July Garden of the Month

ROSALIA - Rosalia Garden Club has named Danette Merritt "July Garden of the Month."

Rosalia Garden Club Publicity Chairman MarvaLee Peterschick said that Merritt's garden shows careful planning by blending perennials and annuals to create a park-like setting among trees, shrubs and colorful flowers in an expanse of cool green.

"Danette has several large flower beds of June bearing double peonies in different shades of pink and white that attract your eye as you get comfortable in the inviting courtyard," Peterschick said.

Peterschick said that from the same location garden visitors can not only get a sweeping view of the landscape, but enjoy Merrit's choice of annuals and purple planters.

"There's an abundance of flowers in bloom with lots of them established to give enjoyment throughout the season," Peterschick said, "Each planter appears well-cared for and the Selection Committee was impressed."

According to Petershick, Merritt uses a lot of purple annuals, mainly petunias, which bring back fond memories of her Grandma Eileen who loved the color purple.

"Although Danette hasn't lived in this location to long, she is working hard to keep up the heritage plants like peonies that can be passed down to future generations," Petershick said, adding that Merritt remembers attending garden club when was a child with her mother Karen who was a garden club member.

"Growing plants to create beauty was instilled in her at a very early age," Peterschick said. "She is delighted to be chosen 'July Garden of the Month!'"