MY NEIGHBORS GARDEN

I had a rare opportunity this month for my December garden!  As you may know,  Mr. And Mrs. S. Claus have a home in Jacksonville, but I rarely see them during the year, as they are gone from fall till early spring. (I am only aware of their return when she pops in to grab some  “Polar Bear zinnias” seeds in late spring.)

I happened to be walking by their home and saw Mrs. Claus out front, tending her bed of “Fairy Sword” ferns, so I stopped to chat and ask about her visit!  Only here for a brief time, she had to return in a few days. Mrs. C is not very involved in her husband’s toy business, but is very busy  preparing cookies, and  assisting with the shipping end of the business.  It is rare indeed for her to be able to come back and spend any fall garden time, so our chat soon led to a gracious invitation and tour of their unique and private garden.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus bought their home on Dear Trail, years ago, when her husband fell in love with the town, during one of his late December delivery trips.  She mentioned that he returned “with such a twinkle in his eye”  about his visit to this old fashioned town, that the following spring they purchased a home and moved in.  Mrs. C began immediately adding planting and garden art, knowing she had limited time.   She mentioned that they both have a common love of “merriment”  in a garden, so it was easy to begin with a plan.   While  “Nick”  (Mrs. C’s nickname for him!) offers assistance in building much of the toy like structures of garden art, Mrs. C handles all the planting and nurturing.

As we walked up the drive, I was amazed at the size of the garage.  Three large bays flank the home, allowing protection for a very large old sleigh they park during most of the year.  Mrs. C has placed candy cane trellises between each bay door,  and created a perfect spot for her prize winning  “Sleigh Bell” hybrid tea roses.  A hint of some of the  remaining cream color petals still cling to the roses, as fall is taking over, and what shows now are the carefully trimmed  branches that follow the shape of the trellis. My first impression is already of the “merriment” they love.

As we walk through the red and white picket fence, into the back yard, a large patio tucks against the back of the home.  Edging the entire patio, candy-tuft lays green and ready for springs’ white profusion.   Green pots of Christmas cactus still sit atop the bright red tables flanking their patio furniture, which is all hand painted with sugar plums and red berries.   Mrs. C. commented that she is trying to keep all the cactus outside in the sun as long as she can before she has to take them in during their absence.   As I look,  I noticed an abundance of them so I asked her about them.  “Friends just share different varieties with us all the time, so we have quite a collection now, and we love them!”

Tucked into the candy tuft are 6 carved stocking planters. Each holds a sweet  “Jingle Bell” miniature rose.  I can just imagine the color in summer!    As we walked up the walk from the patio she pointed out their waning vegetable garden, a space in the sun behind their garage, where she can grow her favorite “Garden Candy” cherry tomatoes.  Nick gets involved with some of this garden, and always plants peppermint for his winter tea.  Mrs. C whispered how wonderful their vegetables are each year and shared their secret!  They use rare Reindeer manure to amend the soil.  Rare indeed… as I know  from experience, that shipping costs prohibit suppliers in this valley to carry it.

Center in the yard is a huge noble fir, which bears nests, cones, and garlands of nuts.  Behind that, the back yard rises up to a wooded bank and back fence.   Predominantly shade, Mrs. Clause uses the area to showcase her Cinnamon Ferns.  Compact and erect and ranging from 3- 5 feet tall,  six wonderful specimens are tucked along the slope to anchor the rest of her planting. Two shorter, arching Christmas Ferns, lay at their feet.   Here and there, Christmas Rose Hellebores offer soft contrast with buds ready to pop for the winter.  Just as your eyes seem to be resting in the solid winter green,  “merriment” pops it’s jovial head. Tucked in the corner of the bed, in the only sunny area along the back, is a long toy train, one of Nick’s garden creations.  Its’ cars, filled with  8”  tall “Snowdrop” bulbs ready to pop their white sunny faces in early spring, create a fun scene. Tiny starts of holly along it’s track create an imaginary rail, and a specimen “snowberry,” heavy with white berries dangle from it’s branches and tower over it all.

I asked Mrs. C about any frustrations or regrets they have had with the garden, such as the deer or clay soil.  Her response should not have surprised me. “Oh no dear… we love our deer visiting and they never seem to eat any of our planting.  In fact we often visit with them and share candied apples we have left from our trip away during the winter.  Our garden just seems to grow and grow, and offers so many of our bird and animal friends, feed and shelter during our time away.”   Their love of birds is obvious as you gaze throughout the garden .  A garden corner has  festooned wooden boxes (that seem to look like presents!) with open lids acting as platform feeders. Between two of them, a garland of cranberries offers a perch and a meal.

Their favorite time in the garden? A smile graced her rosey cheeks as she shared how much they love to sit on the back patio in the summer, put their feet up on the big peppermint shaped cushion, and drink cinnamon iced tea and have some of their favorite cookies. As she escorted me back to the front gate, I noticed an amazing, giant, red and green glazed pot shimmering in the light.  A beautiful rose shrub of some kind towered from the soil.  Asking Mrs. C what it was.. “Oh, that is our Father Christmas Rose… our favorite in the garden!

I thanked Mrs. C, for taking the time to let me tour the garden and share it with our Jacksonville neighbors, and I asked her to  pass on to Mr. C  our wishes for his continued success in his business!

As  I turned to leave  Mrs. C  whispered… “Dear, I just took some warm gingerbread out of the oven, would you like to stay and share some?” I thought… my column can wait, and we stepped through the door into the kitchen.

Kay is the owner of Blue Door Garden Store, located at 155 N Third St.  Specializing in paraphernalia for the home gardener; she carries garden gifts,decor, and  a wide variety of pots, tools, gloves, and organic products.