Wandering at the Wickline’s

Jeanie Merritt first discovered this unique garden during a community tour, then after more visits, she was delighted to receive a Lifetime Pass!  See what she’s discovered that’s new from these industrious and imaginative gardeners, the Wicklines.

Jeanie says, “Knowing Joni and Dick Wickline has been a blessing. They are two of the most generous, happy and interesting people on earth.  Did I mention fun-loving? Becoming friends with them four years ago was like moving next door to Disney World and being given an every day pass. Truly!”

Armed with her camera, Jeanie wandered and browsed through her neighbor’s whimsical garden and just see what she found….

A friend of Dick’s who is a wood carver designed this bear for his gardens.. Does a bear ‘go’ in the woods

Placing a wooden bear can be daunting…does it always have to be in the front garden or on a porch?  Dick Wickline found just the right spot!

A recycled old split rail fence has become home in the garden’s providing a true ‘country in the city’ look in the woodsy area of his gardens

Surrounded by Hosta, the cut off branch of a tree offers a place to plant some pansies

“Truly beautiful any time of day but in the evening hours this bottle chandelier hanging high in a tree offers a WOW moment to the visitor. Collected colorful bottles filled with miniature lights offers a unique display overhead.” Jeanie says.

“Someone must have lost their shirt to this display..dipped in a cement mixture and hung to dry, it adds the necessary whimsy to this old farm wagon.”

Designed by Dick Wickline, this rustic outside bar is the perfect place to sit a spell and ‘refresh’

“A fairy garden gives new life to a re-purposed vintage wheelbarrow. The ‘trees’ are ‘Justin Brouwers miniature boxwood,’ Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Justin Brouwers‘ , a small boxwood only growing around 3 inches per year and easily pruned back to appear as trees in your fairy gardens. It’s cold hardy to zone 5 accepting weather to as low as 10 below.”

“The entrance way to the gardens is protected by large steel gates adorned with ivy and this guardian angel holding a multi-entrance birdhouse.”

Jeanie says, “Wildlife is abundant in the Wickline gardens  and all are welcome to the many feeders throughout the gardens.. Here, near the main entrance gate, a squirrel,cardinal, and dove eat at the same table… The coolness from the shady trees, and the quiet simplicity of the grounds make you want to stay forever.”

“Dick makes most of his birdbaths using giant leaves from some of his garden plants. Right behind the birdbath to the left is Barberry bush and to the right red bee balm.”  Below are the instructions to make your own leaf birdbath:

“Leaf-casting a rhubarb leaf” How to do a leaf-casting!
Complete Tutorial… Make a Leaf Shaped Bird Bath
My serendipitous discovery of a large leaf in a mountain stream, stuck in a water bottle for the trip home, led me to try making a mold of it! I ended up creating this incredibly beautiful garden art piece.

“Dick hauls in mounds of soil to make ‘Flower Islands’ throughout his gardens. The large mounds of soil are planted up and then encircled by rocks and gravel . The Islands prevent everything from just appearing flat throughout the gardens and adds depth and interest to the visitors eye.  A skirt of Coral Bells surrounds a Snowball viburum.  The pedestal planter holds a succulent.” Jeanie tells us.

Almost nothing gets thrown away that can hold some dirt for a plant, such as these worn boots that sit near the entrance way

Dick and Joni Wickline Truly do!