AGC’s Heirloom gardeners worked today in the North Mountain Park Heirloom Garden. The garden is looking good, but there’s always more weeds to pull! Today was perfect weather for gardening. ~Lynn ~photos by Lynn McDonald
Heirloom Gardeners: October in North Mountain Park’s Heirloom Garden
Pictures by Lynn McDonald, AGC Member
North Mountain Park Heirloom Gardeners workday in the gardens.
Photos provided by Lynn McDonald
A dedicated group of AGC members have been planting and gardening North Mountain Park’s Heirloom Garden for years, The Club calls them ‘The Heirloom Gardeners’. The community of Ashland enjoys the Heirloom Garden in all seasons, but spring is especially delightful.
The Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for June 2021 is unusual. It’s unusual because it is three gardens and unusual because they are back gardens. Gardens selected for GotM honors must be substantially visible from the public right-of-way (street or sidewalk ordinarily) so that usually means front gardens. These three back gardens qualify because they are visible from Ashland Creek Park (on Hersey near Oak) and these three are all in a row.
Directions: From Hersey Street, walk along the right (east) side of the park about half way from front to back and watch for signs. Please stay in the park. You will see some gorgeous gardens.
The first (geographically) of the selected gardens is the furthest south of the three; the back garden of Deborah and Jeff Wihtol of 589 Oak Street. They started their garden with a rounded patio and gently winding path that Jeff designed. Then in 2017 the Wihtols had Solid Ground Landscaping plan and install most of the plants. Since then, they’ve made changes on their own. The recent loss of a large box elder tree brought more sun to the south side of the garden than it had in the past, to which they are adjusting. And most recently they arranged for Jane Hardgrove to refresh the landscape and accommodate the new sun situation. Among Deb’s favorite plants are hydrangeas, daphne odora, cape fuchsia, and orange sedge. Routine maintenance is by Juan Guerrero.
The second selected garden belongs to Ursula and Marvin Webster of 603 Oak Street whose historic 1897 home influenced plant selections. Sage Hill Landscape installed the hardscape and initial plantings in back following guidance from the Websters. As Ursula put it, “What would grandma do?” was her guiding principle. A massive trumpet vine, stone walls, ivy, and treasured perennials survive from the house’s earliest days. Among her favorites are plants that she considers “romantically old fashioned” such as hydrangea, peonies, erigeron, and catmint. The hillside setting dictated stairs, and aspen trees thrive in the lowest parts of the garden, nearest the park. Their quaking leaves add movement to the garden. Ursula handles routine maintenance with assistance from Juan Guerrero. The small building at the back of the garden is a straw-bale office built by EcoNest.
The third selected garden belongs to Susan McKennon of 615 Oak Street. The yard is dominated by a huge old oak that some believe is the tree for which Oak Street was named. That mighty tree is a picture of health thanks to Susan’s care and Canopy’s regular maintenance. Her dazzling stand of iris stems from an early gift from Schreiners, friends of the family—well known for iris cultivation. Susan brought the iris starts from a previous home. Solid Ground designed the landscape in 2013, bringing in tons of boulders to stabilize the steep terrain and installing stairs to help people negotiate the hill between the house and the park. Solid Ground brought in many trees except the old oak, including Japanese maples and a dwarf gingko. A friend’s gift of an elderberry bush draws attention at this time of year with its dark purple foliage and pale pink flowers. Rudolpho Ramirez and his crew maintain this garden.
Article by: Ruth Sloan, AGC Garden of the Month Director
All photos by Larry Rosengren
The Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for May is Sue and Tim Cate’s at 471 Parkside Drive. As the neighbor who nominated the garden wrote, “It shows nicely from the street, but when looked at more closely the artistry of ground cover is evident, as is the balance. Without symmetry yet with plant forms and different species, there is a very graceful balance to the whole place. “
The Cates had their home built in 1995. They developed the garden themselves, beginning shortly after the house was completed. While Sue contributes ideas, Tim does all the work, spending four to five hours a week on average. He suggests that every gardener should maintain a garden diary for at least one year, to remind themselves what chores need to be done and when it is best to add new plantings. From his garden diary, Tim was able to create a comprehensive list of when each plant is at its peak. They have constructed arbors to create outdoor rooms and provide shade as well as trellises for trumpet vine, akebia, and honeysuckle.
Among Sue’s favorite plants is the crabapple tree, which she especially likes when the blooms are at the bud stage as they are now. Both Cates love the mature redbud that dominates the front yard and was recently pruned.
With thanks to Myrl Bishop for the suggestion.
Article by: Ruth Sloan
Photos by Larry Rosengren