I just realized that the theme for this trip should be “Eat, shop, and sleep.” Oh, and I guess I should add
“Searching for a place to spend the night!”
“Searching for a place to spend the night!”
On Wednesday, Nov 6, we headed for Fresno. After eating and shopping, we did do some sightseeing.
We visited the Forestiere Underground Gardens. We have been here many times and never found them
open. But, I was determined to finally visit them and we were lucky to find them open and offering tours.
The underground chambers built of hardpan sedimentary rock and supported with found objects was
started in 1906 by Baldassare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant. He was a ditch digger and tunneler by
trade but wanted to be a citrus farmer. He bought 80 acres of land in Fresno and only when he started
digging found out it was all rock and had no soil for planting trees. But, since he was used to digging and
tunneling he realized he could build underground chambers and find enough soil to plant trees
underground. He had many clever ways of getting in light via light tubes in the ceilings; watering via
cisterns where he collected rainwater, The trees grew out of openings in the roof of his structures and
the fruit could be picked by stooping over at ground level! He created spaces where he could live in this
cooler area below the summer heat of Fresno. The work was a labor of love - much like Watts Towers or
the House on the Rocks in Wisconsin or many other such edifices built by visionary men. He eventually
managed to grow enough citrus (oranges, grapefruit, lemons, etc.) to live off the proceeds of their sales
and truly became a citrus farmer. Google it for some beautiful pictures.
We visited the Forestiere Underground Gardens. We have been here many times and never found them
open. But, I was determined to finally visit them and we were lucky to find them open and offering tours.
The underground chambers built of hardpan sedimentary rock and supported with found objects was
started in 1906 by Baldassare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant. He was a ditch digger and tunneler by
trade but wanted to be a citrus farmer. He bought 80 acres of land in Fresno and only when he started
digging found out it was all rock and had no soil for planting trees. But, since he was used to digging and
tunneling he realized he could build underground chambers and find enough soil to plant trees
underground. He had many clever ways of getting in light via light tubes in the ceilings; watering via
cisterns where he collected rainwater, The trees grew out of openings in the roof of his structures and
the fruit could be picked by stooping over at ground level! He created spaces where he could live in this
cooler area below the summer heat of Fresno. The work was a labor of love - much like Watts Towers or
the House on the Rocks in Wisconsin or many other such edifices built by visionary men. He eventually
managed to grow enough citrus (oranges, grapefruit, lemons, etc.) to live off the proceeds of their sales
and truly became a citrus farmer. Google it for some beautiful pictures.
 |
| The bath tub |
After visiting this interesting Historic Landmark, we ate and went to bed!
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