a weekend event in the "Show Me" state
Central Region - open to members and non-member guests
Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday, October 11-13, 2024
Branson, Missouri
Many years ago, 1.65 billion to be precise, the Ozark Mountains were formed. The ancient mountains, beaten down by age and nature to become the gently rolling hills of today, have long been famous for producing hauntingly beautiful Americana music, hideouts for notorious outlaws and gangsters, moonshine stills and…maples? Ah, yes!
On the weekend of October 11–13, 2024, it was time for the “Show Me” State of Missouri to show that middle America MSNA members love and can grow maples, too. And so, for a delightful three days in October, MSNA board member Susan Martin hosted president Bill Hibler, board member Jen Tucker, and MSNA members Terri Waterman from Hot Springs, AR, and Leigh Todd from Newalla, OK, to the beauty and delight of ‘Maples and Moonshine’ in southwest Missouri.
Friday night, October 11, began with a welcome to Branson pizza party overlooking Lake Taneycomo.
On Saturday, the group explored the gardens of Bonniebrook, owned by famed artist Rose O’Neill, creator of the Kewpie doll; the beautifully landscaped grounds and nursery of Michael Fessenden, owner of Myron Royce Nursery and Landscaping; and the Japanese Garden at the Springfield Botanical Garden, forty years in the making.
The day culminated at Susan’s home with a tour of her gardens, landscaped with 151 Japanese maples, and an Ozark dinner of bar-b-que brisket, sweet potatoes, coleslaw, and, of course, moonshine on her screened porch.
On Sunday, after a stroll through the Veterans Memorial Garden in Branson, the group headed to Silver Dollar City, recognized as ‘the most beautiful theme park in the US.’ Amidst the noise and music of dobroes and fiddles, children laughing and crafters crafting, two words repeatedly echoed through the valleys of the park, “Where’s Bill?” Our intrepid leader, who had gone searching for a water fountain, not only became sidetracked by a train ride complete with a bandit stick-'em-up but volunteered to be a bean judging participant; his beans lost.
Bill and Jen delayed their return home to address a Master Gardeners of the Ozarks event at Susan’s home on Monday, both offering convincing arguments as to why everyone should own one Japanese maple… or more. All except the committed pansy propagators and succulent succorers were intrigued. Who knows, maples and moonshine might become something else for which these old Ozark Mountains are known.