Beauty along the bluff: Volunteers make Bluffside Garden a picturesque McGregor spot
Lyle and Bonnie Troester have tended McGregor’s Bluffside Garden for 22 years. They are pictured with the sign that includes Bonnie's mother's favorite poem. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
The unique spot is located along A Street, past the Paper Moon book store and Old Jail and Firehouse and Cave Courtyard guest suites, and features colorful perennial and annual flowers, trees and bushes.
The zinnias are especially beautiful this time of year.
“We started out just planting flowers into the soil and then put mulch down. We planted a lot of hostas, especially along the front, but then the critters started eating them," Lyle explained. They later added large rocks to the area, creating terraces on the sloped terrain. Eventually, barrels were added too. The flowers were then planted directly into them in order to cut down on weeds.
The daisies, which came from her mother, are Bonnie’s favorite flowers at the Bluffside Garden.
The Bluffside Garden is a labor of love for the Troesters—literally. Lyle estimates he and Bonnie spend several hours each week tending the space. Planting, mulching and spring and fall clean up require even more time.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
Snow white daisies with fuzzy yellow centers, vibrant orange marigolds and towering fuchsia zinnias. There are bright pops of color everywhere you look in McGregor’s Bluffside Garden.
It’s hard to imagine that, over 25 years ago, this picturesque stretch along A Street was undeveloped.
“It’s something people take for granted, but it was nothing,” recalled Lyle Troester. “Now, it’s really a cool spot. People like it, and tourists, especially, love to come up through here.”
The Bluffside Garden was a project of the McGregor Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee, with assistance from the city of McGregor. Lucy Rodenberg-Dodge (now Lucy Anderson) and Charlene Palucci were co-chairs.
According to a July 2, 1997 article in the North Iowa Times, “the garden is the result of part of the committee’s work this year to improve the appearance of the town by clearing the area of rocks, brush, trees and sandstone that had accumulated during the past years along the bluffside on A Street...To date, the garden site has been cleared with volunteer help from Luster Heights inmates, rangers Jim Farnsworth and Roger Thompson, planted with perennials by Richard Staples and mulched.”
Lyle and his wife Bonnie have helped tend the space for 22 years.
“We both like flowers. Bonnie just kind of adopted it,” he said. “We started out just planting flowers into the soil and then put mulch down. We planted a lot of hostas, especially along the front, but then the critters started eating them.”
They later added large rocks to the area, creating terraces on the sloped terrain. Dirt was also added to help the plants grow.
“We were still planting in the soil, but it’s such a hard time keeping the weeds down, so we came up with the idea to add some barrels,” Lyle said. “So we put in 30 barrels, filled them with dirt and planted flowers.”
Now, the Bluffside Garden is a mix of both annual and perennial flowers. There are also several trees and bushes such as lilacs, crab apple and purple plum.
“Some plants have been here 20 years or longer,” said Lyle. “The daisies really like it here.”
The flowers hold sentimental value for the Troesters.
“My mom started planting daisies at her house many years ago,” recalled Bonnie. “That’s where all the daisies come from in town. So those are probably my favorite.”
The poem on the Bluffside Garden sign, a gift from local milkman Charlie Carroll decades ago, was her mother’s favorite. It reads: “In the garden of life, just think of the flowers and pass the rest as you go; Remember the bright and sunshiny hours and forget the rain and snow; Think of the friends who are loyal and true, let the rest of the world go on its way; Remember the years but forget the tears, and you’ll find contentment each day!”
“It’s lived on,” quipped Lyle.
The Bluffside Garden is a labor of love for the Troesters—literally. Lyle estimates the couple spends several hours each week tending the space, either maintaining flowers, pulling weeds or removing fallen sandstone from the bluff.
“When we’re planting, it’s a lot more,” he said. “Spring cleanup is a whole day. Fall clean up is a whole day. Mulching is another day. It’s a long process.”
Thankfully, watering the flowers has gotten easier over the years. Lyle said he and Bonnie originally hauled water to the site because there was no source nearby.
“We would hook on to some of the neighboring spigots across the street and hose it over here,” he shared. “Then we talked to McGregor Municipal Utilities and they put a hydrant in for us and turn it on every year.”
The Troesters purchased the hose and sprinkler system for the Bluffside Garden and installed the two signs—the one with the poem and another that shares McGregor and Ringling Brothers history. They’ve contributed countless flowers over the years.
“The last two years, the city has paid for annual flowers,” he added.
The time and financial effort are worth it, though.
“It just gives me enjoyment to make it pretty,” said Bonnie.
“It’s nice to hear from the tourists when we’re working here. That’s where most of the comments come from,” Lyle remarked. “That keeps us going.”
“But we’re not spring chickens anymore,” he acknowledged, “so we’ve been really trying to get somebody to take over.”
Lyle said volunteerism is what helps small towns like McGregor thrive. Even a small gesture can make a difference.
“Pick up after your pets, pick up your cigarette butts, clean in front of your storefront or your own little spot. It all helps make our town look better,” he stated. “And if anyone walks by here, they are welcome to pull a couple weeds.”
