Bit of whimsy creates magical garden
Anne Albaugh's Avenues creation fits that description.
A successful businesswoman, Albaugh has lived in many areas but selected her home for her latest project.
"I garden because I cannot not garden," she said. "I would rather be outside in the garden than anywhere else."
Albaugh's garden is one of 11 featured this weekend during the fourth annual People Helping People Garden Tour. Proceeds of the event go to the People Helping People Successful Employment Program, a six-month training course that helps women achieve their full potential in the workplace.
Albaugh said she gardened as a little girl with her grandmother in Cokeville, Wyo. "I learned if it would grow there, it would grow anywhere," she said.
That experience helped her perform the magical transformation around her current house, which she bought in December 2006.
"At that time it (the garden) was nothing but renter's grass. It was pretty trashy, but I knew it could become something different," she said.
Her first project — building the pond — might seem a little out of order, because it is usually done after many other projects are finished. But this project was driven by necessity.
"The pond holds about 5,000 gallons and is nearly 4 feet deep. It is a great place for my fish and also many different plants. I have water hyacinth, iris, cattails, dwarf bamboo and flowering arrowhead. I also have several water lilies but need more to help control the algae."
Along with the pond, her fence was a priority. While she needed this project, she could not be content with an ordinary fence.
"Everything in my garden revolves around art. I designed the fence, and my contractor made it. I am in the construction business and I love steel. I love rebar. I made it this way because I wanted a fence that never needed to be painted, never needed to be repaired and never needed to be replaced," she explained.
After the pond and the fence, she became serious about gardening by planting nine trees and many perennials. It was not enough to just plant them — they had to add to her artistic design.
"I do not like boredom. Boredom is my enemy. I try to have interesting pots, and I have the witch," she said with a grin.
True enough, in one of the beds one can find the Wicked Witch of the East's striped legs — and ruby slippers — sticking out from among the penstemons, lilies, hostas and creeping jenny.
Recent comments
I was in that neighborhood............. this house is as much a freakshow…
BKTCP | July 12, 2008 at 10:23 p.m.
I RECOGNIZED THOSE "LEGS" FROM A PREVIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD.THEY STILL…
JACKIE | June 23, 2008 at 12:13 p.m.
I visited Anne's house when the pond was still under construction…
Michele Dorsey | June 15, 2008 at 2:45 p.m.
