In The Garden — A Focal Point Is Always Needed
By AMY MUNCY
Advanced Master Gardener
WARSAW — I know there are a lot of trees in this garden, but most are going to stay small. And things can change at any time and I can decide not to put all of the trees in it. I do plan to have some focal points in this garden among the foliage.
Some bird feeders and a bird bath will be a focal point at one end of the garden near windows I can watch from at this time. I will move them both to a location I can see from the windows in the new house when built. I also have some yard art that I will try to integrate also. I have made a stepping stone and will make more next spring that will be a nice addition.
The stone is simple to make and also fun. You only need five ingredients. A small bag of concrete, water to mix with the concrete, rabbit fencing, clean sand and a leaf/leaves of some type to imprint. You may want some rubber gloves but not necessary if you don’t mind getting your hands a little mucky.
The rabbit fence is cut to size and layered into the concrete for strength and support. I used a Sycamore tree leaf. I also painted clear polyurethane on just the imprint of the leaf to help it stand out. You can find detailed instructions on line. Just use your search engine to find out “How to make concrete leaf impression stepping stones,” or something to that effect.
I have three bowling balls that I want to put on pedestals. A friend is going to assist me in making a mosaic gazing ball out of broken china and not sure what else yet. I will keep two original. These two belonged to some family members who are not with us anymore. I am using them as way of remembering them when I see them. It all may sound strange, but I have one that’s being kept original in my yard now and the family loved the idea when they saw it. I am using an old plastic pedestal that came from one of those plastic bird baths. The top broke off the base so I just used the bottom and I can use the top for some other project in the future.
Not all focal points are always man made. I will use a bush I just found recently. I grew up in one house for about 18 years. One of my fondest memories is of plants and that’s why I love them because outside the back door was a Mockorange Bush. This is a Philadelphus lewisii “Blizzard,” called Blizzard Mockorange.
Every time I would go outside in the spring, the wonderful scent of the blooms on this bush was overwhelming. Scent is most directly related to memories. That’s why certain smells always make you sometimes remember the same thing all the time. That is one for me. I miss that scent and I have found and purchased one this fall. I cannot wait to enjoy it in the next year or two when it will start blooming.
Amy Muncy was born in Wabash County and lived there for close to 40 years. Muncy grew up in the country, has always enjoyed gardening and mowing the lawn. She has been gardening since a small girl. She moved to Kosciusko County in 2000. She is a master gardener intern at this point, but will be a full master gardener before long.