My Summer At Home or how I learned to love pulling weeds

by Dennis · August 7, 2020

Instead of driving on some two-lane blacktop in Montana, I find myself on the back porch of our place in Southern Illinois waiting. For what I’m not too sure. It has been a few years since I spent the summer here and I must say being in Montana this time of year is better with the lower temperature and no humidity. However, one positive of being home this summer is that we get to enjoy our flower gardens.

Usually, we are out of town during the peak bloom. The garden happens to be at its best in July when we are normally, as I said, traveling on a two-lane blacktop in Montana. Late last year we were approached by the local garden club to be part of their annual tour. We were excited to be asked and then put a lot of work last fall and this spring to complete several improvements that were planned but never quite got around to being finished. But, like most events this year, the tour was canceled but the yard is beautiful if I must say so myself.

Instead of the in-person tour, the photos will have to do.

iron garden gate from the 1880's — *The old iron gate is the center piece of the garden*

The inspiration and basic design of the garden started with an iron gate from an 1880’s ranch house in northern Idaho that had amazing wildflowers planted along the front fence line. The previous owners of the gate were retired ranchers. He liked to fly fish and she liked to collect plants and seeds from along the rivers. It worked out well for them. Upon their passing the gate was given to me. I always treasured it and the accompanying memories. Never had a good place to actually use the gate so it was in storage most of the time but at one point it hung on our living room wall. Now it is the center piece of our back yard.