Creative Gardens: A Garden Still Growing

Emmaus residents know Jamie Smith from as an excellent cook and baker, and Sweet Memories as the go-to shop for holiday décor and delicious food. A walk up the path to the front door, affords a visitor a look at Sweet Memories’ front garden. Impressive plants and decorations give a taste of Jamie's other garden, located at her Macungie home.

A work in progress for 27 years, the original land had no garden to speak of. Jamie and her husband, Mark, like to do “a little at a time, that’s the best way to do it, less likely to make mistakes,” explains Jamie. A little at a time for nearly three decades has clearly paid off, as Jamie’s garden is expansive, and includes an herb garden, a koi pond, fairy gardens, and several fruit trees.

Jamie’s favorite plants are herbs, and her L-shaped herb garden includes types of thyme, lavender, oregano, basil, chives, among others. Jamie loves “the subtle color differences, the aroma, the folklore, and the usefulness” of these plants. When making special order baked goods for her shop, she likes to include herbs from her garden that add a personal touch for the recipient. Thyme for example represents courage, while rosemary represents remembrance.

Visited by three garden tours and "Country Living" magazine in the past, Jamie’s garden includes wooden greenhouse structures, an arbor, a pool house, and a picket fence that surrounds the property, all built by Mark. Recycled windows, previously from their home, were used in the arbor over the patio. Truly a team effort, “our home and our yard are our hobby. We both really enjoy working and relaxing in them.” With their Sweet Memories schedule, it is a much-deserved relaxation, and a beautiful view as well.

Editor's Note: Creative Gardens will be an ongoing focus of the Emmaus Patch this summer, as we explore, through photography, both the private and public gardening activities that make Emmaus such a lovely place to spend the summer months. 

Jamie Smith's garden was recommended for this feature by an Emmaus Patch reader.