The spacious and eccentric bayside gardens of Brad and Kayleen Penniman are a testomony to their household’s gardening heritage in addition to to the work of their very own palms.
Tour the Pennimans’ gardens at 120 Higher Bluff Street in Northport on Friday, August 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Their gardens conclude the Belfast Backyard Membership’s 2022 Open Backyard Days, a nine-week celebration of a number of the space’s most scenic and inventive gardens. Admission is $5.
Kayleen, a not too long ago retired Belfast elementary faculty trainer, and Brad, the retired Lincolnville postmaster, constructed their dwelling on Higher Bluff Street in 2001. They deliberate their landscaping across the contours of the yard, conserving some areas in back and front as pure fields. However after constructing the home, their funds was tight.
“My mom in addition to my sister-in-law helped with the plant provide,” says Kayleen. “There are creeping roses, irises and lilacs from Glastonbury, Connecticut, the place I’m from, and ivy from St. Louis, the place Brad grew up.”
Hostas, hydrangeas, and groundcovers have been additionally donated by household. Over time, the Pennimans added Cat-O’-9-Tails, Jack-in-the-Pulpits, dahlias in addition to lupine and different wildflowers.
After greater than 20 years of digging and planting, the Pennimans have an inviting out of doors house prepared for his or her new life as retirees. Paths meander by way of a highbush blueberry patch, a vegetable backyard and a number of other flower beds. There’s a small frog pond, the place timber and bushes convey shade and coloration in the course of the late summer season.
“I really like my hostas and my weeping birch tree in addition to the fog and funky breezes off the bay,” Kayleen mentioned.
Greater than 1,100 individuals attended Open Backyard Days by way of August 5. Proceeds assist fund the backyard membership’s faculty packages, camp scholarships, library donations, and Belfast’s public gardens. For details about upcoming public packages, go to belfastgardenclub.org.
