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Mennittis take first Garden of the Month for 2009 |
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Front Page -
Front Page Story
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Written by Mike Ishman
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Saturday, 23 May 2009 |
Some of the last additions to the Mennitti's garden were the rocks, bridge and pond. The original section of the garden can be seen on the left. (Photo submitted)
REYNOLDSVILLE — At their Wishaw Road home, Phil and Shirley Mennitti have cultivated a garden that has been expanding and improving for the last 15 years.
The garden has gained the respect of the Punxsutawney Garden Club, which named the Mennitti's backyard garden as Garden of the Month for May.
"My son sent the pictures in, and the club came last year to look around," Shirley said. "They came out last year when it was in bloom and saw it."
"They called us and told us we were picked for the month of May," Phil added.
After building their home in 1974, the Mennittis started with a simple idea.
"We started with just the square and added a little more," Phil said of when the couple started their garden 15 years ago with several varieties of flowers. "Then we kept expanding each way, adding more each time."
Today, the garden has enlarged in scope, taking on a shape of its own that includes a pond, some trees and an underground electric line.
"We started with a few flowers, and each year, we added. Then we started with the dry river bed," Shirley said, adding that the rock formation is a prominent part of the garden.
Following the rock installation, Phil and his brother dug trenches along the outside of the garden, adding electrical lines for lighting numerous deer figures that are in the landscaping, as well as providing power to fountain in the pond.
The pond was the last piece of the garden to come together, which elicits some advice from Shirley.
"If anyone wants a pond in their garden, I advise you to do the pond first, and add around it," she said.
The couple takes equal responsibility for the garden, with Phil taking the heavy duty work (digging, electrical) and Shirley picking out the plants and planting when the time comes. Both help maintain the garden, weeding when necessary. However, the maintenance is not as hard as it would appear, as the rocks, mulch and plastic sheeting help keep the garden looking great.
One problem the couple faces is the blooming period of the plants. Each plant has its own schedule of bloom.
"The lilies last about two to three weeks, and they have bloomed already earlier in spring," Shirley said.
When one plant loses its color, however, another is always behind it, ready to bloom.
One of the couple's favorite plants — yellow Stellas — blooms all summer, along with the Red Bleeding Hearts.
The Stellas grow particularly well, growing as high as an archway the couple has placed near the top its garden.
In all, the Mennittis have more than a hundred plants not only in their garden, but around their house as well.
A problem that the couple solved is wildlife.
"We have deer that come in through the woods and nibble on the plants," Phil said. "We solved that problem by fencing in three of the sides. The deer don't seem to realize that the bottom is still open."
Deer aren't the only culprits, however.
"I have a patch of strawberries on the hill that I have to keep covered due to the rabbits," Shirley said.
The garden has not reached its full peak in the season yet. Full bloom usually occurs in June.
Are there any plans for further expansion?
"Our kids keeping wanting us to go on, but I say ‘Nuh-uh. No way,'" Shirley laughed.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 May 2009 )
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