ASHLAND — A yard that belongs in a magazine! That is how Art of Gardening member Kim Tanner characterized the “Yard of the Month” for August.
The picturesque home at 2381 Woodview Court, Ashland, belongs to Rod and Julie Rogers.
Members awarded gift certificates Aug. 6 from the club and Farm and Home Hardware along with a “Yard of the Month” sign.
Caught up in the transformation the couple altered the landscaping with major changes since moving to Woodview in May 2021.
Art of Gardening scouts Tanner, Skip Cather, Cathy Siwek and Claudia Dunn selected the yard for its eye-popping effect.
A “pushing through retirement phase” left Mrs. Rogers changing things up and making it her own. She retired from the City of Ashland also in 2021 with 23 ½ years in the Income Tax Office.
She describes her husband, a semi-retired builder, as having “so many talents!”
They downsized from five acres in Polk, she having been born and raised in Polk. She grew up on a dairy farm. Rogers is from Albion.
Their daughter, Missy, is a couple doors up. Son, Chad, lives in the Mapleton High School District. Behind the Ashland County Fairgrounds daughter, Courtney, resides on Southwood. Nine grandchildren ages 3-25 enjoy visiting.
Mrs. Rogers, who has a soft spot for impatiens, said bits and pieces including shrubs were added. Daylilies were planted and transplanted. Hostas were planted. Shrubs were torn out in front and placed on the home’s right side.
The violet blue of the Leptodermis, a small shrub which grows up to 18” tall with fragrant violet/purple flowers, attracts butterflies “and is also good for hummingbirds,” Mrs. Rogers added.
The back yard features a spacious seating/pool area where a lot of floral activity abounds with ornamental grasses and a vegetable garden comprised of Roma and cherry tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers.
The chipmunks feasted on the green peppers.
The back yard and patio were ideal for granddaughter Brooklyn Schmitz’s 2024 graduation party as well as a reunion for the Mapleton High School Class of 1979.
Watering just the flowers is a 40-minute task “just to give them a good drink.” Mrs. Rogers babies her hydrangeas.
“The pinkish ‘Quick Fire Series’ hydrangeas in the back are just getting prettier,” she said.
Fertilizing is done every two weeks.
The woodlands in the back of the homestead will be a project for continued retirement.
With a view of the woods, Mrs. Rogers parted with, “I have visions!”