We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
When Montana Ag Live announced their winners for this year's Show What You Grow Photo contest, Turner resident Shannon Van Voast emerged as the winner for the best floral garden.
After reading about the contest in the Blaine County Journal, Van Voast's sister shared the information about the contest, sending her a screen shot of the article. In response, Van Voast entered the contest with photographs from the floral display in her yard. "If Stephanie had not pointed out the contest, I would not have seen it to enter. I was very honored to win! I have enjoyed adding elements to the landscaping over the years and very much enjoy the flowers and yard work, unless it is 100 degrees and the mosquitoes are out!"
Shannon and Alan Van Voast built their house in Turner in December 2008, and Shannon has gradually made improvements to the yard with, what she calls, her junking treasures. "I find most of my treasures when 'junking.' There are lots of treasures hidden away on the farm-one person's treasure is another person's junk, you know," she laughed.
A 1941 pickup, which sits in the Van Voast's front yard, serves as the yard's central decorative figure. Van Voast embellishes the pickup to complement the changing seasons, from pumpkins in the fall to flowers in the summer. This summer, it is loaded with flowers spilling from rusted and wrinkled buckets, watering cans, and other vintage containers.
The vehicle itself was purchased in 1976 from a neighbor by Van Voast's father-in-law, Jack. He pulled the engine for use in another pickup of the same year and body style which was in better shape, with the goal of entering it into the Fourth of July parade that year. He continues to drive the pickup in parades.
"A few years ago when Alan and I went to search for a drill box to plant flowers in, I found the pickup in the stackyard. Alan happily loaded the drill box but was skeptical of my inspiration to bring the pickup to town. It was well established in the weeds, so it took some effort to get it loaded on the trailer. Alan said if he got it loaded, it had to stay in town. I decorate it seasonally, and he has come around to my way of thinking and agrees that it is a nice addition to the yard," Van Voast reported.
Since the pickup, Van Voast has added another junking find. She repurposed a stock tank that was rusted out and had no bottom, transforming it into a fairy garden with a fountain. "The girls choose the flowers for it and arrange it with their decorations. I have also added some very fun old washing machines to my yard display. I have a double barrel washer, one with a green tub, and a third that is yellow. Those old washers were made to last. They are heavy and not easy to move."
The Van Voast family also has three fairy gardens in the house. Additional junking treasures include an old radio flyer wagon, a mop bucket on wheels, and a metal box used to store firewood, which is a leftover from the days when wood fires were a home's heating system.
"I have a few more ideas of Pinterest inspired projects that I want to add to the yard. Alan is hoping to wait me out, but I know he will eventually come around and appreciate my insight," Van Voast said.
Although she hasn't received her prizes yet and doesn't know for certain what she has won, an employee from Montana Ag Live, a MontanaPBS broadcasting program that features agricultural and gardening issues in Montana, will be mailing Van Voast some MontanaPBS schwag.
When the winners were announced, a Montana Ag Live spokesperson congratulated Van Voast on her "gorgeous garden" and thanked her for participating.
