Broadwater County residents showcased their garden displays in the annual Backyards of Broadwater event. One participant told MTN News the story behind a certain plant in her backyard.
“Oh, the Globemallow. That's indigenous to this area,” says Nancy Marks, a participant in the Backyards of Broadwater. “It grows all over these hills. It's normally a flat flower. The deer eat off the little orange buds, but if you water it, that's what you get, is that high flower."
This is one of many stories you would hear attending the annual Backyards of Broadwater, an event featuring unique garden displays. In 2020, attendees were able to tour through five different gardens across Townsend and Toston enjoying many sights and listening to many stories.
Not all gardens featured flowers. Some backyards, like in the Rauser family, featured a vegetable garden with their story highlighting cabbages.
"Cabbages are the most prominent because, then, we get together as a family at the end of the season. Harvest those cabbages and make homemade sauerkraut. We've been doing this for years," says Samantha Ferrat, the Co-Chair of Backyards of Broadwater. Her grandparents, the Rauser family, participated in the event.
Despite each story being unique, all of them end with the same message.
"To encourage them to garden,” says Lynette Dyk as she looks into her flower bed. “It is so worthwhile and it gives so much back. It is just enjoyable. It's peaceful."
Proceeds collected were donated to local garden clubs.
