Peckerwood Garden renamed for founder John Fairey, who passed away this week
The Hempstead, Texas, garden of plant explorer and collector John Fairey has long been known by the titter-inducing name Peckerwood, but last week it was renamed in honor of its founder. Just a few days later, John G. Fairey passed away, and The John Fairey Garden now remains as a living tribute to the adventurous, talented, and soft-spoken man who created it.
I’ve blogged about my visits to The John Fairey Garden and had the pleasure of interviewing John for an article in Garden Design magazine, which was recognized by GWA (now GardenComm) in 2013. You can read that article here.
John’s garden will continue under the stewardship of The Garden Conservancy. After the coronavirus crisis ends, I can’t think of a better way to honor John’s memory and life’s work than visiting his remarkable garden.
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Digging Deeper
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All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
This garden which I saw first in the early ninties when you could just wander and be amazed. I went many more times and each on e a new and unique experience. My first visit he stopped and talked to us so gracious and kind. Not stuffy just casual. He changed my views on gardening. I never reached his level but was encouraged to try. I lost “Jaws ” my agave to snout beetles last year but have pups to share. Thank for your posts I really enjoy them.
Linda, thanks for sharing your memories of John and his garden. I am hearing from many people whose lives he touched. And darn those agave weevils! I’m glad you were able to salvage some pups.
I had the privilege of walking the garden with John not once but twice. What a pleasure as I’d just relocated to manage private gardens in Texas after many years managing gardens throughout the Pacific Northwest, California, Hawaii and the San Juan Islands. I can still see John’s eyes light up as him and I bounced from one rare oak to a unique shrub, and then I’d spot a perennial that I hadn’t seen in Texas and so we’d head that direction…. this went on for what seemed like hours. John took all the time I needed to engage and tell stories of his many plant collecting trips into Mexico. While I was with a small group of friends, once John spotted my passion for plants, I almost felt guilty as John and I got lost exploring his personal garden.
RIP sir, you touched my life and gardening career in ways I could have never imagined! I will always be grateful and cherish those incredible garden memories!
What a wonderful memory you’ve shared. Thanks so much, David.
So sorry to hear of his demise. This is one garden I would love to see.
Lisa, I hope you are able to see it someday. There are still parts of it I’ve never seen, like the blue-wall garden across the creek.
I’ve been visiting the garden since the 1980s. John would always accompany me in those early days and answer plant questions. When I would visit in later years, he always asked about Julie, whom he liked a lot. It was painful to tell him of her death. He had back trouble, and I suggested some stretches he could do to help. Whenever he saw me, he would ruefully admit he hadn’t been doing them. He also helped my program on woody lilies by giving me a set of photos he had used in his own presentations. I loved that man! Vaya con Dios, John.
Thanks for sharing your memories, Peter. And wow, you’ve really had a chance to see the garden evolve over time.
Pam, thanks for your tribute!
You’re welcome, Stephanie.
What a fantastic tribute
Thanks, Cass. May his garden continue to grow.
Such a wonderful tribute to a great man. I would love to visit one day. P. x
I hope you are able to, Pam!