Purple Iris and Bleeding Hearts currently in bloom at the Birch Ridge Inn

Purple Iris and Bleeding Hearts currently in bloom at the Birch Ridge Inn

In the summer months, the Birch Ridge Inn is surrounded by perennial gardens. Virtually all the cut flowers inside the inn from June through September, are taken directly from the inn's gardens.

The advantage of perennial gardens is they spring back to life each year so they are efficient to maintain. Other than requiring a bit of work at the beginning of each season to recondition the soil, weed and thin, the perennial gardens basically take care of themselves during the summer months. Right now, when she is not out on the golf course, Mary is spending a lot of time outside working the gardens so they will be at their peak this summer. After a long winter, Mary finds working in the gardens quite therapeutic. She does have one problem though; what to do with the plants that she culls from the gardens while she is thinning them out?

After Mary gives everyone in Killington she knows with a garden a bucket full of plants, (whether they want them or not), she will start leaving them on the side walk with a free - take me - sign. But even this stops being effective after a while.

This year Mary is lucky, she has a cousin who just built a new house. Guess what she is getting for a housewarming gift! Anyone interested in some perennials?

Where every you may find yourself this weekend, keep it in the fairway and don't forget the sunscreen.