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Jeannine Churchill Apple Valley, Minnesota

Jeannine calls her garden “Serendipity.” It pretty much just happened! In October 1980, she bought
her house with two gigantic elms and four struggling oaks shading the backyard. Spring Hill Nursery
offered a deal for 3 hostas: H. ‘Royal Standard’, H. ‘Fortunei Hyacinthina’, and H. ‘Fortunei
Albomarginata’ and, by division, they became the mowing buffer throughout her yard. In the next 10
years the elms died, the yard became sunny, and she grew roses. Then the oaks filled in; she was
back to shade, and birds brought her H. ventricosa. That’s when she learned there are more than 3
hosta varieties.

More recently, the grass she once tried to make perfect has taken a back seat. Without pesticides
and herbicides, her yard’s dandelions, wild violets, and white clover now attract pollinators, while the
leopard frogs, toads, and tree frogs cheerfully feast on mosquitoes and gnats. Her primary focus is
the flower garden, with large hostas as the backbone, along with smaller varieties adding a special
effect among other perennials and colorful potted annuals. Each year, a few more of the original
three hosta varieties are set at the curb to make room for varieties calling her name.

Of course, gardening is best done with friends. Her neighbor Jeanne has become a great friend
and fellow gardener. Sharing ideas, tips, and favorite plants for the past 15 years or so, they’re now
striving to create a continuous park-like feeling from one yard to the other. Meanwhile, knowing she
had rain barrels, a friend introduced her to bigger and better storm water retention possibilities. A
French drain to capture rain barrel overflow, along with a large rain garden formed by adding a berm
at the back of the yard, now captures over 5,000 gallons of storm water for every one inch of rain!
Impressive!

Be sure to read two related stories by Jeannine on pages 37 and 53 in this issue.

DANNY LAWSON DANNY LAWSON

This H. ‘Allegan Fog’ was a joy to behold. Yes Jeannine, we agree!

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