DAYTON — One of the homes on next Saturday’s Garden & Art Tour in Dayton’s St. Anne’s Hill neighborhood has many stories to tell.

Kenneth Wheeler, a colonel in the Air Force who was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and his wife, Susie, an interior decorator who was “stationed” in Centerville, have treated their historic, circa 1855, house and outside gardens with tender loving care for the past 23 years.

“He was traveling around the world two weeks out of four. I got bored, and bought this house as a project to keep me occupied,” said Susie Wheeler. “When he got home from his tour I said, ‘Honey, would you like to have a drink? I just bought a house.’ ”

Kenneth had given her power of attorney earlier in their 53-year marriage before he went on his first of three tours of Vietnam. But he is an agreeable sort, and liked the idea. So the couple moved from their large brick quarters at the Air Force base. At first, Susie had no intentions of staying. She was going to flip the house, and be off to her next adventure.

“I got so into the neighborhood, we never left,” said Susie.

No doubt the home and surrounding yard is all the better for that decision. The Wheelers have more than 120 boxwoods on the property. Their daughter, Krissy Wheeler, has become the master gardener during the past several years. She took an early retirement from her jobs, first as a marketing sponsorship coordinator for the U.S. Army and then restaurant management. She came home to help her mom, who has slowed down a bit, and walks with a cane.

One of Krissy’s projects is a David Winter village that is set up toward the rear of the property. It is nestled underneath some of the boxwoods.

“The village is a running joke. The bar is in the center of town. Our burlesque is over here. Back here is where they go and sing ‘A-Ha!’ at church when it’s all said and done,” said Krissy. “Mom and I sit out here for hours rearranging.”

The Wheelers have a dog named Luna and a cat named Zipper. Luna likes to sit in the shade underneath the crabapple tree where the Wheelers keep their turn-of-the-century Kramer Iron Foundry bench and chair. A historic Japanese fishing ball hangs from a net on the apple tree.

The history buffs have many reminders of days long past. They have an authentic SS Anton deckchair from the late 1800s on their back porch. The yard showcases an antique fountainhead recovered from St. Mary’s Church. An ancient ‘Our Lady of Faces’ statue sits in the middle of huge hostas. The Catholic family has many statues of Saints, and they also have an ancient concrete horse trough from Bosnia.

The Wheeler garden boasts a trellis covered in purple clematis, barberry shrubs, zebra mallows, cone flowers, Japanese maple trees, snap dragons, verbeniums, roses and a King Tut plant. The back porch offers views of a peace lilly, a large tree fern, “hens and chickens” plants and many tiny Bonzai trees.

The front and side porch has Boston ferns, ponytail palms, ficus and more Bonzai trees, one with a tiny lantern hanging on a branch. A historical marker of the Simon Sauder-built home sits underneath a dogwood tree in the front yard, surrounded by crepe myrtle and caladium.

Susie was the chairman of the very first St. Anne’s Hill Garden Tour back in 1998. So it’s fitting that her garden is on the tour for this year’s event.

The Wheelers also get gardening help from landscape architect Matthew Allison of Malachai, and Mossy Oak Property Management.

Event details

The Biennial Garden & Art Tour begins at High Street Gallery at 48 High St., where guests can pick up their tickets and view the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors Spring Show. The self-guided tours also include local art vendors and parks along the neighborhood streets. Proceeds from this Garden & Art Tour will help to preserve the character and integrity of the St. Anne’s Historic District.

“I am the cheerleader of the neighborhood. This is, without a doubt, the coolest place that anyone can possibly live,” Susie said. “We have problems like any other neighborhood, but there is a togetherness here. We’re like a huge family.”

Contact contributing writer Pamela Dillon at pamdillon@woh.rr.com.