By Jenny Zeller
I have so many childhood memories of Bernheim. I remember as a kid my aunt Nanny and uncle James would take my mom and I on picnics. My aunt Nanny was such a special woman in my life. She always amazed me. She found pleasure in simple things and she was so much fun to be around. She always showed me and my cousins special attention that would include puppet shows, Bible stories, songs ..and she opened my eyes to the beauty that surrounded me that as a child I would have ignored. At Bernheim we went on the hunt for beautiful leaves and if I found one that she thought was special and beautiful enough she pressed the leaf in a picture book and wrote where we had collected it. Another special memory is one with my parents. Growing up we didn’t have much and my mom and dad were workaholics because they had me so young they were just kids themselves. We seldom went and had fun just us and relaxed. Their idea of fun was always home improvements when they had extra time. I have very few memories of my dad relaxing and wasting a day just spending time with me and my mom. I was very young maybe 6 or 7 and I remember we went on the trail Rock Run Loop. I was so tired my dad put me on his shoulders and I remember thinking I had the strongest & best dad in the entire world. I still take that trail several times a year just so I can keep that memory of how I felt that day alive.
~Kristy Adiel, Bardstown, KY
In honor of Bernheim’s 90th anniversary in 2019, we are making a conscious effort to collect stories and memories of Bernheim. In addition to your stories, both old and new, we are seeking any photographs, video footage and historical information you may have about Bernheim from the past 90 years. Please let us know if you or someone you know has a great Bernheim story to share by contacting us at mystory@bernheim.org.
Please note: Any information provided to mystory@bernheim.org grants Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest the permission to reuse this information in print and/or digital formats, as well as other public display for the promotion of its 90th anniversary in 2019 and beyond, to further the efforts of our mission in connecting people with nature.