tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post5135832530076279778..comments2024-03-27T20:09:58.129-07:00Comments on Dirt Therapy: Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen KellerPhillip Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01546160918395373740noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-71628433015168696332011-07-25T18:08:32.115-07:002011-07-25T18:08:32.115-07:00Helen Keller was an author and wrote about 14 book...Helen Keller was an author and wrote about 14 books I think. You can see some of her books displayed at her birthplace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-89871395972397454662008-08-14T14:55:00.000-07:002008-08-14T14:55:00.000-07:00Thanks for the tour, Phillip.I think one of the fi...Thanks for the tour, Phillip.<BR/>I think one of the first books I read was a biography on her.She is an inspiration to me, so I love seeing her home.<BR/>Don't you love those old boxwoods!<BR/>Regards,<BR/>PhilipPhilip Bewleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593795071070337798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-60526921187856299852008-08-11T08:04:00.000-07:002008-08-11T08:04:00.000-07:00'The Miracle Worker' was and is a classic. Helen ...'The Miracle Worker' was and is a classic. Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan were fascinating people and the Alabama home is charming. I love that Helen's Mom was a rose lover. Thanks for this glimpse into their world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-15532649958169243342008-08-09T18:09:00.000-07:002008-08-09T18:09:00.000-07:00Never heard of her! But interesting to read your p...Never heard of her! But interesting to read your post about her. I loved seeing pictures of your interesting garden Philip! I can not believe the size of your Buff Beauty! I also like all your climbers and ramblers on structures and pergolas. I have some blind neighbours and I tell you a lawnmover can be cruel to bulbs and perennials! I have helped them choose some very fragrant plants like Mock Orange, A few honeysuckles and the thornless zephirine Drouhin, since they Like Helen Keller really appreciate the fragrance of these plants.Niels Plougmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10357785820016940457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-62350370398411065502008-08-07T01:37:00.000-07:002008-08-07T01:37:00.000-07:00Don't feel bad about living near historical sites ...Don't feel bad about living near historical sites and not having visited; we're 15 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg, and although we do a lot of walking up and down Duke of Gloucester St., I haven't been inside most of the buildings since the third grade! Would love to read your article when it comes out.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12538769872317933763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-67767185803431142022008-08-05T11:49:00.000-07:002008-08-05T11:49:00.000-07:00Very nice post. I always knew gardening kind of br...Very nice post. I always knew gardening kind of brought Helen around (or so I heard). And now I know why, her mother was a gardener! Don't be embarrassed about not visiting, it happens to all of us in our own locations.tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17415302577518111227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-32942024834849589212008-08-05T08:07:00.000-07:002008-08-05T08:07:00.000-07:00Years ago I took my Girl Scout troop to see 'The M...Years ago I took my Girl Scout troop to see 'The Miracle Worker' on the grounds - and for the first time I realized just how Mrs. Keller must have felt when she realized that her daughter couldn't hear her. Amateurs or not, it was very moving.<BR/><BR/>It's a lovely place to visit, very quiet and very Southern.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-44424785427566834712008-08-01T02:44:00.000-07:002008-08-01T02:44:00.000-07:00Great post and with my love of history, just right...Great post and with my love of history, just right down my alley. I would love to visit "Ivy Green" one of these days.<BR/><BR/>Jon at Mississippi Garden on 8-1-08Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973206464731483011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-80495964182539783212008-08-01T00:16:00.000-07:002008-08-01T00:16:00.000-07:00I had no idea that Helen Keller's house still exis...I had no idea that Helen Keller's house still existed, but it shouldn't surprise me, considering that she was such a celebrity in her time. And judging from the comments on this post, it seems like I need to rent The Miracle Worker!<BR/><BR/>I'm glad that the gardens are being restored. The current front yard just looks so barren and depressing compared to the old pictures with vines and greenery everywhere. <BR/><BR/>Out of curiosity, is there any special emphasis being placed on making the new gardens accessible to the disabled, or using plants that blind people can experience-- scent, texture, etc?Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16233060833186241702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-44216701484796394192008-07-31T13:22:00.000-07:002008-07-31T13:22:00.000-07:00Great post on a great Alabamian, Philip. When I w...Great post on a great Alabamian, Philip. When I was young our next door neighbor taught at the Helen Keller Institute of the Blind in Tuskegee and one weekend she took me on a tour of the Institute and Helen's home as well. <BR/><BR/>I thought that the Miracle Worker captured the story of her life very well. The story of Helen's teacher Anne Sullivan is also very touching.