meander1

The architectural consistency that this type of outdoor landscaping displays is very cleansing and appealing. I can appreciate and admire it although I do not have the self discipline and vision to ever put it into practice for myself. Gayle, it looks like it is in beautiful harmony with the glimpses that show of your home. Congratulations to your husband, Larry,for all the artistically impeccable choices he made in bringing this handsome landscape vision to fruition.

Nina, it's always a treat to see a previously featured garden in another season. Your spring garden has that special vibrancy of beginnings with everything looking so fresh and crisp. I love the stage your hosta are at in the picture they share with Tang...far enough along that you can literally count how many growth points there are as they just begin to unfurl.
In last year's fall photos, you showed this great curly haired lady face statue (?). Does she stay our all winter and what is surrounded by in the spring?

Gail, your garden house and surrounding plantings are perfection and please pass along sincerest compliments to your husband for his designer talents. You are a formidable and impressive twosome.
Your blog is a delight and I'm still smiling (after tearing up a time or two) from reading the saga of beautiful Megan and her handsome prince charming, JP.
Yes, I hope you will share more pictures with us
gpod-ers...we're insatiable! Now I'm off to continue reading more of your blog.

Sue, your garden looks very well loved and well tended...I'm a sucker for whimsy so count me a big fan of all your special touches. Your beautifully put together flower basket set on the aged chair is beguiling and is whispering "Copy me...you know you want to!" Your gnome garden is adorable and looks in perfect balance. Love it all!

Brian, it's hard to believe that this was once a boring suburban yard. It's now a treasure trove of interesting pathways, plants and welcoming seating tableaux. Are my eyes deceiving me or have you also worked in a technique of designers to add depth to a view by strategically placing mirrors? It's all very lovely and must give you and your daughters great joy especially since it is an evolving tribute to your wife.

Thank you, blue_nigella, for your kind words. So sorry you couldn't see the rest of the pictures well since it sounds like you were giving the clicking process your best shot. Well, since I seem to be a compulsive sharer, I'll probably pop in with some additional pictures some time in the future.

tractor1, I know all the regular board members wish Peachie and her humans well. This is a very difficult situation to be facing but it seems like you are giving her the best chance possible. I hope her condition is nothing infectious that could be a problem for any of your other cats. Hope the news is good when you check in with gpod on Mon.

Wife_Mother_Gardener, thanks to you, I was motivated to do some google image work to see if I could figure out the identity of my mystery euphorbia. I think I have landed on one called euphorbia cyparissias (cypress euphorbia)...otherwise, according to Wikipedia, saddled with the unpleasant nickname of "Graveyard weed". Anyway, now I know! A small patch of it was already growing on the property when we bought it. I like this plant and have it in a place where it doesn't seem to go crazy.

Yes, KV garden, that is a mosaic covered old metal watering can right by the dream rock. I wish I could take credit for being the talented craft person who did it but I bought it at a charity auction. I would love to try my hand at doing one but I haven't gotten to it yet. Right now, weeding takes up most of what could be my craft time.

terieRL, it was your blue clematis picture from spring of 2012 that turned me into a clematis planting fool.I remember grabbing a bunch of your photos for my Gardening Favorites Pinterest board. I just came back from relooking at them and am reminded of how artful and elegant your use of garden ornamentation is...so, glad to read that you are getting all your goodies out and let them play in the sunshine!

Ha, greenthumblonde, maybe we need to start an online support group, Garden Froo Froo anonymous and bring ourselves and our treasures out for all to see!

cwheat000, I am such a huge fan of Mexican feather grass...it just begs for that casual stroking and catches sunlight in a magical way. It's a generous reseeder in my area and I find it hard to say "no" if it starts up in a new spot.

I sometimes worry that I teeter on the line of good taste with my indulgence in garden froo froo items. There will probably come a year when my family has to stage an intervention and tell me "No more! You have reached your limit".

Vojt, your first guess about wood was correct when it comes to the table looking object. It's actually a teak bench that we have had for about 18 years and we leave out all year long. I like to think it is "aging gracefully" (ha, that's the same line I use on myself when I look in the morning mirror.

mainer59, just did a google search on your suggestion that the euphorbia might be myrsintes and Bullseye...that definitely looks like what it is. Thanks so much. I ordered it via a catalogue one year and have never seen it offered in a local nursery. It has a very architectural quality and almost reminds me of a space alien.

