This overview shows you the size of Margaret’s sprawling flower garden on Faribault’s east side.
OH, WHAT AN ABSOLUTE JOY to be Margaret’s neighbor, to gaze across the street into her flower garden reminiscent of a Claude Monet painting.
But, alas, I live down the hill, over the river and into the valley across town from this eastside Faribault garden.
I happened upon Margaret’s sprawling, Impressionist style garden on a recent Saturday morning. And because I’m not at all shy, I popped out of the van and approached Margaret as she weeded her flowers.
She obliged my request to photograph her flowers (but not her) and also answered my questions like, “What is that?” or “Is that …?”
Low-lying fuchsia sedum add a jolt of brilliant color.
Loved these dainty, pale pink flowers. Gardeners, what are they? No, I couldn’t ask Margaret to identify every single plant.
Margaret didn’t tell me I couldn’t photograph her hand. She kept working while we talked, bucket of tools nearby. She had more gardening tools in the garage, she said.
Margaret knows her flowers and her passion for them is irrepressible. She simply loves to garden. That’s apparent as her flower garden stretches nearly the entire 180-foot length of her and her husband’s lot and then extends 30 – 40 feet from the edge of the sidewalk, down the slope and to the garage. She began planting the garden about five years ago, partially so her husband wouldn’t need to mow the slope of the lawn.
From daisies to bee balm, sedum to clematis, lamb’s ears to lilies and dozens of other perennials, Margaret’s garden is awash in color and blooms. Her pride and joy, though, are her 50 some rose bushes.
Margaret’s garden is a rose lover’s paradise.
“I just love roses,” Margaret says. “They just have beautiful flowers and smell wonderful.”
Roses and more abloom with pieces of art tucked in among the flowers.
One of the many English rose bushes, which are Margaret’s favorite for their thick layers of petals and scent.
I roamed the perimeter of the garden, snapping photos as rain pittered and hastened my photo shoot. Yet, I took time to inhale the heady perfume of Margaret’s beloved English roses. English and shrub rose bushes compromise most of the roses in her garden.
The most gorgeous clematis I’ve ever seen, in full bloom.
Just look at Margaret’s eye for color, pairing purple clematis and coral roses.
I noticed this gardener’s talent for pairing colors—especially the striking contrast of royal purple clematis next to coral-hued roses.
Who knew a rain gauge could also be a piece of garden art staked next to lilies?
I appreciated, too, how she tucks garden art among her flowers with the skills of a designer.
A snippet overview of a portion of Margaret’s Monet garden.
If Margaret’s garden was a painting, surely it would be a Monet.
Margaret mixes the jewel tones of raspberries with flowers. She’s also incorporated strawberries and tomatoes into her flower garden.
FYI: Margaret’s garden is located at 1325 11th Avenue Northeast, Faribault.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Someday I want to have a beautiful garden like Margaret!!!! Beautiful!!!!
Don’t we all? But then I’ll need a gardener because I couldn’t possibly tend a garden that size without help.
What a cheerful post! I love that last photo, esp. – the blue flowers and the berries – a glorious conglomeration of nature!
Yes, doesn’t that Margaret have an eye for color? And I loved how the fruit and vegetable plants were woven right into her flowers. Had rain not begun falling, I would have poked around some more in her garden. Margaret was so gracious and welcoming.
Yes, I love veggies and flowers together!
simply beautiful!!!
I agree. Beautiful garden.
The dainty flowers are penstemon. They are quite lovely
Thank you, Catherine, for identifying those penstemon for me. I just so like their daintiness.
This is so beautiful! It reminds me a bit of my mother’s garden. She loves the impressionist riot too, though it looks like Margaret is a bit more organized in her gardening- or perhaps doesn’t have a working farm, farmer husband, farmhands, and around 5 of her 9 children living at home most of the time….
Nope, I don’t think Margaret has any of those other responsibilities. No five children living at home. No farm.
Lovely post.. a woman after my own heart! I also loved her bucket of garden tools, i really should do that i am always losing things!! c
And she had a lovely bucket for her weeds, too.
Beautiful Garden – love gardens to just get away from it all and soak in the beauty:) Have a Great Day!
You summarized it quite well. Beautiful get away.
How gorgeous Audrey. I love all the amazing colours. I have no green thumbs I’m afraid but I would love to be able to create something like this xx
Ah, yes, Margaret’s garden was gorgeous and colorful and I wish it was mine. I do enjoy gardening, but not to the extent of Margaret.
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing those lovely roses with us. Agree it would be lovely to be Margaret’s neighbor. 🙂
You are welcome. And she was such a gracious hostess in allowing me to photograph her flower garden.