Ramblewood Garden Club announces July yard of the month

Ramblewood Garden Club has awarded the July Yard of the Month to Phil and Phyllis Pincosy who live and garden at 139 S. Spanish St. The Pincosys moved to Missouri from California to be near their son and his wife and family six years ago. The house is part of the Pincosy compound, with the front yard being a wonderful example of all-season beauty paired with low maintenance plantings.

Both the deciduous and evergreen plantings grow in layers, with texture and color being outstanding components. The evergreen shrub blue rug juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) and creeping thyme (Thymus praecox) provide ground cover in the front with increasing sized shrubs of light green Chamaecyparis, also known as False Cypress, dark green spreading yew (Taxus brownii), and red lace-leaf Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) filling the middle areas. The tall arborvitae (Thuja), dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca), and ‘Karl Forester’ feather reed grass provide midday shade for the Hydrangea. Trimmed boxwood (Buxus simpervirens) grow as foundation plantings.

Phyllis, an experienced gardener, planned the front yard to be symmetrical, but nature has a way of changing a plan with the end result being both interesting and varied. Phyllis’s background is in music, but when in her fifties she went back to school to study something interesting which turned out to be horticulture.

A lighted brick path curves through to the side yard to the back patio where varieties of white flowering perennials grow. These include obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana), Gallium aparine; also known as Stickywilly or Catchweed Bedstraw, and Japanese anemone (Eriocapitella hupehensis). This side yard grows lush with many other plantings of coneflower (Rudbeckia), Russian sage (Salvia yangii), Beautyberry (Callicarpa), tall growing Phlox, Peony, three varieties of Hostas, pink blooming Hellebore, variegated Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum odoratum), Spirea, and Spiderwort (Tradescantia). This pathway brings to mind the entrance to an English Garden, and through the garden gate to the patio.

The paver-based patio provides a relaxing place for conversation around the fire pit while cooking takes place on the nearby grill. And just beyond the patio is a special Grandmother’s garden lining the perimeter of the backyard. Both annuals and perennials grow together to create a full flower experience. Yellow flowering Coreopsis, pink coneflowers (Echinacea), orange California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), tall blue flowering cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), also known as bachelor button, and pink blooming crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) are just a few of the many flowering varieties growing here. Phyllis just throws seeds out and flowers grow. Lilies are supported by a tall iron pyramidal trellis which was brought from California. Among the purple flowering larkspur (Delphinium), orange milkweed (Asclepias), purple flowered bee balm (Monarda), and dark orange daylilies (Hemerocallis) grow several varieties of old fashioned heirloom white roses.

One of Phyllis’ favorite plants is ‘Autumn Joy,’ a consistently beautiful Sedum. Toward the back of the property is a greenhouse that was made from the windows and doors from the house renovation. The Pincosy’s son, Jeremy, built a swing set and a playhouse for the children from recycled fence material. He also installed two electric driveway gates at the back entrance for his parents.

Another patio adjacent to the rear house is decorated with colorful pots with newly planted red-leafed Coleus starts, potted ferns, and poinsettia (Euphorbia). Phyllis grows plants from these starts and gives them away to friends.

Congratulations to Phil and Phyllis Pincosy for creating beautiful front and back gardens, and for making our town a more beautiful place to live.