Henry Nehrling
Encyclopedia
Henry Nehrling in Herman, Wisconsin
) was an ornithologist and horticulturist. He developed an interest in nature during hikes to and from school. He was educated at the Teachers' Seminary in Addison, Il, and worked in various states as a teacher so that he might study a wider variety of birds. In 1890 he became Custodian of the Public Museum in Milwaukee where he collected plant specimens for their greenhouse. He also served as the superintendent of the parks in Wilwaukee.
Prior to his retirement, Nehrling had became interested in Florida and bought land in Gotha
in 1884, and maintained a garden there. After a freeze in 1917 killed most of his plants, he relocated to Naples, Florida
and started a new garden there. He grew, hybridized, and popularized many exotic plants for the general public. Caladium
s, palms
, bamboo
and hippeastrum
(the latter commonly and erroneously referred to as 'amaryllis') were all introduced to the United States
by way of his Palm Cottage Gardens
.
Nehrling died on November 22, 1929, and was laid to rest in the Gotha Cemetery. His Naples garden was preserved as the Jungle Larry's Caribbean Gardens.
Herman, Wisconsin
Herman is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Wisconsin:*Herman, Dodge County, Wisconsin, a town*Herman, Shawano County, Wisconsin, a town*Herman, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, a town...
) was an ornithologist and horticulturist. He developed an interest in nature during hikes to and from school. He was educated at the Teachers' Seminary in Addison, Il, and worked in various states as a teacher so that he might study a wider variety of birds. In 1890 he became Custodian of the Public Museum in Milwaukee where he collected plant specimens for their greenhouse. He also served as the superintendent of the parks in Wilwaukee.
Prior to his retirement, Nehrling had became interested in Florida and bought land in Gotha
Gotha, Florida
Gotha is a census-designated place in Orange County, Florida, United States. Gotha is located between Ocoee, Florida and Windermere, Florida, and had a population of 731 as recorded by the 2000 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:The town of...
in 1884, and maintained a garden there. After a freeze in 1917 killed most of his plants, he relocated to Naples, Florida
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
and started a new garden there. He grew, hybridized, and popularized many exotic plants for the general public. Caladium
Caladium
Caladium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae. They are often known by the common name elephant ear , Heart of Jesus, and Angel Wings...
s, palms
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
, bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
and hippeastrum
Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum is a genus of about 90 species and 600+ hybrids and cultivars of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some species are grown for their large...
(the latter commonly and erroneously referred to as 'amaryllis') were all introduced to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by way of his Palm Cottage Gardens
Palm Cottage Gardens
The Palm Cottage Gardens, also known as the Henry Nehrling Estate, is a historic site in Gotha, Florida. On November 7, 2000, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.-External links:* * * at...
.
Nehrling died on November 22, 1929, and was laid to rest in the Gotha Cemetery. His Naples garden was preserved as the Jungle Larry's Caribbean Gardens.