The Veach Garden
Rick and Chris Veach – Liberty
About the Gardeners
Rick and Chris are originally from South Jersey and moved here from the Gulf Coast of Mississippi in 2000. Chris found her place volunteering in the community by becoming a Master Gardener with the University of Missouri Extension. She is also a Missouri Master Naturalist and a Tree Steward with the Heartland Tree Alliance of Bridging the Gap. Other volunteer activities include TreeLiberty, Clay County Extension Council and Town and Country Garden Club.
History of the Garden
The rear section of their backyard, starting about 30 feet from the back of the house, consisted of an unsightly impenetrable wooded area with dense brush. During the first two years in the home, the Veaches removed the invasive species and overgrown vines. They are now rewarded with many native wildflowers. After a few backbreaking projects installing new garden beds in the conventional manner, they switched to the “lasagna” method of new bed construction that led to the development of several themed gardens.
The Gardens
1. Mailbox Garden-This is just for fun and changed seasonally.
2. Winter Interest Garden-Across the driveway from the mailbox garden, it features a Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick and February blooming Witch Hazel.
3. Front Beds-These feature evergreens, perennials, annuals, several tree climbing clematis and a small fountain loved by the birds.
4. Rose Garden-This is remembrance of Chris’s Mom who loved her rose garden and was built by Rick.
5. Herb Garden-This is located close to kitchen for convenience
6. Upper Deck Garden- Take in the panoramic view of the garden while enjoying the many container gardens. Chris has planted over 75 containers and most are irrigated thanks to Rick.
7. Arbor with Benches-This also was built by Rick will be ablaze in color with Purple Hyacinth Bean vine later in summer.
8. Cat Garden- This features 3 Jane Magnolias, a Tamarisk tree and is primarily pink. The cats just took it over!
9. Bird Garden- Trees, shrubs perennials and annuals will feed the birds naturally. Look up to see the resident wren.
10. Fall Garden-American beautyberry, Caryopteris and orange zinnias glow here at summer’s end.
11. Woodland Garden- Reclaimed from the woods, it features many dry shade plants, a previously “hidden oak” of Hidden Oaks Court, a compost bin and owner made white oak leaf stepping-stones. Walk along the perimeter or take a “walk on the wild side” and take the inner woodland walk
12. Butterfly Garden- This features a Seven Sons Flower tree, butterfly loving plants and butterfly stepping-stones made by the owners.
13. Patio Gardens-These feature annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, containers and a water fountain. Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ growing on the upper deck will cascade down to shield the sun. Cypress vine growing up on bird netting will add privacy and sun protection. Visit the Heartland Tree Alliance booth located here and register for the free raffle.
14. Far, Steep Garden-On quite a grade, it features crabapple trees, ‘Center Glow’ Ninebarks, ‘Sunburst’ St John’s Wort and annuals. View from a distance or tread carefully on this steep grade.
15. Side Garden-This first lasagna garden was constructed and planted after retuning home from the Powell Gardens Fall Plant sale with too many plants. The plants loved it but it required several additional “layers” as it settled.
Wildlife Challenges
The woodland setting adjacent to a Little Shoal Creek tributary adds serenity as well as garden destruction by wildlife.
1. Deer are the primary challenge as they eat tender foliage in the spring and summer and kill young trees in the fall by rubbing antlers on bark. Many young trees have been lost on the property. Deer get used to deterrents so it is important to change tactics often. The Veach Arsenal includes: scent bottles filled with alternating fox or coyote urine, bars of soap, planting herbs near plants (Artemisia, oregano, chives, garlic), cayenne pepper, bamboo poles in plants which pokes deer, blood meal, Milorganite, commercial deer deterrent sprays, powdered deterrents in muslin bags, cages to protect tree trunks and Havahart electric deer repellents. Who is winning? …the deer!
2. Raccoons caused significant damage last year when the bird feeders were left out during the summer. They dug up newly planted annuals and perennials as quick as they were planted. Havahart traps were used to relocate 13 raccoons last season “over the river and through the woods”. Five have been relocated this season. Who is winning? ….the Veaches!
3. Moles travel from the woods in the heat of the summer to the earthworm rich moist lawn and gardens. The damage is primarily cosmetic. Tactics have included harpoon traps, vibrating tubes, worm-like bait, mothballs, and pitchfork along tunnels. MU Extension Guidesheet on Moles is an excellent resource. Who is winning… the Moles!
4. Other Critters digging and poking in the gardens are woodchucks, opossums, skunks and rabbits.
We are living in harmony with them!
“Lasagna” Gardening
As a new Master Gardener Chris wanted more gardens as her plant wish list continued to grow. This is an easy way to make a new bed rich in organic matter without the backbreaking task of removing turf. Chris was inspired by the book Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza.
Chris’s Lasagna Garden Recipe.
1. Cover the turf with a layer of wet cardboard or 8-12 layers of wet newspaper.
2. Add 2 – 4 inches of sphagnum peat moss.
3. Add a thin layer of soil.
4. Add 8 -12 inches of organic matter such as grass clippings, leaves, hay, or straw.
5. Sprinkle with inexpensive fertizer.
6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 (just like making lasagna!) until the pile is 3’ to 4’ high
7. Optional: cover with 8 – 12 layers of wet newspaper then shredded hardwood mulch which makes the garden socially acceptable in appearance while cooking.
8. Gently water with sprinkler.
9. Cook in the sun! Keep it moist throughout process. If made in fall, it will be ready on spring. If made in spring or summer, it will be ready for fall plantings.
10. Plant your garden in your organically rich soil.
Heartland Tree Alliance
Heartland Tree Alliance works to help people understand, appreciate and care for the community forest in which we all live, and from which we all benefit. It is an affiliate of Bridging the Gap the region’s primary environmental education and action organization. Please stop by their booth in the lower patio to learn more.
Chris’s Top Ten Plants
1. Coreopsis verticilliata ‘Moonbeam’
Moonbeam Coreopsis, Perennial
2. Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’
Ginkgo or Maidenhair, Tree
3. Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’
Variegated Boxwood, Shrub
4. Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’
Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, Small Tree
5. Heptacodium miconioides
Seven Sons Flower Tree
6. Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’
Witch Hazel Tree
7. Hypericum frondosum ‘Sunburst’
St John’s Wort, shrub
8. Deutzia gracilis ‘Duncan’
Chardonnay Pearls, shrub
9. Ipomoea quamoclit
Cypress vine, annual vine
10. Dichondra agrentea ‘Silver Falls’
Dichondra, annual
Lagniappe-A Little Something Extra- A Mississippi-ism
11. Ninebark Shrub species
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Center Glow’
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Dart’s Gold’
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Lady in Red’
FYI
The property is a Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network weather station. Precipitation is recorded here each day at 8 AM. The Hail Pad measures the intensity and size of hail. CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation. Started at the Colorado State Univ in 1998, thirty-three states now participate. Missouri currently had 652 weather stations and Station number MO-CY-6 is one of 8 in Clay County. More details can be found at www.cocorahs.org.
Stepping-stones were made by the owners using molds from www.moldcreations.com and Ash Grove Brand Maximizer concrete.
Most statuary was ordered and custom colored by Twilight Gardens in St. Joseph, MO.
The drip irrigation in container gardens is Mister Landscaper brand sold in Lowe’s and other hardware stores.
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