The May garden tour

The striking house is set against a rocky hillside, so gardening space is at a premium. 

Our local garden club recently toured the home garden, burbling ponds, and orchard of club members Rudi and Dow. Despite their basic "soil" structure of decomposed granite, Rudi and Dow have a number of successful plants, bushes, and trees. By using raised beds and containers, Rudi and Dow are growing food and flowers, herbs and fragrances, and are having the time of their lives choosing each day's menu from among their plants. Dow gave many of our club members dry flowers and seeds from her collection, and Rudi refused to part with his Highly Coveted Garden Gnome (presented to garden owners, in appreciation of letting a group of 25 or so nosy gardeners into their favorite space).

Touring club members, including Rudi, with gnome at far right, pose in front of the house. Behind the group are many small loose-rock retaining walls that hold flowering plants and fruit trees along the hillside.

Most folks don't know that the home Rudi and Dow own was built by our local Contractor Supreme, the late Keith Steele, in the 1980s. The house features a pyramidal outline, laminated beams, multiple stories, and a full wrap-around deck. Hundreds of motorists on Highway 2 have admired the house from their cars, and said "I'd like to see what that place looks like on the inside." Members of the Elk-Camden Garden Keepers garden club did just that!

Thank you Rudi and Dow!

In June, we will tour a home garden located in beautiful downtown Elk, complete with owner-built greenhouse, orchard, and LOTS of home improvements.

See you on the 13th of June, at Camden Grange; we will depart the Grange parking lot promptly at 7 p.m.

Jim