Several times recently the selection committee was asked why the wonderful property at 100/120 Sixth Street has not been a Garden of the Month.  It’s because we thought it already had been.  We started noticing it as soon as the owners started planting.  But they were going along deliberately slowly and, at first, many of the plantings seemed much the same size.  Although it was wonderful, we thought we’d wait until more things matured.  Then, the next thing we knew, it was an established part of the neighborhood and we just assumed it had already been acknowledged.  Now that is corrected.  Cory Ross and Greg Conaway’s delightful garden is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for September.

September 2020 photo by Larry Rosengren

The couple never involved a professional landscape designer and really never drew up their own comprehensive plan.  But they did have a family history of gardening; the help and advice of friends and neighbors (most consistently Edward Madson); sensible ideas for how to make the landscape work (such as cooling south walls on buildings); and, most importantly, artistic tendencies.September 2020 photo by Larry Rosengren

Conaway and Ross purchased the church, its outbuildings and parking lot at the corner of Sixth and C in late 2013, then proceeded to convert the church into their home and build a secondary living unit next door, now occupied by friends.  Before the construction was complete they started to garden in the parking strip with low water-use plants after removing the thirsty grass that was there—utilizing the City of Ashland’s Lawn Replacement Program.  They have in all a third of an acre in the heart of the railroad district.September 2020 photo by Larry Rosengren

In 2017 they installed a deer fence and started in earnest planting what was essentially a blank slate with nothing but three trees inside the fence.   They started by adding favorite shade and fruit trees.  Then added roses with sentimental attachment such as Jacob’s Coat, Mr. Lincoln, and Double Delight.  Since then they’ve been given Lady Banks and Cecile Bruner roses that they also love, as well as many other plants that generous gardeners shared.September 2020 photo by Larry Rosengren

They plant to encourage birds and insect pollinators.  Sunflowers abound in season, growing up to 7’ tall in berms and 2’ tall in the flats that still have much gravel from days it was the church parking lot.  Raised beds now support edibles.September 2020 photo by Larry Rosengren

They’ve had success with kiwis, Japanese maples, a smoke tree, trident maple, lots of berries and apples as well as many natives.  Cory says that California poppies are their “cover crop” but that she would like to try a wildflower variety in the future.  She calls it a “survival of the fittest” garden:  When something works, they plant more; if it doesn’t, they try something else.Spring 2020 photo by Cory Ross

Both Cory and Greg average several hours per week working in the yard.  They have occasional help with major digging projects and seasonal cleanup.  They find the work peaceful and relaxing.  Here’s a link to a gorgeous video they produced for the virtual pollinator garden tour this year:  https://youtu.be/qALT2GMi8Rg.  Looking at it now, it’s hard to recognize that this garden has been here such a short time.September 2020 photo by LarryRosengren

Spring 2020 photo by Cory Ross

With thanks to Kristina LeFever for the nudge.

Article by: Ruth Sloan, Garden of the Month Coordinator