Leominster woman ready to get digging in sprawling garden
BY DIANE C. BEAUDOIN

The flowers at The Gardener's Spot might not end up in Lori Palmieri's award-winning garden -- but they could end up in yours as the gardening season finally kicks off.

This is the time of year when thoughts begin to turn back outside and gardening - whether it is annuals, perennials, or vegetables and herbs - the time is coming.

The 2006 winner of the Leominster Flower and Garden Contest, Lori Palmieri, is also very anxious to get back to nature and tend to her award-winning garden. Palmieri resides on Olde Tavern Road, and has over 40 different species of plants in her garden.

"I have always liked gardening, and that is what I saw doing with a big part of the yard," Palmieri said.

She says her way of keeping the garden full of perennials is when they get large, she cuts them and transplants the cuttings to other portions of her expansive garden.

"Perennials multiply over the years, so I cut them and move them. It's a lot of work, but I love doing it," she said.

The Palmieri garden contains a 25-by- 18 foot pond, with a 15-foot waterfall and fountain. It contains various water plants and Koi fish. The main portion of the garden is approximately 200 feet long and 30 foot deep.

"The fish stay in the pond all winter long," she said.

Lori said one good trick to gardening is using bark mulch and blood meal for new bulbs.

"This helps, or is supposed to, keep the squirrels and moles away," she said.

She is always on the lookout for new and different plants to find a home for in the spacious garden.

"I am ready to get back out there, it is very rewarding," she said.

However, condo owners and apartment dwellers do not have the spaciousness for a sprawling garden as the Palmieri's do. One answer to still have plants and vegetables is grow all your own. According to Neil Zanni, owner of The Gardener's Spot, dwarf plants and trees are a good bet.

"There is a trend to smaller gardens, gardens on your front steps and on your deck," Zanni began.

He explained that the trick to growing beautiful plants on your porch or steps is more volume of soil and larger pots.

"The more volume of soil you have, the more water it holds. You can water a potted garden in the morning and it will be fine. You can also use drought tolerant plants," he added.

Deck boxes and container garden sales have expanded 100-fold over the past few years according to Zanni, and that trend appears to be continuing.

"More and more condos are being built and sold. People don't have time to take care of a yard and garden, but still want the beauty of plants and the fresh vegetables and herbs," Zanni said. "Once you learn what can go together, you can make a beautiful small garden to enjoy."

Zanni said dwarf plants make an excellent garden where space is limited.

"I go to Oregon every year to find the latest dwarf plants and other things that are new. Grasses are also a nice addition to a container garden, and they seem to be taking off more and more," he said.

Another alternative if space is an issue is to use annuals, according to Zanni.

"The colors are stunning and many of them come in hanging pots, so you don't need any ground space what so ever. Perennials do better planted in the ground, but if you can't do that, go annuals," he said.

Zanni said even the fountains that are used outside have been scaled down to fit on a deck or back porch.

"Of course there are still the big ones, but one new trend is the smaller pond with a smaller fountain," he said. "You can still put some water plants in, even a couple of fish and enjoy it right on the back deck. You don't need a lot of backyard room anymore to enjoy plants and grow a garden."

Even tomato plants and cucumbers can now be grown in hanging baskets on a porch so everyone can enjoy the freshness without taking up any ground space.

Zanni said he finds the recent spurt of growing plants and vegetables on front steps and in baskets, "brings a more rural feeling to living in a city and gives everyone the chance to enjoy their own garden without owning a lot of land. The days of having acres of land to garden with are long gone for most of us, but the industry is adapting."

Zanni said small herb gardens have also made an impact of porch and step gardening of late.

Both Palmieri and Zanni said one secret to successful gardening is mulch. Palmieri said she mulches her spacious garden spread to make it look good, and to help the plants along.

Zanni said mulch is important, as long as it's a good grade.

"We are seeing more wood pallets being ground up and becoming mulch," he said. "If you want the good mulch, get tree bark and tree waste mulch. It's much better for your plants."

So whether you are planning a sprawling garden of flowers and vegetables, or a small patio garden, the principles are the same according to Zanni.

"Good soil, good mulch and a good combination of what you like will make a beautiful and successful garden, no matter what the size may be," he said.