How Does Your Garden Grow?: An American Road Trip Quiz

Answer: Dunn Gardens

The Dunn Gardens are on the site originally bought by Arthur Dunn Sr, and passed on to his children. The Olmsted Brothers, who had designed many of Seattle's parks, were hired by Dunn Sr to landscape the home's garden. The last owner, son Edward Barnard Dunn, was a keen gardener and created a woodland on the site. After his death in 1991, his will left provisions to care for the gardens and the area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

The Gardens are open to the public and holds talks and art and cultural displays. The first "Mallets in Wonderland" event was held in 2014 and while croquet was played with a normal mallet and ball instead of flamingos and hedgehogs, there was no Queen of Hearts threatening beheadings. No white roses painted red either. Staff and guests dressed in character for the day, plastic flamingos adorned the garden beds and the Cheshire Cat was perched in a tree.

Phoenix Rising's Red Crew member Leith90 took a shot at this question and knocked in into the quiz. She then knocked the car into gear and hit the interstate.

Answer: Hop field

The three acre Arboretum displays trees and plants from several temperate ecosystems, and features a collection of plants that have existed since the time of the dinosaurs. When initially founded, it was named for Charles M. Goethe but was changed to the University Arboretum once Goethe's dedication to eugenics and the Nazi cause was more widely condemned. The land had been used as a pear orchard and for raising hops.

This question was sprouted by player pusdoc, who once lived around the corner from the Arboretum but sadly never visited. Some of the Red crew were sad because there was no pear cider or 'hop juice' on offer.

Answer: Phoenix, AZ

The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ occupies 140 acres, and it contains more than 50,000 plants. While many plants are not able to survive the extreme dry heat of the city of Phoenix, many species of agave and cacti are able to thrive in the climate and are focal points of the Desert Botanical Garden. In addition to the native plant species, there are also collections representing plants from Australia and South America.

Of course, a stop in Phoenix is mandatory for any Phoenix Rising team member. This question was scorched into the quiz by Red Crew member Triviaballer, who then scorched the road on the way to the next stop.

Answer: Fort Worth

The Fort Worth Botanic Garden first opened in 1934. Highlights include a rose garden, Japanese garden and a Native Texas Boardwalk. The Garden is in the city's cultural district and is thus close to the renowned Kimbell Art Museum and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

This question was planted along the way by player pusdoc, as part of Red Crew's garden roadtrip.

Answer: Gone With The Wind

The Old Mill was built in 1931 and it is a water-powered grist mill built to function as the type that were popular in the 1880s. The site's popularity took off when it was featured in the opening credits of the critically acclaimed and box office smash film "Gone With The Wind" in 1939. The Old Mill is thought to be the last remaining structure from the film. Shortly after the Old Mill was erected, the surrounding area was declared the T. R. Pugh Memorial Park and in 2010 it became registered on the National Register of Historic Places.

This question was gristed into the quiz by Red Crew member Triviaballer who then gristed the rest of the crew back into the car.

Answer: Memphis Botanic Garden

Receiving its current name in 1966, the Memphis Botanical Garden houses a diverse series of specialty areas highlighting Roses, Irises, Hydrangeas as well as dozens of other varieties, plus a Level IV arboretum, and a children's area called "My Big Backyard".

Phoenix Rising's Red Team member, mike32768, walking in Memphis, dug up some dirt and found a beautiful municipal garden with some beetles in the shade, but there weren't any octopuses. But he did make the rest of the team stop and smell the roses.

Answer: Zen Buddhism

The Seiwa-en gardens are constructed around a lake and are designed to be strolled around. Koichi Kawana used Zen aesthetics, bringing together Buddhist symbolism and imagery to create a calming, tranquil space. The gardens include Mandala style gardens, Zen Dry gardens and Tea gardens highlighting the sacred Tea Ceremonies. Buddhist symbols such as basins or purification stones, lanterns for votive candles and plants such as the lotus are seen throughout the space.

Phoenix Rising's Red Crew member smpdit would happily spend some time strolling through this interesting garden, but she unselfishly joined the others in the car, and left for the next stop.

Answer: Atlanta Botanical Garden

The Kendeda Canopy Walk is a major feature of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The suspension bridge walk opened in 2010 and is almost two-football field lengths at 600-ft long and stands 40-feet in the air. The walk was part of a Green Expansion Plan that doubled the size of the existing garden and focused on environmental issues and sustainability.

In addition to smaller themed gardens, featuring such wonders as roses, orchids and bonsais, there are major art exhibits and annual events that keep visitors intrigued year after year.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden was incorporated in 1976 and in 1979 secured a 50-year lease with the city. Georgia is home to several lovely gardens. The State Botanical Garden is in Athens, Georgia. The Savannah and Columbus Botanical Gardens are in their respective cities.

jaknginger of Phoenix Rising's Red Crew took a rest from planting her herbs and vegetables and led her crew-mates along the walk.

Answer: Gardens of Monticello

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is the home to lovely gardens and landscape near Charlottesville, Virginia. Monticello, once a 5000-acre plantation, is now 2500 acres and is maintained by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and the Garden Club of Virginia. It is well-documented that Thomas Jefferson would bring seeds and bulbs from his travels within the states and abroad for planting. He wrote extensively about blooming patterns and drew sketches of the landscape plans. He had gardens of flowers, vegetables, and orchards. He often took visitors around the gardens, used the vegetables as a food source and experimented with plants that he could grow and develop in the Virginia climate.

Caretakers still refer to Jefferson's written plans. Monticello actively produces flowers and vegetables and use the garden foods for staff, the Monticello tours and food stations. Visitors can purchase seeds and plants online and in the gift shop.

The official website for Monticello offers virtual tours but Red Crew's jaknginger will be visiting Monticello in the fall of 2022. She'll enjoy it too, because she won't have her crewmates along, continually asking questions.

Answer: Japanese Garden

The Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida, was founded in 1961 after the own, Ninah Cummer, bequeathed the gardens and her art collection to a museum. Ninah was married to Arthur Cummer, son of William Cummer the lumber baron. While the original house has been demolished, the Tudor Room has been recreated and preserved in the museum.

The Olmsted Garden was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, sons of the designer of New York City's Central Park. The English and Italian gardens feature hedges, paths, reflecting pools and sculptures. While there isn't a Japanese garden, there is an almost 100-year-old oak tree.

This question was designed and planted by Phoenix Rising's red crew member leith90. Since we're in Florida, and we still have petrol in the car (that's a discussion for another time), we realise that Disneyworld isn't far away.