Creepy crawlers part of the recipe for winning landscape

By Staci Dennis
Correspondent

CHESAPEAKE

A few bees and bugs aren't enough to deter Lauren and Matthew Orlando from digging in the dirt.

The 8-year-old twins enjoy helping their mother, Jennifer Orlando, plant flowers, prune trees and build a hearty vegetable garden in their backyard.

"We have our own garden club and play outside around the flowers," Lauren said. "It's like our own secret place."

The Orlando s were chosen as one of the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council's Notable Yards Conte st winners. The council sponsors the annual competition to highlight area homeowners and their garden and landscaping work.

Seven winners were picked for their efforts to beautify the front and back yards of their homes. The Orlando s won for the Great Bridge section of the city.

Each winner received a certificate, $50 gift card to White's Old Mill Garden Center and the placement of a sign in the yard a month.

"The yards are all so different," said Jean Pfaehler, mayoral appointee to the council and project sub-committee chair woman. "We have seen yards that devote more space to gardens rather than to lawn area."

The Orlando s' backyard has gardens that surround a pool. The entire perimeter is lined with blooming trees, shrubs and flowers.

Mom Jennifer even created a special area where her children could create their own garden.

"My mom always had a garden when I was little, so I thought it was important to do that with my kids," she said. "I want them to see they can make things grow, and they don't need to be scared of bugs that live in the ground, or (to) use plants as their means to get food."

Lauren and Matthew proclaim their understanding of bugs.

"We don't run screaming when a bee comes around," Lauren said.

Added Matthew, "Bugs are necessary."

Thanks to their mother, Lauren and Matthew know about hydrangeas, lantana, phlox, roses, daylilies and elephant ears. The twins are knowledgeable of herbs, too, including rosemary, mint and thyme.

"This mint smells really good," Matthew said, pointing out some that had grown around the swing set. "This is part of our garden."

Once the vegetable garden starts to produce food, the twins enjoy finding items ripe for picking.

"I like picking the vegetables and flowers," Lauren said. "It looks like flower land in our backyard."

Jennifer credits her gardening roots with as the inspiration for creating a backyard oasis.

"It just runs in my blood," she said. "I love being out there and seeing what we can grow with our own hands."

Staci Dennis, sdennis@cox.net