05/24/2026
Ken Booth’s transplanted Jack-in-the-Pulpit thrives at the Cam Hutchins Pollinator Garden in Bristow Park.
A bit of backstory: Ken Booth grew up across the street from the bird sanctuary. As a young boy he often wandered there and became fascinated with plants, especially Jack-in-the-Pulpits. At the time there were many of them in the park. At are 7 he decided to dig one up and move it to the front yard of his parent’s home.
After Ken grew up and left town, he didn’t think much about ‘his’ Jack until he visited last summer and found it still thriving after he transplanted it 60 years ago.
Last summer, after a chance meeting with NCLT’s director Robin Bates-Mason who told him about the major native plant restoration efforts at Bristow, he offered to return his specimen to its rightful home. He accompanied NCLT Board members Cristen Cottrell and Sarah Herring who dug up some of the bulbs and replanted them in front of the memorial plaque in the sanctuary.
Ken’s “Jack” is a Giant Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisemea triphyllum), a perennial wildflower native to North America. The giant version grows between 1 to 3 feet tall.
Check out the original story, “Former Resident Returns 60-Year-Old Plant to Bristow Park”written by student intern Donovan West, published in the newcanaanite, August 19, 2025.
