BACK TO FULL TOUR

Knowing nothing about gardening when we moved to the property in 1989, I learned as I planted and made many mistakes and discoveries. In the beginning, I was heavily influenced by my neighbors who were the keepers of a three-acre heritage rose garden across the street. I’ve lost count of the number of roses we have. About 60, many polyanthas, floribunddas, old roses and modern shrubs that do not require care to keep their leaves green and healthy. Early on, we quit pesticides and non-organic fertilizers as we eliminated invasive berries and weeds that never seemed to get under control.

Over time, we began to install drought tolerant, native plants and plants for the birds, bees and butterfliles. In 2021, I dug up 1200 square feet of grass and converted the remaining to a drought tolerant variety which is in process of conversion to a meadow.

I also began to tame an area at the street that had become an eyesore. Twenty yards of plant matter waste was hauled away. Today, the street plot boasts plants that have all been transplanted from the garden as division and spacing became more necessary for maturing plants. The garden includes a dozen fruit trees.

Most recently in 2023/24, a major landscaping project was completed to include much needed drainage, because we are at the bottom of a watershed where flooding had become untenable. As a focus, we installed hardscape with a focus on defense from floods and fires.