Hearty Orange Tree in the Arboretum at Lindley Park

After all the research we did for yesterday's post on John Van Lindley, we're not quite ready to drop the topic. By chance, on Sunday, we were sitting on a bench at the Arboretum in Lindley Park listening to Scotty Walker's band. Looking up, we noticed these spikey/thorny branches above us. Intrigued that some of the branches had leaves and others did not, we leaned over to see what kind of tree we were near. According to the sign, this is a hearty orange tree. How fitting that an orange tree is growing on land that formerly belonged to John Van Lindley who was an expert with fruit trees. The branch of botany that studies and cultivates fruit trees is pomology. Lindley was an expert pomologist. 

Down the road from Lindley Park is the Pomona Park neighborhood of Greensboro where Lindley had Pomona Nurseries and where his business, The Pomona Terra Cotta Works was located. In the same neighborhood, at the end of the 19th century, the Pomona Cotton Mill opened. In 1905, Pomona Baptist Church was built and soon thereafter, the nearby Pomona Cemetery opened.  Since Pomona is the ancient Roman goddess of fruitful abundance, we're thinking Lindley had his hand in getting all of these places named "Pomona."

Today, Pomona Drive has no houses and its surrounding area is gray.... full of businesses and industry. (See here for a photo).  We are especially thankful that Mr. Lindley left so much green space for us to enjoy today. We are thankful that organizations like Greensboro Beautiful and our master gardeners work so hard at planting and keeping things green. For a very long time, we hope to enjoy tranquil vantage points like the one in the photo. We suspect Lindley would be pleased upon seeing this orange tree thriving in a place for all to enjoy.

Comments

[Janis]

Seems we have an entire country between us but a lot in common!
10 miles from my doorstep is the city of Pomona! Once full of citrus groves and ground crops it is best known now as the home of the Los Angeles County Fair.
There is a thriving Arts district going through its growth process and parks that preserve the early California Spanish Land Grant Rancheros.
I have use Pomona as a scene for Skywatch Friday quite a few times!
Adios! So Cal Janis

[Jane Mitchell]

Isn't it nice that choosing Lindley for your ABC Wednesday bore so much fruit?!! (Just couldn't resist this one!)

[ann nz]

You are so artistic. Even the branches of the orange tree look so beautiful. I might do a copy cat of my half dead grapefruit tree, but my camera can't do a macro as good as yours.