A Wisconsin Bed and Breakfast

The gardens at Justin Trails Resort have been growing for many years. The oldest members of the garden are 3 huge silver maples approximately 125 years old. The tall white pine was planted in 1950 by Kathryn Justin, Don’s mother. She also planted the 6 foot tall yews in front of the garage, a crab apple tree, seven sisters rose bush and a dozen green hostas.

In 1982, a landscape plan was created to give the yard more green color in winter. The taxus cuspadata under the white pine were planted to steer guests to the front door. Burning bushes, gold finger potentilla, and barberry plants give color, juniper and mugo pines completed the plan. A hawthrone tree attracts flocks of birds. Silo blocks created a two foot wide path to the front door. Donna did not want any “messy perennials that needed dead-heading and dividing”. Bridal wreath bushes were moved from the front of the house to the property line.

After opening the bed and breakfast, color became more important. Donna’s favorite shopping places became nurseries, garden centers and green houses. A pink estilbe and dwarf white estilbe bed was planted under the Hawthorne tree. Chocolate ruffles coral bells grace the walkway.

Travertine stone was gathered from Winona, MN to create a path to the house and to the Paul Bunyan cabin. Fill was added to create a level walkway to the house to eliminate the need for steps. Hydrangeas, smoke bushes, Chinese willow, hostas and an azalea were planted around the Paul Bunyan cabin.

6,000 street bricks were purchased and laid by Don in herringbone, full weave, half weave, and alternate patterns to connect cabins, the house, lodge and Granary. A split rail fence separates the front of the yard from the neighbor’s cornfield.

Berms of soil with boxwood and arborvitae create outdoor rooms for the foursquare house and Granary. A fort fence from a B & B in Wauwatosa and globe arborvitae creates privacy for the Little House. A split rail fence and travertine stone creates a patio for Don & Donna at the entrance on their side of the house. Birds planted wild strawberries.

Two Fat Albert pines, blue spruce, Colorado Spruce, hemlock, Austrian pines, River birch and high bush cranberries grace the former cow yard. Black eyes Susan create a colorful spot next to the windmill. A patch of day lilies, Oriental and Asiatic lilies rotate blooming all summer.

Magnolia, spruce, winterberry, 3 vibernum, and hazelnut bushes have taken over the cornfield north of the Paul Bunyan cabin. Strawberries, potatoes, hostas, black eyes Susan, evening primrose, buttercups and yarrow bloom profusely throughout the summer. A playhouse and a large grassy area is perfect for families to play games.

Honeysuckle graces the arbor, trumpet vines climb the walls of the Comfort Coop and English ivy climbs a lattice fence. Bittersweet climbs the white cow yard fence.

A weeping mulberry tree is the centerpiece of a front garden bordered with forsythia, white coneflowers, yucca, potentilla, witch hazel, roses and moonbeam coreopsis.

Log chairs, a log swing and Adirondack chairs invite guests to sit a spell. Guests are invited to select plants to purchase for their own gardens. Donna will dig and pot them for you.

A new open porch entrance to the 1920 foursquare house creates a perfect spot for brides to walk to the patio for their wedding ceremony. 

Don is happy to report the extremely fast growing Hawthorne tree needed to be removed for the new entrance.

Naturally we create joy with qualtiy lodging and recreation in a secluded coulee.