Wednesday, April 13, was a day of joyful surprises as we gathered amid threatening skies at Judith Mitchener’s home on Cassidy Bayou.
Our hostess, so well known throughout our region as the lady with the gardening answers, treated us to a delightful afternoon of stories she had to learn the hard way.
Sharing over 60 years of what not to do left me in awe of this lady and her husband I respect so highly.
How in the world do you tell someone else’s stories? Well, I don’t think I can do them justice, not really, so they are best left to the lady herself, who shared with us over a glass of iced tea while sitting amongst the many blooms from her greenhouse.
This day we gathered in the warmth of a golden room filled with a circle of friends around our hostess, who kept us spellbound with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
For refreshments, Martha Ann Clark and Shay Ely prepared delightful treats. The floral arrangement by Letitia King showcased stunning snowball viburnum and Harry Lauders walking sticks.
Touring the home and grounds, we found that Judith’s greenhouse is home to a stunning pink bougainvillea now in full bloom and towering 8 feet, while white and pink Amaryllis grown in the greenhouse brought cheer through the home.
In the early years, the Mitcheners were one of the first families to have this horizontal privacy fence trendy in California as well as a cement mid-century sculpture. The privacy fence spans the length of their backyard with a path leading to their vegetable garden tucked into a sunny adjoining lot, with raised beds all manicured.
One quick story: Judith’s newly planted and flourishing asparagus bed was mistaken for weeds by new help and sadly dispatched with a string trimmer.
All of these brick paths, quiet thinking spots, fences and sculpture have a story. You should be so lucky to hear them sometime.
As for now, Judith’s favorite flower is the daffodil and she plants them throughout sumner, bringing joy to all.
