Neighbors
Daylilies are a great ground cover, as they spread quite easily, grow anywhere and take very little care.”
Gallagher said that in addition to the beds that border the homes and hillsides, there are kitchen courtyards and decks that bring additional color viewed from the inside of each home or while walking in the neighborhood.
“Whether it was the hyacinths, daffodils, hellebores or bluebells in spring, or the seasonal perennials that followed, they all brought color and joy to our days,” Gallagher said. “And there are many annual supplements.”
Tim Dewalt, 60, also a longtime gardener, has lived in the neighborhood for 16 years.
Though each property is maintained by its owner, there is a common feel to all of them.
“Together they create an overall landscape, one garden purposely meanders into another,” Dewalt said. “Our homes back up to the woods, which creates wonderful areas for shade gardening — ferns, hostas, hellebores — commonly known as Lenten rose. The opposite side of the home primarily basks in sun all day.”
Dewalt also acknowledged the four-season appeal of the gardens. There are bulbs in the spring — daffodils, tulips, hyacinths — and when summer comes, you can see favorites such as astilbes and zinnias.
“Through fall there are chrysanthemums, grasses and pumpkins,” Dewalt said, “and holly, heavenly bamboo, ornamental grasses and evergreens in the winter.”
The neighbors enjoy sharing tips, getting the latest news on where good plant buys can be found and learning from each other. They water each other’s gardens when someone is on vacation.
“Gardening leads to conversations, friendships, caring about each other and pride in our neighborhood,” Dewalt said. “We admire each others gardens on our daily walks.”
Gallagher said when she thought about her neighborhood’s gardens, the phrase “It takes a village” came to mind.
“In our case it could be called, ‘It takes a neighborhood,’” she said. “Or, ‘It makes a neighborhood.’”