National Cowboy & Western Heritage grounds manager tenderly cares for plants National Cowboy & Western Heritage grounds manager tenderly cares for plants
The bright daisy-like melapodium combines with the brilliant verbena for a showy flower bed, just one of the splashes of color in the garden's palette.
McBride, grounds manager at the museum, meets the challenges all gardeners face with Oklahoma's weather. He is responsible for 35 acres at the museum and has completed the work needed to replant and repair damage caused by the ice storm in December.
The storm destroyed 20 trees throughout the gardens, so shady flower beds were suddenly transformed into sunny areas. McBride transplanted and replaced shade-loving plants with others that thrive in the sun.
Visitors who don't venture outside will miss a wonderful aspect of the nationally recognized museum. It is a green, colorful and peaceful respite for museum visitors year-round.
"These will soon be a carpet of purple, a nice contrast to the yellow,” McBride said, continuing his tour. "They are very resistant to bugs and the Oklahoma heat. They bloom and bloom.”
The Jack and Phoebe Cooke Gardens feature Devil's Shoestring, Salvia greggii, pink dogwood, Snow on the Mountain, Devil's Walking-stick and liatris.
Mexican hat, Mexican plum tree, Texas betony, Ozarks witch hazel, Bladdernut tree, American beautyberry, Indian grass and Wichita Mountains goldenrod flourish in the Sutherland Garden.
Bass and perch swim in the Sutherland Garden ponds, and bright koi swim in another pond. A splashing waterfall adds to the relaxing nature of the gardens.
"We have been hard at work keeping these gardens looking good,” McBride said. "I plan and plant for these gardens to bloom all year long. There is always color here. The blooms on this native hibiscus will be as large as a paper plate. The hibiscus flower only lasts a day. The yellow yarrow nearly died last year with the wet weather; it almost rotted away.”
McBride said the theme of the grounds highlights the plants and flowers of the Great Plains and the western United States.
A dedicated gardener, McBride tends to his plants, flowers and trees like a nurturing parent. He calls out their names and ideal growing conditions. The delicate Siberian iris likes wet locations while the tenacious evening primrose has a discipline problem and can't be allowed to escape the rock garden or it will take over the grounds. A Japanese umbrella plant surprised him and wintered over.
Sculpture highlights in the gardens include "Buffalo Bill” by Leonard McMurry, "The Paint Mare and Filly” by Veryl Goodnight, and "Ring of Bright Water” and "Sentinels” by Kent Ullberg.
The gardens also feature tributes to legendary steer wrestling horse Baby Doll and the museum's original ambassador, the Longhorn steer named Abilene.
The Atherton Garden faces the William S. Atherton Gallery. It features toad lily, Lungwart, Muhly grass, oakleaf hydrangea and heuchera.
"This is a crossvine,” McBride said. "You won't see this very often. It puts on a show once a year with its yellow blooms and rich bronze color. It smells like coffee.”
McBride stoops to enjoy the fragrance of a single rose. He also mentions the attributes of the Carolina jessimine, as a busy day in the museum gardens nears an end.
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Museum facts
•What: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
•Where: 1700 NE 63.
•Information: 478-2250 or www.nationalcowboymuseum.org.
Gardens bloom again
The gardens at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City look pristine and beautiful.
But grounds manager Tom McBride and his crew worked for weeks to repair the damage caused by the devastating December ice storm. And McBride knows where every tree fell.
Flower beds planted with shade-loving plants became exposed to the sun and had to be moved.
These were among the plants he transplanted to protected areas:
•Foxglove.
•Columbine.
•Astilbe.
•Lobelia.
•Foam flower.
McBride said these are good choices for gardeners who aren't sure what to plant in a shady area.
These are among the plants McBride selected for flower beds in sunny areas:
•Coreopsis.
•Penstemon.
•Purple coneflower.
•Blazing Star.
•Baptista.
•Gaura or Indian feather, which is also called butterfly bush because its delicate flower waves in the wind like a butterfly, McBride said.
McBride said the time to transplant is about over, and he suggested gardeners who have plants where there is too much sun keep the plants moist, baby them and wait until fall.
McBride said he will slowly replace the trees that were destroyed on the museum grounds as the budget allows.
His choices for weather-resistant trees in Oklahoma are:
•Kentucky coffee tree.
•Chinese pistache.
•Shumard oak.
•Red maple.
— Chris Jones
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