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Bud ‘n Bloom Garden Club visits Laurie Ensign Gardens

Submitted Photo The Bud ‘n Bloom Garden Club visited the Laurie Ensign Gardens for its July meeting.

Driving down Central Avenue in Dunkirk, one can not help to notice the extensive, well-kept, colorful garden at 888 Central Ave. The Bud ‘n Bloom Garden Club had an opportunity to visit the Laurie Ensign Gardens several years ago when she had just started it. Now, for the July meeting of the Bud ‘n Bloom Garden Club, members were invited to return to see the growth of the original plantings, but also to witness the development of the new areas of improvement.

Upon arriving at the Ensign residence, huge tubs of golden gigantic marigolds and assorted greenery that graced the end of the long driveway, greeted the ladies upon their arrival. Parking in the large parking area behind the home, Ensign warmly welcomed the guests and offered an assortment of iced teas and other beverages for her guests. She also offered some short yellow Iris tubers and some taller purple Iris tubers to the ladies that she had recently dug from her garden in a crowded section of her garden.

The ladies immediately noticed the flower-laden, wooden boxes on the red gardening shed, the Adirondack chairs in the shade of the garage, and the assortment of flowers directly behind her home. A tall, Japanese inspired, granite lantern on a four foot pedestal served as the main focal point for the garden there. Beds filled with pink Hydranga, a fuzzy blue Delphinium planting, an unusual purple bell-shaped climbing Clematis and tall, white spiky Yucca blooms were outstanding.

To add to the whimsy were a yellow airplane model flying around the plants, a two foot tall metal frog holding buckets from his shoulders, an antique wooden plow, and a large fish made of colored wire and hanging nearby.

For relaxing, a hand-crafted wooden, circular table with matching benches offered shade under its white umbrella. On display were 8 X 10 photos of the home before the gardens.

Adirondack chairs and a hammock offered more places for relaxation.

Along the back steps of the home were strawberry pots of Hens and Chickens succulents, red and white Impatiens plants and hanging baskets of Petunias and assorted annuals. Off to the side of the parking space, and beneath the tall ,apartment-sized bluebird house sat a fresh load of mulch used on all the garden beds. ( Recently, Ensign shared that a turtle from the nearby creek had crawled up the bank in the spring, dug a hole and started to lay her eggs in the soft, dark brown garden covering). Since the last visit, Ensign had cleared much of the area behind the driveway leading to the bubbling creek and wooded area below. Some grasses, Hostas and Nursery Plantings enjoyed the relative shade in this area.

Finally, the group followed Ensign to the wide, outstanding flower bed that graced the north side of the property – asking questions and marveling at the beauty. Large pine trees anchored the ends of the garden. Stretching out before them, was the extensive, beautiful, perfectly groomed flower bed. Each planting was surrounded with the brown mulch, and great care had been taken so that invasive specimens did not interfere with neighboring plants.

In areas that had already bloomed earlier in the growing season, Ensign had added pots of Canna Lilies, a heart-shaped iron planter with pink Petunias, a blue and green bottle peacock decoration, an orange gazing ball, driftwood, decorative rocks, and a silver glitter ball for accents.

In full bloom were large beds of white Shasta Daisies, purple Spiderwork – shying from the sun, golden Black-eyed Susan, pink Phlox ready to pop,, stunning red orange Cone Flower, patches of red and purple Bee Balm. A large planting of those gigantic golden Marigolds graced the front of this bed of gardening magnificence. Hosta plants, assorted grasses and later to bloom Dahlia plants added green areas to the garden. Blanket flower, yellow Sun Drops, and Oriental and Day Lilies accented the area.

Varigated Iris plants, without flowers, still added texture and interest in the garden. All spring blooming plants were neatly dead-headed and trimmed. It was obvious that the garden is designed to give maximum beauty throughout the different growing seasons.. Ensign started a retainer wall of concrete blocks in the rear of this large bed of flowers showing how labor-intensive this garden is.

Further in the garden were a metal garden tree covered with assorted bottles, an 8 foot tall windmill spinning in the breeze, a partially buried 5 gallon crock, a log filled with annuals, and a 1 ¢ foot metal tulip spinning on a 7 foot pole. Clematis vines crawled up nearby trees and supporting trellises. The wide array of plantings were too vast to name them all.

Planted along the foundation of the home were Hosta plants and red and white impatients sparkling in the shade. Going toward the front of the home, the gardeners noticed a hand-crafted, blue-flowered bird house; a black metal 3 foot tall, boy and girl holding flowers; cute ceramic frogs; a Japanese lantern; and a tall, ceramic pelican. A Red-Bud tree helped to continue the Oriental atmosphere in this part of the garden.

A varigated, Japanese Dogwood tree graced the front garden. Nestled below were ground-hugging evergreens; a praying nun statuette; a huge, long-legged stork; and a blue gazing ball that enchanted the club further. Many other outstanding specimens added to the collection.

At the side entrance, a five-foot tall, granite fountain and lawn chairs created a welcome, relaxing area. A bed of newly planted Iris tubers were recently planted to welcome the spring next year. Ensign continues to enhance her amazing collection of plantings and whimsical garden accents. With many thank yous and an invitation to join the group for dinner, the club members bid their final good-byes with a great reluctance.

The group then traveled to the Dunkirk Waterfront area. There Andre greeted the ladies under a huge, white tent, with menus and the tables covered with linen tablecloths for their delicious meal at Rookie’s, Ribs On The Lake.

President Penny Deakin, conducted a brief meeting. Officers Sue Drag and Judy Wilcox gave their reports. Deakin shared a written 7-point agenda for next year’s program planning. March through November, ideas are collected. December through January, final decisions are made. March 31 is when the yearbook is assembled. All members contribute ideas and vote on the programs. Each member was given a special 3 x 5 card to fill out by November with suggestions, names and dates.

Gen Dloniak and Sallie Muscato were hostesses for this meeting. They supplied a delicious assortment of home-baked cookies for the group’s dessert.

The October workshop meeting will be held at the home of Judy Kawski.

The next meeting has been changed due to conflicts. It will be held on Aug. 15 at 4 p.m. Sue Alonge and Muscato will share their gardens and conduct a glass gem workshop. All materials will be supplied by the Club.

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