| |
| Pete Matthews Jr © 2024 |
| 2024-07-22 137 Amy & Darrell Crate; Garden Day, Islesboro ME |
|
400 West Bay Road. Pendleton House or The House with the Yellow Door was last owned by Eva Pendleton, and it was called Eva's house. Our Vision: Darrell and I were married in 20I6. With the encouragement of our children and close friends, we began to lay out what the property could look like if we connected Pendleton House to West Bay Farm (458 West Bay Road). Given our joint love of farming and gardening, we started by reviving and expanding the perennial gardens at Pendleton House and creating a road to connect the two properties for the next generation to enjoy. Now: Pink and purple rose of Sharon and brightly colored peonies greet passersby on West Bay Road. Panicle hydrangeas peek over the top of a white picket fence that frames the entrance to the property. A beautiful hydrangea tree on the left side of the drive serves as a visual centerpiece that draws attention to surrounding perennials including speedwell, China aster, Russian sage, milkweed, scabiosa, coneflower and brown-eyed susan. A bed of sun loving perennials surrounds the front of the house, welcoming visitors, and two containers of English lavender flank the yellow front door. A shade garden featuring a bed of fern, Chinese astilbe, and bleeding heart is on the left side of the drive. At the end of the drive, climbing roses creep up the picket fence, inviting guests to join us on the curated blue stone patio where outdoor dining is enjoyed in the summer months. This is the ideal place to enjoy hundreds of monarch butterflies swirling about and a few very busy hummingbirds. How & Why: To encourage this natural habitat, we created a native plant garden to the right of the patio which features butterfly bushes, spotted Joe Pye weed, giant ironweed, gray goldenrod, milkweed (food source and protection for monarch caterpillars before they transform into butterflies). Favorite Flower: Dinnerplate dahlias are one of our favorite flowers. Since bulbs are planted after the last frost in May, dahlias generally bloom in August and Septernber. We are hopeful that you will be able to enjoy them during your visit! Eden Brothers has a terrific selection of dahlia bulbs. They ship the bulbs right before they should be planted, which depends on your growing region. Challenge & Solution: Over the past few years, we lost quite a few trees in the back of the property due to strong winds. Once the downed trees were cleared, we planted grass and wildflower seed to create a natural meadow with a walking path that leads back to the farm. Who: Athena and Travis Bennett have been skillfully helping us with the gardens on the properties for years. Parking: Please enter our driveway and take an immediate right. Park on the side of that road. To exit, continue on through the woods to West Bay Farm and exit on West Bay Road. The road is flanked by young apple trees forming the beginnings of an orchard. Amy Crate |