Manitowoc’s ‘lakefront floral treasure’ has been open to visitors since Memorial Day weekend. Don Cisler, head gardener and horticulturist, at West of the Lake Gardens talks about the ‘dramatic’ parking lot and landscaping upgrades to the six and a half acre site.
“Even though we had a lot of construction going on here with the parking areas and things, visitors that come here need to understand that we try to pay respect to John & Ruth. These are the gardens that Ruth West created. I would do nothing to change that. We’ve done some things to enhance those gardens but never to change them. We have been here for 85 years and we hope to be here for another 85 years and that is why these improvements were made.
Cisler has a fulltime assistant in Aaron Pumphrey and a seasonal staff of seven. This is his 23rd season at the Gardens and he says, “it’s all about the weather…time wise, being behind, I can’t say because I guess I really don’t track that. I kind of just play it by ear with the weather and all. I just know that’s a little bit of a challenge right now. There’s an awful lot of plants that would rather be in the ground than in their pots.”
The head gardener says the peak for the annuals & perennials, cared for by hand with watering wands, is about the 2nd or 3rd week in July.
“I like to tell folks to visit often because you’re gonna see some changes, but at the same time all of the annuals may not be planted yet or the ones that are planted are not far enough along yet. So, now you want to come back a month later and see that second flush of bloom of the roses and by then the annuals will have caught up.”
Cisler says the ‘new’ attraction on the West property is a beautiful mural, painted by Two Rivers native Lester Bentley, a surprise gift that was discovered by accident.
“About three years ago, we had a leaking skylight in that area and we had to open up the false ceiling a little bit to get at that skylight. That is where we found the walls up there, above that hidden ceiling, had murals.”
Ellen Lopez, a student at Lincoln High School and a weekend docent or guide for the Bentley mural explains the mural’s subject and origin.
“In 1935 Lester Bentley decided to go down to Mexico with a group of friends. Because he was very interested in the Mexican cultural murals, he incorporated that perspective here in the room. On the left side of the wall is the perspective of Lake Michigan and Two Rivers. As you go around you can see the perspective of Taxco, Acapulco, Mexico.
Bob Fay, local historian, and researcher comments on the mural, “It turned out to be this wonderful discovery of a local artist and artwork here, in what was the original garage that John and Ruth West built in 1934.”
The Bentley Mural is available for public viewing on Saturdays and Sundays from 11-until-4:00, while West of the Lake Gardens is open 7-days a week, between 10-and-5.
