Thank you for your thoughtful post.

Reading some comments, I am reminded how difficult it is to integrate economics with beauty and can identify with Mr. Ball’s predicament – and the hurt and anger of his critics.

The tragic truth is that the pursuit of beauty for just beauty’s sake can cripple the pursuer. In publishing, cinema, theater, and yes, in beloved landscapes too, there is either a patron behind the scenes who underwrites the process — or an entrepreneur who is trying to break even and turn a small profit so that the place can be kept in good repair and accessible to the public.

Siddhartha Banerjee
Oxford, Pa

I, on the other hand, drank ordinary beer and, on occasion, ordinary wine. Why? I like to drink – the process, I mean. As one ages, one stops regular daily consumption, and I did the same, in a sense. But I still enjoy the simple act of drinking. Like drinking water, it feels good. Drink hard stuff and you don’t drink for long.

It is the same with writing. Obviously, I enjoy it. So, yes, I have a long wind-up. I guess my readers like to read.

My question to you is, with such a keen sense of observation, would you please share with us the identity of the questionable hydrangea you saw at the Fordhook Open Days? We sell, of course, to a much wider region now. Also, Fordhook is a working research farm, not simply a display garden, so you may have seen a hydrangea that was being monitored for zone adaptability, or verification of same.

Thank you for your thoughtful post. And I hope you don’t forget to visit us again – on both coasts – in 2010.

Therefore, I thought to take a simpler approach just for a change of light. “Vary the line“ as Bernard Berenson said. Repeating oneself in a blog is apparently as big a “no-no”, as it is in art.

I also find it a bit insulting that you suggest that we—or I—have destroyed anything other than your free access to the gardens and nursery. Ironically, the “free”, or public access part was begun under our ownership, not the previous one. Before 2000, the nursery and garden were limited to appointment only and occasional Opens, only slightly more than we hold today. I assume you are, therefore, a veteran “heronista”.

However, you are right to point out the termination of the Kingston-based classes, seminars and other social events that were held, again ironically, with greater frequency during our ownership (from 2000 onward). We supported a great expansion of facilities, staff and cash flow into the company during the 2000 – 2006 periods. We, too, helped create the “magic and mystery”, though we certainly didn’t create it, as I’ve said many times. We merely paid for it.

Nevertheless, your spirits – and that of some others in the Kingston area – are broken, and for that I apologize. I would not support a limited and extremely expensive business in perpetuity.

In order to save the company, I had to relocate operations to Pennsylvania. Dan and Robert were retained, with appropriately lucrative contracts, for over five years, after being paid generously for their business. Why you and a few others feel it necessary to continue to incriminate us after we have preserved the gardens and continued to make them available to the public via The Garden Conservancy – with the latter receiving nationwide Open Day program support, plus the proceeds – is beyond my understanding.

I suggest Bill Monroe, the early years especially; or Nick Lucas (‘Painting the Clouds With Sunshine’) to help sooth your obvious heartbreak.

I also remind myself, but for the sake of us both, the elegant Dale Carnegie quote, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still”. From the chapter, “You Can’t Win An Argument” in his famous book How To Win Friends And Influence People.

Thanks again for posting. Please enjoy the gardens during the 2010 Open Day programs at our newly christened Heronswood Northwest Research Garden.

To have this magic reduced to “two guys bought some property, hauled in soil and a few plants, and then built a couple of buildings” is a travesty and does a grave disservice to the garden founders and the large number of garden visitors who felt that they shared the magic of the gardens. I’ll keep the magic and the mystery in my heart and mind as I am sure you will keep demystifying and destroying other beautiful places and feelings.

Yes to the first question and no, somewhat to the second. Had PNHC been successful, they may have ultimately (or even quickly) failed. But their hearts, I believe, were in the right place.

I have announced many times on my blog and the Heronswood Nursery site has also announced, the several Garden Conservancy Open Days that we hold—and have held—at the original Heronswood Garden in Kingston since 2006. The dates next year will be listed in due course. I assume you live nearby, so if you don’t read this blog regularly, please check your local media.

Regarding your 2nd question, the story of PNHC has also been discussed and summarized here and here
and finally here.

Thank you and please visit the Kingston gardens during our 2010 Open Houses.

Thank you for your interest,