Forestiere Underground Gardens

Forestiere Underground Gardens - Updated

Winter Bedroom

In 1901 a young Sicilian immigrant named Baldassare Forestiere arrived in Boston with a dream of becoming a citrus grower. He found a job as a subway digger and kept it until 1905 when he bought 85 acres of land in the San Joaquin Valley in California. Alas the land he bought turned out to be hardpan so his dream ended there. But being an enterprising man, he worked during his spare time to build a home for himself below the ground where it was mercifully cooler. Forty years later, he had transformed this subterranean abode into comfortable quarters for himself and planted fruit bearing trees on 10 acres of his land.

Passageway

Summer bedroom

This room has a window overlooking a private courtyard which allowed air to circulate and kept the room cool. Baldassare built this alcove high above the floor to keep the moisture off his bed.

Outdoor Victorian tub

Baldassare took a warm bath in this courtyard. The water was supplied by a metal tank above ground and connected by means of a hose.

These subterranean spaces are naturally lit by skylights like this one.

Kitchen

Baldassare’s home had all the modern conveniences including electricity and an icebox.

Cultivating trees underground

How do you cultivate a tree underground? You must create a light source, of course.

This century old navel orange tree still bears fruit and stands at the entrance to the gardens.

This tree was grafted to bear seven fruits - sweet and sour lemons, Valencia, navel, and sour oranges, grapefruit and Cedro, an Italian citron. Today it only bears two fruits, Valencia and sour oranges. Notice how high this tree has climb from its subterranean roots 18 feet below ground level.

Auto tunnel

Looking carefully at this carved tunnel, you can imagine the work it took to dig the gardens from these rocks. And it took a lifetime for Baldassare to do so.

How to get there:

Forestiere Gardens is in Fresno, California. It is served by the Fresno Yosemite International Airport which is connected to major airports throughout the U.S. There are also train services offered by Amtrak from Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Highway 99 is the main gateway to Fresno as it winds through the Central Valley.

Where to find opening times and entrance fees:

5201 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno, California

www.undergroundgardens.com

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Images by TravelswithCharie

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