Garden of the month winners named for August and September

ROSALIA — The Rosalia Garden Club named both the August and September winners for Garden of the Month.

The August Garden of the Month title went to Phyllis Brown and the final winner of the month for September went to Jim and Leslie Gunnels.

“Both of these outstanding gardens are located just a few blocks from each other on the busy Whitman Street where the gardens get a lot of exposure,” Publicity Chairman for Rosalia Garden Club MarvaLee Peterschick said.

Peterschick said the two winning gardens show a lot of color through the gardening season.

“The gardens were selected as each garden had a dominant focal area,” said Petershick, noting Brown’s garden showed a purple Clematis.

Petershick said Brown’s garden was filled with orange and red geraniums growing near the end of the road in sunken planters. “The Gunnel garden contained a large white Hydrangea named ‘Annabelle’,” said Peterschick, “It is growing in the perfect northeast location where it receives afternoon shade.”

According to Peterschick, town residents have admired the specimen for years as it starts putting on color in August and goes through the fall.

“Their garden also contains color spots with bright colored planters and complimentary plant material such as purple phlox,” Peterschick said, “Every now and then, there is sweet verses on painted rocks sprinkled throughout the garden.”

Peterschick said the Rosalia Garden Club has sponsored the “Garden of the Month” contest for approximately ten years as part of its Community Service program.

“By selecting an outstanding garden within the city limits of Rosalia, it gives residents an opportunity to compete for the honor and recognition,” she said.

Rosalia Garden Club members are able to give to the community through various programs such as donating extra produce to the Food Bank and caring for the town’s mini-park.