecticut, which, with the help of his wife Mary Ann, started Hillside Gardens specializing in perennials. At one time the gardens had over 2,000 varieties and achieved a national reputation. It became a tourist-sight visited by thousands of horticultural enthusiasts. Fred was known as the "guru" of perennials, designed many gardens at various prestigious estates in the Northeast, had many speaking engagements and appeared on television being featured in "Great Gardening" and "Victory Garden".

In 1989, the hardcover edition of "The Perennial Gardener" was published which was so successful; a paperback edition soon followed in 1991 and remained in print for over a decade. (It is hoped that another reprint will soon be made). The book displays the enormous amount of knowledge Fred acquired during his decades of study and practical experience. His personality and dry wit shine through. He also tries very hard to explain concepts in a clear and understandable fashion. I love the perceptive and enthusiastic review by reader Susan McLaughlin (see below). Fred touched many hearts and minds of people and was one of those rare individuals who combined talent, wit, intelligence, kindness and a caring for others. Yesterday, I attended a Memorial Service at a rain-drenched Hillside Gardens. I was not at all surprised that hundreds of his neighbors and friends braved the weather to attend. All of us are privileged to have known him. Fred was indeed "a national treasure"."

Hillside Gardens in Norfolk Ct., Fred's home and eventual nursery, was the first awe inspiring garden I experienced in my nascent years as a gardener.His book and lectures were real highlights for my early voracious learning period.I loved his sense of humor and to this day, I use 2 of his humorous concepts in my gardening thoughts:

1) the concept of garden 'thugs' and

2) his saying, "If my plants got frequent flier miles,they would have been around the world many times by now"

(ha! isn't that a 'keeper'?!)

best, mindy

Here is a link that might be useful: The Perennial Gardener

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Comments (9)

ginny12
17 years ago
Mindy--Thank you so much for posting this. What a sad surprise! Fred McGourty used to write a lot for the garden magazines, especially Horticulture, back when they actually had substantive content. I believe his book is actually a collection of some of these articles. I learned so much from him. Dragged my husband on a pilgrimage to Hillside Nurseries once and bought some plants I still have. He and his wife were both there and could not have been nicer.
It was a real thrill for a garden groupie like me!

I have often wondered what happened to him. From being so prominent, he sort of dropped off the radar screen some years ago, tho I see his wife's name here and there. How sad he is gone. One of the best gardeners and garden writers of the second half of the 20c.
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arbo_retum
Original Author
17 years ago
ginny, i just spoke with his wife, mary anne, and she said the property is to be sold and she'll move elsewhere in norfolk. i'm going to call The Garden Conservancy and see if anyone has contacted them yet about this property and the possibility of the conservancy helping some local group preserve it. twould be a huge task with a high precetag but then, many gardens that have been saved by local groups- have presented these same challenges.
best, mindy
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ginny12
17 years ago
Good for you, Mindy. A lovely New England garden full of every kind of plant for every kind of condition, and so many rarities. And a nice old New England house too, with stone walls and more. I know there are some "Hillside" plants, such as a cimicifuga but I wonder if there are any plants named for this wonderful plantsman?
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ginny12
17 years ago
A nice obit in People, Places, Plants magazine in the new issue. I am glad he was remembered, at least a little. Strange how quickly people are forgotten--not that long ago he was one of THE names in American horticulture.

Like Gertrude Jekyll, creator of hundreds of some of the finest gardens in England, forgotten by the English-speaking world after her death in the early 1930s. All her amazing plans and notes tossed in the trash or auctioned for a song after WW2. At least she was rediscovered and given credit as the great garden artist she was.
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martieinct
17 years ago
I was fortunate enough to visit the property privately several years ago and he will always be considered my first link to serious perennial gardening.

It's important to note that though he may have dropped off the radar screen regionally, folks in Norfolk are a tight bunch. It would surprise me if there wasn't a quiet movement underway to preserve this treasure. Litchfield County rarely lets a good thing go ....

Martie
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bgouda
16 years ago
I know I am a couple years late in this posting, however... I worked for Fred and Mary Anne and the good people at Hillside Gardens when I was in high school. I am saddened to learn of his passing. He was so funny, such a nice man. He and his wife, shared an impecable wit, a love for flowers and CATS.

I have so many fond memories of the place. They taught me so much about the natural world, our stewardship towards it, and compost.

Please, let me know what has come of the gardens. It would be such a shame, if they were lost to a private owner. Perhaps the nearby state park took in the gardens? please let me know.
Michael
beastiegouda@yahoo.com
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arbo_retum
Original Author
16 years ago
I have no idea. If you or your family still live nearby, you could find out more easily than I. Call your town hall
tax collector and ask who pays real estate tax on the property. And plse do let us know. Such a very special place.
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renjenn
16 years ago
Hillside Gardens is for sale. Mary Ann (my mother) has moved from the house, but still lives in Norfolk. She is keeping up the gardens as best she can, with the help of a few friends. Give her a call if you can, she would love to hear from you. Her phone number is still the same.

Jennifer
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arbo_retum
Original Author
16 years ago
gee, jennifer, thank you for your note. I DID call your mom in '06,to offer my admiration for her and your dad and ask if she was staying on. She was very unfriendly so i got off the phone asap. Maybe she was just deep in grieving.Are you in new england? has no one approached her to try to organize a non profit to rescue it for the public? I called the garden conservancy in '06 but they had not received any requests from the public regarding this possibility, and didn't even know he had just died.....(I did not speak w/ the Director though.)Hillside is such an extraordinary garden; I have always felt that it is one of the top 3 or so gardens in new england.I live in and maintain a small arboretum/garden 3.5 hours away from norfolk, near boston.
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Tribute to Fred McGourty- a true great of the garden world

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Tribute to Fred McGourty- a true great of the garden world

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