For Whimsy and Romance

Lou was balanced on a ladder in the Lady Garden, stretching upward to hang a relatively heavy wrought iron chandelier from a tree branch.

I was down below, holding the ladder steady on the uneven ground so that he wouldn't fall, and more importantly, so that the ladder wouldn't tip over and crush a native azalea I have been nursing along for two years and which has finally begun to take hold.

"This isn't very practical," Lou said.

"Practical? Who said anything about practical? This is for fun. It's a whimsy. Why, it's for romance!"

With the word romance hanging in the air, Lou hushed his complaints and got into the spirit of the affair.

The chandelier is a new addition to the Lady Garden. It's not my fault I bought it. I was with friends when I found it, and they all insisted it would look fabulous in my garden and it was such a great buy, how could I pass it up? I would have walked away if I had been by myself, but, you know, they were right.

The chandelier holds six candles and is hanging between the arbor swing and a small but comfortable wooden bistro set, also a recent purchase. It is the perfect place for sitting with a relaxing drink and enjoying the sights and sounds of the Lady Garden and the surrounding area. Nesting bluebirds are nearby, as well as hawks and owls. Lou says he is looking forward to our date.

The Lady Garden, the newest addition to my gardens, is a feminine space with repetition of curves and flourishes. I raised three boys, so I think I am entitled! Echoing shapes, as well as materials and color, helps to unify a space. Below is a photo of the chandelier and a few other decorative touches in the Lady Garden.

This time of year the Lady Garden is surrounded by dogwoods and other flowering trees in bloom. Here are a few shots taken in and around the area:

I am waiting for most of the plantings in this area to mature, but a few colorful annuals add some color to the green shrubs and other plants.1st row: purple verbena; Cheilanthes argentea, my new favorite fern. 2nd row: boxwood; ajuga. 3rd row: decorative kale; osmanthus frangrans. 4th row: epimedium; pansies from the big box store.

Though life is serious business, I hope you will always leave a little place for whimsy, just for the fun of it, and for romance!

Note: I realize my last post also contained the word Romance in the title, but I just couldn't help it!

The Romance of Possibility

In his garden every man may be his own artist without apology or explanation. Here is one spot where each may experience the "romance of possibility."                                                                                                                                                                  Louise Beebe Wilder

 My body is not so young any more, but when I walk outside and breathe in the fresh spring air and let my eyes wander across the garden, my mind rolls with possibilities. It is a new beginning, and it doesn't matter that a rabbit ate all the pansies in the lady garden last fall or that I have two dead dogwood trees in the woodlands. I am dreaming of new projects, some immediate and some far into the future, wishes only, but who knows what can happen with time and effort and an unexpected influx of cash!

I am fortunate to have lived in the same place for over a quarter of a century. I have worked my land less than it has worked me, but while a lot of changes are inside the psyche of who I am, the garden is visible to the world. Old dreams fulfilled. The garden still has plenty of wild, rough edges, but there is so much potential!

 From the patio, here is today's view across the front garden:

And this is what one sees standing on the front lawn, looking back toward the patio:

Another part of the front garden near the patio:

If one stands on the road and looks into the main part of the front garden, one has a good view of some of the Japanese maples:

It's hard to get myself inside the house, when the world is so wondrous outside. Is that a good enough excuse for not doing housework?

While most of the daffodils finished blooming a few weeks ago, a few late comers are flowering here and there. I can't tell you the names of any of my daffodils! The daffodil in the top photo was here when we moved in. It is lovely but the stems can't hold its floppy head up. I purchased all the others as  part of a group for naturalizing, and they were not individually identified:

There are lots of other flowers blooming:Top: A species tulip, the only survivor of several dozen I planted years ago. It blooms reliably every spring; Snowflake, Lucojum vernum. 2nd row: Rosa mutabilis; Rosa 'Zephirine Drouhin'. 3nd row: Loropetalum; Viburnum burkwoodii. 4th row:Grape hyacinth and woodland phlox; Flowering quince.

And spring couldn't be spring without the birds and the bees. Isn't that what it's all about?

Lots of people comment on how beautiful the garden is, but, of course, they see only the results. They don't see all the dead stuff. I hope that when people get to know me, they see something lovely, too, not the rotten junk that happened along the way. I want people to see the good results and know that, if they notice some rough edges, there are still lots of possibilities. No matter how old I am!

Happy Spring!   Deborah