Loading...
Huron Expositor, 2006-07-19, Page 6Page 6 July 19, 2006 • The Huron Expositor News DeJong garden enjoyed by whole neighbourhood Thousands of tulips and daffodils make their spring garden the DeJongs' favourite Susan Hundertmark The following is the second in a series of stories about Seaforth- area gardeners, celebrating Seaforth's first year ofparticipa- tion in the Communities in Bloom competition. While there's not a lot of privacy at Peg and Dick DeJong's corner lot at Wilson and Centre Streets, the whole neighbourhood can enjoy the riot of colour their extensive peren- nial gardens provide. GAFFNEY ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS LID. NSUWVION • MAINTENANCE • CONTROLS MALL ONT 519-348-0505 www.gaffneyelectrical.ca Full line of Electrical Services • Electric Motor Sales and Service • Aerial Bucket Truck Service • TREE LIMB REMOVAL • Retail Sales 82 Huron Road Mitchell 1-888-595-8655 When Accidents. Happen... Call Mark at COLLISION REPAIR • GLASS INSTALLATION INSURANCE CLAIMS WELCOME • RENTAL CARS AVAILABLE We use quality CJ Po o performance coatings 220 Main St., S., Seaforth 519-527-2291 "We enjoy it when other peo- ple enjoy our gar- den," says Peg. In fact, the DeJong's spring garden with its thousands of red tulips and yellow daffodils is a must -see for most of the neighbourhood. "The resi- H. REID ALLEN Fl Il\1'l l RI: III:` I OIt 1110\ R1.1.I\ISM\(; SEAFORTH 527-2717 ViorsitSyne Alberta Job Market Connections Finding People.:. Great Jobs! www.workwest.ca Dick and Peg DeJong dents of the nursing home usually come by," she says. Twenty years ago, Peg put 100 bulbs - all red - in her front and side. yards and the bulbs have never been dug up. "It was kind . of sparse when they first came up but there must be more than four times that many now," says Peg. "When you put anything else in that garden, you end up digging up tulip bulbs. We have boxes of bulbs in the shed," adds Dick. And, it's their spring garden they enjoy the most as well. "You've been through the snow and cold of winter and all of sudden, there's all of this colour," says Dick, who adds he always hopes for a cool spring to extend the lifespan of the . flowering tulips and daffodils. There's a New Plumber in Town! *4'491*,,i0osiwi.N....ofewe‘ LI • Residential & Commercial • New Construction & Renovations Call Kevin Van Den Neuker 1-877-636-7096 "The tulips are so beautiful. For me, it's my favourite time. But, I don't want to see red the rest of the year," says Peg. The rest of the growing season, the DeJongs try to keep the colours of their flowers to blue, yellow and white. With two walnut trees that are over 100 years old on the property, the DeJongs have to work with plants that aren't chased out of the garden by the walnuts. And, while there are certain flow- ers they can never grow because of the walnut trees, the DeJongs says the walnuts are mostly a bonus. "They give us. nice shade in the summer and shelter for the birds and squirrels," says Peg. "And, we have no air conditioning. We've never needed it. The trees really do help," adds Dick. The varieties of flowers the DeJongs find that flourish under the walnut trees include flox, gas plants, daisies and lilies. And, because Dick loves hostas and the multitude of varieties avail- able, the DeJongs have 42 different kinds of hostas. "They keep the weeds down and they have nice leaves and colours," he says. "There are 800 different kinds of hostas and counting but we have no more room," laughs Peg. For the flowers they want to plant that are normally killed off by wal- nut trees, the DeJongs have created a unique space out of interconnect- ing cement blocks. They plant their begonias and coleus in the dirt in the centre of the blocks, which protect the plants from the substance in the walnut that those plants find to be toxic. Some of the few annuals the DeJongs plant include the herbs in clay pots at the back porch. "They're close to hand if you want them and I like the look of them in the pot," says Peg. The DeJongs love perennials because they're cheaper in the long run and when they multiply, Peg and Dick can share them with friends and neighbours. "We give a lot away. The plants expand and you hate to throw them out," says Peg. With the clay soil so common in Seaforth, the DeJongs credit their compost pile for the success of their many gardens. Dick has built a large double storage container for kitchen and yard waste, which he finally screens for compost. "That compost is responsible for a lot of the bounty in our garden," says Peg.