Of fun and fertilizer — National Garden Week at Ardenwoods

Most days you’ll find Pat Jollie tending her garden, a pastime she’s enjoyed since her youth, and this time of year is no exception. June 1–7 is National Garden Week which recognizes gardeners, their contributions to their communities and the overall importance of gardening. National Garden Clubs, Inc. petitioned for this week in the early 1980s, and by 1986, United States President Ronald Reagan made it official.

In 2004, 40-inch-by-40-inch garden beds were installed, bringing new life to Ardenwoods’ landscape. Since then, this new space has become a humming social area for residents.

“Each spring, interested residents signup to reserve a raised bed. They can reserve one or two, or sometimes more,” said Pat, an Ardenwoods resident of eight years. “Space is always considered for newcomers.”

Like many residents, Pat learned to garden at a young age. In elementary school, she watched her mother and sisters plant vegetables and tend to the fig tree in their yard. Pat’s mother often gifted vegetables and figs to neighbors and friends, sometimes canning the vegetables and making preserves from the figs. Pat also read gardening books and would always ask for advice from employees at the nurseries where she would buy her flowers and seeds.

This season, Pat has planted cherry tomatoes and various flowers in her two garden beds at Ardenwoods. Flower-wise, she has planted miniature bleeding hearts, chrysanthemums, irises, balloon flowers, verbenas, and several perennials.

“It’s so nice to be out in the garden here. I tend to my flowers, sit back, enjoy them, and socialize. Folks are always checking out their garden — I have such pleasant neighbors,” she said.

Other gardeners are growing kale, green onions, roses, baby butternut squash, swiss chard and various herbs this season. Residents harvest crops for themselves but also share their produce with neighbors and friends.

“Most flowers I leave on the plant outside for other gardeners to enjoy. However, sometimes I will cut flowers and give them to friends or offer them to the front desk at Ardenwoods to display,” said Pat.

Ardenwoods is pleased to have so many talented gardeners like Pat, bringing color and cheer to the campus, one seed at a time.

To commemorate National Garden Week, the Ardenwoods cable channel will feature questionnaire responses from gardeners. The responses include residents' favorite plants to grow, what they will never plant again, best garden tools and what they are looking forward to growing this year. Two green thumbs up!

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