Tuesday, June 22, 2010

garden surprises....

As promised...I am taking you on a tour of gardens today.  
And though you are expecting to see flowers...flowers...and more flowers...
you will see that a garden tour is about so much more than the flowers!

Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there.  ~
Thomas Fuller 1732

 So join me...as we walk through the garden gate...

...are serenaded by fine music

 ...and offered lemonade and cookies by two sweet girls. 

There is always a nice spot to rest awhile...

...and some gardens offer a view of the valley.


And did you know that folks like to have vintage cars in their gardens...and sometimes vintage tractors...

...and others have exercise bikes...that see no exercise? 

A few gardens came complete with art shows...

...and I discovered a new local photographer/artist,  
who I knew only in his role as a chiropractor to this point.  
He takes amazing pictures...


...including this one that became his trademark during the 2010 Winter Games when it was used in a wall-sized mural at one of the Olympic offices. 

There were peaceful gardens that were all about bonsai and greenery...


...and others that featured ponds and waterfowl.

 Real fish and pretend herons...

...or real herons...and no fish!

Though there were plenty of flowers...
I thought I would share with you a garden show that is about so much more than the flowers.  
A twenty dollar ticket that supports a local Rotary club...
is a license to snoop in gardens where we would not normally be invited.  
At some places we were also encouraged to snoop in the garage...or in the house...
or in the tree house...or the photographic studio. 
If you ever have an opportunity to participate...I'd recommend it.


And when you are finished snooping...and the day is done...you'll sleep like a dog.
There's something relaxing about spending a day in the garden! 

 Did you still wish to see the flowers?


21 comments:

  1. I love to go on garden tours. It is an opportunity to snoop in others backyards but the inspiration for trying new things in your garden is worth the price of admission.

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  2. You had my attention right at the gate. What lovely gardens - and what a treat it must have been to see what lies behind the facades of all those houses.

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  3. Beautiful pictures! Thanks for taking me along with you!

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  4. These are great - beautiful, bright and full of stories; and I like all the whimsical observations, like the herons real and fake, and the exercise bike that sees no exercise.

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  5. This really looks like a great tour to go on! And Flowers!? Yes...bring them on....

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  6. Such lush gardens - and very different than the gardens in Hot, Hot Kansas! Our garden was on tour 2 weeks ago - after a week of almost 100 degrees, we are glad it is long over.

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  7. Don't stop now! I adore garden tours! You were so right to begin with the gate, and showcase the non-botanical elements. Rule of thumb that I recently learned: one non-botanical element per flower bed. It helps reign in the "oh so cute" that soon become visual clutter.

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  8. Yes, I wish to see all that you have to share. This day in the garden/s sounds like pure delight. I always enjoy your turn of a phrase, too. Fake heron and fish or real heron and no fish. Ha! So did you add the garages and homes to your list of places to snoop or did you keep it to the garden/s?

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  9. Gardens are wonderful places. Thanks for taking us along on the tour. And do you really have to ask if we want to see the flowers? A resounding YES from here!

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  10. so cool place. I wish I could visit this place. Thanks

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  11. Beautiful photos! I wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for a blog award. Please stop by and pick up your award. :)

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  12. I can't think of a better way to spend a Summer afternoon. You documented it in such an interesting and beautiful way. Can't wait to see the flowers.

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  13. Can't wait to read your post tomorrow Judy! Assuming it is a follow-up to one of your posts from Jan/Feb!

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  14. I enjoyed so much reading about your garden tour...I was taken away for a bit...like a mini vacation! Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Beautiful gardens, Judy, and I loved the one with the view of the valley

    I always love to see flowers, so I say "Yes"! :-)

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  16. Charming tour, but I bet ya you still have some lovely flowers to show us :)

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  17. Nice blog. Like your garden surprise. Each and every picture on your blog id appreciated.

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