No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-10-08, Page 13ik+tliA d il.s x& Nk+Ui,.oc,u cond Section - October 8, 1997 There's a Garden of Eden in St By Kate Monk T -A Reporter STEPHEN TOWNSHIP - There's a treat for your eyes along the eighth concession of Stephen Township. Over the past ten years, Marie and Raimond Eisert have created outstanding flower gardens on their farm. Originally from Germany, the Eiserts were overwhelmed but enthused with the amount of space available for new trees and flowers when they purchased their farm. While Marie still had the mind set of the smaller gardens in Germany, Raimond was ready to • take advantage of the wide open spaces. The Eiserts started by planting over 1,000 seedlings for windbreaks around the farmstead and fields. -Next, they transplanted a variety of larger trees throughout the lawns. Raimond started to design and build the beds for flowers, herbs, vegetables and shrubs while Marie went scouting for plants. Mid -way through the yard tour, I checked her thumbs just to make sure they weren't green. She was very'gracious about sharing .. her secrets of success. - Perennials are Marie's favorites. She has no idea of the numbers of species in her gardens but has done well to find plants that suit the heavy soil and a variety of moisture conditions. Most of the plants come from exchanges with friends and scavenging along roadsides. She is fearless'in what she willaltow.into her yard. She also propagates perennials from seed each fall. -"When people come to visit, they often bring a flower or a shrub," explained Marie.- • - According to Eisert, it takes three years to get a perennial bed • established. "You can't plant and think it's fdrever. You have to be willing to make changes if necessary," said Eisert. While most of us are losing the battle to keep plants alive, let. alone fill the beds, Marie spends time pruning, thinning and dead- . heading to keep the plants from taking over the beds. • Perennials are either spread by the roots or seeds. To prevent the root spreaders from taking over a bed, Marie buries old tires in the beds to contain the root Suets diligent about cutting the flowers on the seed spreading plants as required. For fertilizer, Marie dresses the beds in the fall with sheep or pig manure (from their farm)'depending on the plant's nutrient requirements. • For weed 'control, she uses a variety. of techniques:`' Every three weeks, she goes through each bed to hand- pick the weeds. In some beds, she.cover the open.space 'with grass clippings or a layer of wood chips. Some beds are filled with plants which wiil`scjtteeae,out'the • . • • undesirables.. Round -up is used around trees to -make grass • cutting easier. • . . While most of the plants are perennials, she includes . some annuals for color. Impatiens are purchased from a store or nursery but she collects her marigold seeds each - yearfor the next spring, planting the seeds as early as possible: Flowers aren't the Eiserts' only specialty. Raimond has a bed dominated by shrubs which he trims carefully. A fruit orchard has• • • • also been established. A cutting and seed bed for propagating trges is also present. A vegetable garden and herb bed round out the yard. Hedges and flowerbeds along the farm buildings.Are a unique feature. The exterior cement walls of the barn are lined with hedges and perennials adding a very nice touch to. the farmstead. • The Eiserts do not have any formal training in horticulture but have learned by doing. Although they had no vision of how " - extensive the gardens would become when they planted the first trees ten years ago, they are pleased with what has developed. The Eiserts have become expert gardeners who communicate their love ' of the hobby to everyone who visits. In doing so, they've made their . part of Stephen a more beautiful- place for everyone to enjoy. phen tti 5,�tl1gael.����I���II�III�M:.!N At top, Marie end her husband Raimond have planted flower gardens and windbreaks .around their Stephen Township farmstead. Above, The Eiserts have planted hedges and perennial beds along the cement foundations of their barn At right, Marie Eisert picks a bouquet from one of her many perennial beds. flowers by the barn BEST SELLERS AVAILABLE AT: • 424 MAIN STREET 1 I EXETER • 235-1331 OPEN HOUSE FRI., OCT. lOth 10 a.m, - 4 p.m. SAT.-, OCT. 11th - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. • FREE CHAIN SHARPENING • Stihl Saw Chain 2 for 1 • Chain Oil only $4.95 (4L) SEE THE STIHL WHEELS ON TOUR SHOW TRAILER Coffee & Donuts • Demonstrations BECKER • ,4 i (,1)f) Main Sfiv 1, Sntiitt, I xpler (7rtlarin NOM I S 1 flu (`,1'/) / V', //',! /'rt,eiut is //,e. I,ix (',1'/))35'1O(7 •9