Garden of the Month: A world of color on Bellview

July Garden of the Month
The front of Mary Kyman's house features hydrangeas. In the days since this picture was taken, Mary has had the barberry in the right lower corner removed and a more lively plant installed. And she has had mulch put down to make the colors of the garden stand out even more. Ruth Sloan photo
July 5, 2024

Mary Kyman’s garden has evolved over the years but she always keeps it beautiful

By Ruth Sloan

A rock garden where the driveway meets the street. Lobelia adds color among the succulents. Note the dog Buddha at the top. At right, a Japanese maple beside the driveway. Ruth Sloan photos

Mary Kyman’s beautiful garden at 1160 Bellview Ave. is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for July.

Mary started gardening at the home in 2009. Her garden was on the AAUW Garden Tour in 2014 and it was gorgeous then, but she has made many changes and improvements since then. 

Mary does all the planning and design work. For many years, she did much of the physical labor as well, but she has turned over the day-to-day maintenance to Molly McConnell and her crew from Bee Kind Gardening.

Nevertheless, Mary estimates she spends about five hours a week on the garden and continues to be fully involved. 

The front garden, with a spiral seen in upper right. Ruth Sloan photo

She has to be fully conscious of deer preferences in her plant selections and placement. The back yard is not accessible to those pesky intruders. 

The back garden has raised beds visible in the background. Ruth Sloan photo

The prolific hydrangeas that line the front of the house on the west side are at the height of their glory this month. But many other plants, including rudbeckia, calla lilies, and hotlips salvia, are also in their prime right now and these are among her favorite plants.

More of the colorful back garden. Ruth Sloan photo
An enormous elm tree shades the back. Ruth Sloan photo

Both the house and the garden are art-filled. There is a spiral made of steppingstone and gravel in the front yard.

The garden in back has many fruit trees and berry plants. Raised beds harbor vegetables and herbs.

An enormous elm, with fabulous bark, shades a good portion of the patio and back garden.

Mary has kindly suggested that those pedestrians who wish to see the front yard in its entirety, since a hedge blocks much of the view, may walk up the driveway but are asked to stay on the driveway itself.

The Ashland Garden Club has been selecting Gardens of the Month, from April through September, since 2000. Nominations are gratefully received at aogardenclub@gmail.com. Check out the club’s website at ashlandorgardenclub.org for information on meeting times and places.

Mary Kyman enjoys her front garden. Ruth Sloan photo
Picture of Jim

Jim

Related Posts...

Trauma informed training Wednesday for severe weather shelter volunteers

A training to help volunteers at the city of Ashland’s severe weather shelter offer trauma informed care will be held by registration only from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6. The shelter needs volunteers for this season. Those interested in learning more can contact longtime Ashland shelter volunteer coordinator Avram Sacks at 541-220-7307.

Read More »

Review: ‘Unbreakable Spirit’ tells of Ukraine’s anguish with soaring music

Anima Mundi Productions, a sublime music and performance-art gift to Ashland since its inception in 2014, just wrapped up another year of invigorating new works by visiting artists and composers, including resident composer Ethan Gans-Morse, evocative and expressive poetry by Tiziana DellaRovere and performances focused on raising awareness of populations that are currently in crisis.

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Recology Ashland Leaf Composting Event Ashland Oregon
Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon

Latest posts

18 artists participate in ‘Autumn X’ show

An art show that opened Sunday, Nov. 10, in Phoenix gives 18 local artists the chance to show their talent and to help build an artist community.  “Autumn X ” was designed to push back against the isolation and lack of opportunity many artists in the area experience, according to a recent survey.

Read More >

Catty Corner: On feeding cats, Part 1

Catty Corner: Kibble or canned? Free feed or schedule? Our next two columns will cover tips on how, what, when and where to feed your feline family members, which depends on many factors in the lives of your furry ones.

Read More >

Mystery novelist writes what she knows

Pamela Dehnke (den-key) is a retired California court reporter, who now owns Nightingales Bed and Breakfast in Ashland. She’s mined her career for the Court Reporter Mystery series, which includes “The Court Reporter Always Gets the Last Word,” “Upon Further Examination” and “Wrong Place, Wrong Time.”

Read More >

Ask Strider: Do dogs dream?

Ask Strider: Our advice columnist has a dream to relate. Other dogs have told him about their top dreams too. And his experiences at the dog park lead him to believe there are a number of ways to handle your attendance (or not) at a holiday party.

Read More >

Our Sponsors

Pronto Printing Ashland Medford Oregon
City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon
Ashland.news House Ad

Explore More...

An art show that opened Sunday, Nov. 10, in Phoenix gives 18 local artists the chance to show their talent and to help build an artist community.  "Autumn X " was designed to push back against the isolation and lack of opportunity many artists in the area experience, according to a recent survey.
Pamela Dehnke (den-key) is a retired California court reporter, who now owns Nightingales Bed and Breakfast in Ashland. She's mined her career for the Court Reporter Mystery series, which includes "The Court Reporter Always Gets the Last Word," "Upon Further Examination" and "Wrong Place, Wrong Time."
In a circle of chairs at the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library, volunteers for Ashland’s severe weather shelter were gathered for a training in how to offer trauma-informed care to shelter guests. Trauma can make people feel unsafe, not accepted, or lead to challenges in school, work and relationships. 
Carrie Dahle: For first-time buyers who haven’t been able to build home equity elsewhere, coming up with a 10% or more down payment can feel almost insurmountable, especially in competitive markets like Ashland, where prices continue to climb.
Curtain Call: Amirah David was 8 years old when she landed her first professional gig in “The Magic Stone, the Musical” at Actors’ Theatre in Talent, later rebranded as Camelot Theatre. Thirty years later she’s back on the Camelot stage as Maria in “The Sound of Music.” The iconic musical opens Nov. 20 and will run through Dec. 31.
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.