It’s summer and the Van Loveland gardens at Landis are in full bloom. An abundant mix of day lilies, phlox, foxglove, lilies, bee balm, salvia, yarrow, and rudbeckia fill the air with their fragrance attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Although the Van Loveland perennials have always been a favorite of gardeners -- and pollinators -- the Landis Garden Club met in the early spring to discuss creating new gardens. The question then was, what type? A herb garden full of both culinary and medicinal herbs? A harvest garden with heirloom vegetables? A children’s garden? In the process we learned from one another, such as that plants like southern globe thistle and parsley attract butterflies, while many varieties of sedum attract pollinators including bees, butterflies, flies, and hummingbird moths. Then we realized that by miniaturizing and creating themed planters, we could establish several different gardens in one season. So the members came together in early June to decide on the planters’ themes. The result: “Pollinator Attractant Plants,” “Butterfly Garden,” “Pizza Garden,” “Plantings for the Blind and Visually Impaired,” and “Fun Plants That Kids Like to Eat,”
The “Pizza Garden” includes herbs commonly used on pizza such as thyme, basil, and oregano. This garden is especially fun for children who can smell the aromatic herbs when they touch them. The plants were creatively planted in the classic “pizza wheel” shape, separated with rocks painted to look like pepperoni.
The “Plantings for the Blind and Visually Impaired” container includes fragrant plants such as mint and spearmint and the soft and fuzzy lamb’s ear. While gardens are usually a feast for the eyes, these plants were chosen to please our senses of smell, taste, and touch.
The “Fun Plants That Kids Like to Eat” container includes sugar snap peas on a trellis, easy for a child to both tend and pick for a tasty snack! It also has cherry tomatoes and snow peas, as well as edible flowers.
All of the Landis Garden Club containers can be found along the front side of the Barn, just past the Farmhouse. Labels and educational information complement each one for an informal learning experience.
Future club endeavors include planting perennials along the new retaining wall at the Meeting House and a “Cuss and Discuss Gab” at the gardening season’s end. Gardeners of all talents are invited to join the Landis Garden Club. For more information please contact me at gardenflowerfairy@yahoo.com.