Hamilton Garden
Carl Hamilton Garden
520 Sunset Lane
Belton, MO 64133
Carl grew up in rural Southeast Kansas near the town of Columbus where his Mother had large vegetable and flower gardens. She shared what she grew with neighbors, friends and relatives. She was fond of telling Carl “the vegetables are for the stomach and the flowers are for the spirit.” Carl spent time helping in the gardens until he was old enough to work in the fields on the tractor. His interest in flower gardening began during this time.
After graduating from Pittsburg State University in 1971, Carl moved to the Greater Kansas City area and began teaching. On weekends he helped his landlords in their vegetable and flower gardens. In 1975 he and his late wife Sandy Eakles were married. Shortly afterwards they moved to the country and rented a farmhouse. There they continued to garden on a larger scale (flower and vegetable). Carl’s daughters Beth and Molly were born in '80 and '83. In 1985 the Hamilton’s moved and bought their house in Belton. There, all four of them enjoyed flower gardening on a much smaller scale. In 1995 Sandy passed away of breast cancer and gardening was put on hold as raising 11 and 14 old daughters took priority.
Carl retired in 2004 after 33 years of teaching. That summer he dug the first garden. It had just 4 daylilies in it along with some other plants. The next year garden #2 was dug and had 20 daylilies in it. Well, 15 more garden areas later, 260 more daylilies and as they say, "the rest is history". Carl alternately "thanks" and "blames" a teaching friend, Pat Hyden, for his daylily addiction. Her mentorship has been appreciated. Today Carl’s daughters both live in Charlotte, North Carolina. Beth works for Fox Sports as a producer/photographer and Molly is an RN. They tease Car about not having any grass to mow if he keeps expanding his gardens.
Carl’s gardens are very eclectic. Daylilies are by far the most numerous plants but he loves having a mixture of perennial plants and shrubs that bloom from spring to fall. Interspersed among the perennials are colorful, hardy annuals like vincas, marigolds and petunias. In addition to flowers, the gardens have art, stones, birdfeeders, solar lighting and other objects of interest. Carl’s daylily tastes are very eclectic, too. No one type appeals to Carl - even the year they were registered varies greatly. It's a garden area that has something for everyone from morning to night.
Over the past two years Carl has been busy creating a garden honoring both family and friends. He is planting daylilies for his late wife, daughters, friends and other family members. This "family and friends" garden has been a very enjoyable undertaking.
Carl started a scholarship program for the Belton High School in 2005.. With the generous help of over 200 current and former Belton School District employees, over $65,000 has been given to over 80 seniors to further their education. Carl took some of his daylilies and planted a garden at the courthouse in his hometown. Carl hopes in the future to begin doing some hybridizing. He finds that he really enjoys learning from other club members and visiting their gardens.