Tour chapter member Wendy Miller's yard. Rain date: Thurs. Aug. 22 same time.
Public Welcome Family Friendly Free Event Home Garden Tour Wheelchair Accessible Free Public Parking
"I grew up in New England, but lived most of my adult life in Arizona. When My husband (a Duluth native) and I moved here 4 years ago, I was excited to plant a garden full of the azaleas, bleeding hearts and peonies of my youth. But then I visited the home of a friend in Minneapolis who has a beautiful property filled with many native plants in a cottage garden style that truly inspired me. I was particularly interested in the plight of pollinators and how I could help. I hoped to create an attractive, educational, ecologically beneficial space for insects and humans alike. I started attending Wild Ones meetings, read Sara Stein, Douglas Tallamy and Benjamin Vogt among others, joined several FB groups and poured over Prairie Moon Catalogs.
I started with two 4' x 14' beds on either side of the front walkway. I planted garlic in the fall and then native plugs in the spring. From there, madness ensued. Bit by bit, I proceeded to cover more and more lawn with cardboard and 4 truck loads of arborist chips. I'd spend the summer and fall hauling and spreading wood chips then plant plugs the next season. The last 2 seasons, most of my plants have come from winter sowing . Over 100 jugs and lettuce containers with seeds collected whenever possible, and purchased when not. Stepping stone paths through the "meadow" make it possible for the mail carrier to cut the corner, and for interested neighbors to wander through and get to know the plants that used to be all around us.
I look forward to sharing my progress!"