Driving along the rural roads of Holt county toward Maitland, Mo., it becomes clear this is farm country, with green acre after green acre of nothing but soybeans and corn, separated only by giant machine sheds housing the tools of the trade.

But suddenly, there is a profusion of flowers in a rainbow of colors blooming in and around a long white fence, a weathered red and white barn and a welcoming ranch-style house. This horticulture oasis is the home of Lucille Boswell, a master gardener and the recipient of the 2009 Award of Honor given by the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri.

“Her garden is to die for,” says Helen Koch,” a member of the Bu-An-Co Gardeners Club. “She is very accomplished as far as the garden circle is concerned.”

That’s why the club nominated Mrs. Boswell for the state award, only the members did it without her knowledge.

“We sneaked this on her,” Mrs. Koch laughs. “We sent it in without her knowing it.”

The nomination goes on for pages about Mrs. Boswell’s accomplishments: a master flower show judge since 1969, club member for 50 years, host of state and national garden tours, and a long list of awards and distinctions. As her name was announced at the state convention in Sedalia, Mo., Mrs. Boswell was crowned with a sparkling tiara, and her daughter, Linda Gieb, made a surprise appearance.

“They treated me royally,” Mrs. Boswell remembers. “Every time I went anyplace, I had my own chair.”

She says the garden club has been a special thing in her life, and she was thrilled to get the award. But that’s not why she gardens.

“I think it is something you have to enjoy, and I truly enjoy gardening,” Mrs. Boswell explains.” I can hardly wait to get to the garden each day and see what’s blooming.”

Watching things grow has been a constant joy in her life, she says. She was one of nine children raised on a farm not far from where she lives now. She married a farmer and moved to her current home in 1961.

“I’ve planted about everything that’s here,” she says, pointing across the gardens surrounded by her 340 acres of farmland.

At one time, she raised a large vegetable garden, too, along with raspberries, strawberries and grapes, canning the harvest every year. There have been setbacks. Hail and storms have damaged her gardens. She has suffered the loss of two husbands. And now that she is 80, it’s harder to do as much as she used to. So now she concentrates on flowers, gardening as naturally as possible, fertilizing with animal manure, mulching with grass clippings, watering only when necessary from the well. And she plants by trial and error. If it doesn’t work, she moves things. Plants are mixed in an informal manner, blended to have color all season, as if they grew that way naturally. Even though it is scaled down by her standards, she still spends four to five hours a day here.

“ ... Every day that’s fit for gardening.” she says. “You enjoy your flowers when you work in them. And I enjoy anything that grows.”

Lifestyles reporter Sylvia Anderson may be reached at sylviaanderson@npgco.com