Photo gallery: Harrison Yocum

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The late Harrison Yocum is one of the founders of the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Yocum willed his home and property to the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Harrison Yocum

Harrison Yocum — Harrison Yocum started the Tucson Botanical Garden out of his home in the mid-1960s. Ten years later it moved to its current Alvernon location. Yocum continued landscaping his midtown home with native plants, rocks and minerals. He will the home to the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Courtesy Donna Pugh

Harrison Yocum

Harrison Yocum — Harrison Yocum's yard is a mixture of palms, succulents, rocks, minerals and more. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Harrison Yocum

Harrison Yocum — Harrison Yocum's yard is a botanical garden infused with rock gardens. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Harrison Yocum

Harrison Yocum — Yocum was well known among his friends as a tightwad. He never willingly picked up a lunch tab. But when it came to buying antique books or exotic minerals, he was willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars. Courtesy Donna Pugh

Harrison Yocum

Harrison Yocum — Tucson rock hound and plant expert Harrison Yocum had a unique sense of style. He had a vast collection of hats, from coonskin to leprechaun, that he frequently paired with suspenders, chunky turquoise jewelry, jodhpurs and a tan uniform that gave him the appearance of a geriatric Eagle Scout. Courtesy Edward McCain

Harrison Yocum

Harrison Yocum — Yocum reveled in his reputation as an eccentric. In addition to his interest in plants, rocks and botany books, he also was an accomplished pianist and composed nearly 200 songs from waltzes to classical. Courtesy Edward McCain

Harrison Yocum

Harrison Yocum — At his peak, Yocum cared for more than 300 palms in his yard, plus other native and exotic plants. He became enamored with palms after seeing them at a Philadelphia arboretum during a high school field trip. Courtesy Donna Pugh

Harrison Yocum

Harrison Yocum — Harrison Yocum's home. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Harrison Yocum

Harrison Yocum — Agave is one of the plants found in Harrison Yocum's yard. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Harrison Yocum

Harrison Yocum — Rocks are stacked in the yard at Harrison Yocum's home. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Daisy Mae Yocum

Daisy Mae Yocum — Harrison Yocum's sister Daisy Mae "Dee" Yocum Jacobs is photographed at Harrison's home. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

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