WREN Interview with Jim Conway
For a number of years WREN (Woburn Resident's Environmental Network) conducted tours of Woburn gardens and presented awards. To follow is a published interview they had with Jim at the time of an annual tour in 2005.
"I started gardening at my current location in 1987. I learned a lot from my neighbor, Mr. Connelly. He worked for a florist and had an amazing garden of flowers, hostas, bulbs and especially beautiful roses. I received advice and plant divisions from Mr. Connelly and then started to find my own favorites to add to my growing garden. Mr. Connelly has long since passed away, but I owe my interest to him.
I tend to prefer plants with interesting foliage. I look for textures, colors, and unusual foliage. I have over 50 varieties of Hostas, and different perennials, shrubs, and trees. A new favorite this year is a plant called Strobolanthus. It is a non-flowering "iridescent purple" leafed perennial. I like fragrant plants such as sages and oregano. I don't grow them for culinary reasons, but for their colorful and interesting foliage and scent. I also tried a coleus called "Stained Glass" this year. It is a small leafed plant which has a combination of deep and light reds, giving it an outlined "stained glass" appearance.
My dahlias sported 1 foot diameter flowers this year! The huge flower heads are magenta, salmon, bright yellow, and pink. The plants grew to 5' in height and had to be staked in order to hold them up. I don't have many spring bulbs, the season typically starts around April and lasts till November. I use Miracle Grow for fertilizer.
My wife Joanne helps with a great deal of the weeding and enjoys the work outside as well.
People are always amazed to see my garden in the backyard; they call it an "unbelievable surprise" since it is not at all visible from the front, and the neighborhood is not known for elaborate gardens. I had one visitor who wouldn't leave; he said it brought him back to his father's garden from many years ago.
My garden changes every year. Last year's winter was very harsh. I lost many plants that are ordinarily tough, such as the Rose of Sharon, common hosta, an entire bed of gooseneck loosestrife, and English ivy. You learn patience with gardening and discover how to turn bad luck into opportunity instead! When you lose plants, you have a new place to try something you didn't have room for before. Two years ago, we had to cut down a large tree which had died. I had a shade garden planted under it. That area was now all sun and I had to redesign most of my garden.
Gardening is restful and therapeutic. There's no better place to learn than in a garden."
Author: WREN Volunteers
I tend to prefer plants with interesting foliage. I look for textures, colors, and unusual foliage. I have over 50 varieties of Hostas, and different perennials, shrubs, and trees. A new favorite this year is a plant called Strobolanthus. It is a non-flowering "iridescent purple" leafed perennial. I like fragrant plants such as sages and oregano. I don't grow them for culinary reasons, but for their colorful and interesting foliage and scent. I also tried a coleus called "Stained Glass" this year. It is a small leafed plant which has a combination of deep and light reds, giving it an outlined "stained glass" appearance.
My dahlias sported 1 foot diameter flowers this year! The huge flower heads are magenta, salmon, bright yellow, and pink. The plants grew to 5' in height and had to be staked in order to hold them up. I don't have many spring bulbs, the season typically starts around April and lasts till November. I use Miracle Grow for fertilizer.
My wife Joanne helps with a great deal of the weeding and enjoys the work outside as well.
People are always amazed to see my garden in the backyard; they call it an "unbelievable surprise" since it is not at all visible from the front, and the neighborhood is not known for elaborate gardens. I had one visitor who wouldn't leave; he said it brought him back to his father's garden from many years ago.
My garden changes every year. Last year's winter was very harsh. I lost many plants that are ordinarily tough, such as the Rose of Sharon, common hosta, an entire bed of gooseneck loosestrife, and English ivy. You learn patience with gardening and discover how to turn bad luck into opportunity instead! When you lose plants, you have a new place to try something you didn't have room for before. Two years ago, we had to cut down a large tree which had died. I had a shade garden planted under it. That area was now all sun and I had to redesign most of my garden.
Gardening is restful and therapeutic. There's no better place to learn than in a garden."
Author: WREN Volunteers