A Garden-Lou Visit with Frank and Jane Myers -

A quick overall glance of Frank and Jane Myers’ backyard garden reveals beauty, color, and a designer’s eye, but only the most curious visitor will spot the bashful cherub under the asters, the jolly pig guarding the shed, or the very busy spider weaving her web in the Pollinator Garden.

Recently featured on the U-City in Bloom Garden Tour and Plein Air Festival, the Myers Garden showcased an abundant window box overlooking the color-infused front yard. It was the first turn around the corner towards the backyard that showed how unique the home and garden are, though. “The previous owner was an architect and designed the color-infused glass and wrought iron fencing along the garden’s sides, back deck, and front balcony,” says Jane. Her cheery planting colors mimic the fence, but instead of being too chaotic or jolting, the whimsical effect is charming and leaves you excited for more surprises or “nuggets,” as Jane calls them.

But it wasn’t always so charming. “The garden was a blank slate when we moved in,” says Frank. “We started small with beds around the perimeter, then added irrigation. Looking back, it would have been better to have a design first and saved some time.”

Frank and Jane moved into their University City home in 2011. Jane grew up in historic Ste. Genevieve on a farm. Frank ended up in Ste. Genevieve also after his father retired from service at Scott Air Force Base. His parents, Frank and Shirley Myers, gardened in a historic home there for 40 years. It’s no wonder Frank and Jane feel at home in the historic University City neighborhood of University Heights.

The couple shares garden maintenance with Frank, who works in the mortgage industry, taking care of heavy-duty jobs like mowing and mulching. Jane, recently retired from BJC, does all the weeding and deadheading, plus usually makes the plant decisions. “When I worked, I probably spent about five hours a week in the garden. Now that I’m retired, I’m out there every day.” Frank adds, “Jane always has something in bloom, starting with bulbs, peonies, then daylilies, and finally dahlias.”

Successive blooming is one reason the garden looks great, not only for late-season garden tours, but year-round when the Myers host family and friends. “It was great during the COVID pandemic to have the deck and garden,” says Frank. “It’s a great setting with ambiance better than any restaurant, surrounded by nature; butterflies, and birds.” The finch feeder, 10 ft from the deck, lets the finches eat their dinner, too, with up to 4 or 6 on the feeder at once. “They also love the bird bath,” says Jane. “Friends don’t always have success with feeders because they don’t have enough shelter.”

Future plans include adding evergreens for more winter interest, providing the birds with more cover year-round. “I’d love a pergola behind the pool in the pollinator bed,” adds Frank. He particularly enjoys his early morning coffee in the garden, while Jane agrees, she prefers the garden at twilight when plants glow, making everything softer and fresher. “The trees and the light have changed over the years…shade to sun and vice versa,” says Jane. “The garden is always changing.”

Quick Facts:

-Size of garden? Just less than ½ acre. The house and pool take up a lot, so probably ¼ acre for the garden.

–Is there any other garden or gardener that inspires you? Jane’s grandparents, Jesse Gilbertson, director of Horticulture at U-City in Bloom, Mary Ann Shaw, founder of U-City in Bloom, and Ed Schmidt of University City.

A Garden-Lou conversation with plant-geek, Jesse Gilbertson.

Garden-Lou Spotlights the Garden of Jesse Gilbertson

Garden-Lou Spotlights the Garden of Ed and Mary Dee Schmidt

–Do you have any other passions besides gardening? Frank golfs regularly at Ruth Park. Jane likes to cook, but nothing equals her passion for gardening.

–Any special plants or features in the garden with special or sentimental meaning? Frank built the two white chairs to replace the two his dad built that were beyond repair. “I built two new ones using the same pattern and most of the red cedar from the St. Genevieve farm. It’s 1” thick wood and was a race to finish before the tour!”

–What’s your favorite garden tool? Jane- Root-slayer shovel! Easier to dig holes. Good clippers are always great. Frank- We have an incredible British short-handled edger shovel.

–If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have ONE plant to keep you company, what would it be? (It doesn’t have to be a food-bearing plant since this island has a free buffet!) The Giving Tree (like the book by Shel Silverstein).