In June 2009, owner Melissa Maas and the ladies of
Pewaukee's Bank of Memories & Flowers planted a garden on the east
side of the store. Their efforts that year and every year since have
produced a small but beautiful retreat for insects, wildlife and
customers alike. It has grown into a sustainable perennial garden that
we harvest and use in arrangements and bouquets. No pesticides are used
on the flowers and the store's rain barrel uses runoff to water
the garden. As a matter of fact, when the shop's flower buckets are
cleaned weekly, the week old flower water is used on the garden as well.
Every
spring we are surprised by the daffodils and tulips pushing up through the
dirt, and sometimes the snow (well, it is Wisconsin). The first signs
of spring like hyacinths and veronica, are then harvested in time for
use in Prom and Mother's Day corsages. The veronica and cottage yarrow
sometimes bloom twice in a season. Next in our time line are the peonies, my personal favorite. These fresh
fragrant peonies are a popular wedding flower.
Summer,
of course, is the best time for the garden! Hydrangea, Liatris, Lilies
and Echinacea (cone flower) are in full bloom right now. We love
how lush and full the garden looks and hate to cut the flowers but nothing is
better than being able to go out into the garden and pick the flowers we
need for an order. Our garden is also one of our favorite sections of
store merchandise. This summer we have a several Art Peace Poles, metal
and glass rain gauges, and garden astrolabes.
In
2014, we decided to expand our gardens to the back side of the building
and we added Astilbe, Tall Phlox and Echinacea. More flowers for more
arrangements. I personally, am asking for the whole backyard to be a
garden next year! Wish me luck. By
the end of summer and into the fall, the leftover Coneflowers are used
for their "pods" and the Sedum is finally blossoming and ready for use.
This year for Halloween our garden will be the home to families of
ghosts, 3 different sizes of metal decorations for the yard. I can't
wait! In late fall, we put the garden to bed. We cut back those plants that need it and
leave the rest as shelter and food for the birds. At Christmas time, we
decorate the garden with holiday yard art as well as different seasonal
greens. Some people have sugar plums dancing in their heads this time
of year, we tend to have perennial plants dancing in ours. Watch for
new plants next summer!
Be
sure when you drive by or stop in the Pewaukee store, give yourself some
time to look at our garden. Like any "parent", we are proud of our
garden and want to show off!
Luan M. Kurriger, Manager
Bank of Memories & Flowers, Pewaukee
262-695-9911
https://www.bankofmemories.com/
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