Did you ever think of growing your own fruit tree garden? Well, one man had this lifelong dream and he tirelessly persevered over many decades to make it happen, creating an enchanting “Underground Labyrinth” garden.
Baldassare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant who migrated to America in 1901, after finding out that he would not inherit any property from his family, concluded that he did not need to wait for the family property to be willed to him, rather he would instead set out and find work and buy his own land.
But after traveling to southern California, Baldassare found that purchasing land there was too expensive, so he went to central California, finding land was cheaper and yet supposedly a great place to farm. There he purchased 80 acres of land in what is now known as Fresno, California, a prime touted spot for agriculture. However, he quickly found that the soil was not easy to work with because it was composed of much sedimentary rock, known as “hardpan,” which are chunks of brick-like pieces of rock extending throughout the top surface layers.
So, instead, Baldassare painstakingly undertook the task of creating by hand a complex subterranean labyrinth, composed of underground rooms, courtyards, and passageways resembling ancient catacombs- all in his free time, using nothing but a pick, shovel, and wheel barrel- and lots of hard work.
Can you imagine how many trips he would have had to take up and out of the garden? Wow, I feel tired just thinking about it!
He worked for 40 long years, after work and on his days off, to complete his dream garden. Finally, by the age of 44, the efforts of his constant toiling paid off. Baldassare had excavated and planted over ten acres of land. “The vision of my mind overwhelms me,” Baldassare reflected.
Mind you, no formal plans were ever created for the execution of his dream garden. What Baldassare thought and envisioned, he produced. Multiple tunnels were designed and constructed to enhance airflow and ventilation. Many skylights were placed throughout the labyrinth to aid with lighting. He even had a special room built for when it was cold, with a built-in fireplace for warmth. There was yet another room created with opposing windows to keep cool during Fresno’s scorching summer temperatures.
Baldassare planted multiple varieties of fruit-bearing trees and vines in his unique labyrinth garden, including pomegranate, mulberry, date, kumquat, strawberry, grape, orange, lemon, etc. grapefruit. All produced very well, and now several of the trees are over 100 years old and are still producing delicious fruits.
Eventually, Baldassare changed his mind about the underground garden and wanted to create a resort. But sadly, he died at the age of 67, before he was able to complete his new dream of a resort.
Baldassare was never married, nor had any children. He was survived by his Italian relatives, most of which did not agree with his life decision of creating an underground garden, believing it was a waste of time and did not want any part of his land.
Unfortunately, most of the land was sold after his passing. Thankfully, though, one of his brothers, Ric Forestiere, wanted to preserve the beautiful garden and was able to purchase five acres. Ric’s daughter, Lynn, and sister, Valery, now maintain the site for their father- and for all visitors to enjoy!
The underground garden is now a designated California state historical landmark.
Scheduled tours of the gardens are regularly offered. I personally took a tour and suggest to all to come experience for yourself. You will not regret it!
Forestiere Underground Gardens
5021 W. Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA 93722, USA 559-271-0734
This place looks amazing, I would have loved to meet the man who created it; he must have been so interesting.
I was thinking the same thing. I would absolutely love to have met this man, such imagination and self-motivator. He created such a beautiful and unique masterpiece that one would only imagine creating. He sacrificed his family for his dream. Absolute inspiration to us all.