The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
A secret garden
Muhlenberg Township couple creates a backyard hideaway.
In 1983, Martha Richardson and Barry Kyper were both young teachers, living and working in the Muhlenberg School District in Berks County.
They enjoyed the extra connection that gave them with their students.
Then they realized there were times when they were going to need some privacy.
And that’s when the magic started to happen at their little corner property in Temple.
A secret garden was born. “In order to create a private area, Barry enclosed the back porch, put in a brick patio and designed and built a fence with two gates,” Richardson said. “I’ve designed the plantings. Each year it gets better. We now have a bubbling fountain with water hyacinth and bamboo growing in it. The Japanese red maple we potted 10 years ago has outgrown its pot several times.”
Richardson said she and Kyper spend as much time as they can in their little hideaway, which often surprises guests when they walk through the gate and see it for the first time.
It has been an especially welcoming space during the coronavirus pandemic.
“In the evening we light candles and have solar powered bulbs hanging from the eaves of the garage,” she said. “Crickets serenade us. No masks, no social distancing necessary.”
COVID-19 made getting the backyard space ready this year more of a challenge, especially when it came to the potted plants that dot the patio.
“We’re older and high risk for COVID-19,” Richardson said. “Finally Barry bought some ferns. They were in bad shape, but we’ve watered and fed them, and they’re flourishing. He bought a few flowering plants at a local garden store, and I discovered some wonderful plants sources through Amazon.
“Herbs galore and succulents arrived in perfect condition and have filled our pots. I usually plant a lot of petunias and impatiens, but this year it was too late. Now when I go out to water in the morning, the aroma of thyme, sage, oregano, basil, dill and spearmint greet me.”
Both Richardson and Kyper both find working in the garden to be relaxing. They also take a different approach to it.
“The patio plantings reflect the fact that I am basically lazy I,” Richardson said. “I plant things that need very little care. And, of course, there’s no weeding necessary when you plant in pots. I love succulents — they need almost nothing. I have a lot of pots of succulents that stay outside all winter. In spring I pick off the brown leaves, and green ones come right back up. Herbs, too.
“Barry is more industrious. He plants vegetables in the beds around the garage and the bed in the side yard — always too many tomatoes, but they are delicious. He also plants peppers and celery, and the lettuce he’s cutting right now is wonderful.”
Richardson said they are particularly happy with the success they’ve had growing the Japanese maple that’s potted on the patio.
There also is a bubbling fountain that contains hyacinth and papyrus.
The couple doesn’t ignore the space outside of the patio, either.
“It took years for the border beds around the house to fill in, but they are lovely now,” she said. “The house was built in the first quarter of the last century, and we’ve tried to bring it back to the original colors of a craftsman-type bungalow. It’s a work in progress, most of the work done by Barry.”
As most gardeners will tell you, mistakes are part of the process. It was no different for Richardson and Kyper.
Trying to grow shade plants in pots that were exposed to full sun didn’t go so well.
The several Labrador retrievers they’ve had over the years made the hosta bed on the patio their personal playground. They dug it, literally.
The patio is a haven for the couple throughout the seasons, each bringing its own type of wonder.
“We both love spring when we wake up the patio,” Richardson said. “Barry plants tulips in the border beds and crocus all over the yard without telling me were he’s planted them. The early crocuses are delightful. He plants more every year, so the yard is gorgeous. Often, if we’ve had a late snowfall, the crocuses are blooming when the snow melts off of them.”
In the summer, they watch fireflies and listen to the crickets. They also have a bat box and enjoy watching bats fly out of it in the evening.
“Fall is also a lovely time on the patio,” Richardson said. “We light a chiminea and wear jackets to watch the early sunsets.”
Their advice to would-be gardeners?
“Barry says, ‘Get a shovel and dig in,’” Richardson said. “I say: ‘Take it easy. Plant what you like, when you like, and leave plenty of time to sit and admire your work.”