Hmm, forgive me if this ends up a repetition but it seems like something I wrote just got gobbled up by cyber-space so I'll start over.

terieRL, I hope the picture of the sculpture brings a smile to your friend's face. I didn't start riding until I was in my forties and it was such a feeling of accomplishment to develop a relationship with an animal so large. I never got to ride the horse to whom this sculpture was dedicated because she was my husband's special girl (and my skill level wasn't up to her level of liveliness). However, she was a sweetie to brush and groom.

Shiela_Schultz, thank you for understanding how much I enjoy having this lovely sculpture as part of my view every day.

tractor1, you have no idea how perceptive you were in making the tease about it being Pegasus' daughter. This mare was very athletic and when went into her cantor, it was like she was taking flight (ha, like a said above, I wasn't a good enough rider to ever brave giving her a try). By the way, what is that stunning flower in your picture?

cwheat000, hmmm, I might have indulged my phlox addiction in one of the pictures that will show tomorrow. The colorful creeping phlox show is pretty much over now in my area and I really miss it.

greenthumblonde, this gpod daily dose of garden pictures has definitely had a positive effect on me. One reason I went clematis crazy last spring was because of several posters' pictures. I almost literally salivated (I didn't quite embarrass myself by drooling over my keyboard but it came close) over some pictures of such glorious blooms that I felt taken over by a fever. The only thing that could calm me down was to buy some additional clematis of my own and try that technique of planting them in surprising places.

thevioletfern, I hope you have your flower reward from your newly planted clematis scampering through your dogwood on a more consistent basis then I did from this combination. I didn't think the pruning group mattered and I lazily wanted to consider them all in group 3 since, for me, that's always been the easy one...just cut it all back in the late winter/early spring and be done with it. What color clematis did you select for your garden vision? I also planted one at the base of a dogwood last year but it's buds haven't opened yet. Ha, now I forget what color it is so I'm in for a surprise sometime soon.

For those who might be interested in a little background on the sculpture:

It is titled Springtime Flight. It was created in the late 1990's by a horse trainer we had a close relationship with who is also a very talented artist. However, I don't believe he currently does art work. He was aware of my love for gardening and nature so if you look at it closely, you can see the inclusion of flower shapes and the sun and moon. Also raising out of the base of the tail are the upper torsos of a naked man and woman...we always have to add that we didn't pose for that part! Shortly before it was ready to be put in place, a beloved Arabian mare of ours passed away waay too young and so the artist dedicated it to her. She was a very sweet but lively horse and this statue captured her spirit beautifully. The statue itself measures 55 inches and is a unique open "filigree" of bronze. My husband, Darwin and the artist were the ones who mounted it on the large rock and we had our fingers crossed that it would stay in place...so far so good.

Thank you all for your generously expressed enthusiasm for the sculpture.
bee1nine, good eye...that is a wisteria growing in the background although it is covering a pergola...can't remember if there is a picture where the pergola shows better in tomorrow's offerings.
tntreeman, thanks for the plug about my "bird mansions"...I should hire you as my overall marketer and pr person...I like myself better just reading your comments. The name "Meander Acres" definitely has flair. Once upon a time, we called our farm Willowing Oak because we had a glorious willow and oak tree on either side of our driveway at the entrance. Then the willow went to tree heaven and our little entry sign doesn't really make sense anymore.

Carla, your garden is so alive with joyful and generous colors and plant combinations. I was an incorrigible tomboy growing up and seeing your daughter in the quince tree definitely struck a memory chord! Love your sea of forget-me-nots...they are such a unique shade of blue...makes me think of robin's eggs.

Harriet, I can certainly appreciate your commitment to your forsythia even if it takes some work...its joyful declaration that "Spring Is Here" can't be beat.
Since I am a self-confessed phloxaholic, I love your masses of pink, white and blue. I'm sure you're in that mindset where you are relishing the present but, also, so looking forward to the next stages of your garden.

Well, Kevin, your pictures say "Mission accomplished" when it comes to creating a welcoming sanctuary. Picture #1 seems to indicate that your house is fairly elevated above the road. That, along with all your delightful flowers,has to help in giving you that oasis feeling.
The vibrantly blue spikes definitely look like salvia 'Victoria Blue' to me except on a heavy dose of steroids...they are awesome...maybe it's tricky camera angle.
Count me among those who have had the death touch when it comes to a salivated over sumac. This 'Tiger Eye" has a beautiful luminescence...wish it were mine!

Lot's of wonderful little treasures of the plant world...they would captivate anyone. I particularly enjoy the combination shown in the picture that includes the lovely white trillium, what I think is a dark pink hellebore and the little peeks of blue.

