JOHNSON

I was so surprised to be asked to be in the Columbus In Bloom 2012 Garden Tour. I am certainly not a skilled gardener, but love the opportunities to be outside working in the soil, planting such lovely creations, and watching them grow. I love going to the nurseries, looking for new plantings and colors, and experimenting. I feel honored and humbled to be on the tour.

Seventeen years ago, we built our home on a beautiful lot filled with huge Sycamores mixed with a few tall pine trees in the front and mainly tall pines in the back near the lake. The original landscape was designed to take advantage of all that natural beauty. Large mulched beds contained the cluster of trees in the front and lakeside. In the front, we have added hydrangeas, lilac, and rose bushes, daisies, lilies, and mums, along with other plant material among the trees. We have also replaced and made some changes to the plantings surrounding the house to give it a fresher look.

Lakeside, in the original design, the large mulched beds were filled with many tall red pine trees mixed with added dogwoods and some hosta lilies. It wasn’t long before the pines and the dogwood died one by one due to insect infestation. We replaced those with a red bud and more dogwood trees only to lose those, also. The clay soil in that sloping area held too much moisture. We did a redesign bringing in soil, adding stone edging, slight terracing, new rose bushes, perennials, and a Scotch pine pom pom tree as its centerpiece. So far the plantings seem to be happy as long as the deer and rabbits stay at bay.

When the house was designed, it was built so the deck butted up to a tall tulip tree. Its huge canopy provided shade to the area below, which consisted of walking paths to the patio and dock. Hostas bordered both the paths and a rock garden, along with other shade loving plants. Evidently, the construction disturbed the tree as we lost it and its shade the following year. The hostas loved the damp, clay soil and thrived well into summer, but lost their loveliness once the sun proved too much and burned the leaves. Eventually we replaced them with boxwood, which didn't fare much better due to the dampness of the low area. It is our plan to remove them this spring for more tolerant plants. We planted a Weeping Norway Spruce on a raised bed where the Tulip tree sat. It loves the area and has grown to a height of 30 plus feet. I grow perennials and annuals among the rocks and added a fountain. The challenges on the lakeside come from the sloping and uneven areas, but also bring opportunities for added loveliness, such as stone walls and steps.

Over the years, I have found I no longer have the patience for growing Tea roses and have gone to the Knock Out variety. I have learned to stay away from invasive perennials, some for which I still am working to contain and am always on the lookout for those easy to maintain. The heavy clay soil has certainly been difficult, but once a plant has become established, it does great! With the many years of mulch, the beds have become more welcoming to annuals.

My husband and I welcome you and do hope you enjoy touring our gardens.

Tom and Judy Johnson’s garden is at 930 Baywood Court.