Customer Profile Spotlight

andy & darlene

lyndhurst, oh

Over the last 15 years, Darlene & Andy have cultivated their backyard space to be a sanctuary, dubbing it the Darndy Oasis and describing it as their own little secret garden. The two are fans of cottage gardening, favoring perennials and hydrangeas for their in-ground plantings, but they also enjoy planting up their eclectic assortment of containers with annuals each spring. Because deer are a constant presence in their neck of the woods, they rely heavily on deer-resistant plants. In 2017, the couple was awarded Lyndhurst’s “Yard of Distinction” Award.

When/How they got their start

Darlene’s first home as an adult was a condo with a blank slate of garden beds, and she started with perennials. Andy remembers, as a young boy, that his father almost always had tomatoes growing in their neighborhood Cleveland home with a postage stamp yard.

When Darlene and Andy married in the mid-‘00s, hydrangeas were part of Darlene’s bouquet, and so the plant naturally and happily became their “thing”. Now, hydrangeas are the anchors of their gardens.

Why they garden

Darlene describes their outdoor space as a peaceful sanctuary, as “city-fied” nature. It’s their enclosed space where they love to watch the birds, butterflies, and the seasons change. Andy explains they’re not ones to go on hikes to find nature; they prefer connecting with nature at home in the backyard. He mentions one perk of being furloughed from his job during the pandemic has been the opportunity see plants bloom, observe families of squirrels and birds…things you miss when you’re at work!

Challenges & opportunities

The couple’s #1 challenge is deer, which frequently move through their back yard in herds. They once counted 16, attempting to snack on hostas as they passed through! Because of this, Andy & Darlene love deer-resistant plants like Lantana for hot color, Ornamental Grasses for plumes, Ferns for texture, and nectar-rich Zinnias for their pollinator power.

The couple’s #2 challenge is that their yard is ½ sun and ½ shade, and so they are learning more about plants that work for both lighting conditions (hint: SunPatiens®).

achieving & maintaining success

Darlene & Andy are big on composting, making sure to feed their plants with fertilizer and homemade compost a couple times during the growing season. When it comes to their beloved hydrangeas, the couple praises Triple Phosphate, crediting the organic product with bringing their once-defunct mophead hydrangeas back into a full and amazing state of bloom.

They’re also big fans of “planting” Annual Hanging Baskets, purchasing their favorite ready-to-display baskets from Petitti’s and transplanting the whole of the basket content into their favorite containers and window boxes for instant gratification!

Advice to new Gardeners:

Andy: “Start small. Get a fun pot, put some plants in it, and water. Don’t be afraid – it’s just a plant, and it’s pretty!”

Darlene: “Take a trial-and-error approach. If something’s not working, learn why and find a new home for it in your yard where it’ll be happy.”

Join our new Facebook group page titled, “Petitti Garden Inspirations”. There, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to see how other Northeast Ohio gardeners and Petitti Garden Center customers are using their plants, and you can share your own gardening pictures to educate and inspire others, as well! On Facebook, simply search “Petitti Garden Inspirations” and click Join!

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