The Safe Haven Garden Walk is back for its 14th year Saturday with four gardens.
“The four participating gardens are beautiful and will make for a great day of strolling,” said Stacey Cicero, executive director of Safe Haven, an emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
The garden of Judy and Les Mlsna can be described in one word: Wow! A yard that started with nothing has been transformed into a gardener’s paradise.
“It’s just so relaxing,” Judy said. “You can watch the fish and listen to the water.”
The couple bought the home on the corner of Lieg and Lincoln streets in Shawano in 2002.
“When we moved in here there was nothing in the backyard,” Judy said.
They planted pine trees around the outside. When they wanted a pond, they fenced in the yard and started with a small pond and a waterfall.
“We decided we needed to expand,” Judy said. “We wanted more fish.”
There are now over 30 fish in a lighted pond — “It’s pretty at night,” Judy said. — surrounded by three waterfalls, including a water wheel. There are two sitting areas nearby.
The area is decorated with bears, frogs (including a real frog that came to visit and stayed), annuals and perennials, such as angel wing begonias, adding to the beauty. There are two arbors covered with trumpet vines in a yard that is frequented by birds and butterflies.
The couple enhanced the area with rocks, some coming from as far away as Kansas.
“People know we like rocks,” Les said. “We always watch for rocks on the side of the road. We try to find some with character.”
The couple did most of the work by trial and error, but Les, an avid reader, also read books for tips.
“It took over three years to create it,” he said.
Judy said the garden is always changing as they add new items and replace ones that are old and faded.
“I enjoy it because I can sit out here, have a beer and relax,” Les said. “It’s so peaceful to sit out here.”
Cicero said the garden walk is an important fundraiser for the shelter, which in 2014 provided safe housing to 49 women and 58 children and answered 2,155 calls.
“People have always enjoyed the garden walk and have obtained great ideas for their own gardens,“ Cicero said. “The gardeners put a lot of time, energy and love into their gardens and want participants to enjoy the beauty of their labor.”
Last year’s show was cancelled due to a lack of participants, but that’s not the case this year. And special sales will help draw interest at each of the following locations:
- Judy and Les Mlsna, 510 E. Lieg Ave., raffle and lawn ornament sale.
- Todd and Mary Raether, N4324 Country Court, plant slip sale.
- John and Soon Stezenski, W9314 Fir Lane, bake sale.
- Karen Childs, W6747 Woods Road, brat stand.
