VICTORIA-CITY OF ROSES: Highlights of Victoria’s horticultural history

BY Heidi Bloebaum/Victoria County Master Gardener/January 13, 2024

May 2024 will mark my fifth year as a resident of Victoria. And my third year as a Victoria County Master Gardener.

One might question whether my unfamiliarity with Victoria posed any difficulties while writing this article. It was indeed a true test, but one that I willingly embraced. Throughout my life, I have encountered and overcome many obstacles. So, what’s one more challenge?

Although I lacked extensive knowledge about the decades-long history of horticulture in Victoria, I possessed the invaluable skill of knowing where to seek information and whom to approach for guidance. The most difficult task was determining which things would be most interesting to readers.

City of Roses

Victoria was referred to as the “City of Roses” long before it was known as the “Crossroads of Texas”. This floral nickname was given to the city by John Stillwell Munn, editor of The Victoria Advocate in the 1880s. This nomenclature was Munn’s way of expressing his pride in Victoria and its gardens.

Memorial Rose Garden

Victoria’s Memorial Rose Garden is one of seven public rose gardens in Texas and one of 100 in the United States. It was established in 1979. Nestled within Riverside Park, this sanctuary boasts more than 1,000 rose bushes, each showcasing a unique variety of roses.

The garden encompasses 46 planting beds. Its gravel walkways gracefully guide visitors to an exquisite octagonal wooden gazebo, adorned with built-in seating.

A magnificent water fountain commands attention within the garden’s nearly one-acre expanse. Benches, trellises and wooden arbors are thoughtfully placed throughout the garden and enhance its existing ambiance. The garden is maintained by numerous dedicated volunteers.

Beyond its role as a serene haven to enjoy nature, the rose garden serves as an idyllic backdrop for countless proms and weddings photographs. However, its primary purpose transcends mere aesthetics.

This sacred space offers solace to families seeking a place to honor their departed loved ones by providing an alternative to a cemetery. In 1996, an adopt-a-rose program was created to raise funds to revitalize the gardens. Families could purchase a rose, roses or rose bushes to honor deceased loved ones. As a result, the garden’s name became the ”Memorial Rose Garden.”

Gilbert Onderdonk

The national recognition of Gilbert Onderdonk, a pioneering horticulturist, is often referred to as “The Father of Pomology,” the study of fruit trees. This title stemmed from his success in developing new varieties of fruit trees, with a particular focus on peach trees.

In 1851, Onderdonk, a native of New York, made his way to Texas and settled in Calhoun County, where he embarked on his journey as a teacher and ranch hand. During this time he met Martha Jane Benham, whom he married in 1855. That same year, the Onderdonks relocated to Mission Valley in Victoria County, where he established his first nursery.

Recognizing the potential for growth, Martha Onderdonk purchased an additional 100 acres in 1883, which became the second location of Onderdonk Nursery. This expansion led to the establishment of a post office, aptly named Nursery, with Onderdonk serving as the first postmaster.

Leveraging his position, Onderdonk cleverly developed a thriving mail order nursery business. The community of Nursery flourished around the railroad, post office, and Onderdonk Nursery.

In 1895, a bridge was constructed over the Guadalupe River, facilitating the influx of more settlers. Gilbert Onderdonk made significant contributions to the field of horticulture, which had a lasting impact on the growth and development of Nursery and thus, Victoria.

During Victoria’s bicentennial I hope you will join me in visiting the Memorial Rose Garden and appreciating Victoria’s vast variety of trees, shrubs and plants.

The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at VictoriaAdvocate.com.

REFERENCES:

Texas State Historical Association – Gilbert Onderdonk

Texas State Historical Assocation – Nursery, Texas (Victoria County)

VICTORIA ADVOCATE: Marking History: Nursery horticulturist Onderdonk credited with state’s rich fruit harvest

PLANT ANSWERS: Gilbert Onderdonk (1829-1920)

THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE: Gilbert Onderdonk and Nursery, Texas

CROSSROADS TODAY: City of Victoria Parks & Recreation Installs new plaques at Memorial Rose Garden