When the event brochure says “Rain or Shine,” you can bet the weather won’t cancel plans. So, the Back Mountain Bloomers forged on with their bi-annual garden tour Saturday.
And no one seemed to mind.
Visitors, instead, opted for umbrellas and wellies, hats and jackets, and spent time at the six locations throughout Trucksville and Shavertown.
The tour was the result of much planning, finding gardens and hard prep work on the part of the Bloomers, their garden hosts and patient neighbors who were willing to put up with lines of cars parked along the streets.
“This is an adventure,” said one smiling woman who didn’t want to give her name. “And gardeners don’t mind a little rain.”
In fact, most of those visitors simply viewed the steady downpour as Mother Nature’s water feature, only adding to the fun. Besides, there was plenty of sunshine in the warm smiles and welcomes offered by the green-shirted Bloomers volunteers on hand at each site.
“It’s actually the first time we’ve had rain. And this is the seventh tour we’ve held,” said volunteer Arlene Grudkowski, who tallied visitors as they arrived at one of the sites.
Each house boasted a lovely garden, complete with plant lists for anyone who wanted to identify those trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals that brought bursts of color to the landscape. Each property boasted “extras” – gardening, nature or plant-raising demonstrations, examples of Bloomers’ projects and even vendors’ displays. Plenty of Bloomers volunteers were on hand to answer questions and to keep both visitors and property safe.
Most of the gardens were the work of homeowners who love to get their hands dirty. One or two were the result of landscapers’ work. But those homeowners generously offered to let visitors see the final results.
The jewel in the garden crown was the Stefano property in Shavertown. From the front, the huge modern house looked like another well-kept property on the street full of lovely front lawns. But the back lot was well worth the climb up the driveway and the staircase that led to the pool area.
John and Lena Stefano proudly answered questions about their hard work since 1993 to create a garden wonderland.
“John is a beast when it comes to the garden,” Lena said. “He would get an idea. And we would both work on it. This place is on a hill, so there were no big machines. We had to haul everything up by hand.”
On Saturday, there was a display of “before” pictures in the outdoor pavilion next to the koi pond so visitors could see where the garden started. And the couple talked about hauling flagstones from the curb to the hillside pool deck or drilling through rock to make a base for the pond. John planted every tree. The couple researched and shopped to find every piece of statuary. And just outside the kitchen, they created an herb garden for their other love – cooking.
Neighbors and friends talked about John’s efforts. A postal carrier by day, he’d work in the garden in the evenings and days off.
“And after he retired, he went full-force at that garden,” said friend Rick Knappman, who found himself recruited to help with some of the heavier lifting. “In fact, he taught me a lot. And that’s what got me started on my own gardening.”
Knappman’s garden was also part of the tour. And it had a very different vibe from Stefano’s Italian-influenced grandeur.
Instead, the Knappman residence featured Buddha statuary and a small concrete pagoda among the flowers.
“My wife [Marlene] is a reiki master,” Knappman said. “She was ill several years ago with a virus that she just couldn’t beat, even with going to doctor after doctor, seeing specialists, the whole nine yards. And someone suggested reiki and the healing was almost instantaneous.”
Marlene Knappman then studied the alternative medicine practice, even extending it into the garden’s style. She also became fascinated this year with succulents, so the couple filled parts of the patio, as well. Members of the Northeast PA Bonsai Society were on hand to show their work and explain the art of creating small trees.
At another of the homes, local artist Leigh Pawling supplemented the wonderful perennial gardens with an exhibit of her own work. At still another, the homeowners showed what it took to keep local wildlife, especially deer, from using their lovely grounds as a buffet table. And, Kaye Hayes and Fred Ney sent visitors through their garage full of tractors, hoes, rakes and other garden gear to the serene garden with its view of Posten Pond.
Probably the whole point of the day was inspiration, said volunteer Mary Lou Grant.
“You visit homes where you say, ‘I could never do this, but it’s wonderful to see.’ And then you go to a garden where you say, ‘This is something I could do in my garden, too.’ And you want to see and do more,” she said. “Yes, it’s a way for the garden owners to show what they have been able to accomplish. But more importantly, it’s a day for us all to get inspiration.”
