The garden on the east side of the house is called the Garden of Eden.
It feels like we are in an area far away from the city when we walk into our garden. It looks like everything is connected when it's in full bloom. It looks like a work of art. He said that it was the Garden ofEDEN.
The gardens in his 40-by-120-foot lot are disorganized.
He has tended the gardens for 35 years and there is a lot of stuff in the yard.
It's his favorite place to be no matter how he describes it.
His interests changed before he settled in.
I didn't have a plan when I began. I wanted to grow plants. I began to add annuals and shrubs because I knew a lot about them. I started adding about 10 a year after learning about all the different plants.
Adding plants that give bursts of color, and layers of plants gave him an interest in monarch butterflies.
Over time, he added all of these elements to his yard, but pollinator plants are the most important to him.
In the last five to six years, I've tried to add plants that bloom from spring to frost. I want to give monarchs and other butterflies places to lay their eggs. Now the focus is on the environment.
He is surrounded by plants that are short and tall, plants that climb nearby buildings, and herbs and vegetables tucked between plants.
Since we moved here, we did an inventory of all the plants. Every year I plant 10 to 15 different annuals, and we have about 100 individual species of Perennials. There are four different types of roses, 16 different shrubs, and 17 herbs and vegetables in my possession.
When he and his wife first moved to their house, the yard was bare.
The clematis is still here. There was a climbing rose in front of the house. There are some peonies left. It was all done. I made a lot of changes.
I created two garden beds. I plant my annuals on the south side of the house. There is only one area that is completely sunny all the time. A horseshoe shaped bed is one of the things I have.
There is a bed in the backyard. There are different types of plants there. In the spring there are flowers. A climbing rose, a bush rose, and a rugosa rose are just a few of the daylilies. I also have a dogwood shrub and a St. John's wort shrub.
The bed he added in 2016 was a pollinators bed.
I bought a kit from the nursery. The plants were small. It took a few years for them to be established with the rabbits. It is his favorite part of the garden.
The bed is facing the alley.
The fence was moved in the back along the alley. It was brought towards the house. I was able to plant shrubs, annuals, and vegetables there because of that. It's pretty in the summer. He said that it makes the block look nicer.
He got involved with butterfly and insect monitoring after having his pollinator bed.
Our pollinator garden is registered as a Monarch Waystation. When the eggs become butterflies, we let them go. The Monarch Watch gets information on the butterflies from us. We do insect monitoring, but we don't give it to any group. We keep a record of it so we know if we are attracting beneficial insects.
His secret chair is located near the back of his bed and can be reached by a path that goes through plants.
I enjoy sitting and watching the bees and butterflies. I send pictures of the butterflies to the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association. I enjoy going out there between 2 and 4 o'clock. There are lots of bees in the yard. That is a good time for the bees because the plants are producing a lot of food.
A couple's land is beautified by a pond and pollinator plants.
He talked about his gardens which will be on the garden tour.
What is the question? The biggest challenges of tending a small garden are listed.
Finding space to grow plants is an answer. When buying a new plant, you have to be very careful.
The benefits of a small garden are unknown.
It's more manageable. You would have to hire professionals if you wanted to do a garden like this.
Do you have any favorites?
It is difficult for me because there are so many that are beautiful. Firepot is a plant I like. It blooms in the first week of August and then continues to bloom throughout the fall. The flowers look like a fire. It is orange and yellow and has a hint of purple in it.
It's really nice. Every year, I plant it. Going into fall, it is the perfect color. It works well with the asters and other fall plants.
I like my flowers. I am looking forward to getting in the garden in the spring. There are flowers in my flowerbeds. I have about 10 different types of bulbs.
I like vinca as well. It's in front of the house. The bumblebees love it because it blooms in early spring.
Who has made a difference in your garden?
Neil Diboll is a consultant at Prairie nursery. He knows a lot of things. He gave me a lot of knowledge.
There is no yard that is too small to have native plants.
A great professor is Douglas W. Tallamy. The Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology is chaired by him. I heard him talk at the Wild Ones conference about the importance of diversity. He shows how to grow plants from short to tall in the garden.
How do you layer your plants?
There are plants at the front that are 212 to 3 feet tall. There are flowers and plants. Behind them are other plants. The front layer is usually taller than the taller ones. The evergreens are in the back. The men are tall.
What plants are used to give different looks?
There is a lady's mantle. There are little drops on the leaves when I wake up. They're pretty and shiny. The Indian plantain's leaves are allrinkly. The flowers are pale yellow and it is tall.
Some plants give a burst of color.
Aralia is one person. It has a lime color. The more yellow the plant is the closer you are to the sun. The daylilies, zinnias, and my dahlia are also included.
Where do you volunteer when you're a master gardener?
The North Point Lighthouse is located at Lake Park. I do a lot of different things there. I like it because it is in my neighborhood. Every year you have to take educational credits as a master gardener. The master gardener certification was taken by me. I am a member of a pollinator group in the master gardener organization.
What amount of time do you spend in your garden?
A couple of hours a day for a couple of months. Most of my days are out there. My wife does as well. I like to sit outside and read when I'm with my friends.
Is it possible to get your plants to look so lush by usingfertilizer?
Compost is added to my plants. The compost from purple cow is the best. When I need to get rid of pests, I use a mineral called diatomaceous earth. I use it around the plants.
Is your wife involved in the garden?
She cuts the grass when she takes care of the monarchs. I like playing in the mud, but she doesn't.
What plants are in your garden?
There are three types of viburnum, a plum tree, and an elderberry bush. Forsythia and mock orange are in my possession.
How do you get to have a station?
You have to take classes to get your garden certified. Plants are needed for the caterpillar. You have to have milkweed in order for them to lay their eggs.
What plants do you grow from seeds?
Nasturtiums, zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, morning glories and moss roses are some of the plants.
What vegetable do you start with?
There is a grow light in the basement. I start my vegetables from seeds outside. I like buying my seeds from Seed Savers Exchange.
Do you have artwork in your garden?
I have a statue of a Buddha. I have St. Francis because I adore animals. The garden is brought to a state of calm by the Buddha. I enjoy coming out here and meditating.
Do you keep plants in the house during the winter?
I make sure my plants are well taken care of. Every year, I bring inside two large Rosemary plants.
What plants do you grow?
A: basil, basil, parsley.
Do you cook with your herbs often?
Is that correct? marjoram is in my salads. The leaves and flowers can be used in salads. There are many of them growing on the sidewalk. When you enter the garden, they greet you.
Did you go on a garden tour before?
I've been in this tour five times. The tour is small and the people on it do all their own gardening. They don't have a person to landscape their gardens.
It's a good thing.
What do you think about the garden tour? There are gardens on Milwaukee's east side. The gardens are close to the street.
The time is 11 a.m. to 4 pm. July 31st
The cost is free.
Maps are available at a hardware store.
Email lakeside tour@gmail.com for more information.
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An example of small-space gardening is on the garden tour.
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