Garden Tour, June 8

My garden, along with several others, will be on the Garden Club of Lincoln's annual tour. It's free and runs from 9am to 1pm on Saturday, June 8.

I'll have prairie seedlings and seed packets for sale, my books, and maybe more goodies. Below is a listing of all the gardens, roughly along A Street all the way across Lincoln.

Community Orchard Project

Christ United Methodist Church (CUMC),4530 A. St., Lincoln, NE

Directions: Located between S. 40th and S. 48th, the orchard is on the north side of the church

parking lot, 2 blocks north of 45th and A. St., off Mohawk St.

Lincoln's first community orchard is located in the heart-of-the-city on the property of Christ

United Methodist Church. In 2011, after extensive planning, over 30 volunteers under the

guidance of Extension Educator, Vaughn Hammond, planted the first row of 30 trees. The

orchard now boasts 60 dwarf apple trees in ten different varieties. Fruit production is expected

in 2013 with up to a bushel of apples per tree. The harvest will be shared with community

organizations serving the hungry in our community as well as neighbors and church members.

The recent addition of a gazebo, nestled between the rows of trees, provides a gathering place

for neighbors as well as an outdoor venue for church events. Stop by and visit with orchard

volunteers to learn more about this unique mission project and listen to music by the Root

Marm Chicken Farm jug band.

Gladys Jeurink, 4600 Spruce, Lincoln, NE 68516

Directions: Located between S. 40th and S. 48th, travel on Pioneers Blvd. and turn south

on S. 46th. The garden is two blocks south of Pioneers, on the corner of 46th and

Spruce.

This yard has been registered as a Wild Life Habitat for over 20 years. In addition to the

wide variety of trees and shrubs that provide shelter and protection to critters and birds,

there are 300 plant species for birds and butterflies to feed upon. A system of bark

paths allows Gladys to work on either side to care for her plants. She rotates her plants

so you may see a tomato plant in a place where flowers have previously been.

One of her favorite spots in this yard is under a huge cottonwood tree. She enjoys the

falling cotton in the spring and the rustling, whispering leaves in the fall. There have

been over 40 varieties of birds sighted in her yard and Gladys is kept busy cleaning five

bird baths all summer. In the fall, Gladys has counted as many as 75 Monarchs

spending the night on sedum plants while on their annual migration to Mexico. In spite

of some fence damage this winter and squirrels chewing on tree bark, she’s hoping all

vegetation with thrive this year.

Bob and Sue Heist, 6401 Rainier Dr.,Lincoln, NE

Directions: Located between S. 56th and S. 70th, just north of A Street. From

the east or west on A Street, turn on Evergreen (north) and turn right into

Taylor Meadows. Take the first right, Rainier Dr., to the first house on the right.

The Heists bought their “sweet, little ranch-on-the-corner” in 1988. The

developer had left only blue-grey, clay soil and when it rained the backyard

looked more like a pond than a lawn. The first order of business was to install

drain tile around three sides of the perimeter of the yard. That project was

followed by bringing over 40 cubic yards of good soil into the yard to create.

berms, swales, and a large perennial garden.

Initially, the yard was composed of blue grass, two ash trees, a few yews, and

Scots and Austrian pines. Only two Scots pines remain, the others having

succumbed to drowning or pine wilt disease. The two ash trees now provide

shade for the yards. Sue divided the backyard into themed-rooms: the

Mexican room around the east patio, oriental room around the bridge that

spans the dry-creek bed, the small Victorian seating area under a large rose

bush, and a Tuscan/south-of-France patio area which includes a pergola

covered with wisteria. Two unique trellises of recycled rusting iron from Duo

Lift in Columbus, Nebraska, were added to provide support for three grape

vines. The newest addition is a stone retaining wall in the front yard designed

to level the yard and to improve drainage. A rain garden at the west end of the

wall is slowly being developed.

Jim and Carrol Pace, 2201 West Roxbury Lane, Lincoln, NE

Directions:The usual route to this home, West Denton Road, is under construction. From 14th and Old

Cheney Road, go 1/2 block further west, to Warlick Blvd; left (south) on Hwy 77; right (west) on

Rokeby Road (one road past Yankee Hill Road); right (north) to SW 12th; left on Burr Oaks

Blvd; left to West Foothills ; right on SW Woodberry; left onto SW 22; left on Roxbury Lane; and

left into the driveway. You may park on the left side of their lane. The homeowners would

appreciate it greatly if you do not park on the grass. Thank you.

Eighteen years ago, the Pace’s built their own home, on 5 acres of beautiful grass and

forest. In the following years, Jim has done all of the heavy work, planting trees and bushes; he

recently planted a lot of fruit trees. Jim has done extensive heavy block work, making flower

beds for Carrol’s beautiful flowers.

Shaun & Rusty Vanneman, 3190 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE

Directions: This garden is located in the heart of Lincoln, south of Van Dorn St. between

S. 27th and S. 33rd on Sheridan Boulevard.

This garden is an example of a unique and challenging renovation of both the garden

and the structures within the garden. The renovation created a multi-level, multi-use

garden that includes a variety of unique flowering trees and evergreens, as well as a

variety of flowering shrubs and perennials for both sun and shade areas. Also included

is a raised cottage vegetable garden. The new structures built show excellent examples of how to extend outdoor living areas and include a covered patio area, outdoor fireplace and fountain on several building planes.”

Benjamin and Jaclyn Vogt, 3755 West Plum Street, Lincoln, NE

Directions: Head west on A St. Turn left on SW 36th Street, turn right at the “T” intersection on

West Plum. The house is at the top of the hill on the left.

Nearly 2,000 feet of organic, low-maintenance, native prairie plants with a focus on gardening

for insects. This garden was begun from bare ground in 2007, and it is now a Monarch Watch

way station. The garden was named a 2012 best outdoor space by Apartment Therapy. Homegrown plants and seeds will be available for sale. Visit deepmiddle.blogspot.com for photos.