What) The
Underground Gardens were the life-long devotion and hobby of
Baldassare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant who came to
America in 1901 to escape the iron rule of his wealthy father
and pursue his own dreams. The Gardens are a
subterranean complex of patios, grottoes, and garden courts
interconnecting with passageways that encircle the living
quarters of the self-taught artist and builder who sought to
escape the brutal heat of Fresno summers. Forestiere patterned
his underground world after the ancient catacombs, which he so
admired as a boy. Arches and passageways dominate the
underground landscape while the stonework provides stability
and beauty. But unlike the dark catacombs that protected
the remnants of the lifeless, Forestiere designed well-lit
courtyards and grottoes to bring forth the radiance and
vitality of life.
No plans were put on paper; each room and
passageway originated in Forestiere’s mind as he went. With
the simple tools of a farmer—a pick, a shovel, and a
wheelbarrow—the young immigrant dug, chipped, and carved the
unforgiving hard pan land for 40 years in his spare
time. By the time he was 44 years-old, he had excavated
and planted over 10 acres. But the humble immigrant’s genius
did not stop there. Incredibly, Forestiere planted
multiple varieties of fruit-bearing plants at different
underground levels. Oranges, lemons, grapefruits—many on
a single tree—as well as more unusual varieties like kumquat,
loquat, jujube, strawberry, quince, and dates could be easily
plucked from the surface by simply bending down. Wine
and table grapes also grace this sanctuary, and dangle
lusciously in great clumps every-where---truly an oasis in a
modern-day desert of pavement.
Where) 5021
West Shaw Avenue Admission $12
1-559-271-0734 (1)
Why) Seemingly, the combination of a life
long artistic work with a variety of unusual plants should be
enough to satisfy the Bucky desires of both Pam and
myself. Unfortunately, we had to drive through on a
winter weekday so we could only take pictures through the
fence.