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Minnesota Now with Nina Moini
Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

Glensheen Mansion's first female head gardener reflects on making history

A woman and a dog in an outdoor setting.
Emily Ford and her dog, Diggings, solo-hiking Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail — only the second documented through-hike of the trail in winter.
Courtesy of Emily Ford

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In its heyday, the Glensheen Mansion in Duluth, Minn. — finished in 1908 — was tended to with a large staff of maids, butlers stable workers, groundskeepers and a head gardener.

The head gardener position was always held by a man — until now.

Emily Ford is the mansion’s gardener, and host Cathy Wurzer sat down with her recently on a perfect fall day in Duluth.

Ford says gardening is seen as a feminine thing today, but it didn’t use to be. Walking in the Scottish shoes of Glensheen gardeners from the past, she keeps meticulous journals now after learning what a help it is from previous generations of gardeners.

The interview includes a surprise revelation about her family’s roots and how they connect her to what she does today, plus Ford explains her strategy for dealing with any potentially cranky Glensheen visitors.

Plus: A film about Ford’s journey to hike the 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin last winter will premiere at the Banff International Film Festival this week.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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