“We had several large evergreens on our property and they were so tall that they had a lot of space underneath them. I started researching dwarf evergreens and that’s how I got interested initially,” says William, who recently wrote, Make Room for Dwarf Evergreens which appeared in the fall 2005 issue of Conifer Quarterly.

William donated his dwarf evergreens to a new 20 by 40 foot community garden that’s decorated with rocks and a reflecting pool with a cascading fountain outside Oak Crest’s chapel.

“Brian Dorsey, the head of the grounds department here at Oak Crest was interested in developing a garden outside the chapel, so I suggested a dwarf evergreen garden. They range anywhere from 1-6 feet and don’t require too much work. It turned out beautifully. There’s a bench where you can sit and listen to the water and meditate,” says William.   

Tools of the Trade

Brian not only landscapes the sprawling, 87-acre community, but is the “go-to” guy for anyone interested in gardening at Oak Crest.

“We provide mulch, compost, peat moss, water, and one free tilling per year in early April,” says Brian, “And there’s a shed nearby that stores all the gardening tools.”

“A lot of people bring their gardening tools with them when they move,” says Jean. “Everyone who has a garden gets a key to the shed where we keep rakes, shovels, wheel barrels, insecticides, and other gardening tools.”

There’s also an on-site greenhouse that allows serious gardeners to pursue their passion year round.          

This year, Jean plans to take it easy and enjoy the gardens without digging in. She will continue to be the organizer of the garden plots but has relinquished her garden to a neighbor.

“There’s a lady who has a garden beside mine who grows beautiful rose bushes,” says Jean.  “This year I turned my plot over to her so I could take a break and she could have more room.”

As for William, he plans to begin propagating dwarf evergreens to use in the community.

“Pediatricians are interested in longevity. I guess that contributes to my interest in gardening,” he says.