Julie and Chad Glazer’s Garden

972 East 787th Road

Moving into their home in the spring of 1999 gave both Julie and Chad Glazer their first experience in “country living.” Learning to live with the Kansas winds, deer, wild turkey, opossums, and a multitude of insects did not deter them from developing a breathtaking five-acre tract on a limestone bluff overlooking the countryside of Douglas County.

The garden provides an example of “cottage style” and is quite free-formed. Since the home was new construction –  limestone outcropping, pasture grass, a multitude of weeds, stickers, and poison ivy –  the Glazers started from scratch.

They installed an in-ground pool for their family, planting native grasses around the pool. Hiding in the grasses, is a large metal work of an ancient Kokopelli playing his flute and watching over the pool area. A multitude of hanging annual-flower baskets enhance the poolside. In addition, a two-piece basalt rock fountain bubbler enhances the hardscaping surrounding the pool. An in ground waterfall bubbler can be found near the front door. 

Look closely, and you will also see a multitude of metal spiders and insects surrounding the fountain rock area. Julie’s love of water fountains is also reflected with another water feature under the pergola in the garden workspace. Several secluded meditative garden areas contain benches and stone Buddhas, encouraging personal reflection, relaxation, and absorption of nature. Eclectic metal works accent various garden focal points and water fountains. 

The Glazer landscaping, hardscaping, and garden development is a true example of vision, hard work, and a love for being outdoors. Julie started with a single-wheeled wheelbarrow and a determination to complete her vision. She started moving native rocks and learned quickly that poison ivy was abundant, and that locust thorns went through shoes and gloves. She then dealt with chigger and other insect bites at the end of the day. 

The gravel pathways throughout the garden tracts were not strategically planned. Julie simply followed the path of rain water runoff after many thunderstorms, spreading gravel along these natural water paths. She completed the gravel walkways with borders of native limestone.

Tree peonies in the landscape produce large, paper-like flowers early in the season. They seem effortless due to the perfect conditions there. 

Carefree catmint flowers most of season, its fragrance helping deter insects. Lilies abound in the landscape. At one time, Julie worked at a lily farm in the Vineland Valley, accepting lily bulbs as compensation. This allowed her to fill the garden with an array of colorful lilies. Their easy maintenance allows her to spend time with the more temperamental flowers and shrubs.

The landscape also features many varieties of ornamental grasses, redbud trees, an assortment of hydrangea varieties, boxwood bushes, roses, clematis vines, poppy plants, every color of iris, and bachelor buttons scattered throughout the five-acre tract.