Knoche Garden
Elroy and Loreta Knoche Garden
26901 S. Stockman Road
Harrisonville, MO
The Knoche Garden is a sprawling, wandering wonderland situated on a several acre country location. Loreta says that she just plants where she has room, and she has a lot of room here! You will find a dry streambed with a lovely bridge, giant rocks, a beautiful garden cottage/playhouse, a bottle tree and did I mention ROCKS? Large rocks, small rocks, tiny rocks – all gathered over a lifetime of collecting. The same can be said for the gardens, too; all the materials have been gathered and cherished over a lifetime.
Elroy prefers vegetable gardening, but does include his spectacular selections of cockscomb among his veggies. Loreta prefers just about anything else that blooms. You will find peonies, iris, hosta, coneflower, cleome, balsam, zinnias, ornamental grasses, vines, flowering trees, and of course, daylilies planted all around the house and in large beds throughout the grounds. There is a glorious riot of textures and colors wherever you look.
Elroy grew up in a neighboring town of Napoleon, just east of Kansas City and Loreta grew up in Willow Springs in southern Missouri. They met through their work at Hallmark Cards, and now have two grown sons, a daughter-in-law and two lovely granddaughters. When not gardening, they keep active working with the local Daylily club, and with their church and they spend lots of time enjoying their granddaughters and watching their soccer games.
Elroy and Loreta moved to their current home 27 years ago and didn’t know anyone in the neighborhood. Loreta started visiting a neighbor lady who had a barn full of antiques and crafts. One day she asked if Loreta liked daylilies, and Loreta told her she really didn’t care for those ugly orange things. Well, she didn’t have any ugly orange things, she had a good collection of modern daylilies, and Loreta was hooked.
Loreta got her love of gardening from her parents, who always enjoyed gardening. She says that gardening comes naturally to her. You will agree that this family has a natural talent for gardening as you walk the grounds. From the formal to the whimsical and from the newest daylilies to older cherished favorites to the seedlings from Loreta’s hybridizing talents, you will find a love of gardening and a relaxed natural atmosphere that fairly bubbles with the Knoche’s personality.