Moss roses a key to Yard of the Week at Romingers'

From Bullhook Blossoms Garden Club

If you haven't driven by 1025 13th St. W., put it on your "to do" list for a surprising take on a local garden. The home of Judy and Lynn Rominger offers a unique view that sort of evolved from what used to be a vegetable garden.

Judy, the main gardener, with some help from her friend Donna, says she first got interested in gardening from watching her father-in-law, the late John Rominger, with his gardening skills. The beautiful large peonies were her first acquisition to the present garden. John Rominger had transplanted them from Tiber Reservoir in the mid-'50s and they were moved to Judy's garden in the late '80s.

According to Judy, the big garden square started out in 1971 as a weed patch until 1976 when her father-in-law wanted to plant a vegetable garden and tend it there. At first Judy was not involved much in the tending of the garden, but after her in-laws moved away, she continued planting and caring for the vegetable garden while adding perennials along the garage - daffodils, tulips, purple star, purple cone flower, miniature holly hocks and dianthus, to name a few.

Later, Judy added raised flower beds constructed by husband, Lynn. In these beds she added daffodils, peonies, poppies, blue flax, phlox, day lilies, as well as different annuals each year. But the most eye-catching items in the garden are the moss roses. At one time when Judy had a vegetable garden on the lot she had a bare spot, so she purchased about 11 moss roses almost 30 years ago. Noticing that they reseeded and came back each year she added some along the driveway and sidewalk. The moss roses took over.

Seven years ago when Judy's mother had a stroke, Judy gave up the vegetable garden and let the moss roses do their thing, which resulted in a beautiful carpet of color. The best time to view the garden is mid morning to early afternoon if the sun is not too hot, as that is when the moss roses display their glory. Realizing that the garden needed to mellow out with cooler plants, Judy added Lynn's favorite color with bright red geraniums. In the middle of the lot she created a bed of purple fountain grass, yellow marguerites, white and yellow lantana and calendula.

Perhaps you have driven by on a summer morning and observed Judy gardening in her big floppy sun hat to protect her fair skin. Here is a woman who obviously enjoys her gardening and has let nature guide her in creating a delightful sight on what was once a weed patch. No wonder it was chosen by Bullhook Garden Club as Yard of the Week.