Lake View Cemetery Cleveland’S Outdoor Museum and Arboretum Pat Mraz, MG ‘07
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Trumpet Vine July/August 2009 12 Lake View Cemetery Cleveland’s Outdoor Museum and Arboretum Pat Mraz, MG ‘07 On May 19, 2009 a group of Master plain (sections near Euclid gate) to loamy Gardeners took a Horticultural walking tour soils to clay. of Lake View Cemetery led by Lake View Several of us were surprised to see many Horticulturist Dave Gressley. Founded in graves covered with English Ivy instead of 1869, Lake View Cemetery sits on 285 acres grass. Dave said that Ivy is an option at Lake of land (70 undeveloped) in Cleveland, East View and that since it is an evergreen, it Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. It was serves as a symbol of everlasting life. modeled after the great garden cemeteries of Victorian England and France. Along the way we noted that the Sycamore trees did not look very healthy. Dave ex- In keeping with its garden-like design, plained that the Sycamores were plagued by Lake View is home to many rare and in- anthracnose last year and are late in leafing teresting flowers, plants, and trees. This out this year. But Buckeyes, Horse Chestnuts includes “Daffodil Hill”, a section of the and Tulip trees were all in flower. cemetery that contains over 100,000 daffodil bulbs, as well as the Moses Cleveland tree The west branch of Dugway Brook passes and numerous Japanese Threadleaf Maple through Cleveland Heights as an open trees. channel at several points and inside historic Lake View Cemetery. The cemetery quarried Designed by Adolph Strauch, the ceme- Euclid bluestone, a desirable, dense, finely- tery was meant to resemble Victorian English grained and easily-cut variety of sandstone, and French cemeteries. The cemetery seems from the part of the brook situated in Cleve- more like a lush garden than a graveyard. land Heights. Bluestone from the cemetery Strauch prohibited the use of commonly quarry was used to construct buildings in the used iron fencing around family plots and cemetery. The quarry here was active until families were encouraged to plant a tree to the mid-1930s. memorialize a loved one. Long, winding roads and pathways lead around carefully In 1975, trustees of Lake View Cemetery arranged gravesites that blend harmoniously sued the cities of University Heights and with (and never overpower) the natural, well- Cleveland Heights to stop their sewer expan- manicured scenery. sions upstream to the south, anticipating worsening of the flooding of the west branch According to Dave, country cemeter- caused by heavy rains. With the cemetery’s ies served as America’s first city parks. Years contribution of 10 acres of its land, the Sew- ago the City of Cleveland extended only to th er District constructed the massive concrete E.55 , so a visit to Lake View was drive into Lake View Cemetery Flood Control Dam in the countryside. 1978. At the time of its completion, it was The 4 oldest trees in the cemetery include the largest concrete dam located east of the two Tulip Poplars, a White Oak and an Mississippi River. American Beech. One of the Tulip Poplars The planting season for the staff starts is nicknamed “Moses Cleaveland” because in early April. The crew is busy now plant- it and the other three trees date back to the ing annual flower beds and prepping beds founding of the City of Cleveland over 200 for families who choose to plant their own years ago. Lake View is also the home of the flowers. New ivy beds will be planted and State champion Chestnut Oak. existing ones maintained. Endowed beds are Dave noted that Lake View is in Zone 6A planted every year and changed throughout and the soils range from sand on the lake the year including plants for Easter, Mothers Continued on page 13 Trumpet Vine July/August 2009 13 Continued from page 12 Day, Memorial Day, Fathers Day and greens in one of the large trees. The trees serve as home December for wreaths and sprays. Dave pro- for nesting Cooper and Red-tailed hawks. vides landscape designs for families with large Years ago many of the memorials were made enough lot space. Lake View also offers a Me- by Italian stone masons and sculptors. These morial tree program where families can plant same artisans planted many of the fruit trees and endow a tree with a memorial plaque. including Chinese chestnuts, apples, pears, Lake View is also the home of several kinds peaches, nectarines and cherries that still dot the hillsides. Other points of interest include the Jeptha Wade Chapel with the Tiffany stained glass window, the Garfield Monument with the caskets of the President and his wife and the monu- ments of John D. Rockefeller and Elliot Ness. If you feel like a casual walk on your own, the following link will provide you with a list of the flower- ing trees and plants by month/season: http://Lake Viewcemetery.com/Flow- ersThatBloom.pdf Cassettes and CDs are also avail- Tips on tree flare and planting depth from Lake View Horticulturist Dave able to play in your vehicle on self- Gressley guided tours. New perennial bed for Garfield Monument But if you prefer to join a guided tour, Lake View offers Lolley the Trol- ley tours on Sundays during the sum- mer months and several guided walking tours throughout the year covering various themes including Horticulture, Geology, Architecture and Famous Peo- ple. The following link will provide you with a list of upcoming tours: http:// Lake Viewcemetery.com/JoinUs.pdf Lake View also has a Speakers Bureau and the various topics are listed in the link above including Down the Garden Path: Lake View’s Horticulture Nar- rated by Lake View Horticulturist Dave Gressley. So take the time this summer to stroll the grounds of the Lake View Cemetery – Cleveland’s Outdoor Mu- seum and Arboretum right in our own of wildlife. Bald eagles and loons have been backyard. spotted passing through as well as deer and coyotes. There is also a fox den at the base of .