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Mauri Rapp Abington Journal Correspondent

FACTORYVILLE - Most gardeners tend to their hobby in the privacy of their backyard, thus beautifying their own living space. Becky Scioscia of Factoryville not only enjoys gardening in her backyard, but also in her front yard. As a result, her garden is not only something that her own family can enjoy, but something that can be enjoyed by everyone who walks by.

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SPONSORED BY:Garden No. 4 Becky Scioscia, Factoryville.

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The shady alcove at right is getaway from the August sun.

Abington Journal Photos/Mauri Rapp

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Scioscia became interested in gardening when she and her husband, Steve, first moved into their home on College Avenue and saw that a previous owner had left behind some perennial plants. She said her interest really became piqued during a country drive to Lake Winola, where she saw a garden that she found “absolutely beautiful.”

“I said to my husband ‘I want to have a garden like that someday,’ and he said ‘You’ll never do it,’” she remembered. “That’s what really set me into motion.”

Perennials remain her plant of choice because of the low maintenance. “I also like to see what will come back every year,” she said. “It’s kind of a nice surprise when something you’ve planted comes back the following year.”

Still, despite her self-proclaimed fondness for gardens that do not require a lot of care, she spends a lot of time tending to her plants and flowers. “It takes about a day to do the front and a day to do the back,” she said. “So I spend at least two days a week taking care of everything.”

Luckily, she has a little bit of help. Scioscia said her daughter, Sarah, 13, is already becoming almost as interested in gardening as her mother. “I’m trying to get her to have a love for it too,” Scioscia said.

Also, in addition to her home garden, Scioscia participates in Factoryville’s Adopt-a-Garden project at Christy Mathewson Park, which gives her children another opportunity to help out. However, she said her sons – Steven, 12, and Owen, 7 – don’t have as much of an interest in gardening as Sarah.

Scioscia’s garden is a mix of flowers, small shrubbery and plants, with some whimsical touches. A stone path leads to a bird bath placed near a rock wall. A small, rustic table sits at the side of the house in a shaded area along the path to the back garden. And if passersby look closely, they will see special visitors to the garden: classic garden gnomes, which Scioscia said are there to bring luck and protection.

Each year at Halloween, the Scioscias pick a theme and then decorate their front garden according to that theme, creating a fun but spooky environment. “It’s fun for the children in town,” she said. “Every year we keep it a secret, and every year people are excited to find out what the theme will be.”

As with most gardeners, Scioscia said she is never truly satisfied. “There’s always something I want to do better, something I want to add.” For example, she’d like to add flowers that will attract honeybees as well as butterfly bushes. However, when the weeds are plucked and the lawn is manicured, Scioscia said that she does feel a sense of accomplishment. “It’s very rewarding when it’s all done.”

The Abington Journal and theabingtonjournal.com is running a 14-week story series written by Mauri Rapp and a contest on featured home gardens in the greater Abington coverage area. We will be accepting nominations for up to 14 gardens, which will be featured each week in print and online from July 29 through Oct. 28. Each garden nominated will receive a prize. Our readers will then vote for their favorites . The winning garden will receive a grand prize. To nominate a garden, call Editor Kristie Grier Ceruti at 570.585.1604 or email kgrier@theabingtonjournal.com. Feel free to include photos.