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Story Subject Category: Horticulture
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The Great Pumpkin Patch by Shane Pangburn
When I was in third grade, I sprained my ankle at the Great Pumpkin Patch. Though the ankle has actually never completely healed, I have nothing but fond memories of the place. The displays are so beautiful, the gourds so varied, it’s overwhelming. It’s better than just a “great” pumpkin patch.
The day was split between rural theme parks. Rockome is only a few miles away and went there in the afternoon. The morning is the best time at the patch anyway. “When the the frost is on the punkin...” as the James Whitcomb Riley poem goes. It wasn’t a terribly cold day, it was windy though, you might notice that it you look closely at anything not tied down.
Overall it was a beautiful day at the patch and the Condill family was fantastic. They helped every step of the way.
Segment duration: 05:10
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Producer: Shane Pangburn
This segment is filed in these categories: Agriculture/Agribusiness • Family history • Horticulture
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Allerton Park is truly an oasis on the prairie. When you walk through the shaded canopy on a hot summer day, it is incredible to think that Robert Allerton built the entire park out of nothing. The place was the vision of one man and we are lucky that he chose to let us all enjoy it. Eleanore Stasheff’s story does a wonderful job of explaining the history of the park and lets people in on the behind the scenes stories of its creation. My favorite is that the Sun Singer Statue was to originally sit on the patio. But when it arrived from the sculptor, it was quite a bit larger than expected. If placed on the patio, guests would gaze out the parlor windows to be greeted by the Sun Singer’s private parts! I hope this story looking back at the history of the park helps people appreciate this wonderful gift to central Illinois and that all will help to keep the park around for future generation.
Segment duration: 05:41
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Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Arts/Culture • Historical Landmarks • Horticulture • Illinois Culture/History • Parks/Outdoor Recreation • University of Illinois • Champaign County • University of Illinois
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The shoot took two days and was actually a double feature. Douglas County, my home county, offers more than just corn. It also has two agriculture-based amusement parks. The Great Pumpkin Patch and Rockome Gardens are just two miles apart, as the horse pulls.
A fellow producer, Virginia Steffen and I started at Rockome. With movie magic, we hoped to make the gardens look warm, springy and comfortable. In reality, it was cold, windy and miserable weather. Luckily Sasan Shabrou, a Rockome worker and friend, was able to take us around the grounds in a complimentary golf cart. With our transportation problem solved, the equipment moved quickly and so did we.
Day two was colder and possibly windier. Virginia, new recruit Dave Noreen and I worked well into the night, which was actually pleasant. It was just before Halloween and the weather changed for the best, just after the worst part of the shooting schedule.
Despite poor conditions, the Rockome staff was sunny and eager to answer questions. The evening crowd for their treasure hunt was large and in good spirits. The country charm of the gardens warmed everyone. One lucky treasure team left Rockome with $2,500. We left with a delicious meal and two wrapped segments. The second segment will have to wait for another blog and another episode. Stay tuned for part two of our shoot: The Great Pumpkin Patch.
Segment duration: 08:02
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Producer: Shane Pangburn
This segment is filed in these categories: Historical Landmarks • Horticulture • Illinois Culture/History • Livestock/Animals/Zoology • Parks/Outdoor Recreation • Science/Nature
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The Hartley Selections Garden at the University of Illinois is a testing ground and display garden for new flowering plants. The living laboratory, dedicated in the fall 1994, displays hundreds of different flowering plants. New varieties are compared to commercial varieties to see if they’re an improvement.
(Photo by ACES-ITCS: David Riecks)
Location: Lincoln Avenue south of Florida Avenue in Urbana
Admission: Free
Segment duration: 06:21
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Producer: Maeve Reilly
Chief Camera - Segment: Julius Bolton, Tim Hartin
This segment is filed in these categories: Agriculture/Agribusiness • Horticulture • University of Illinois
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Prairie Fire tours historic Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. It’s not only the resting place of Abraham Lincoln, but of four governors, poet Vachel Lindsay and early Illinois pioneers. City historian Ed Russo talks about the tombstone architecture in the cemetery.
Segment duration: 07:15
Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Historical Landmarks • Horticulture • Illinois Culture/History • Science/Nature • Springfield
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Segment duration: 01:53
Producer: Alison Davis
Advisor: Mary Kay Solecki
This segment is filed in these categories: Horticulture • Parks/Outdoor Recreation • Science/Nature
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Segment duration: 03:39
Producer: Alison Davis
Advisor: Barbara Peckham
This segment is filed in these categories: Antiques/Collectibles • Horticulture
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Segment duration: 02:00
Producer: Alison Davis
Advisor: Mary Kay Solecki
This segment is filed in these categories: Horticulture • Parks/Outdoor Recreation • Science/Nature • Weather/Climate
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Segment duration: 01:49
Producer: Alison Davis
Advisor: Mary Kay Solecki
This segment is filed in these categories: Environment • Horticulture • Parks/Outdoor Recreation
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Segment duration: 02:01
Producer: Alison Davis
Advisor: Mary Kay Solecki
This segment is filed in these categories: Environment • Historical Landmarks • Horticulture • Landscape • Parks/Outdoor Recreation
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