— Diane White
Most all of us are familiar with George Harrison, the Quiet Beatle, the Mystic Beatle, the creator of that big chord that opens A Hard Days’ Night, the guitarist who played the intro to Day Tripper, and the composer of hit songs like Something, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, All Those Years Ago and My Sweet Lord.
But who knew? In addition to being a member of the Fab Four, George was a gardener!
After the Beatles breakup in 1970, he purchased a dilapidated estate in the English countryside named Friar Park. With his second wife Olivia, over the years, they renovated the mansion and the 32-acre gardens.
Gardening proved to be the escape George needed from the hectic Beatlemania years.
Now, Olivia Harrison has joined with Sarasota’s renown Marie Selby Gardens to recreate some of the Friar Park gardens in this special exhibit called George Harrison: A Gardener’s LIfe. On April 12, the OLLI Outdoors SIG and students from the Fab Four in 1964 Beatles classes joined to tour the Selby Gardens exhibit.
The group toured the Conservatory, where All Things Must Pass, with the Gently Weeping Guitars, the Palm Garden, If Not Fern You, the Maze, and more, with George’s music playing in the background. The Botany Museum had more exhibits and videos of George at work in his gardens.
After a delicious lunch in the on-site restaurants, the group roamed the gardens, viewing the Alpine Garden, with its small version of the Matterhorn, the flowering Dial Garden and Beatles exhibits in the Selby House. Many took in the beautiful views of Sarasota Bay during this picture-perfect afternoon.
George used his artistic creativity not just to create many iconic songs for the most popular rock band of the 20th Century, but also used his ingenuity and wit in creating this unique horticultural exhibit. Whether you are a Beatles’ fan or a gardening fan, or both, you will enjoy roaming the paths to see this George Harrison exhibit at Marie Selby Gardens.
George Harrison: A Gardener’s Life is on display at Marie Selby Gardens until June 29, 2025.
Diane White, MA, PMP, earned advanced degrees in information technologies from George Washington University and education from USF. She has been managing projects for over 25 years in the information technology and telecommunications industries. She joined OLLI-USF in 2008 and has taken OLLI courses in art, art appreciation, architecture, music, great books, science, nature, literature, and leadership. She is a member of OLI’s Tech Squad, teaches a variety of technology courses, an OLLI Roll of Honor instructor and is OLLI Connects’ technology contributor and consultant. Diane is co-leader of the USF-OLLI Outdoors SIG and is a certified Florida Master Naturalist, UF-ISFS.
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