Adding Curb Appeal to Governors Mansion - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Adding Curb Appeal to Governors Mansion

The Governor's Mansion is one of the most notable homes in Bismarck.

And as Donnell Preskey reports, there are several people who have a hand it making the residence look so good in the summer months.

It takes several hands to help create the beauty that surrounds the Governor's home...

"Mrs. Sinner asked us to come and give a new look to the garden," says Carolyn Godfread with the Bismarck Garden Club.

That was in 1990...

Godfread says, "they had a row of marigolds, anything you did was gonna be an improvement."

An invitation was all the Bismarck Garden Club needed to take on the project that has bloomed over the years.

"When started - beds only along house, any small - need to make it bigger, improve soil. Started with a new open palette to work with," says Godfread.

Garden lovers with shovels ready come here every spring to make the outside of the Governors mansion stand out.

First Lady Betsy Dalrymple says, "at the farm I always planted annuals every year, but not to this extent where have 10 volunteers come out and do it."

Jack and Betsy Dalrymple are the 8th family to call the Governor's Mansion "home".

And the flowers and plants -- make this 1960's residence feel more like a retreat... "I like it all, I think it looks great when people drive in, that's why added more beds. There's also a beautiful fountain area back by garage," says Dalrymple.

Little touches that give the Governor's mansion more "curb appeal". For not only the Dalrymple's but for all of North Dakota to enjoy.

The Bismarck Garden Club has about 200 members.

The gardeners also plant flowers at the former Governor's mansion, Dakota Zoo, Mandan Depot, and along streets around town.