LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – It’s a sure sign that summer is on its way—the Allen County Master Gardeners' Brown Bag Series has officially begun.
The first of 13 lunchtime sessions focused on “Grandma’s Garden,” with Master Gardener Mary Payne sharing her passion for heritage gardens. Payne highlighted how plants passed down through generations hold not only beauty but history. Among her collection is a century-old iris that once belonged to her grandmother and still blooms every year.
Payne highlighted how plants passed down through generations hold not only beauty but history.
Gardens of the past, Payne explained, were densely planted with a wide variety of flowers and herbs, many used daily in the home. She encouraged attendees to collect plant starts from friends and neighbors rather than rely on store-bought varieties.
“Most of the plants that you start in grandma's gardens would not be plants that you're going to go to the store and buy,” said Payne. “Ladies mantle is one of the really old ones. A lot of the old-fashioned daylilies—you know, if you go by the side of the road, you're going to see the tall orange ones. That's an old-fashioned one. You're not going to go buy that in the store.”
The Allen County Master Gardeners host the Brown Bag Series every Tuesday now through August 26, beginning at 12:15 p.m. at the gazebo in the Children’s Garden. Each session wraps up by 1 p.m. The full schedule is available on the Children’s Garden Facebook page.
