Country Gardens magazine discovered a gem of a cottage-style garden in Placerville, and named it the best cottage-style garden for 2008. Garden owner and creator Serena Stearns says she was "very honored and excited." The magazine is on newsstands.
It started two years ago when Stearns entered the magazine's contest for best cottage garden. She wrote to the magazine about her garden, describing the cozy paths that snake through the garden, the towering oaks, the abundance of flowers. She told of her joy at being in the garden. She explained how she hauled "every rock, slate, concrete, fencing, plants and soil" into the garden with her wheelbarrow. The letter and photos caught the judges' eye. The magazine selected her garden as one of its winners, and sent out a photographer who spent two days in the garden.
The article is called "Layering the Charm." It is abundantly illustrated with photos.
"I've had a few phone calls from locals who saw the article," she says. "Someone even recognized me in the grocery store."
– Pat Rubin
