1986 – Virginia Clemens’ multiple sclerosis was making it harder for her to go outside and enjoy her favorite flowers. So her husband gave the land across from their house to St. Cloud, which turned the plots into Clemens Gardens. Here’s Britt Aamodt.
Transcript
Welcome to MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds.
1986, Virginia, Clemens loved roses. It seemed destined. Her middle name was Rose. She'd been born in Melrose, Minnesota, and she just loved the flowers, how they looked, how they smelled. But the multiple sclerosis she'd been battling for decades was making it harder to get outside and enjoy her favorite summer blossom. It just so happened that the seven acres across from her house in St Cloud came up for sale. Once upon a time, it had been an ice rink. But Virginia's husband Bill had other ideas for it. He bought the parcel and the city of St Cloud turned it into gardens, the Clemens Gardens, which included a formal garden, perennials, an arbor trellis and a rose garden for Virginia, who only had to look out her front window to glory in the sight of thousands of rose blossoms.
MN90 is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Online at MN90 dot org.