Lagoon gardens help create fun atmosphere

Imagine, if you will, spending weeks and months getting your garden to look absolutely beautiful and then having as many as 25,000 people per day, seven days per week, in the garden almost loving it to death.

This is the challenge that Brent Buhler, manager of landscaping and horticulture at Lagoon, faces each season.

While he admits that most people who visit the amusement park might not notice all of the work that he and his crews do, they all benefit from the environment that they create.

Buhler is no stranger to horticulture. He is the newly installed president of the Utah Nursery and Landscape Association, and he has a long history with Lagoon. His mother was an accountant at the park for 33 years, and as a toddler, he accompanied her to work.

His grandfather worked a second job as the roller coaster brakeman during the Depression. His dad was a bouncer for the concerts.

Buhler started working at Lagoon when he was 12, and at the age of 15 he transferred to the landscape department. After working numerous other jobs, he came back in 1992, eventually assuming his present position.

Creating a garden and amusement park has challenges.

"Providing an enjoyable environment where people are so accessible to the gardens seven days a week is difficult. Getting everything planted and getting it to survive in that environment is difficult," Buhler said.

"I do something every day to make the park look better. For example, this year we planted more than 5,000 perennials. I am really into daylilies and have more than 200 different kinds in my personal collection."

"The sheer number of people and how they use Lagoon is astounding. Over Labor Day weekend we had a classic car show with many beautiful vehicles parked on the lawn. When they are here, we can't water, so that makes it difficult. The same is true when the cloggers come in the spring.

"I know that I am successful when people come and have a good time. In many ways, it is subconscious, because we help create the atmosphere. The wonderful shade we have here makes it more enjoyable to be here. The flowers, the shrubs, the lawns and everything else we do is so that people can enjoy their time here and conditions are not so harsh."

Because of the difficulties of growing trees with asphalt around them, as well as all the other problems caused when people inadvertently damage flowers and shrubs, I asked Buhler for some of his favorite plant materials that perform well for him.