The International Peace Garden, was established in 1932, and is situated on the 49th parallel, the border between North Dakota and Canada. Every year, tens of thousands of guests from around the world come to the Peace Garden where there are over 75,000 flowering shrubs, perennials and bulbs in the Formal Garden and 6,500 cacti & succulents, along with several buildings and monuments. In July 2016, a new sculpture, “Promise of Peace,” is being dedicated at the Peace Garden. It is anticipated that the Peace Tower that is located at the west end of the garden and has been in place since 1982, will be removed in 2016 or 2017. These two events indicated the perfect time to release a book on the Peace Garden. In the summer of 2015, North Dakota photographer Kari Barchenger began photographing the Peace Garden. After taking more than 400 photographs, she selected 90 images to showcase the garden and monuments at the International Peace Garden to put in the first ever published book on the International Peace Garden. The book also includes a brief biography of sculptor Arthur Norby who created the Promise of Peace sculpture, which was commissioned for the Peace Garden by the Wally Byam Caravan Club International. Forward to the book is written by International Peace Garden CEO, Garry Enns.

3x2 ND magnet with a matte/satin finish.

3x2 ND magnet with matte/satin finish.

3x2 NDmagnet with a matte/satin finish.

3x2 ND magnet with a matte/satin finish.

3x2 ND magnet with a matte/satin finish.

3x2 ND magnet with a matte/satin finish.

3x2 ND magnet with a matte/satin finish.

3x2 ND magnet with a matte/satin finish.

3x2 ND magnet with a matte/satin finish.

These canvas prints are of bison at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I apply a unique process to the photos to give them an artsy look. Canvas prints are available on 11x14, 16x20, 20x 30 and if you want larger, we can make it larger.

These canvas prints are of bison at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I apply a unique process to the photos to give them an artsy look. Canvas prints are available on 11x14, 16x20, 20x 30 and if you want larger, we can make it larger.

These canvas prints are of bison at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I apply a unique process to the photos to give them an artsy look. Canvas prints are available on 11x14, 16x20, 20x 30 and if you want larger, we can make it larger.

These canvas prints are of bison at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I apply a unique process to the photos to give them an artsy look. Canvas prints are available on 11x14, 16x20, 20x 30 and if you want larger, we can make it larger.

Hens and Chicks, The Vitko Collection” shares the inspiring story of a boy from Minot North Dakota, who started with a packet of seeds and eventually ends up with a world class collection of more than 4,000 different species and 6,500 plants. It is the largest private indoor collection in the world. The book contains more than 220 images showcasing the beauty and unique symmetry of the plants, along with many rare plants that most collectors have only heard of.

In 2015, Fargo North Dakota photographer Kari Barchenger made her first visit to the International Peace Garden, located on the North Dakota and Canadian border.  After publishing her first book, “International Peace Garden, Promise of Peace”, Barchenger turned her camera to the collection of cacti and succulents found in the most unlikely place in North America. After hearing snippets of the origin of the collection, Barchenger then set out to learn more about this amazing collection and the gentleman behind it. She also found that others were interested in the history of the collection and decided to publish a book.

The book is also meant to be a learning tool containing information on the anatomy of the plants, everyday uses and fun facts. Written for the casual reader, it will be a great resource for all ages and includes a section on how to care for succulents written by Dan Bach of Bach’s Cactus Nursery, a premiere seed grower from Tucson Arizona with over 50 years in the nursery business.