Cuesta College Friends Of The Library Journeys To
The Forestiere Underground Gardens

Cuesta College Friends of the Library will visit the Forestiere Underground Gardens (California State Historic Landmark 916) in Fresno on Wednesday, September 28. The bus will leave the Cuesta College San Luis Obispo Campus Interact
Theater parking lot at 7:30 a.m.

Baldasare Forestiere, who came to America from Sicily in 1901, built the gardens. Forestiere planted his first tree there in 1906, and worked on his underground home and the gardens for the next forty years until his death in 1946. Forestiere
planted many varieties of trees, including carob, Chinese date, lemon, olive, walnut, persimmon, loquat, kumquat, orange, palm date, almond, quince, pear and many others. He used only hand tools and muscle power to build his dream world, which consists of more than 100 niches, courtyards, rooms and passageways.

Lunch will be served at the Original Basque Hotel. Chicken, pork and beef along with all the sides will be served the old fashioned way – family style on long sheepherder’s tables.

Travelers will visit the Shinzen Japanese Garden following lunch. The garden is located on five acres, which includes streams, waterfalls, seven bridges, a koi pond, extensive plantings and pathways. The garden is done in four sections, one for each season with appropriate plantings in each.

Cost is $60 per person. This could be considered a bargain considering gas costs, with the price including the bus, admissions, lunch, and snacks to and from the gardens. Please call Kathy DeCou at ext. 3190 for reservations or more information.