FORT MOTTE - "I love gardening"!

Those are the words of Fort Motte's Erline Wiles.

One visit to her Calhoun County home will convince any first-time visitor.

One hundred or more varieties of annuals, perennials, roses, evergreens and shrubs make up the immaculate landscape of the Wiles estate.

An arbor and a dry creek bridge complement the scenic fairyscape, which could easily make the cover of most gardening magazines.

"Gardening is a pleasure for me," says Mrs. Wiles. "But I have to give God credit; I can plant the seed, hoe it and fertilize it, but I can't make it come out the ground and put on a beautiful flower."

So as not to miss a single day without enjoying God's gift, Mrs. Wiles deliberately staggers her planting so she will always have something in full bloom.

And while her husband, Pally Wiles, retired from farming in 1995, she insists she is not retired.

Rather, insisting that "during this time of year, I work in my yard every day."

Adding, "I can't walk out without seeing something that needs weeding or trimming."

Many of Mrs. Wiles' plants are grown from cuttings that call her greenhouse home.

The same plants she loves to share with her friends.

And much of Mrs. Wiles' success is due to careful preparation and planning.

"I love organic fertilizer. I do my own mulching and composting using grass clippings and all my kitchen trash.

"Pally turns it over ever so often with his bulldozer.

"He's not a gardener, but he keeps everything working. He's the maintenance man."

Walking around her well-kept yard, you'll see permanent plaques bearing the names of many flowers in her flower beds.

When asked which plant or flower is her favorite, Mrs. Wiles says, "I guess it's roses - you can almost depend on them as they continue to bloom.

Born into a farming family with some farming instinct, Mrs. Wiles gives the lady who lived across the road credit for inspiring her.

"It has always amazed me how you can plant a seed and (later) have a plant.

"I can't wait to get out in the morning and work in the yard."

Her Wiles wonderland is a constant testament to her love of gardening.

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