<BR/><BR/>Good luck with your article.Sweet Home and Garden Carolinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08026451200405491815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-11847796869641067262008-07-31T12:27:00.000-07:002008-07-31T12:27:00.000-07:00What a great piece, Phillip. Will you post a link...What a great piece, Phillip. Will you post a link to your article once it comes out?Cosmohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260783700118031314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-18769021149815406392008-07-31T11:21:00.000-07:002008-07-31T11:21:00.000-07:00I collect the state quarters (3 to go for a comple...I collect the state quarters (3 to go for a complete book) so I knew Helen was from Alabama. Just assumed the house was an Alabama tourist stop but never knew about the gardens. Am glad to hear this treasure is on the Registry and forgotten gardens restored. Very interesting Phillip!Skeeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08222522533934405029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-15347992160508668312008-07-31T07:45:00.000-07:002008-07-31T07:45:00.000-07:00What a wonderful post, Phillip- when the movie of ...What a wonderful post, Phillip- when the movie of the Miracle Worker came out I was a kid and Helen Keller was still alive...I remember being amazed when my mother told me about her and Annie Sullivan. It also turned me into a Patty Duke fan for life ;-]<BR/><BR/>The state quarter for Alabama has Helen Keller as part of the design, but I didn't know the house was a site that could be visited. Besides being a historical site - it's very pretty and appealing just as a house...can't resist that style and the brick walk! <BR/><BR/>Annie at the Transplantable RoseAnnie in Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14662139490401110432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-3023640853655019292008-07-31T06:17:00.000-07:002008-07-31T06:17:00.000-07:00Oh, I can't tell you how much this post meant to m...Oh, I can't tell you how much this post meant to me. Helen Keller has always been my hero since I was a small child. I write for Oklahoma Gardener quite a bit, and I hope they carry your story in our issue of the jointly edited magazine.~~DeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-57778065952795010042008-07-31T02:05:00.000-07:002008-07-31T02:05:00.000-07:00My grandmother always said we were related to Hele...My grandmother always said we were related to Helen Keller. I tried to trace it once but was never able to. She was a fantastic woman. That movie just gave me the chills. How brillian she was.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07041872314763651462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-20102618020468877462008-07-30T19:59:00.000-07:002008-07-30T19:59:00.000-07:00Years ago, when I taught The Miracle Worker, I did...Years ago, when I taught The Miracle Worker, I did some background research of Helen Keller as an intro to the play. I saw pictures of Ivy Green as it used to be. Seeing pictures of how they have restored the gardens is very nice. They seem to have done a great job in helping keep Helen Keller's memory and accomplishments alive.<BR/><BR/>Jan<BR/>Always GrowingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-77985854635594455562008-07-30T14:17:00.000-07:002008-07-30T14:17:00.000-07:00fabulous phillip...It completely escaped me that s...fabulous phillip...It completely escaped me that she was from Alabama!<BR/>Garden restoration is an interesting topic. What period of a gardens long life to restore, how static to make it and how much do we acknowledge that all gardens mature. I look forward to the article.<BR/><BR/>GailGailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-6294973119831192892008-07-30T13:15:00.000-07:002008-07-30T13:15:00.000-07:00I didn't know what her accomplishments were other ...I didn't know what her accomplishments were other than being tamed. You have given me incentive to seek out a biography of her and I will be looking forward to more about her gardens restoration. I hope you keep us up to date.Lisa at Greenbowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07743973292900758183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-62146437512042010682008-07-30T12:21:00.000-07:002008-07-30T12:21:00.000-07:00What a wonderful story of her life. I didn't reali...What a wonderful story of her life. I didn't realize that there were gardens involved either. That is lovely that they have made her birthplace a historical monument and are restoring the gardens.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-40271433560405205122008-07-30T10:48:00.000-07:002008-07-30T10:48:00.000-07:00Fascinating story. I did not know there was such ...Fascinating story. I did not know there was such a garden connection. Thanks!Leshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18281256160705697856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012891747188380656.post-6915770918453488382008-07-30T08:57:00.000-07:002008-07-30T08:57:00.000-07:00It amazes me that she was even able to learn to co...It amazes me that she was even able to learn to communicate. That in itself, to me, is a miracle.Randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03840964031964028578noreply@blogger.com