A Garden-Lou Visit with Joan Troeh -

A day spent in Ste. Genevieve, Mo is as comforting to the soul as it is to the eyes. History combines with quaint buildings, colorful murals, and friendly locals, making anyone feel welcome, but for Plant-Geeks and Garden-Lovers, Ste. Genevieve is a hidden jewel in the East-Central Missouri Area.

The annual Garden Walk and Plant Sale, held in mid-May, is sponsored by the Ste. Genevieve Master Gardeners and the Missouri University Extension. The event attracts locals and tourists alike as some of the town’s best gardens open their gates.

A regular highlight of the tour is Joan Troeh’s picture-perfect home and garden. “I get enjoyment from others enjoying my garden, especially the visitors on the Garden Walk in May—they get to experience the entire garden. Friends and neighbors comment on my front garden, which is visible from the street, and I’ve had people driving by stop to ask me what certain flowers are or to comment on my “cute little house and beautiful gardens.” I’ll invite them in for a tour and they’ll thank me; I thank them for admiring the gardens—makes it all worthwhile. I have been known to spontaneously package up seeds for visitors.”

Joan grew up in the area and moved back with her two young daughters in 1983, having lived all around the U.S., including Alaska, for twenty years. “The only plants that were here in 1984 that remain now are the huge black walnut tree at the rear of the property and a boxwood shrub. The “lawn” was largely weeds (Creeping Charlie remains the bane of my existence) and decorative rock. I remember trying to bribe my daughters to dig up the many dandelions.”

“I started gardening in small beds in the early 90’s while working full time, commuting daily to South County (St, Louis), and raising my daughters. When they both left for college out of state, I started the lawn and garden makeover, beginning with the grass and weeds under the walnut tree. I dug up the entire property myself, shovel by shovel, a little at a time, really tackling the job after I retired in 2011.”

A unique feature in Joan’s Garden is the Fleur-de-Lis she creates with annuals. A rain garden, vegetable, and herb gardens share space with heirloom and native plants. Among the lush plantings are some sentimental favorites. “The Chinese/lacebark elm and Kentucky coffee bean trees have sentimental meaning to me—they are my daughters’ fourth grade Arbor Day saplings—I half-jokingly say that they left, but I can’t because their trees are here.”

A show-stopper plant that catches the eye of any plant-geek are the stunning lavender poppies that always seem to bloom just in time for the Annual Garden Walk. “The seeds were given to me by a friend of my daughter.”

Most gardeners have a generous nature, and Joan is known not only for spontaneously packaging up seeds for visitors but also for leaving free plants for passersby on the sidewalk.

“Gardening is my passion. In addition to my home garden, I maintain five public garden plots in Ste. Genevieve, my time counts as volunteer hours for the Master Gardener program. My daughters say that my home garden is my “third daughter”—they are right!!”

With such a lush, diverse garden, Joan spends considerable time in the spring preparing for the Garden Walk and, in the fall, preparing the garden for winter. “The rest of the time, it’s mostly maintenance: weeding, trimming things back, getting rid of old/extra plants, transplanting, etc… Oh, and watering, watering, watering in the dry summer. I do it all myself and will until I can’t anymore. “You don’t stop gardening when you grow old; you grow old when you stop gardening.” I tell my daughters that if they find me face down in the dirt, they know I went happy.”

QUICK FACTS;

-Size of Garden? My property is 60 feet wide x 150 deep; it’s all “under till” except for space occupied by my house, one-car garage, and small garden shed.

-Year Garden began? Early 90s with small beds.

-Favorite gardening tool? My favorite (most used) garden tool is my pruners.

-Favorite time of day in the garden? My favorite time of day in my garden is having breakfast/brunch on my back patio, and just enjoying eating outside and appreciating all of my hard work. Of course, that’s when I notice something that needs to be done!