All Entries Tagged With: "Spanish Lake"
The Gardens of NoCo: Kuhs Estate & Farm
Among North County's historical river bluff estates, none is more enchanting than Kuhs Farm, which will be featured May 20 on the Spanish Lake Garden Tour.
Last year, I got a surprise phone call from an old colleague. She’s a talented photographer who works with a lot of big magazines, and she called to say that not only was she in North County (a rarity for her) but she was standing in “the most beautiful place in St. Louis.” Giddy with excitement, she talked about sunken gardens and a sprawling rock grotto with a magnificent river view, and I knew instantly where she had to be: Kuhs Farm in Spanish Lake.
This little slice of paradise is indeed one of the coolest places around, a natural wonderland with a touch of whimsy. And yes, it is right here in North County. NOCO contributor Jo Batzer has the full story on this fabulous hidden gem, including details on how YOU can visit…
Elizabeth Parker knows she is one fortunate lady. She has the privilege to live on 150 acres that have been in her family since the 1920s, in a house her great-grandfather built. She shares it with a menagerie of animals, big and small, with plenty of fresh air, great views and a commute that involves only walking out her front door.
But it’s not just the fact that her farm has family ties or a peaceful country setting that makes it a privilege to live there; the land has a history all its own. Originally inhabited by Native Americans, it was later used for supply storage for the Lewis and Clark expedition, then eventually provided a home for the the Fugate and Carrico Cemetery and the Wiese Dairy farm.
Elizabeth’s great grandfather, Edward L. Kuhs, purchased the Wiese Dairy farm on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River in 1925. As a surprise for his ailing wife, Rose, he built a rambling country home there, then over the course of seven years, constructed a sunken ‘Rockery Garden’ in a gully for her to enjoy. But Rose wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the unique grotto and surrounding gardens. She and Edward shared them openly and welcomed up to 10,000 visitors a year.
A 1939 St. Louis Globe Democrat article describes the sunken gardens as one of the “showpieces of the area.” Lighted waterfalls spilled over stone terraces into large lily pools, while hundreds of flowers and dozens of trees lined the rock terraces. Today, though the gardens are currently under restoration, many of the original plants are still there, including majestic oak specimens (Quercus spp.), cucumber magnolias (Magnolia acuminata), and peonies.
What made the gardens so unique in the 30s was not just the plants, terraces or river views, but the elaborate mercury lighting system that was set up to flood the sunken garden area, mimicking moonlight by using different colored filters. The gardens and the light system were featured in a Union Electric Magazine article in 1931. Elizabeth remembers that the effect was magical, and she’s very close to repairing the innovative system.
Under her guidance, Kuhs Farm is fast becoming a coveted wedding and event venue. With so many areas full of natural beauty, there are plenty of scenic spots to choose from. The upper loft area of the barn has a rustic yet enchanted atmosphere with massive wood beams, white curtains and tiny white lights. A mature oak in the middle of a natural amphitheater-like swale offers a simple yet majestic and elegant space. The gazebo or stone patio area overlooking the river offers a totally different feel.
One couple was so inspired by the area after their wedding at Kuhs, they ended up purchasing a neighboring property for their new home together!
These days, Elizabeth is actively trying to restore the sunken gardens along with the original greenhouse. Her two children, an army of friends and even strangers have volunteered time to help repair and restore the gardens, buildings and equipment since Elizabeth acquired the property. They have donated materials as well as personal time repairing tractors, tilling soil, feeding and caring for the animals, removing stumps…there is always something to do.
The outpouring of help is what is so inspiring to Elizabeth. She and all her volunteers are mesmerized by the magic of the land and the way of life it has shown all who visit or come to help. Elizabeth and her friends have coined the term ‘Accidental Farmers’ to help describe how the farm has inspired and changed their lives when they least expected it.
Her next big project is the new veggie garden, and Kuhs will be hosting a ‘Farm to Table’ dinner in September with food grown right on the farm. The 40 x 80 garden will not only have raised beds for food, but a plow area for demonstrations.
And let’s not forget: this is also working farm with chickens, ducks, geese, goats, horses and pigs. The historic 1800s dairy barn is the home of Crimson Sun Stables, which shelters rescued horses, including “Her Own Storm,” the great-great-granddaughter of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Elizabeth saved the horse from the slaughterhouse and rehabilitated it.
An animal lover who also has an enormous sense of stewardship for the land and its history, she takes great pride in the Spanish Lake community. And like her great-grandparents, Edward & Rose, she will be sharing her beautiful Kuhs Farm with the public by taking part in the Spanish Lake Garden Tour, May 20th.
It will be the first time in 30 years that the Kuhs estate has opened its doors. You do not want to miss this!!
The 2012 Spanish Lake Garden Tour & Plant Sale is scheduled for Sunday, May 20th, from 11am-4pm. TICKETS: $15/person day of tour at the Twillman House, 11840 Bellefontaine Road, $10 in advance at Miller’s Auto Service, 12300 Bellefontaine Road, or mail check payable to Spanish Lake Community Association at: SLCA, P.O. Box 372082, Spanish Lake, MO 63138
The Kuhs estate is one of nine residential gardens & three community gardens you can visit on the tour. The plant sale features plants from the gardens on the tour and annuals from the locally owned (for three generations) Windy Hill Farm and Greenhouses.
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Jo Batzer has worked in the horticulture and florist industries for over 25 years and is the garden leader at Twillman House Community Garden. She lives and gardens in the Spanish Lake area with her husband, two sons and two dogs, and is also available for private garden consultations through her company, JB Design.
