One of the most stunning landmarks along Highway 89 stands like a sentinel overlooking the Sanpete valley. The beautiful Manti Temple gardens are an appropriate subject for Pioneer Day, and since two sets of my great-great-grandparents settled there, I thought it a fitting column subject.
Since1985, Ken Lindsay has carefully cultivated the gardens on Temple Hill. He and his crew and dedicated volunteers tend the trees, plant and weed the flowers, and care for the sweeping lawn that graces the hill where thousands view the famous Mormon Miracle pageant is held each year.
Taking care of the 27-acre site is no small task. The temple was built on what was then a rattlesnake-infested site, known as the Manti Stone Quarry. The quarry's stone, Manti oolite, is the same cream-colored stone used for the temple exterior.
I asked Lindsay how he gets the plants to grow and correct the problems when the hill was rock. He explained, "The soil it is sitting on rock just a few inches deep under all of the beds. They had to haul in soil, and we mulch the beds heavily each year to improve it.
"In some places on the hill, the soil is just a few inches thick, and other times at most a couple of feet. That makes many sites that you have to get to know and take care of.
"They farmed the bottom of the hill where guests sit for the pageant. The gardener then grew a vegetable garden that supplied the temple cafeteria. When they converted the field from alfalfa, they harrowed the field and planted grass so there are still some ridges we have to watch."
Lindsay raises all of the flowers for the beds from seed. The exceptions are the geraniums he propagates from cuttings that he buys. He feels fortunate to have his own greenhouse at the temple. It was built in 1940 and has been updated over the years.
"We start germinating the lisianthus in January and then start the other seeds so the transplants are ready to go out about mid-May."
He purposely keeps his bed designs rather simple. "We keep them loose because I use many volunteers to help care for the gardens. They are really good, but we have to keep the beds more as a collage design.
"We try to use flowers that get along well with each other. The collage designs we use look good in our beds rather than using very intricate designs."
He credits Peter Lassig, former gardener in charge at Temple Square, for changing his flower bed designs. "I use Peter's concept of skeleton, tendon and flesh. He sat down with me and explained his concept of the 'Landscape of the Maker,' and that changed how we did everything.
"Prior to that, we used to lay out the beds with rulers in intricate squares, but these concepts work much better. That helps make each bed an adventure because of the many different kinds of flowers we grow."
He does two changes each year with the spring bulbs and pansies, then follows those with the summer annuals he mixes with the shrubs and perennial flowers. He grows an incredible 200 different kinds of flowers he uses to populate the beds. I asked him to name a few of the favorites for his summer beds.
"I like to use the Profusion zinnias, marigolds, snapdragons and dahlias. I like the lisianthus, but it is harder to grow. We use a lot of the purple millet and the purple fountain grass to add some height to the beds, and we add geraniums, cosmos and many other flowers," he said.
Keeping the massive lawns looking good is also a challenge. The water comes from a natural spring on the property, and one of his staff members spends almost his whole time keeping the water where it needs to be.
The lawns get aerated three times a year because of the heavy use they get. They also get fertilized that many times. He mows them at 2.5 to 3 inches to keep them looking good in the heat.
Lindsay is very dedicated and fond of his job. "This is one of these 'pinch me' kinds of jobs. Everyone I meet is so friendly and nice. It is truly a dream job, and I really love working here."
Lindsay also has a nursery in Manti called Lindsay Garden Center, where he can share his expertise with people in the area.
Garden Tips
Garden talks in the Park, 8 p.m. July 20: "Roses and More at 'the Point' " by Gretchen Campbell. Learn what gardeners at Thanksgiving Point have learned about roses and more. Brigham Young Historic Park located on the southeast corner of State Street and 2nd Avenue (North Temple).
Spectacular Spring Flower Bed Design by Larry Sagers at Thanksgiving Point. Learn how to plan and plant beautiful spring flower beds by choosing and using the right plants. Two-hour classes run weekly from Aug. 16 to 30, beginning at 2 p.m. For more information, call Gretchen at 801-768-7443 or register online at thanksgivingpoint.com
Basic Landscape Design by Larry Sagers. Plan a beautiful landscape whether you are just beginning or if you are redesigning your landscape. The class includes a free 15-minute consultation on your landscape by a USU Extension Master Gardener. Two-hour classes run weekly from Aug. 18 to 30 beginning at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. For more information, call Gretchen at 801-768-7443 or register online at thanksgivingpoint.com