Sunday | November 9 2008 | 7:00 a.m.
5021 W. Shaw Ave. Fresno
Take a subterranean journey to the Mediterranean – in the middle of
California. Beneath the hot arid surface of the San Joaquin
Valley, Baldasare Forestiere (1879-1946) began sculpting a fantastic
retreat in the early 1900s. Excavating the hardpan by hand, he created
a unique complex of underground rooms, passageways and gardens that
ramble throughout a 10-acre parcel.
Forestiere
spent 40 years sculpting this amazing underground comple. The site
consists of interconnecting subterranean rooms, patios and courtyards
with stonework and building techniques patterned after the ancient
catacombs. Explore his five-room underground home, the auto tunnel
running the length of the Gardens and the multilevel aquarium.
Forestiere adorned these areas with a unique variety of fruit-producing
trees, including strawberry, mulberry, date palm, olive, quince,
persimmon, and citrus bearing several kinds of fruit on a single tree.
Guided tours of this state landmark are available Wednesday through
Sunday, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
(559} 271-0734
undergroundgardens.com
Woodward Park, Fresno
The garden features and authentic teahouse, koi pond, Ume Grove,
streams and waterfall, double moon bridge and meditation areas.
(559) 621-2900
shinzenjapanesegarden.org
©2007– Eye-Q Two Cities Marathon & Half