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Mauri Rapp Abington Journal Correspondent

CLARKS GREEN - Marie King may live in the heart of Clarks Green, but a step outside her patio door takes her into a far different setting. Two waterfalls, lush greenery and colorful blossoms and foliage all conspire to create what King calls a gardening style “on the verge of wild.”

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Garden No. 9 Marie King, Clarks Green

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A view from above reveals the many colors, textures and shapes of King’s garden.

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“I like some splashes of color, but also like to play with form and texture,” said King. These splashes of color don’t just include flowers, although flowers are certainly abundant. King also utilizes the many colors of vegetable plants and herbs to complement one another. For example, she said that the purple basil she has planted is the perfect contrast to green sweet potato vines which drape nearby. Rhubarb leaves and a mysterious vine grown from her compost pile also add to the form and shape of her garden. “We were convinced it was a pumpkin vine but it is looking suspiciously like a watermelon,” said King.

The mysterious vine is also an example of King’s natural approach to gardening. She said she prefers to have her garden look more unaffected and less fussy. “It’s more of a time management issue,” she admitted. “I think a little wild lets you get by with a few weeds when you have other commitments.” The colorfulness of the vegetable plants is reason enough to grow them. But King cited the movement to “grow local,” as well as the desire to defray food costs, as the ideal reason to grow vegetables in her backyard “wherever there is a spot.” And if there isn’t a spot, she’ll make one. A planter with green beans, which King said is on its third crop, offsets a taller container with a six-foot Morning Glory. Other planters contain okra, sugar snap peas, horseradish and herbs. “You can move the containers where they are able to get the best sunlight,” she said. “Then you don’t have to worry about shade.”

King’s yard does have many shady and partial sunlight areas, she said, but she takes advantage of this by planting shade-loving flora. Hosta, ferns and other plants which grow well in low-light areas are planted around King’s ponds and deck. Seasonal perennials insure blooms throughout most of the year. “We start with irises and hundreds of alliums in the spring,” said King, “followed by delphiniums and foxglove, and different varieties of peonies. In the fall we sneak in some mums to brighten up dreary-looking beds.” As for the care and fertilization of her garden beds and containers, King has three words: compost, compost, compost. “I am a major advocate of composting,” she said. She suggested using a sealable bucket to collect kitchen scraps, including coffee grounds, tea bags and egg shells. “Start an outdoor bin at the corner of your property and start reaping the benefits,” she said.

King said that in addition to a decreased water bill from not using garbage disposals, composting can result in less sewer plant or landfill overload. King added that plants untreated by chemicals tend to be heartier and more able to use their own natural defenses. “You’ll have stronger, healthier, showier blooms and stronger stems,” she said. “If you’re growing vegetables, you won’t be ingesting chemicals along with the nutrients.”

Want to nominate?

The Abington Journal and theabingtonjournal .com are running a 14-week story series written by Mauri Rapp and a contest on home gardens in the greater Abington coverage area. We will accept nominations for 14, which will be featured in print and online through Oct. 28. Our readers will vote at the Abington Journal office and on our Web site. To nominate a garden, call Editor Kristie Grier Ceruti at 570.585.1604 or email kgrier@theabington journal.com. Weekly winners will receive a $10 gift card from Corky’s Garden Path. One grand prize winner will receive a $200 gift card.