A search of more than 100 Iowa places brought Tim and Kay Magill to Jefferson where they chose to retire. Their imaginative garden at 1200 Riverside, their home since 2015, is the June 2021 Yard of the Month chosen by the Jefferson Garden Club.
A focal point at the corner of the front of the yard is a perennial garden encircled with rocks Tim has found and artfully stacked as “cairns” to complement the plantings. The purple salvia, peony, dahlia, hanging baskets and grasses will create color and interest throughout the summer. Many of the plants were gifts of family and friends or relocated from other spots in their landscape. Dainty mirror pendants dance from the tree creating sparkling glints of light and motion. The Magills planted all shrubs in the front of the house including a Tiger’s Eye sumac that turns a brilliant orange-gold in fall.
Visible from the street and perched next to the garage, the trellis shelves hold overflowing pots of vining ice plants with other colorful accent plants and are positioned in mounds of variegated “snow on the mountain.” Designed by Kay, a retired professional photographer with an artistic eye, and built by Tim, the shelves are typical of a number of projects around the home. ”She designs it and I build it,” said Tim, a retired accounting/business teacher and prolific wood worker. A unique maple leaf hydrangea at the corner of the home leads to a calming garden with a variety of hostas and shade-loving plants.
A secluded backyard patio features contemporary concrete planters brimming with plants creating a quiet sanctuary in which to “imagine,” a favorite word of Kay’s. Clematis vines and a charming garden shed with window box planter create a private backdrop for a perfect space to relax.
