Emporia Garden Tour on Saturday
Thursday, June 17, 2010
716 Garfield, Ed and Christine Kehres
When Ed and Christine Kehres purchased their post World War II house six years ago, they had no idea of the landscaping challenges they would face. Removing the violets and vinca vine on the north side of the house has allowed Christine to set up a shade bed with an endless variety of hydrangeas. Lining the driveway are daylilies, iris, hollyhocks, columbine, echinacea, and roses. On the north side are containers with flowers such as geraniums, grasses, gazanias, and salvia. A small area on the south side of the garage serves as a container garden with peppers and tomatoes. Welcoming you to the back yard is an arbor covered with clematis and roses. The deck is covered with an assortment of flowering annuals that provide a non-stop banquet for butterflies and hummingbirds. A conversation area complete with glider, metal lawn chairs, and a fire pit, create a lovely place to sit and delight in the endless colors of the surrounding blooms. A pine tree, surrounded with a raised bed of hydrangeas and hostas, provides shade for the fire pit. Trails in the beds as well as small fences allow dogs Nanook and Gracie to go where they want without the chance of damaging the flowers. A dog friendly yard was what they had in mind when laying out the back yard. A large triangular shaped bed located in the back corner completes the yard. A dogwood tree, red climbing rose, and sweet autumn clematis provide the vertical displays while phlox, peonies, hydrangeas, lilies, and spirea blankets the ground. Christine and Ed have created a friendly environment for the dogs and endless array of colors from spring to fall.
3514 W. 22nd Ave., Allen and Joyce Throm
Allen and Joyce built their house in 1977. The land was pasture and no trees so when they started their yard they planted locust, maple and redbud trees. In the backyard they have apple, peach and cherry trees. The Throm’s yard now has flower gardens with all different flowers and rocks from Joyce’s parents farm. Their favorite flowers are peonies, lilacs, daisies, coneflowers and knock out roses. There is yard art throughout the flower beds including birdbaths and wren houses on the trees. Along the driveway are limestone rocks taken from the limestone school that Joyce and her father went to. The back yard has a lilac, peonies, iris, ornamental grasses and a vegetable garden. Martin houses are in the corner and Joyce and Allen love hearing their chatter.
922 S. Weaver St., Tony and Linda Zouplna
Tony and Linda Zouplna purchased their home just outside the Emporia city limits in 1994. They were attracted to the 3 acre property by the size of the lot and the proximity to Emporia. The first tree planted was a Bradford pear they received as an anniversary gift the first year. The next few years they started planting trees as windbreaks and enjoyed watching them mature. When they purchased their home it contained a garden spot in the back yard which went unused for the first few years. Now, Tony and Linda plant several types of vegetables including tomatoes, corn, peppers and potatoes. Tony enjoys trying different varieties in addition to a few standards such as Celebrity tomatoes. The front landscaping started with the addition of several small Austrian pines, Eastern Red Cedar and Viburnum in the fall of 2004. The mulch was added the following spring with most coming from the transfer station. One of their favorite features is the butterfly garden with several butterfly bushes, Phlox and daylilies, among other perennials. Each year they like to mix in various types of annuals as well. Firecracker plant (Cuphea igneous) is one of the favorite annuals. All types of butterflies and hummingbirds can been seen throughout the summer. Next to the butterfly garden is an asparagus patch. Bordering the deck is a flower bed with Chrysanthemums and various annuals. Just for convenience this bed also includes a tomato plant and pepper plant for quick access from the kitchen. While there are several things they still wish to add Tony, Linda and Anton enjoy spending time outdoors, appreciating the features and taking advantage of the space.
2114 Meadowlark, Carrol and Carolyn Koch
Carrol and Carolyn Koch have lived at 2114 Meadowlark Lane for 33 years and during that time the landscape has changed several times. This year the challenge has been to adjust to a new sunscape due to the removal of two large trees. The front yard provides a shady environment, allowing begonias, hydrangeas, impatiens and hostas to provide the ground cover and the color. Ten varieties of clematis are planted throughout the back yard. The use of container planting became necessary when a tulip bed was created. The containers allow color to exist while leaving the bulbs undisturbed. This year the feature color is pink, to honor the Koch’s granddaughter. Pink petunias, geraniums, and vinca are planted in the containers. A small vegetable garden is planted in a raised bed and this year volunteer potatoes are growing.
927 Exchange, William Allen White House State Historic Site
The landscape design was reached through collaboration with Master Gardeners, the Kansas State Historical Society and community members. Landscape design students at Kansas State University worked on individual designs as a semester project, and many of their ideas were incorporated into the final design. An article in a 1927 issue of Better Homes and Gardens was also an inspiration for the design. Pictures and plants mentioned by W.A. White in that article were replicated in the current gardens. The landscape includes collections of hosta, daylilies, and iris, many of which are labeled by cultivar. The lily pond contains aquatic plants that serve as habitat for goldfish that keep mosquito larvae in check. Scheller’s Lawn and Landscape was instrumental in carrying out the plan with planting, tilling, and installation of a watering system. Master Gardeners have continued to weed, water, prune, rake and watch things grow. We have also been present at several events to conduct garden tours and answer questions about the plantings which include “Knock-out” and “The Fairy” roses, Dwarf Korean lilac, viburnums, hydrangeas, arborvitae, phlox, peonies, and honeysuckle. The site makes a beautiful setting for outdoor parties, weddings, reunions, and meetings throughout the year.
We hope to see you at the tour on Saturday.
709 West St., Janet Brassart
hen Janet bought the property at 709 West Street. At the time, the lot contained a 1920’s era house and a ramshackle detached garage. Janet set three main goals for the garden: first, combining fruits, vegetables, and flowers for food production and beauty; second, using nature-friendly, organic practices as much as possible; and third, creating a natural-appearing garden that would look like it “just happened.” When her youngest child no longer used the backyard swing set, Janet converted the rear 15 feet of the property into a fruit and flower area with raspberries, strawberries, elderberries, daylilies, lilies, and hostas under the redbud tree. About five years ago, Janet had three raised beds installed in the backyard vegetable area to control soil erosion on the sloping lot and make hand spading possible. Beginning with crocus in March, flowers bloom the entire growing season. Fresh vegetables and fruits are available all spring and summer, with extra to can, freeze, and sell at the Saturday Farmers’ Market. No insecticides or fungicides are used, and herbicides are minimally used. A bird-watching hobby is also part of the pest control plan. As for the “natural look,” she is pleased with the mix of edible and ornamental plants, and with a lawn that takes only twenty minutes to mow.