Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1142011
cultivate tuce and herbs in the spring and dahlias, zinnias, and roses in the summer. Crop rotation is practiced to keep the flow of nitrogen active and also to let Sears experi- ment with different plant schemes. Each symmetrical bed is framed with small boxwood balls and has a white pyramid trellis. A tall white birdhouse stands in the center. By late August, the second great awakening occurs. The garden becomes a clever riot of mostly annuals: dahlias, zinnias, and cosmos. Phlox and roses are also in the mix. The colors vary according to Sears's whim. "I can change the color scheme due to the fact that I can move the dahlias each year." Dahlias certainly are the star of the show. They fulfill Sears' need for rich hues and different textures. "I love the lack of restraint in a dahlia. Crazy big, silly, and fun. I want to keep the color going as long as possible." At last count, she had 43 varieties in her landscape, including 'Gerry Hoeck,' 'Lotus Flower,' and her favorite, 'Maki.' They shoot up like lemon-yellow, coral, and tangerine soldiers, intertwined with angelic pink and white cosmos. Dahlias do require some work, however, and Sears has become an expert in their cultivation and propaga- tion. "After the first hard frost, I usually let them sit in Left: Salmon-colored 'Beach Bum' and the giant yellow 'La Luna' varieties of dahlia. A bright pink 'Benary Giant' zinnia.