ORANGE COUNTY ALMANAC : A Dream That Blossomed
In 1874, Alonzo Gook laid the foundation for a city on a plot of scrubby desert land.
Though the arid parcel boasted little foliage besides a few cacti, he named it Garden Grove.
When neighbors questioned what could possibly qualify the parched land for that title, Gook reportedly said he would plant flowers and make it a garden.
Source: “The Village of Garden Grove,” by LeRoy Doig
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