Vintage garden cultivates natural beauty
Devin Heilman | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 4 months AGO
<p>Dennis Liming looks at his Delphiniums in the backyard of his home on Thursday. This will be the first year Liming will be featured in the Garden Tour. The Coeur d'Alene Garden Club's annual tour is happening Sunday, July 10.</p>
<p>An old record player is seen hung on one of Dennis Liming's garden fences on Thursday. Liming purchases most of his decorations from private parties and Ross.</p>
<p>Dennis Liming stands in his front yard as he talks with the Press on Thursday. This will be the first year Liming will be featured in the Garden Tour, which is happening Sunday, July 10.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — The pieces of antique stoves, vintage tools, old farming equipment and odds and ends that dangle along Dennis Liming’s backyard fence all have their own stories to tell.
"These came off the turning bridge down at Harrison," he said Thursday, gesturing to two long, heavy-looking wrenches. "The bridge used to turn so boats could go through there. It was much lower and then they raised it later on.
"They're spud wrenches. You can't hold one of these with one arm, it takes two arms."
Liming's unique collection of pieces from bygone eras complement the lush, vibrant and serene space that he has created at his early 20th century A Street house. A wide variety of colorful plant life can be found on his property, including many kinds of hostas, willowy reed grasses, brilliant flowers and plenty of Japanese maples.
"I have a lot of Japanese maples," he said. "I just am in love with them."
The community will have an opportunity to wander through Liming's garden yards and several others July 10 during the Coeur d'Alene Garden Club's Garden Tour.
This year's theme is "cultivating beauty," something Liming did without even really meaning to.
"This was totally devastated when I first moved in here; there was nothing here but a dust pile," he said. "It has evolved over the years and it has changed drastically from one year to the next. It’s not really a planned setup. It just kind of happened."
Liming's house and property, which is now used as a vacation rental known as The Partner House, is home to century-old blue spruces, a welcoming swath of lavender, peaceful stone Buddha statuettes and boulders and river rocks he found regionally to add texture and height to his garden. Around one side of the house is a Japanese-style bamboo water feature that creates a calming effect.
"I like the Japanese garden style," he said. "Although I don’t know how to create it, I’m always trying to emulate it."
The 19th annual Garden Tour will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 10. The tour will feature six gardens in Coeur d'Alene and Dalton Gardens. Guests are invited to take self-guided tours through the gardens, many of which will include on-site vendors, musicians, artists and gardening experts.
Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 on tour day. Proceeds will benefit local charities and North Idaho College dual-enrollment scholarships. Tickets are available at most local garden centers and in all the gardens on tour day.
Info: 664-0987 or www.cdagardenclub.com