On Sunday June 22 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm the
Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association will be holding an evening garden walk
to celebrate the solstice. The walk will be self-guided with brochures
available from a table in the parking lot of Christ Presbyterian Church, 944 E.
Gorham Street from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm. You can leave your car
in the parking lot. There is no charge for the walk and it will be held
rain or shine.
1) 803 E. Gorham Street
The garden has always been an important feature of this historic house and
some of the interesting plants in it can be traced to one of its owners in the
nineteenth century, since he was one of the city gardeners.
The garden of Salvatore Calomino and James Zychowicz wraps around the house
and includes woodland ephemerals, species and old-garden roses, species and
historic bulbs, and various prairie plants. A small Japanese planting was recently added.This garden
includes over 60 species and old-garden roses, over 40 clematises, dozens of
lilies, including species, Asiatic and Oriental varities, and a paperbark maple
in the front of the house.
Please look at the garden from the sidewalk and be careful with the fence.
2) 917 E. Dayton Street
Bob Shaw’s eclectic garden features dozens of
perennials, raised beds for vegetables and a beehive. The vine covering the
front porch is Dutchman’s Pipevine. Note the three different espaliered
apple fences in the back including a newly created one on the western side
using copper tubing as a framework.
The backyard also contains a katsura tree, a paperback maple, and a dawn
redwood tree. The rose in full
bloom by the garage is William Baffin, a hardy climbing rose.
3) 1118 E. Dayton Street
Note: This garden is only open
until 7:30 – a baby needs its sleep!
The home of Peter and Andrea
Robertson shows the design skills of Andrea who works in the landscape
field. Peter and Andrea’s
front yard shows the creative use of boxwood as an alternative to the overly
used yew with no-mow sedges in the middle. The terrace has a couple of edible sour cherries. The
backyard is equally imaginative in its design with the level wooden platform
providing access to the vegetables..
4) 1146 E. Mifflin Street
There’s no grass to be found
at Drew and Vicki Fondrk’s garden, which is a riot of color all summer
long. Many kinds of perennials can be found; currently in bloom are sedum,
geraniums, and Asiatic lilies. The white clematis in full bloom in front is
Henryii. Note the clematis vines along the western fence and the bonsai
collection they have started.
5) 1213 E. Mifflin Street
David Waugh’s gardens have
unique plants with requirements that range from deep shade to full sun.
The removal of two mature silver maples in the back yard opened up a whole new
opportunity for this garden. After his life partner joined the
household last summer, the gardens underwent a major transformation that is
continually inspired from the blending of two people's unique passion for
gardening. These gardens are seeking a personality that take into account
color, form and seasonal interest.
The front garden is dominated by a giant, upright elephant ear (Alocasia
macrorrhiza) known as Iris. Iris
keeps watch over the shade garden. The back yard is where the sun gardens are
finding their expression. They are visually anchored by the small marble
sculpture, Etu. You will find many plants still in pots. These are
waiting to populate their newly forming nursery business, Morningwood Farm,
near Mt. Horeb.
6) 443 N. Baldwin Street
The garden of Jim Sturm and Mary Jo
Schiavoni has long been an attraction for its neighbors on Baldwin Street. The front yard has dozens of perennials
that provide color throughout the year.
In the backyard notice the small Japanese garden surrounding the apricot
tree and the beautiful wooden fence Jim built last year. Ask Jim or Mary Jo about the copper
clad drunk tank in the backyard
– an original relic from Milwaukee which the police used to hold
drunks before the paddy wagon appeared.
7) 1214 Elizabeth Street
Sandi Torkildson and Larry Bevic
have also gotten rid of the lawn mower in their garden, which has an English
cottage garden look. Note the herbs in the terrace and the California poppies
that are at their peak right now. Sandi gets many of her ideas from visiting
other gardens with Olbrich being a favorite. The rose in bloom by the driveway is Carefree Beauty, a
particular favorite of Sandi’s.
8) 421 Jean Street
The home of the Robert Kidderman family illustrates how much can be packed in a small space. The front yard is completely taken over by many different kinds of perennials. In bloom now are peonies and chrysanthemum daisies. Note the wonderful birch tree at the corner and the attractive vegetable garden next to the driveway.
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Summer 2003 Table of Contents