This is a continuation of a series of interviews with local Master Gardeners, who graciously share their wisdom, joys, tips and tribulations of gardening in Yakima County.
On a recent warm and sunny morning, I visited with Kelli Barton in her charming front yard garden on Rose Place in Yakima. Kelli became a Master Gardener in 2022, and she threw herself into all areas of the organization with such energy and devotion that we had to invent a special award to honor her, and she was named the inaugural Intern of the Year. She has since undertaken several leadership positions and continues to generously give her time and skills to the program.
Kelli gardens in her entire front yard, with the back yard devoted to her three dogs. The garden is shaded by a magnificent saucer magnolia, but it faces west and receives plenty of sunlight to grow an impressive variety of happy and healthy ornamental plants.
Kelli Barton’s charming front yard on Rose Place is devoted fully to her gardening.
Photo by Caroline Crolley
How did you get started gardening?
My mother and grandmother were German gardeners, and I was always around it. I used to be a major houseplant person, but I ran out of room. So, I just said, ‘Let’s see what I can do outside.’ I saw some beautiful gardens on a trip to Oceanside, and I decided I wanted that. But when I started, I didn’t follow the “right plant in the right place” rule or the Master Gardener scientific way to do things.
And what’s the history of your garden here?
I’ve been here close to 40 years. It was going to be my little starter home, but I added on to the house, and it’s perfect for me and my dogs. I had lawn to start, and it was lots of work. I didn’t use chemicals due to the dogs. I don’t want to poison my dogs. Others might grab chemicals, but I grab a hose when I see a problem.
I took out the lawn and gave away the sod to neighbors. People said it going to be a lot of work to have a garden of this size, but this is so much less work than the lawn. I could literally not come out here for weeks and it would be okay. Really and truly, weeds are not a problem. I had a proliferation of slugs, but I set out beer, which they love, and they get drunk and die. I had heavy clay, so heavy that it would pull shoes off when it was wet. I used a commercial bagged soil conditioner that helped a lot.
I put in the paths and divided out all the perennials that I already had and added a few annuals to fill in and for color. Some plants that I have, like rose campion, echinacea and poppies, were brought by birds, so thank you, sweet little birds.
How would you describe your gardening style?
I like to think of my garden as eclectic. Pollinators are important to me. I plant what I like but I try to keep different colors to attract pollinators. I also put a group of a variety together, so they are close by for the pollinators and they don’t have to fly 10 feet away to find the plants they like. I grow perennials because they come up every single year without fail.
I don’t do clean up until the end of April or first of May. I like the winter interest of the plants left standing and the birds like it, too. The pollinators, preying mantis, all the little creatures put egg sacks all over. So pull out stuff and you’ll pull out their egg sacks. The grasses, tall and dry, look great and I come out in the winter and pick dead things to make an arrangement. They still look lovely.
How do you handle irrigation?
Hmm. Still working on that. I am in the process of switching over to a full drip irrigation system. I still use some overhead spraying, but luckily I don’t have problems with powdery mildew.
So, what led you to become a Master Gardener?
I retired and I was always so busy when I was working. I needed to do something meaningful. People are always walking past my front garden when I am working, and they stop to comment on the garden and ask questions. I wanted to be sure that my information was correct, so I looked to the Master Gardeners to help me learn. It’s super important to me to volunteer in an organization that gives back to the public, and the Master Gardeners do that.
You have given so much to the Master Gardeners. What do you feel you get out of it?
I enjoy doing it. It’s my joy. I like the fact that that we’re public facing, and we work to educate the public. When I joined, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to get involved, so I volunteered at every venue to see where my interests lay and find where I wanted to be. I truly love the Demonstration Garden, where people can come and imagine what they can do at home.
We don’t know what we don’t know. I’ve learned so much from the Master Gardeners.
• For any gardening questions, contact the Master Gardener Clinic at 509-574-1604 or email askamastergardener@yakimamg.org.
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