In just over a week, three members of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club will open their gardens to the public. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 31st. Various garden club associates will be present at each location during two different shift times to aid with parking and guide visitors through the gardens.
These three ladies are passionate about gardening. They aspire, separate tasks, and at times triumph. Each one handles her own garden upkeep. While individual approaches vary throughout this tour, you’ll still spot plenty of blooms.
The club president, June Gebhardt, who resides at 2435 Mt. Zion Road, is involved in designing year-round gardens featuring perennials suitable for both sunny and shady areas. The front portion of her land is notably adorned with mature trees. Throughout the landscaping, you’ll see various indigenous plants incorporated into the garden beds.
However, the initial view that awaits you is the expansive pond. Visitors will notice that water lilies adorn this aquatic area. Plants can also be seen embracing both the front and sides of the house. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to appreciate the various plant arrangements June creates using annuals, climbing vines, and succulents.
The patio showcases a rain barrel and leads through stepping stones to a space where seeds of various annuals—both short and tall—are set to add colorful blooms until autumn. Peonies will also be in flower during this time. Additionally, the area boasts plenty of garden art pieces.
The next destination is a sanctuary for daylilies and hostas.
Just a short distance from West Southern Avenue, situated at 1527 Bradbury Court, Tim and Karen Scott’s shared passion for daylilies enriches their gardening endeavors. Their collection boasts 160 distinct varieties of these beautiful flowers, with numerous award-winning specimens contributing to what has become an impeccable American Daylily Society showcase garden.
Make sure you catch how the 50 types of hostas are presented in an elegant, uncluttered layout. Numerous hostas have previously earned the title Hosta of the Year. Roses greet guests at the entrance of the house. The place is neat, featuring clearly marked flora. Scotts cultivate plenty of perennials and annuals to maintain vibrant colors throughout the entire growing season.
At 607 W. Southern Ave., Mary Lee Minor’s property (which includes my yard) and flower beds are bursting with plants.
Perennial borders provide repeated blooms such as those from Siberian irises, amsonias, peonies, poppies, alliums, and extensive patches of coreopsis. This array ensures a continuous display of colors starting with thousands of daffodils and lasting through autumn. Behind a compact collection of heucheras lie plants adapted to shady conditions, whereas hostas line the driveway. Even the layout of shrubs follows repetitive rows.
This is due to it being a cutting garden, accessible to everyone interested in having flowers. The native and pollinator plants were moved closer to the rear boundary of the property. Expect my garden to have an abundance of weeds. Feel free to take one of the potted perennials as you leave.
Deer nipping at plants trouble the trio of gardeners.
Allow me to clarify: All three of us deal with deer that keep nibbling away at our plants. For myself, this situation has turned into quite the vexing issue for my garden maintenance efforts. To retaliate against these persistent deer, I’ve had to cover most of my genuine lily flowers with fences, which unfortunately doesn’t make for an attractive landscape design. The damage includes a mostly lifeless white pine tree and clusters of phlox that have been cropped short by hungry deer. Karen Scott plans to discuss methods she employs to safeguard her daylilies from such depredations. June might concede that allowing dogs around could assist in deterring this menace.
Make sure to wear comfy walking shoes. Instead of talks, we’ll have guided tours to discuss the outcomes of this soothing, therapeutic pastime. Gardening isn’t about being perfect; it’s an ongoing process. Feel free to visit our premises with your buddies. For additional pictures, check out what the club has posted.
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Mary Lee Minor belongs to the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club, holds the title of accredited master gardener, serves as a flower show judge for the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, and previously taught sixth-grade classes.
The article initially appeared in the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum.
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