Sherry Hoffman has more than 60 types of rose bushes in the various gardens surrounding her Franklin Township home.

She has a variety of flowering and fruit trees, too, along with bushes that bloom in white, pink, yellow, orange and purple.

Plus, there are around 20 different types of perennials and shrubs.

Her gardens seem endless.

“As I look out into the yard and I see flushes of various colors, I feel a sense of joy and peacefulness,” Hoffman said.

She sums up the feeling with a quote from the renowned naturalist and botanist John Muir, who died in 1914: “Into the garden I go to lose my mind and find my soul.”

“I love that my family can use this space to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature,” Hoffman said of her husband, Jared, and children Megan, Jocelyn and Sawyer.

Hoffman said that she has always been in awe of nature, and has many fond memories of spending time outdoors.

She gardened as a youngster, but it was in 2020 that she rekindled her interest in gardening.

She add fruit trees, red Double Knockout roses and blueberry and cranberry bushes to her yard — and hasn’t looked back.

Hoffman was born to garden.

‘Magical to me’

“My grandparents Florence and Ralph ‘Chubby’ Neeb built up a campground from farmland, valuing soil and water conservation,” she said. “To me, the area was so peaceful. Over the years their hard work evolved into a thriving area with a natural swimming area, fish ponds, campsites, pavilions and trails that meandered through the woods.”

She recalled how her grandmother’s gardens flowing with rhododendrons and azaleas were nestled perfectly among the pathways.

“This area was magical to me as a kid, not only for beauty, but for the clear picture of what can be created through hard work and perseverance,” said Hoffman, who planted her late grandmother’s rhododendrons in her yard. “I have carried that message with me throughout my life.”

Hoffman said that her parents, Robert and Brenda Ohl, and brothers, Brad and Steve, inherited that hard work ethic as they began the family’s fuel oil business in 1984.

“However, when we weren’t working, our family could usually be found outdoors. Whether it was camping, biking or relaxing on the front porch rockers watching a storm roll in, we valued our time spent outside,” Hoffman said. “As a kid, I remember how much my dad enjoyed building flower beds, adding gorgeous flowers, and creating and painting wood cutout garden figures. I remember neighbors commenting on the gorgeous flowers that were blooming and commenting on how much work it took to take care of it.”

Her father beautified new areas of the yard each year as his appreciation for gardening grew. She would help, and fondly remembers purchasing packets of vegetable seeds for yet another expansion.

“The love for beautifying the area where you live has stuck with me,” Hoffman said.

As her interest in gardening grew in 2020, she surrounded a weeping cherry tree with Boscobel roses, Walker’s Low Catmint, Bloomerang purple lilacs, Dwarf English boxwoods, salvia and white wand veronica.

“Every year the garden evolves as I learn which plants work well together, considering the light requirements, attraction of beneficial insects, and overall growth habits,” Hoffman said.

She’s added white and blue Galaxy Lillies, purple Siberian Irises, Purple Bearded Irises, yellow and pink tulips, Apricot Peach and yellow Sunshine yarrow, strawflowers, Wizard of Ahs veronica, salvia, Tuscan Sun heliopsis, English roses, coneflowers, lavender, weigela, pansies and more.

“I learned the love of gardening from my family, but I always had a goal to be able to identify plants like my grandmother did. She always impressed me with her knowledge,” Hoffman said. “Over the past several years I began researching through gardening channels, magazines and connecting with friends. Every day I strive to find something new to learn.”

She shares her knowledge with family and friends, and through her Facebook group “Garden Blooms from NEPA.”

While she enjoys most every flower, her favorite for the summer of 2024 is the Princess Charlene de Monaco hybrid tea rose. It has very full apricot and pink petals, a long vase life, strong stem and a strong fragrance.

“This rose works great in flower arrangements,” she noted.

‘For all to enjoy’

Hoffman researches the zone in which plants will do well.

“My house is in Zone 6b, so my perennials and shrubs are in a range where they will thrive in our climate,” she said. “A good rule of thumb is to select those that can live two zones below the identified zone in that area. If the plants can take the cold weather down to Zone 4, for example, they shouldn’t be affected by any unseasonably cold temperatures during the winter. Keeping the zone in mind is important, as well as identifying the amount of sunlight in the garden.”

Hoffman’s yard is mostly in full sun so she selects sun-loving perennials like coneflowers, catmint, sedum, lavender and yarrow. She also maintains a garden for plants that prefer shade.

Many of her plants are also deer resistant and drought tolerant.

“I learned the importance of deer resistant plants when I planted two deep purple rhododendron, and each of them were uprooted and chewed into pieces within two days of planting them in our backyard,” she said. “I researched and found that the scent from catmint and lavender tend to deter deer.”

And drought tolerant plants are great if gardeners don’t have much time to dedicate to watering the flowers in the garden since they don’t require daily watering, Hoffman added.

“As far as placement of the flowers, I strive to create pockets or rooms with a seating area throughout the yard. It is my hope to place the flowers in areas that would make a picturesque place,” she said. “Whether it is for having a quiet spot to contemplate and take in nature or offering photo opportunities for special occasions, I plant areas that will be flourishing for spring, summer and fall for all to enjoy.”

To stretch the beauty of her gardens into fall or early winter, Hoffman enjoys the look of ornamental kale.

“I have found that Orchid Frost Lamium, coral bells and Jack Frost Brunnera hold up well in the part shade garden, and the violas in the sunny garden areas last well into winter, with a few coming back in the springtime,” Hoffman said. “Typically, the rose bushes bloom well into November.”

Hoffman said she takes a 20 minute walk most mornings and wanders through all gardens.

“Sometimes with a cup of coffee in hand, I take note of what may need to be tended to that day,” she said. “I usually dedicate at least an hour to the garden each day. More time is needed throughout certain times of the year or when expanding or adding a new flower bed.”

Hoffman said gardening is much more than rearranging plants.

“It is a source of joy and fulfillment. Through the process I have learned how to cultivate the land, feeling a sense of peace, while also sharing the experience with family, friends and neighbors. I’m not an expert by any means, but I enjoy the process of building up the landscape with beautiful flowers, offering a welcome view for all to enjoy.”