Earls home selected for Bullhook Blossoms yard of the week

Story and photos from Bullhook Blossoms Garden Club

There is a hidden garden at 1145 Grant Avenue that is a slice of heaven on earth, designed as a family's backyard retreat from morning until evening for Terri and Russ Earl. A work in progress, it has evolved to be both eco-friendly and esthetic. They are a team. Russ uses his woodworking skills and Terri designs for pleasing beauty.  

They have utilized shade and buildings for wind shelter to keep the garden lush even during the hot dry past two months. Meandering pathways in grass or rhubarb leaf patterned cement pavers lead the observer from one area to another. Featured areas include multiple bird houses and winter feeders, pergolas and plantings to attract bees and migrating butterflies. Hanging flower baskets fill the major pergola while the smaller one is encased in a profusely growing vine. Vegetables of all sorts are an important component for the family food supply. Varying heights of raised beds of both veggies and flowers create interest. Solar lighting throughout enhances the garden for enjoyment in the evenings. 

Mulching, woolly thyme and small areas of grass add variation. Both perennials and annuals are used. They have probably one of the few black walnut trees in town. It was planted by Russ's parents decades ago and still producing. The clematis that blooms each year originated from Terri's grandmother's garden in the Flathead Valley. An interesting container was handmade by Terri using cloth dipped in cement and draped over a form. It looks like a large taco shell filled with flowering plants. Shade plants under the evergreen are beautiful.

This yard is best viewed from the alley between Grant and McKinley avenues 08-30-2022just south of 11th Street. Don't be shy, just stop and peer over the fence.