Thank you for sharing your Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens with us. It's a special place and you and Wilma have obviously given it the love and care it deserves. The Amana Colonies have an interesting history. Enjoyed it all!

Lovely indeed - and while each photo is just stunning - the stories are fascinating.

Thank you for a lovely visit to your beautiful piece of heaven.

Good morning Larry. What a wonderful way to start my day, strolling through your gardens. I enjoyed it so much, not just the plants, but the history of your home and gardens also.
I was fascinated by the story of the Banana Canna. Amazing plant.
I was also taken by the Persicaria virginiana 'Painter's Palette'. I will have to find that one and give it a try.
The gardens are beautiful and inviting. What a wonderful place to stroll and observe.

Thank you so much Tee, Vicki, and Lynn, for your kind and enthusiastic comments! It's a lot of work for just the two of us, but we enjoy it and it keeps us physically fit. Such a large garden can consume practically every minute of your life. We make it a point not to let it. By trial and error, we've learned which plants can thrive with little or no attention during the growing season. Those are the keepers!

Lynn, I forgot to tell you that I have lots of Painter's Palette. If you'll send me a Tree-mail reminder in the spring, along with your address, I'll gladly send you some.

The same goes for anyone else who'd like to try it. Just let me know.

What a beautiful display and setting. Very nice collection of plantlife.

I would love that Larry, I made a note to myself. Thank you.

Thanks for the kind compliment, Jo Ann.

You're welcome, Lynn. I failed to mention in the article that Painter's Palette blooms. In mid-summer it sends up sprays of tiny (a tad smaller than the size of the head on a florist's pin) scarlet flowers. I sometimes use them as an interesting filler in arrangements.

Such a beautiful garden. I may have seen it a few years ago. We done the Amana garden tour,once or twice. I remember it got rained out one year..
Hope we can tour it again since we are so close., West Branch.
Doris

Hello, Doris! Glad to hear from you. You're welcome to tour our gardens again anytime. You're only 35 miles away, so hop right on to I-80 and come on down during the next growing season. Here is contact information: http://cubits.org/articlesonga...