Off the HighwayA Place of Peace, ' J Beauty & History They stand as if in a cathedral, no. as if part of the cathedral itself: The tall pines, proud and beautiful protectors of the ancient land, a land blessed with colorful gardens, planned and planted by faring, careful hand.s, shaped into a- botanical greatness to lift the spirit and give the weary souhrest. Yellow gourds, greet the sunlight as blue glory-topped trees open up regions of the heart to the fresh, clean smell of morning. Deep within the woods history glances back at her reflections, mirrored in the garden pond. Hundreds of years slip down beneath the Egyptian lotus as Christopher Learning emerged from the red maple forest hauling a ce.dar log from the nearby pasture. Hrs children run to greet him and the three of them make their way toward the main house. The children run ahead laughing. ■ Learning pauses, his angular form tense as if hearing the distant call of a strange bird echoing through the forest. Momentarily, he rests the log on the tamped earth. His keen eyes take in the nearby gardens. The woods are stilled by his thoughts. He smiles. He is well pleased.

by Shirlianne Gunther SWAINTON — 'there is a gentle spirit in tnese woods, these magnificent gardens that offer sweet refreshment to the soul and comfort to the mind. Just a step off Route 9 here is a move into another world, a world devoid of noise, pollution and terror — a world built and fashioned by one man inspired by a tremendous

dream.

“We really didn’t decide about the gardens, they just evolved,” explains Jack April!, dreamer and creator of Learning’s Run BotannicaL' Gardens. "People need more places to go, to get away and relax. In addition, the gardens offer them specific growing situations that they cap go home and duplicate.” a But the gardens — planned and designed more than 15 years ago to offer .humanity a sanctuary of beauty and peace — are just the beginning of a bigger dream. For the creation of this unique backdrop has nurtured an idea that has now developed and taken hold along with the flowers. REAMING’S RUN Botannical Gardens, as of last year, has a huge hand-structured barn reminiscent of one used by 17th century whaler Christopher Learning. The barn, with logs split by hand, built by Aprill, sits in the woods adjacent to a hand-hewn log house, also an Aprill creation. Aprill worked on the bam during

the spring and winter months^fie has even gone so far as to purchase English and French breeds of animals. “I have chickens that are historically fitting,” he said with a grin. “One kind was brought to .England by the Normans," he added. The log house is surrounded by herbs, tobacco, gourds and, other plantings reminiscent of a garden from the past. The addition of the barn created an historic setting for future plans of part of which have materialized as a gazebo. Other things are yet

to come.

"The reason we’ve made the colonial farm is because I became interested in Christopher Learning. I felt the history, the story of Cape May County is different from any other story and we’re trying to tell it," Aprill said. LEAMING’S, HOME, now Aprill’s abode, s'its on 50 acres, once part of the larger tract owned by the ancient whaler. According to a book on whaling put out

• by the New Jersey Agricultureal

\Society, the Aprill home is the only ,known whaler’s residence

The GAZEBO is a focal point, a white angular symmetry amid the softer forms in greens and brown; and other colons of surrounding trees, shrubs and flowers. When, perchance, flutists or other chamber musicians gather, the little latticed enclosure serves as tonal point as well, the soft melodic strains caught up on woodland breezes and the wings of songbirds.

(I730j still standing in New Jersey. "It’s strange to discover yourself in a book," said Aprill’s

wife, Emily.

The construction in the woods was a labor of love for Aprill, who by his own work offers a testimonial of dedicated respect for history in a county where the emphasis on business and tourism

often smothers such idealistic pursuits. "We really wanted (o preserve what we felt was an unusual area," Aprill explained. "It’s historic, and the low ground is in the holly belt. We felt if we could turn it into a garden it would pay for itself and Would not be developed." 'i For a small fee visitors can explore the gardens and step back 300 years into history. They can -also feel satisfied that they are contributing to a worthy project which will guarantee-the preservation of valuable, historic pnd for generations to come. Yearly memberships are also available so visitors can come to the gardens as often as they want during the season which runs from July 1 until October 31. THE VARIETY OF plantings offer visitors a multitude of visual experiences. The paths, all fashioned by Aprill’s deft hands, were made from the white sand that was already on site. “We didn't want any bulldozers in the woods," Mrs.- Aprill said. “Jack built everything in true pioneer style.” The wide paths provide easy access for those in whbelchairs, and the benches along the way offer rajt.for those not used to walking.

on the cover ■■ ■ '* Stepping into the 17th Century viftitors at the Colonial Farm at l^eam ing's Run see firsthand how it was t< live ,on the Cape toward the end of th< 1600s. Photos by John z\ndrus (cover A * right), and Bob Shiles.

THE VERY FIRST wbite settlers oh the Jersey Cape lived in log cabins similar to this one built by the Aprills as a reminder of the style of living of those who first cleared a patch of land, both for home building materials and for space for growing sustenance.

The gardens are interlaced with beautiful wooded areas lined by a fantasticyirray of ferns Please wall; on-grass" signs encourage people to get a close look at the plantings and reflecting waters But .picnics, radios artd other distractions are forbidden, thereby preserving the quiet'and beauty of the area. The gardens are the springboard to a working 17th century colonfal farm A cooperage, where wooden barrels are made, is already planned. The dried flower shop, Mrs. Aprill s creative achievement, has always been an important part of the project. "One of the biggest problems with hpsbands and wives is they tend to go in Opposite directions. Em and I ’work together," Jack Aprill noted. THE APRILLS and their four sons have been working together for years. The family built houses together and renovated the old Townsend House on Route 83. Although Aprill was a business major graduate of Dartmouth's Tuck School, his job at Prudential and in other business areas failed to .give him thetsatisfaction that Learnings Run provided. “I always felt sorry for men who hated their jobs," Mrs. Aprill said. The love Jack has for his present occupation is exemplified by the beauty hjs gardens reflect. There sedms to be a kmd of spiritual oneness with the vioods and area around him that inspires the man to continue developing ideas to enhance the gardens His knowledge of growing things and his deep understanding of the importarice of preservation are * displayed in the enthusiastic tours of Learnings Run, which he offers to visiting groups The Aprills bought the Learning home m 1959. The gardens took years of dreaming and planning and five years of extensive groundwork. The development had a .lot of help and encouragement. The Aprill children — Glen 34; Roy 30; Tim 24 and Greg 18 — have all lent their expertise and energies to the dream And through the encounter they have developed a tremendous respect and knowledge of local history, o»P(MArcpvN;r«40*ziNf 7