Simply beautiful...wonderful color combinations. Even though my area is well past tulip time, I feel re-energized just looking at these pictures.

tntreeman, have you ever used the chicken grit product as a drainage enhancer for succulent plantings...esp. in pots? All this rain here in east TN has me wondering if I should make the effort to increase drainage. What do you think?

Ha, looks like I was such a pokey typist, Nancy already came in and answered my question.

Yay for the fix-its at Fine Gardening getting us back on schedule. Nancy, your fountain urn is gorgeous...absolutely my favorite tone of blue for the garden. It's a very worthy focal point for all seasons so it would be interesting to know what your beds contain through the summer and fall.
There looks to be a magnificent red leafed Japanese maple in the background of your second picture and a lovely winding brick path...hmmm, lots more material for additional photo sharing!

tractor1, sadly, it does look as if the lack of the morning gpod email is taking a toll on the a.m. participation. I'm sure Fine Gardening will be successful in exterminating whatever cyber bugs have taken up residence recently and have loused up the system we have gotten used to. Well, at least it's during the time of year when our own gardens are coming alive.

Michelle is right...your garden definitely gives off a tropical vibe...kind of cute since you mentioned your town is a sister city to one in Switzerland. With as lushly as things seem to be growing, looks like you've found the way to overcome the initial handicap of crummy soil...takes extra effort but it's worth it!

Yum...like a sumptuous buffet...each offering more tempting than the last. These pictures show the wonderful attention to detail that is so characteristic of the essence of Chanticleer...like the yellow tulips planted near the yellow tipped arborvitae looking evergreen. And the yellow themed wall plaque highlighted by the pots of yellow daffodils. Everything works together in harmony.

Good advice, CCCDDD, the weeds will always be there for another day! I also suffer from planting fever this time of year...my heart rate literally speeds up at the thought of visiting a nursery and bringing home a few things to further my visions. Ironically, when the high summer temps kick in , that fever cools off...whew!

I have not visited as many public gardens as I would like (that funny conundrum of wanting to stay home and work on/in my own) but I have been to Chanticleer and it is a total delight. It is such an interesting garden because it has very imaginative hardscaping elements that look great regardless of season. I had occasion to meet one of the original estate owner's grandchildren (now, herself, an amazingly energetic senior citizen). She was visiting my garden and she said, "hey, since you obviously love gardening, if you're ever up in the Philadelphia area, you should definitely see Chanticleer". One of the things I loved most about Chanticleer, is that it has a feeling if intimacy inspite of its generous scale.
Hey, Michelle, did you take a picture of the rock slab sofa and chair combo with the adorable colorful stone "remote control" sitting on the table?

tntreeman, love your perspective on the two additional clicks ...so true that if that's the biggest problem of the day, we are all quite blessed!
Irwin and Pauline, I share your delight in taking those garden walkabouts with the companionship of a beloved Aussie. Our pleasure in our own property is enhanced by knowing our own Aussie, Piper, loves her runs in the woods and snuffles among the bushes...always on the lookout for wascally wabbits and quick moving squirrels.

Sigh, Pauline and Irvin, I think in my next life, I would be content to come back as one of your beautiful Japanese maples that only get more interesting as they age. Sight me where I could catch a glance of that vibrant blue pot and some ferns and I'll happily let the years pass by. Your garden is truly one of the most magical that get shared here and opportunities for return visits are always appreciated.

Oh, my, those doors are gorgeous! Frankly, your client is very fortunate that you were honorable and didn't keep both sets for yourself. Have you given them any sort of outdoor protective treatment to help them maintain that particularly warm wood tone? And, I love the lion head pull...so majestic. Thanks for identifying the Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'. It had caught my eye in the photo where it is somewhat in the distance and set off my ???? bells. Interesting plant...I know nothing about it so a google search will ensue after I finish commenting. Your featured selections of Japanese Maple are beautiful. The subtlety of color variations of Geisha Gone Wild is quite alluring...ha, "she" is well named!

There really is an air of timeless graciousness about these photos from Winterthur. Women strolling about in elegant dresses carrying parasols would look right at home. I guess it's the beautiful sweeping swaths of lawn that contribute to this feeling of yesteryear (plus no people in Tshirts and shorts to rein in my imagination).
And, Oh, my goodness, that truly is the most stunning of laceleaf Japanese maples...I'm sure it has been the star of many garden magazine covers and articles (including Fine Gardening?)

