Jefferson City garden named in honor of its biggest promoter

Fulfilling a vision in conifers

When the cool, damp air met with the warm morning sun on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, a thick layer of fog was created in low-lying areas, including the Missouri River bottom in north Jefferson City, which made for a stunning visual at the James D. Schwieterman Memorial Garden.
When the cool, damp air met with the warm morning sun on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, a thick layer of fog was created in low-lying areas, including the Missouri River bottom in north Jefferson City, which made for a stunning visual at the James D. Schwieterman Memorial Garden.

A new rock and iron entrance invites visitors to the James D. Schwieterman Memorial Garden in the River City Gardens in North Jefferson City.

The 3-year-old conifer garden was named for its biggest promoter, Jim Schwieterman, who died suddenly in August 2015.

His wife, Jenelle Schwieterman, continues to see her late husband's vision through, as the conifer garden chairwoman.

"He wanted people to appreciate and enjoy them as much as we enjoyed them," she said. "Jim was really excited about this wonderful spot and people coming to enjoy it."

The fact the specialty garden is named for him is "wonderful and touching," Jenelle said. "His spirit is still there.

"It means people will remember he was one of the few who had this vision."

In about a decade, the conifer garden will reach its full potential and will become a destination for entertaining, events and photographs, said Steve Stacey, past president of the Central Missouri Master Gardeners.

About 40 trees are there now, but eventually there will be approximately 150 trees and evergreen shrubs. The original landscape design plan was drafted by the Schwietermans' son, Jeff, a professional landscape architect in Colorado.

"We're just getting a good start," Stacey said.

The entrance, as well as the other iron art that has been there for about a year, were created by Central Missouri artist Mike Mistler. And more art is in the plan.

Eventually, the conifer garden will be a one-of-a-kind location, Stacey said.

"It will really fill out; right now it looks like a blank lot with a bunch of little Christmas trees," Jenelle joked.

Another of Schwieterman's many garden dreams was to see the overall River City Gardens, formerly the Central Missouri Master Gardeners Demonstration Gardens, make application as a botanical garden. Stacey said it may take longer without Schwieterman's enthusiasm, but the organization still has that goal.

"Jim was an integral part of that pursuit," he said.

The conifer garden was important to Schwieterman because of its potential educational value as much as its aesthetic beauty, Jenelle said.

In their own backyard, the Schwietermans planted more than three dozen species of evergreens and conifers.

"We like to show conifers are your green all-year-round, the backbone of your garden," Jenelle said.

In addition to adding more trees and shrubs in future years, she said she would like to add more educational pieces, such as what groupings work well together and which types can be used in small spaces.

"We'll fulfill Jim's vision for this a little more every year," Jenelle said.