Get a sneak peek at the “Spanish Lake” movie
Confronting North County's history of racial tension head on, the new documentary "Spanish Lake" will be previewed on April 18.
As you may remember, NOCO fans, I wrote about the “Spanish Lake” documentary last July. That’s the film currently in production by NoCo native Phillip Andrew Morton, who is bravely tackling some very emotional and complicated issues by exploring the history of “white flight” in North County.
Morton grew up in Spanish Lake and now lives in Los Angeles, where he’s able to view St. Louis’ unique “cultural challenges” through a much broader lens. After spending the past year interviewing dozens of current and former residents, he has certainly riled up LOTS of people, but I happen to think that’s a good thing.
I hear from both sides of this saga all the time – the people who left North County and the people who stayed behind. I also hear from those who absolutely love living in NoCo, today. What I don’t get is, if you moved away, why do you feel the need to bash the place where I live, right now? And if you stayed but really wished you had left, well, that’s easy too. Go ahead and move. It’s not too late.
But to keep complaining over and over and over, blaming black people and HUD and whoever….that’s just not healthy. So let’s just pull this scab and get it over with. Yes, North County has changed. So has every other inch of the planet, because life IS change.
All we can do is learn from the mistakes of yesterday and hopefully develop better solutions for today. That’s where Morton’s film comes in.
Featuring a broad cross-section of viewpoints, from flat-out racism to an emotional stew of hopefulness, anger and malaise, the documentary uses personal stories to ultimately frame larger questions about race, class, migration patterns and government policies. It’s not quite done yet, but what you can see is a preview screening of extended clips, debuting at the Shuttered Film Fest on April 18.
Morton will be there to lead a discussion, as will producer Matt Jordan Smith. Admission is free.
“Spanish Lake” will be the first of four films presented during Open/Closed, a five-day conference focused on the problem of vacant properties in St. Louis. It will be screened Wednesday, April 18, 7:30pm, at the Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Boulevard. All are welcome.
Public input sought for sustainable regional plan
If you’re a resident of Ferguson or any of the surrounding communities mentioned above, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments wants to hear from you. This local nonprofit recently received a $4.7 million grant from the federal government, which will be used to “create a regional plan that builds the capacity of local and regional leaders to implement sustainable practices by sharing knowledge, best practices, and resources; connecting local, regional, state and federal planning efforts; and making federal and local investments more effective and efficient.”
In other words, they want to listen to citizen input and then develop long-term strategies to meet six core goals:
- Provide more transportation choices
- Promote equitable, affordable housing
- Enhance economic competitiveness
- Support existing communities
- Coordinate policies and leverage investments
- Value communities and neighborhoods
During this three-year process, there will be public meetings in 11 different Community Planning Areas. For our Ferguson area, the first meeting is tomorrow night, 6:30pm, at the St. Louis Community College Training Center, 3400 Pershall Road. If you live in Spanish Lake, Glasgow Village, Bellefontaine Neighbors or Riverview, your meeting is March 20, 6:30pm, at Trinity High School, 1720 Redman Road.
If you can make it to either of these events, wonderful! If not, you can still participate in the process by completing this community survey. You can also learn more about the St. Louis Regional Sustainable Communities project, which is what this whole thing is called, on the RPSD website.
NoCo Catholic schools hosting an Open House
Though I’m neither a parent nor a particularly religious person, I do know one thing without a doubt: North County’s Catholic schools play an incredibly vital role in our community. Without them, we will definitely lose more families to other areas. We will also lose the foundational glue that holds many local neighborhoods together.
In the past few years, facing closures, consolidations and declining enrollment, the eight schools within the Northeast Deanery finally figured out that they’re stronger if they work together. And despite some setbacks – including the recent decision to move Blessed Teresa School to the old Good Shepherd location, which upset a good number of folks here in Ferguson – the “Federation” has certainly made positive strides.
Not only did they launch a new marketing campaign this month, but they’re hosting a Community Open House on January 29. And if you have school-age kids or know someone who does, I heartily encourage you to attend. You don’t even need to be Catholic.
“We invite parishioners, families of all faiths, community leaders and all members of the North County community to celebrate Catholic Schools Week with us by visiting one or more of the schools located in our neighborhoods,” says Cara Koen, Director of Advancement for the Federation of Catholic Schools in the Northeast Deanery. “Come and see our facilities, meet families and students who attend our schools, and learn about the positive ways Catholic schools impact North County.”
The Federation includes the following parish-sponsored elementary schools, which will all be open to the public on January 29, 2012 between 1:00-3:00 pm. Why not stop by and say hello…
- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, 314-522-3888, 150 N. Elizabeth Avenue, Ferguson
- Christ, Light of the Nations, 314-741-0400, 1650 Redman Road, Spanish Lake
Sponsored by Holy Name of Jesus and Our Lady of the Rosary Parishes - Our Lady of Guadalupe, 314-524-1948, 1115 South Florissant Road, Cool Valley
- Sacred Heart, 314-831-3372, 501 St. Louis Street, Florissant
- St. Angela Merici, 314-831-8012, 3860 N. Highway 67, Florissant
- St. Ferdinand, 314-921-2201, 1735 Charbonier, Florissant
Serves parishioners of St. Ferdinand and St. Martin de Porres - St. Norbert, 314-839-0948, 16475 New Halls Ferry Road, Florissant;
and St. Norbert Early Childhood Center, 314-420-9773, 1625 Swallow Lane, Florissant
Serves parishioners of St. Norbert and St. Sabina Parishes - St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, 314-921-3023, 3500 St. Catherine Street, Florissant
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K