These pictures from Winterthur sing the lesson (I was going to say "scream" but the other word sounds more celebratory)that if you have large scale, you should definitely have large quantity.The carpet of blue that just seems to go on and on is Mother Nature at her most generous and the effect is hugely pleasing the eye.And, sad to say, but I guess I have to go sit in the dummy chair because I do not know what plant is creating the swath of blue. Looking forward to tomorrow's sharing.

I also was intrigued by the "skinny sister" (cute description, tntreeman)evergreen but I was wondering if it was some odd variation of a deodara cedar. The season is moving along so fast that we are well past daffodils and, on the verge of saying good-bye to the dogwood blooms.
Had to be a treat for you, Michelle, to head a bit south and get your senses tickled by what's to come in your own area.

Beth, it's been a real treat spending the past 4 days in your garden with you...not as good as doing a leisurely stroll about in person where we could stick our noses into all the nooks and crannies but we have really gotten a chance to pick up some of the nuances. I love the little fairy garden vignette you have tucked in around the base of one of your containers. What is the name of the burgundy clover like plant in its vicinity? It's very effective how your pot compositions provide a pop of color amongst the serenity of the hosta.
Thanks for all you've shared. And, yes, inspite of its name, I'm sure Fried Green Tomatoes would thrive in Iowa!

Hi, Beth, for some reason, the internet gods locked me out from getting a comments box so I couldn't get in my daily fix of sharing how much I enjoyed the day's pictures. Your offerings yesterday were delightful and today's are particularly special since they show your beautiful harmony with nature's creatures. Thanks for being "brave" Monday night and sharing by name some of your hosta that you are extra fond of. I know what you mean about getting hooked on a name (Guacamole came to live at my house for much the same reason as yours and, fortunately, it is a great looking hosta). I also had to buy one called Fried Green Tomatoes since I live in the Southeast.
Love your last picture showing things from the mushroom's point of view...made me smile.

Sigh...such plentiful and beautiful hosta. Here's probably an impossible question, Beth, do you have a favorite variety. Shhh, you can tell us....we won't tell your lushly leafy children "which one mom loves best"!
Was the soil you started out with particularly rich or did you do a lot of amending? I really admire the finished look your edging stones give your beds...certainly a of work but your effort is rewarded for ever after.
I'll bet you love spring when you do your walk abouts and check for which hosta are breaking dormancy first.

In revisiting your pictures to look harder at some of the things other commenters made mention of (like the Flying Dragon), I stared harder at its neighbor, the Cercis 'Texas Traveler" and the lightbulb went off that it is a weeping redbud..how neat! I don't think I've seen one before. How long have you had it and how big do you expect it to get. Does it flower just like a regular redbud? I have a variety called 'Oklahoma' redbud which I really like because the bloom color is even more intense and the leaves have a glossy sheen.

Hi, Jeff, you know I share in your singing the song of SPRING JOY (at the top of my lungs)...the lyrics are different for each of us depending on what's breaking dormancy at what time but oh, how we love the chorus "Spring is here, spring is here!" Your weeping cherry is sublime and glorious...I had a youngish one (in comparison to your amazing mature specimen)and, over the course of 3 years, it just died off...broke my heart so I always look upon ones like yours with extra admiration (and envy). Love the hens and chicks in the birdcage and if I get my act together, I, too, will borrow the idea from GreenThumbBlonde!
Your property has a very gracious feel because of the lawn to garden bed ratio...it has that sweeping effect.
Thanks for all the accurate plant id's.

Wow, Julie, yesterday's pictures were like a movie trailer for today's full feature of delightful creativity. So many great ideas...the arched bridge over the tree stump, the colorful door in the hedge gap, the various fish vignettes, the various metal structures...each photo is a gem! You and your garden are a real treasure trove!

Ha, Julie, what is with that phenomenon of plants just following an innocent bystander home?? It has happened to me on numerous occasions and , of course, the only humane thing to do is to give them a home...looks like you and your good sport Terry have found perfect spots for each of your purchases. Thanks so much for identifying things in your pictures...I needed the help. Initially, I mistakenly thought your ligularia dentata was the most humongous heuchera I'd ever seen and I sure as heck wanted to know your secret recipe for fertilizer!
I admire your zest for color in your fence and small building....very attractive combination.

Hi, Anne, your plantings are gorgeous. I, too, wonder about the timing of things bursting back to life in a zone 3b area? Your knees and other joints are probably glad for the enforced break from gardening!
tractor1, I think the lettuce like plant is the bergenia tntreeman made mention of in his comment. Ann's clumping of them looks great and they certainly makes a stunning edging for her birdbath bed.

