FLOWER BEDS

Several years ago we moved into our present home. We were lucky enough to find a lake home that we could afford. When we drove into the yard with the realtor I knew that I was home. Everything about the yard of our home invites people to come and linger. The house is over a hundred years old and sits at the top of a small hill. The hill slopes down to the lake shore. On the north side of the house are huge old maple trees on the south side of the house is a gazebo that over looks the lake and additional maple trees. The front of the house as well as the backyard area has huge flower beds, filled with perennials. There is a winding walkway from the house to the garage. On either side of the path are additional flower beds.

The first time we went to the house with the realtor was in the spring. At that time there were tulips, daffodils, and crocus blooming and fern fronds and hostas were beginning to grow in all of the flower beds. The realtor explained that the couple that was selling the house both loved gardening. He was a grounds keeper at a local resort and she was a teacher, so she had the summer off to tend to the flower gardens. She was a master gardener. The house, because of its age needed some cosmetic attention, but it has very sound construction. The kitchen cabinets needed updating and the wallpaper in the rooms needed to be taken out, but we love the layout of the rooms. The home is one and a half stories the upper level is the master bedroom suite with its own raised deck overlooking the lake. We made a contingency offer based on the sale of our house.

Everything fell into place with the sale of our other property and we moved into the lake home at the end of July. Our friends and family that helped us move could not believe the number of flower beds in the yard. The yard was alive with color. The previous owners had planted the flower beds so that there was always something blooming. The phlox and cone flowers were in full bloom when we moved in and the holly hocks were just starting to open.

We have a walking and bike path that goes past the house. We had several people stop and compliment the yard and the beautiful flower beds. In the fall the walkers and bikers stop to take pictures of the beautiful maples and colorful sumac. My husband and I are beginning to worry about keeping up with the flower beds so that the yard will continue to look nice.