Mary Patton, director of public
relations at Howard County General Hospital, is more
than just a media guru. She’s an award-winning
gardener who took home two blue ribbons and one third-place
white ribbon for her home-grown tomatoes at this year’s
Howard County Fair. She planted 22 vegetables, blueberries,
raspberries and an herb garden in nine 4-by-70-foot
raised beds. “It was the best garden I’ve
ever had,” says the 30-year gardening veteran.
The secret to a great garden?
“Fabulous dirt,” says Patton who begins
each May with a truckload of compost. Her totally
organic garden is free of chemicals and pests (with
the exception of her dog Chip who devoured all the
asparagus). “In the beginning I used a lot of
sprays, but now I understand inter-planting and know
enough about the use of biological agents to keep
the garden healthy.”
