Society Notes
Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio
Garden Social and Tour of the Eisenman Garden
Under the Geodesic Dome
at ASM International
14 June 2024
narrative by Jennifer Jeromin
Native Plant Society member Jennifer Jeromin cordially invited plant and gardening enthusiasts from the Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio, the Geauga County Master Gardeners, and the Chagrin Valley Herb Society to an informal social to see and tour the Eisenman Garden under the geodesic dome on the ASM International headquarters campus known as Materials Park.
Members of the Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio, Geauga County Master Gardeners, and Chagrin Valley Herb Society enjoyed an afternoon together.
As clouds parted over the world's largest openwork geodesic dome, a sunny midday greeted plant and garden enthusiasts from the Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio, Geauga County Master Gardeners, and the Chagrin Valley Herb Society who gathered with old and new friends to explore the Eisenman Garden at ASM International. Tailgating cookies and beverages were offered cautiously as there are no public restrooms available.
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ASM International sits on 45 acres of the 100 acres initially donated by Mr. Eisenman for the creation of the site currently known as Materials Park. A portion of the acreage was donated for the formation of the West Woods.
“Judy described a time when access to the West Woods was through a portion of the ASM property while the park was being created. If you walk on the trail to Ansel’s Cave you can look over and see the geodesic dome.”
“ I’ve personally noticed this too. Particularly this past spring, before emerging leaves would hide more of the view.”
The design of Materials Park was the result of a collaborative vision among four individuals. The unique geodesic dome or “space lattice” structure was designed by R. Buckminster Fuller. The facilities at ASM International headquarters are still in use, but are now closed to the public. This was not always the case.
Partial views of the ASM headquarters building, geodesic dome, and Eisenman garden
“Chuck shared , ‘He accessed the ASM library in the 1990’s using his ASM International membership.’ ”
Although the headquarters building is closed to the public, the grounds and
Eisenman Garden are not. The hours on ASM International’s website page
About Materials Park, are stated as:
“The building is closed to the public, but our gardens and grounds are
open during the normal work week from 7:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
through Friday.”
While the ASM Welcome sign displays:
“Grounds are open 8:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m.”
The Eisenman Garden was renovated in 1999 and underwent another renovation within the last two to three years. Garden maintenance and upkeep occur while the garden is open to the public. Something to keep in mind when planning a visit is the lawn care maintenance currently occurs on Tuesday and container watering currently occurs on Tuesday and Thursday morning.
photo courtesy of Jennifer Jeromin
Many colorful annuals were planted this year by ASM employees; however, it’s the perennials, shrubs, and trees that captured most of the interest and attention. Ironically, there was one tree that piqued interest with its absence. With its wonderful lore of origin, a once established and direct descendent of the Newton Apple Tree, which was gifted to ASM International and planted in the garden, was not clearly identified.
“I suspect heavy pruning was ongoing a few years back and will hold onto a small kernel of hope. Yet conferring with a naturalist, he has had no sighting for the past several years.”
Sweet Fern, Comptonia peregrina, is a low-growing shrub providing a nice backdrop for the annual spider flower, Cleome sp.
Spider flower is available
in garden centers in colors of pink, lavender, and white.
A couple of its benefits:
- Good for pollinators and
- deer and bunnies find it rather unappealing.
One fountain was actively being repaired with a flowering dogwood, Cornus kousa, and several buckeyes, Aesculus sp., dramatically framing it. The inspiring inscription on the fountain reads:
“Make no little plans;
they have no magic to stir one’s blood
Make big plans: aim high in hope and work,
remembering that a noble,
logical diagram once recorded
will never die.”
Many magnificent plants caught my eye: the floral spires of false goat’s beard and queen of the prairie, the leaves of the prairie dock promising significant future drama, and the milkweed spotted amongst other plantings.
common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, is one of the host plants for monarch butterflies.
I even enjoyed spotting the poison ivy amongst the beds on both sides of the main entrance by providing some extra realism to gardening.
I find it great fun and truly interesting to discover the raw mineral ores uniquely displayed amongst the plantings throughout the garden. Some are clearly labelled with the names inset on the sidewalks.
Beryl: Garden E (1), lettered map
It is found in igneous and
metamorphic rocks in many parts
of the world.
Source:
https://geology.com/
Zinc-Lead: South Wall (n), lettered map and Scheelite: South Wall (o), lettered map
Others are decoratively displayed in retention walls surrounding the central fountain with identification being more challenging. Using a lettered map (link below: mapMineralsLetteredASMEisenmanGarden), I found the challenge possible. I also found the complex map of the garden, which provides the history and donor source for many of the mineral specimens, fascinating.
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If you would like to learn more about this historically listed site and the Eisenman Garden, Chris Menstrek, astronomical naturalist with the Geauga Park District, is planning a garden and geodesic dome tour for October 2024. Dates being considered are the 12th or 19th of October. You’ll see seasonal fall foliage on whichever day makes his final cut. And remember, you can visit the grounds and garden any day of the week during ASM International’s operating hours Monday through Friday.
Had fun! Let's do it again sometime,
Jen Jeromin
P.S. Here are links to the additional information many requested:
mapMineralsLetteredASMEisenmanGarden.pdf
brochureASMMineralsPark.pdf
Garden Social and Tour Eisenman Garden Social Notes
Archives created 26.vi.2024
narrative: Jennifer Jeromin;
Photographs: Jennifer Jeromin and Lisa K. Schlag;
Layout: Lisa K. Schlag
