Published: Sunday, July 15, 2007
Garden lover shows off her work
By DON SHILLING
YOUNGSTOWN — Teri Kechler was happy to show off her red day lilies and purple cone flowers during a garden tour on the North Side.
"It's fun to watch people walk around the corner and smile," said Kechler, whose backyard was one of seven stops on the tour Saturday.
She's worked hard enough to deserve some enjoyment.
She toils in the garden every night after leaving her job as an accountant for Thermal Ventures, a municipal steam heating company based in Youngstown. She also spends all day Saturday and Sunday with her flowers.
"It's therapy," she said. "After looking at numbers all day, it's nice to get some dirt under my fingernails."
About 50 people enjoyed her yard and the others that were part of the tour organized by the North Side Citizen's Coalition. This is the third year the coalition has put together the tour to raise money.
This year's proceeds will be used for a beautification project that will be determined later, Kechler said. People on the tour pay $10 each.
Organizers are considering offering a spring tour next year to showcase the various flowers that are in blossom at that time of year.
The summer is just fine for Kechler, however. She has tulips and daffodils that bloom in the spring, but she prefers the wildflower look that the summer plants have.
Garden lover
"They say you can tell a lot about someone's personality by the type of garden they have," she said.
When asked what her garden says about her, she just shrugged and let her in-laws handle that question.
"It says she's fun-loving," said her mother-in-law, Diane Kechler.
"She's a workaholic," said her grandmother-in-law, Juanita Hughes.
Teri, 50, said she fell in love with the backyard of the home when she toured it with her husband, John, 33. The bought the house in 2001.
She had been trying to grow a garden in their former house in Boardman, but the yard wasn't big enough.
The North Side home had a good-sized garden, but Kechler has expanded it each year.
Her husband, who loves old homes, said he's happy that his wife has a hobby, but his interest is working on cars. He is a mechanic at Lou Vari Transmission Service in Youngstown.
"I'm in charge of moving concrete and digging big holes out here," he said. "I'm the heavy."
Teri Kechler said she was happy that so many people took an interest in her work Saturday.
Some people on the tour wandered around the yard on their own and asked questions when they were done. Others had her walk around with them so they could ask questions and take notes.
"It's a good way to get ideas," she said.
More Stories from Wed, Jul 18, 2007
- Valley's brief rainfall Tuesday won't restore your lawn
- Narrow doorway thwarts St. E's ATM theft
- Breathe easier: Valley meets clean air standards
- Edwards called city's 2010 plan 'visionary'
- Historical ovens could draw tourists
- Trumbull considers financing out-of-county senior transport
- Community considers school building options
- For county treasurer, time has come to retire
