July 11, 2001
Stillwater Gazette
Betsy Halden

Special gardens on Family Means St. Croix garden tour

This year the Family Means Garden Tour features seven gardens in the Stillwater area. Each garden has unique characteristics and has been lovingly nurtured by its caregivers. I realize this sounds similar to a description for an early childhood family education program. But that may be why Family Means sponsors the garden tour. Healthy families thrive with love, developmentally appropriate care, nurturing. Healthy gardens grow and blossom with care, love, attention. Neither gardens nor families can afford weeds. Healthy gardens, healthy families make healthy communities.

People who participate in garden tours as visitors or as hosts almost always say tours help them learn more about gardening. Hosts learn how to help their plantings look their best. Visitors observe new varieties, plant combinations, garden design. We can learn new ideas from each other. This year we take comfort in knowing that caterpillars, BIG caterpillars, and rose chafers are in everyone’s gardens. We empathize when we see holes in rose and hosta leaves. Gardeners do their best, and this year’s garden hosts are no exception.

Six privately owned gardens are highlighted on this year’s tour. I wish there were space to describe each in detail. The gardens at 4900 N. Stagecoach Trail, Stillwater, Guy and Marilyn Johnson’s gardens, are in a lovely spacious and gracious setting. I couldn’t help but say “Ooooh,” as I saw the gardens from the driveway. Bronson and Scotty’ Simonet’s gardens at 510 Greeley Street offer color, beauty, freshness. 302 W. Sycamore Street and 1410 N. 4th Street, Stillwater, are neighbors. Each is unique. In Brett and Jenny Plumley’s garden on W. Sycamore you’ll see color, garage sale finds, and vegetables and flowers growing side by side, cottage garden style. At 1410 N. 4th Street, in Corky and Henry Thomas’ garden, you can see raised bed vegetable gardens, colorful flower beds, and lovely landscaping. The Laurel Street Inn, 210 E. Laurel Street, Stillwater, is owned by Doug and Debbie Thorsen. The roses, the riverside grotto, and the setting with the spectacular view of the St. Croix River are among the unique features of this garden. The sixth private garden is Paul and Karen Richtman’s garden at 10560 Norwood Avenue, Stillwater Township. Karen and Paul are avid water gardeners and have designed their garden around the natural features of their land. Paul constructed two bridges over the ravine and took advantage of the natural stream to form a pond. The water gardens feature water grasses, goldfish, koi, and five varieties of water lilies. The flower gardens are bright and colorful and have many interesting varieties. There are over 400 daylilies on the hillside. Paul’s vegetable garden is thriving. Karen says one of her favorites is a hardy perennial hibiscus, 50 years old and over 4 feet tall. The plant was a gift of a friend before she went into a senior center. As in all of the gardens on the tour, there are many interesting spaces to explore in this garden. If you start at this garden, 10560 Norwood Avenue, you can work your way south on the tour.

The Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at the Washington County Fairgrounds is a public garden. Washington County master gardeners tend it with loving care, dedication, and good humor. This garden is attractive, interesting, and colorful. As are all of the gardens on the tour, it is educational. The demonstration garden features honeysuckle-covered arbors, clematis-covered trellis, rose gardens, perennial and annual beds, and four types of herb gardens: culinary, medicinal, craft, cosmetic. There are native plants, prairie plants, and plants that attract butterflies. The plants are labeled. The Washington County Master Gardeners wish to thank the local businesses and organizations who have donated many of the plant materials and supplies: Out Back Nursery, Minnesota Green, Bailey’s Nursery, Gruber Pallets, and the Washington County Fair Board. Kent Mitchell, Fair ground garden coordinator and his volunteer colleagues emphasized that the garden is designed for people, the public, to visit, to lean from, and to enjoy.

Host homeowners and a master gardener will be at each of the tour gardens. They will be available to answer questions about individual gardens, plants, and perhaps, gardening issues. Tickets are $10 for adults, $25 for a family. Tickets may be purchased in advance and on Saturday morning of the tour at Family Means 216 West Myrtle Street, Stillwater. You can also purchase tickets at any of the featured gardens on the tour days. Tour hours are 10 am to 4 pm each day. If you would like further information, call 651.439.4840. Or you can visit www.familymeans.org.

Betsy Halden is a Master Gardener with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. University of Minnesota Extension Service materials were consulted in the preparation of this column. You can reach Betsy Halden at eahalden@comcast.net