Over 50 years ago, Peggy and Kerry Gish moved into their Kent Street home in Kewanee. Over the decades, they ramped up their landscaping, turning their one-acre lot into an outdoor oasis, but for a special outdoor event in 1999, the Kewanee homeowners kicked it up another notch.

At that time, the couple added two fishponds and more landscaping. The end results of their labor recently caught the attention of the Garden Club of Kewanee, and their property was awarded the “Yard of the Month” for July, although the holiday and scheduling led to the late announcement. The couple received a sign, a certificate and a gift certificate to Sunnyfield Greenhouse and Garden Center.

On their property are multiple areas of interest. The two fishponds, one located in the backyard, and one located in the center of a circle drive, are stocked with goldfish. Along the side of their home are flower beds, and adornments are scattered around various beds including a trellis and bird feeders that welcome yellow finches, cardinals and hummingbirds.

The Gishs agreed to answer five questions from The Kewanee Voice about their award-winning yard and gardens:

How much time do you spend a week doing yard work/gardening?

Peggy said the pair spend a great deal outside tending to their landscaping. The recent drought has been difficult, she said, but not impossible. The lack of rain has added to the workload, she said, but her plants and flowers are an investment.

Peggy estimates that she spends about 15 hours outside in the garden and yard a week, while Kerry, who does the mowing, estimates he spends around 20 hours outdoors.

What is your most favorite part of yard work/gardening?

For Peggy she enjoys the early planting days. “I first plant and then every morning I get up and go out and see what the Lord’s done,” she said. “He does all the work.”

Kerry said he likes tending the fishponds and although it’s not necessary to feed the fish daily, since they find food in their habitat, he enjoys throwing fish food to them every so often so they will come to the top of the pond.

What is your least favorite part of yard work/gardening?

“I really can’t think of a least favorite part,” Peggy said. She honestly enjoys all of the tasks. As for Kerry, he doesn’t necessarily enjoy weeding along the fence line of their large lot.

What is your favorite tree/shrub/plant/flower?

For Peggy, that’s easy. It’s her hibiscus plant, which she keeps in a pot on the patio. Most of their potted perennials are wintered in their basement. Her hibiscus bush will produce over a dozen blooms when the weather is cooler, she said.

Kerry enjoys the color combination of the two flowers planted in a bed out front. The purple liatris and orange lilies appeal to him.

How does it feel to have your yard recognized as “Yard of the Month?”

We’re kind of amazed because we look at other people’s yards and see a lot of yards deserving of the award,” Peggy said.