Anyone with a love of gardening or flowers won’t want to miss the opportunity to visit this hidden oasis in the heart of Stanton. The Krantzes’ famous gardens, located at 300 N. Mill St., are open both Friday and Saturday from 6 to 8:30 P.M. during the festival each year. The community is invited to spend some time enjoying the beauty of nature, so be sure to allot a good amount of time to tour the vast Krantz Garden.
Looking for a project to keep them busy, the Krantzes’ garden was first started in 1996 with a couple of beds in their front yard. Without a lot of gardening experience the Krantzes started out as self-proclaimed, “trial and error gardeners,” learning as they went.
In 1997 they purchased the lots behind their house, which, at the time, contained a large vegetable garden. Their original plan was to continue growing vegetables, but by the end of each summer the garden was full of weeds.
Around this time they also began planting flowers on some of the hills behind their house that were difficult to mow. As time went on and their gardens continued to expand and grow, the Krantzes learned the importance of mulching and planting the perennials close together to help control weeds.
By the spring of 2000, the Krantzes’ little hobby of gardening had turned into a full blown addiction and the vegetable garden was officially turned into a flower garden, complete with grass paths. The Krantzes’ garden is always changing and evolving, and each year something new is added.
Their first garden walk was in 2001 and they have been the talk of the town ever since. The Krantzes’ garden was featured in the Summer 2011 issue of Country Garden Magazine and in the March 2014 issue of Better Homes and Gardens.
If you’d like to see a preview, visit Peggy’s Pinterest board at tiny.cc/krantzgarden to see photos of the Krantz Garden. The Krantzes have stated that it’s always fun to share the garden with the many people who stop by to visit; however, they realize they are just planters of what God has created.
Their latest project has been on Main Street in Stanton where they have led a group of volunteers who have given their time to revitalize and maintain the streetscapes in front of the businesses. Be sure to take time to admire the planters downtown during the festival, and say thank you if you happen to see Peggy and Loren!
Stanton Old Fashioned Days would like to thank the Krantzes for their dedication to the City of Stanton and willingness to open up their beautiful private gardens to the public during festival.