Orpet Park, Santa Barbara

[mormodes]

You know how it goes. You look up something then get sidetracked. After posting about Ronald Coleman's article on shadecloth one thing led to another which led to Ernest Hetherington's article on E O Orpet of Sl Orpetii fame. (AOS Bulletin September 1991 pg 880)

Turns out after a distinguished orchid career Mr Orpet was a parks superintendent in Santa Barbara. He succeeded Mr Franceschi. Between them these two men introduced many of the wonderful plants that make Santa Barbara so great. There's an Orpet Park along Avenida Padre Serra, and a Franceschi Park along Mission Drive. Google maps has directions. I'm tempted to nail a Sl Orpetii to a tree and see if it survives, *G*

If you have an old copy of the Bulletin you should read the article.

 

[NYEric]

Can you post some links please?

 

[mormodes]

Alas, AFAIK the Bulletin article isn't on line. If you have back issues the cite is in my first post. Google maps with the 'street view' feature shows a bit of the two parks.

I just thought 1) that it was very cool that Santa Barbara had a park named for Orpet and 2) it hadn't been sold for houses by now. A place for an annual orchid pilgrimage, after the SB show, *G*.