ASHLAND — A hidden gem can be found at 1136 Wick Ave., Ashland, at the home of September “Yard of the Month” winners Tim and Stephanie Knowlton.
Hidden treasures abound in the entire yard off Sandusky Avenue.
The Knowltons both grew up in Ashland. Their “Welcome Friends” sign indicates that they have been at the Wick Avenue oasis since 1972.
Art of Gardening members Cathy Siwek, Patty Stauffer, Sally Ahlers and Claudia Dunn awarded $50 gift certificates from the club and Farm and Home Hardware Sept. 4.
A huge trumpet vine has flourished for 30 or 40 years. Milkweed which usually only grows 4- to 5-feet tall is “really tall” at the hideaway. It is almost up to the roof.
A Climbing Sweet Autumn Clematis intertwined with Morning Glory graces the left side of the house.
Mrs. Knowlton is proud of her 10-foot Sunflower with 74 sunflowers. A pink geranium on the patio is 5 years old.
Knockout roses thrive. Rhododendrons, Aztec lilies, hibiscus, sedum, and salvia where the hummingbirds congregate off the back porch are abundant.
Also prominent are a crab apple tree, trailing banana and a Kwanzan cherry tree next to the back patio.
“Everything blooms except pine trees,” Mrs. Knowlton said in giving club members a tour.
The Echinacea goes to seed so the birds can enjoy. In a five-year period, 120 monarchs have been released.
Mrs. Knowlton spoke of having 11 praying mantis cocoons. Son Kevin and grandson Jacob dug a pond with water lilies and goldfish in the early 2000s.
A fence decorated with colorful hubcaps adds to the hideaway appeal along with a lining of raspberries in the back yard.
Mrs. Knowlton admits she feeds the animals, among them raccoons, deer, squirrels including a skunk named “Petunia” and all kinds of birds.
At one time they hosted a potbellied pig that ran with deer.
The Knowltons are the parents of daughter Tabby (husband, Travis) of Ashland and son Kevin (wife, Tara) of Milan.
Besides Jacob, they have two granddaughters, Hanna and Summer.
The yard winners are both employed. She is a custodian at Christ United Methodist Church on Claremont Avenue. He farms at Tobias Farms.