Sandburg Home biologist gives Mother Nature a hand

Published: Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 4:30 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, January 1, 2015 at 12:34 p.m.

Van Hoff, biological science technician at Carl Sandburg National Historic Site, works with crews of volunteers and hired help to keep both cultivated and natural landscapes in excellent shape.

Our landscape represents the Sandburg period, Van Hoff says. We constantly refer to (a report) if its not in here, were probably not going to do it.

Van Hoff refers to a cultural landscape report created in 1993 by Susan Hart, then a graduate student at University of Georgia.

The document covers the landscaping history of the historic site from the time it was first developed by the Memmingers in the 1830s up through the decades the Sandburgs called it home from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Maintaining an absolute accuracy regarding specific plants the Sandburgs grew is not always possible, for various reasons.

Like ordinary people, they changed what they grew, Van Hoff says.

Also, the fact that 90,000 visitors tramp through the National Historic Site each year affects what can be grown and where.

The roses in the front yard once went to the fence, but not now, she says. We need to maintain the fence and get a mower through.

A star magnolia near the house allowed Mrs. Sandburg to enjoy the flowers fragrance from her bedroom window.

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Sandburg Home biologist gives Mother Nature a hand