Green Thumbs in the Cathedral District | Video

Michelle San Miguel | 7/22/2012

Bismarck`s Cathedral District features some of the longest-standing homes in the city as well as some beautiful gardens.

Kurt Dilger started working on his garden 13 years ago, shortly after he moved into his home. He admits he never expected his green project to grow into what it is today.

"It just happened. You do a little bit here, a little bit there."

Dilger`s yard has undergone several changes in 13 years. His Koi have outgrown two other ponds before he moved them into the current one. Now Dilger`s thinking about building an even bigger pond for his fish.

"I leave them in there year-round. I put a stock pond heater in there that I just move the waterfall, put the pump in there and just let the water just move in there."

Dilger`s garden is one of ten featured in this year`s walk. Lemonade stands and the Cathedral`s shady neighborhoods brought some relief to visitors on a hot Sunday afternoon.

"For me, it was a very humble experience to know that they were very happy to do it and then me walking the gardens," said Liliana Norby, director of Theo Art School. "And look [at] the amount of work that they put into it and that they`re willing to share it with us."

"In Nebraska we don`t have anything like this. So it`s fun to get out on a nice day, walk and enjoy all the sights and sounds of the garden," said Jeff Spady, who recently moved to Bismarck.

And that`s just what Dilger does on a daily basis, he soaks in what he calls his peaceful oasis. "It`s your sanctuary from a hard days work. You come here and you don`t have to listen to nobody. You just listen to the trees and the waterfall."

Norby says she already has a waiting list of people who are interested in having their gardens featured in next year`s garden walk.

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