Learning as they grow, Susy and Terry Morrison “transplanted” themselves to Jefferson a dozen years ago to a house built in 1883. After working on updating the interior of the home, they are now bringing life to the exterior and were selected as the Jefferson Garden Club’s Yard of the Month for August, 2022.
Edging the front porch, which features Americana touches, are neatly trimmed mature boxwood shrubs. Terry, new to gardening after years of working in an office, admitted to watching a YouTube video to learn how to prune the bushes. “I want to learn and that really helped,” he said. Visitors to the home are welcomed by bright planters of yellow and white petunias on the front steps along with Susy’s collection of bunny statues. Others from her collection visible throughout the rest of the yard.
Antiques are Susy’s passion and she has incorporated many into the landscape as planters or backdrops for plants. Pops of color from red geraniums, red painted antique chairs are visible now.
Earlier in the spring, the many peony bushes south of the home were in full bloom in a variety of colors, red, pink and white. A purple clematis bloomed abundantly on the east side of the home on a very mature vine. Nearby is a grouping of three bridal wreath spirea shrubs that feature prolific white blooms in spring.
With some shade in the yard, hostas are on display in pots on a bicycle sculpture and elsewhere. The Morrisons plan to transplant several of the hosta varieties to other spots in the yard in the fall. Other shade loving plants including lilies of the valley are abundant.
Boston ferns are a favorite of Susy’s and several are prominently displayed. To her delight, a fountain will be installed in a rock garden area that was once a pond.
The couple agrees that the home is a work in progress, but they are enjoying learning more about gardening. A shed, believed to be built 139 years ago, is going to be removed and replaced with a garage.
