Most people would look at Jim and Connie Fisher’s acre of lawn with multiple flower beds, a pond with waterfall and various out-buildings and think, “What a lot of work.”
But to the Fishers, it is a labor of love.
Jim and Connie Fisher stand in the gazebo of their garden at 10193 Millers Rd., where they will host a Mid-Summer Soiree July 10 to benefit the Cobblestone Museum.
The Fishers will welcome guests to their garden at 10193 Millers Rd. on July 10 for a Mid-Summer Celebration “Back to the Garden” to benefit the Cobblestone Museum.
Shirley Bright-Neeper first visited the Fisher’s garden during a fundraiser last year for the Yates Community Library.
Neeper, who co-chairs the July 10 event with Joyce Chiczek of Lyndonville, was so impressed she asked the Fishers if they would be willing to host a garden tour for the Cobblestone Museum this summer.
“After a couple of years hosting our soiree at the Cobblestone campus, we are going ‘back to the garden’,” Neeper said. “There will be a lot of seating and a golf cart to get you to the garden from the parking area.”
The event, which runs from 4 p.m. until dark, rain or shine, will feature garden tours, music by McHenry and Baz, Mike Grammatico of Batavia on saxophone, wine and light refreshments.
The Fishers moved to Millers Road in 1983, but didn’t start their garden until 1996 when their kids were older. They first dug the pond, which today is beautifully landscaped, full of colorful fish and complete with water fountain.
“The garden is a full time job, since Jim retired,” Connie said. “We easily spend 40 hours a week working in it during the summer.”
She said the two of them are a team.
“Jim doesn’t know the flowers, but he helps with the mulching and the pond,” Connie said. “I couldn’t do it without him.”
They showed off their garden recently, dotted with flower beds of various varieties, a stone path edged with flowers and solar lights leading to a gazebo, water trickling in the pond and the She-Shed Jim built for Connie.
Connie said when planning the garden they were fortunate to know fellow gardeners who were wonderful about sharing ideas. She also read books and studied the gardens of neighbors and friends.
“Now we’re just grateful the Good Lord lets us enjoy his creation,” Connie said. “We spend every single day out here. The garden is never done.”
While most of the flowers are not yet blooming, Connie said by July 10 the garden will be ablaze with color.
Blooms include day lilies, Shasta daisies, black-eyed Susans, tall flax, Lucifer peonies, sweet William, roses and many more.
Jim said next year they are not committing to anything.
But in the meantime, “Here we are getting ready for the biggest shindig ever,” Connie said.
A suggested donation for the Mid-Summer Celebration is $10. Reservations would be appreciated by logging on to CobblestoneMuseum.org or calling (585) 589-9013.