Garden of the Month: May 2012

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450 Lit Way:
Shannon Wolff’s beautiful garden at 450 Lit Way has been a fourteen year process. Shannon is the third generation in her family to garden in Ashland. Her grandfather moved here in the 1940s and raised vegetables on land behind the Presbyterian Church. Her mother has always had a garden, and still does, and Shannon continues her mother’s tradition of planting daphne as close to the entry of the house as possible.
When Shannon moved into her house, the roses were already growing, but not much else. Her former husband built the raised bed for vegetables on the right side of the front yard. Other than that, Shannon has done all the planning, planting, and weeding in her organic garden herself with occasional help from her son, Sam, and her daughter, Gracie, both students at Ashland High School. Shannon’s garden reflects the fact that children grew up here. A birch tree in the front lawn has a wonderful fort in it. Her daughter used to make potions from the lavender and mint still growing in abundance in the middle garden. The swing set allows a great view of the vegetable garden.
Pasque flowers (Pulsatilla) are a favorite of Shannon’s, and she has a wonderful collection, many of them from Kathy Allen’s rock garden in Central Point. Another favorite is the jasmine that covers a trellis outside the kitchen door, creating a wonderful, and delightfully scented, place to relax after a long day of teaching at the John Muir School.
 The daylilies in the front yard came from a farm Shannon visited in New England about ten years ago. They’re not blooming yet, so be sure to walk by again in June!
Shannon’s garden, including the middle garden (not visible from the street) which is brimming with strawberries, rhubarb, spring bulbs, flowering trees and shrubs, will be open for viewing from 
10:00 AM till Noon Sunday, May 6th.

submitted by:  Terry Tobey

Growing Shiitake Mushrooms

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An article in the Medford Mail Tribune’s January’s HOMELIFE magazine inspired me to order shittake mushroom spawn from www.mushroompeople.com.I called several tree pruners before I could obtain five white oak logs for growing the mushrooms, each logs was about 4-5 feet long and 4″-6″ inches in diameter. My husband drilled holes in them every 6″ and then we hammered in the pegs with the shiitake spawn. I didn’t use any wax to seal the holes as suggested, I just hammered the pegs in and called it good. Like the article says, all the work is done in a day, and then you just lean the logs in the shade, water them when it gets really hot and wait to see what happens.

by Melody Jones

Read the Homelife article here: http://www.mailtribune.com/HOMELIFE/mushrooms

Garden of the Month: April 2012

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826 Holly Street-
It’s daffodil time! If you are eager for a touch of spring stop by 826 Holly Street (on the corner of Liberty) and you’ll find the home and garden of Carol Walker. If you’re lucky enough to catch the sun shining, the view will be all the more golden, but just a hint of what’s to come as more buds unfold. (The pictures don’t do it justice.)

Beginning in 1994, when Carol purchased the home, there were few daffodils to be seen, only lawn and the occasional grazing deer – regretfully, now more often than occasionally. Looking for drought and deer resistant plants, Carol began with 250 daffodil bulbs ordered from White Flower Farm in Connecticut. The lawn was removed, the daffodils planted and the front yard saw the first of many improvements.

Today the yard is filled with daffodils – many different varieties to assure blooms from February into May. In addition, Carol’s front yard is planted with other deer resistant plants – lavender, rosemary (seen cascading over a small retaining wall) crocus, grape hyacinth and sage. Interspersed among these are Japanese maples, kwanzan cherry, blue spruce and a giant douglas fir ringed in Oregon grape. Pathways meander throughout inviting a closer look.

Carol, originally from Sussex England, inherited her love of gardening from her father. “Their” touch can be seen throughout, including Carol’s “Garden Art” – bits and pieces found here and there, adding charm and interest everywhere one looks.

In the back and side yards, protected from the deer by a high, elegant fence, can be found even more to make a true gardener smile – poppies, tulips, cowslip (most waiting to bloom) surround an antique bird bath, a beautifully shaped aspen and more cherry trees. The highlight – as soon as our spring warms up – is an amazing wisteria covered arbor. Carol has done nearly all of the work herself, adding more daffodils each year from local sources. No chemical sprays are ever used and water is conserved as much as possible.

You may view the front yard at any time. In addition, Carol has agreed to show her side and back gardens to AGC members on Saturday, April 14th from 11:00 to 2:00. Seeing all of this loveliness will be a great reminder that warmer, more colorful garden days are just around the corner.

by Kaaren Anderson