by Sandra Saunders

The Gardening with the Masters tour is only a month away. To purchase your ticket, you simply go online to https://web.uri.edu/mastergardener and look for the registration link. You may purchase tickets up until the morning of June 24. Twenty dollars brings you two days of beautiful gardens, great ideas for your own home, the satisfaction of having supported your fellow URIMGs, plus 5 of the 10 continuing education hours you need for 2017.   Please share with your family and friends!

To whet your appetite once again, read what Sandra Saunders has to say about the development of her property over the last two decades, and enjoy her beautiful images (her photos grace the bookmarks this year).

This was my first perennial garden when we moved to this area about 20 years ago. What drew me to the house in the first place was its location and the beautiful spring display of daffodils, crocuses and alyssum in the front yard. The rest, however, left a lot to be desired: old foundation plantings, a decrepit fence surrounding a huge misshapen pine tree, a scraggly bare back yard, and an 1870 house in need of considerable updating —not what my husband had pictured for our first home together.

I had a vision of our “house on the hill” but very little gardening experience to rely on. The beautiful gardens my English father created when I was growing up were my inspiration. In every season there was something in bloom or interesting structures to catch the eye. So we got to work making the house and yard our own.

Over the years, trees and shrubs were planted, and gardens have been put in front and back creating places for more flowers and vegetables. Every year there is less grass to mow as the beds get larger. Some things have worked and some have not. It continues to evolve as I do.

The yard was once more shady but several large trees have come down which required changing many plants to more sun tolerant varieties. Using native plants is a priority but not exclusive.

Attracting birds and pollinators to the garden is a passion of mine. Birds are incredible beings! I try to create a welcome environment by feeding and providing a dripper as part of the birdbath along with including flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.

Three compost bins in the back utility area provide valuable space for year round plant material disposal. My husband, the chief composter, also shreds the fall leaves and turns the compost bins as needed. The fruits of his labor have greatly enhanced the gardens.

I’m happy to share my secluded garden. Come visit. The design is my creation, I suppose it displays my personality. It is my solace and gives me peace.