800 Wagon Train: Growing Bananas
On September 24th, 1972, residents of Albuquerque became aware of a rare treat happening in Four Hills Village. Mrs. Arms, the prolific gardener at 800 Wagon Train Drive SE, was enjoying her first banana harvest.
Mrs. Arms was an influential gardener with strong ties to Albuquerque's Horticultural Society. She was encouraged to get into bananas by her husband's father, who had lived in South America for some time. Mrs. Arms was a knowledgeable gardener and said that banana trees like hers were a type of grass; they grow in clumps and fruit only once.
Published September 24th, 1972 Mr. & Mrs. Arms of 800 Wagon Train Drive harvest bananas from their indoor atrium.
Original image courtesy of the Arms Family
Though we have not been able to confirm the designer of the residence, we do know the Arms home was custom built in 1965 with gardening in mind. Features include built-in planters, a natural stone fireplace, and the crowning jewel, a glass-roofed atrium that lets in the sun and regulates humidity and temperature for her collection of exotic tropical plants, including her banana trees.
Original image courtesy of the Arms family.
August 5th, 1965.
Imported to Albuquerque in March 1971, it took Mrs. Arms 18 months to mature the 6-8 inches long stock to over 16 feet tall. Because it was pushing against the glass roof of the atrium, Mrs. Arms cut the tree back several times. Had the tree grown outside, it could have reached a height of over 24 feet.
Family photo of banana tree courtesy of the Arms family.
Family photo under the glass atrium courtesy of the Arms Family
When Mrs. Arms was celebrating Albuquerque’s first banana harvest, she had three more trees growing to maturity alongside several orchids.
Family photo of banana harvest courtesy of the Arms family.
Over time the atrium became a structural issue. In modern-day, that area of the house has undergone renovations and is no longer glass roofed.
Original image courtesy of the Arms family.
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