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closeLocal roots: Transformation of backyards takes time and dedication
Nancy Draper / guest columnist
When Marilyn and Bud Montgomery moved to their home in the South Hill section of Puyallup seven years ago, their small back yard was comprised of grass and concrete sidewalks connecting their patios.
Marilyn immediately began the process of transforming it into a glorious outdoor space by incorporating perennials, an arbor, garden art and wonderful souvenirs from their travels to exotic destinations.
“All that was here was grass and a single vine maple, but I knew I wanted it to be much more,” Marilyn told me as we toured each corner of her garden. “Transforming this space wasn’t without its challenges.”
Like so much of the soil in our area, Marilyn soon discovered that she didn’t have to dig down very far before she hit rocks. This meant building up the curved beds with more soil, and planting shrubs, bulbs, perennials and annuals that adapt to having a shallow area for their roots to settle.
And what became of all of those unearthed rocks? Marilyn used them to create a beautiful focal point in a corner of her garden, by mimicking a dry creek bed.
In the opposite corner is a Koi pond, with a beautiful and rustic hollowed tree stump from the Montgomery’s cabin property doubling as the pond’s aerator/fountain. All around the pond are native perennials and garden art accents. Marilyn described, with the enthusiasm all gardeners share, how this corner will change as summer progresses, especially as the leaves of the Gunnera planted in the back of the pond emerge and provide shade for the Koi.
Marilyn uses the beautiful roses, leaves, flowers and seed pods she grows to create bouquets for herself and friends.
Last fall Marilyn created all of the flower arrangements for a friend’s wedding, and enjoyed the experience so much, she hopes for more such opportunities in the future.
While Marilyn’s garden is filled with colorful and varied shrubs and perennials, she wanted it to be low maintenance, choosing azaleas, rhododendrons, hosta, cyclamen, astilbe, crocosmia, tulips and roses. She cherishes a clump of snowdrops from her grandmother’s garden, and a camellia started from a clipping from a plant in South Carolina, which Bud brought back after a family visit. Certainly time is spent tending to all of it, but Marilyn doesn’t consider any of it a chore.
“It’s so peaceful out here, it’s not yard work to me, it’s gardening,” she said.
I noticed the many little birds dropping into the yard while I was there and Marilyn said there were none when she and Bud first moved to the house because of the lack of vegetation. Now they visit regularly.
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Readers:
Do you have a garden that you’ve spent hours slaving over and would like to show it off to Herald readers? Each week, The Herald’s newest columnist, Nancy Draper, will profile an East Pierce County gardener. If you want to show off your hard work, send information about your garden photos of your yard and a way to get in touch with you in an e-mail with “GARDEN” in the subject line to editor@puyallupherald.com.
About Nancy Draper:
Although The Herald’s newest columnist comes originally from Niagara Falls, Canada, she has lived in Pierce County for 22 years. She lives with her husband, a Puyallup native, and her three dogs. An avid gardener, she enjoys working in her yard whenever she can. When the weather isn’t cooperative, she stays indoors and designs jewelry.