That was a big step, Susan, but one well worth taking! The pavers are very handsome and, like tntreeman observed, really set off your door entry treatment perfectly. You now have lots of interesting plants that will be fun to see mature. Love the last shot showing off your new lighting...it all creates such a welcoming ambiance.

Hi, Cindy, I'm also a fan of your fun pot combinations. One, in particular, made a lightbulb go off for me...the one with the Baby Tut papyrus (I think that's what it is?) as an element. I never thought to use that in a pot and, yet, it's airiness and spread is very effective. I'm definitely going to copy you!
Here I go with the questions... what is the plant with the violet colored blooms behind the dark red asiatic lilies?

Nong's garden shows us that when using elements provided by Mother nature, all colors go together. All your flowers are so large and lush...please share with us, do you do a lot of conscientious fertilizing? soil amending? secret sauce? Love the romantic exuberance of the poppies...are they the self seeeding kind that end up being happy surprises?

Nong, your garden definitely sings a song of joyfulness and, I'm sure that is a reflection of your personality.
Are you able to get several seasons out of your tulips or do you plant new bulbs every year. I love the celebration of color for this time of year...my senses feel so alive and energized just looking at your pictures.

I'll bet the soda bottle as planter is a big hit with the kids...shows them to look at everyday things with a fresh eye. You never know what you might find being a candidate for usefulness in gardening.
OK, confessional time...my memory of gardening throughout my childhood and even into early adulthood was that is seemed like mystifyingly hard work and I didn't get why people put forth the effort. I remember my mom changing out foundation plantings and putting in her yearly annuals and wondering why it mattered to her. And, then, BAM, I got married, had my own place and I started to care big time. My mom got the biggest kick out of my transformation and I was happy to give her credit for being a big influence in that department after all.

Your space might be small but it has a big personality full of charm and interest. If I were walking through your neighborhood, your yard/garden would make me want to stop and have a chat with its owner and say, "great job". What is the large multi-trunked tree that serves as such an effective anchor for your plantings. Since the photos seem to show it to have white bark, my guess would be a mature birch but I can't quite tell.

Ahh, Daniela, the lucky lady with the luxurious lupines and delectable delphiniums in May...so much to look forward to! But, your delightful show of spring bulbs and the beginning growth of all the other goodies waking up from their winter slumber certainly make April a great month in your garden also. These pictures prove the point that it is always worth making that extra effort in the fall to get those spring flowering bulbs in the ground.

What a delightful retreat and thanks so much for the well expressed tutorial on what steps you took to achieve such the ideal growing conditions for those scrumptiously delicious looking plants. Love how everything is spilling over the edges and invites gentle touches as one walks the pathway. Your cimcifuga gives such a fun shooting star effect...I've never been successful at growing that plant and, after reading about your carefully well thought out soil prep, I humbly admit I probably deserved my failure.

Sometime's I greedily jump into looking at the pictures before I read the gardener's info or even let the heading sink in. So, Joanne,when my eyes rested on your first 2 photos, I thought, "hmm, a garden from Charleston, SC"...the aged brick pathway surrounded by the charming wrought iron fence work fooled me.
You have so many lovely parts to your garden...that must be a very satisfying stroll. The clematis spilling around your pergola is glorious...what a treat of color that must be as you do your walk-about.

As much as we all really love rocks, we, even more so, really, really love the little nooks and crannies ( hmmm, why am I suddenly in the mood for a Thomas's English muffin) planting opportunities that rocks provide. Lori, you did a great job in your selection of groundcovers and beguiling succulents to tuck in the empty pockets. I see that you have made use of more substantial evergreens throughout the layers of stones. I would love to see another round of pictures in a few years as those evergreens mature some...things are just going to look better and better with each passing year. Thanks for another chance to enjoy your great view

Lori, you were wise to scratch your gardening itch with beautiful pot compositions while you took your time to plan out hardscape decisions. Looks like you have a stunning home with wonderful earthy tones that will serve as the perfect backdrop for all your landscape choices. It takes time to get to know a property and get a feel for what you want where. That is a breathtaking view and it has to fill your heart with exuberance just to gaze out upon it.

Yowza on the garden and it's amazing vibrancy and yowza on the photography that has communicated it so well. Nancy9350 is so right about how your use of conifers gives the rest of the garden something to play off of. That is probably your quilter's talent making use of a subtle background fabric that allows the rest of the design to shine.
I, too, am in the throes of serious edging envy and maybe what looks like your tendency for perfection in that is also attributed to your quilter background. I'm sure you finish off a beautiful project with an orderly border with no loose threads! Anyway, yes, we definitely need more pictures so we can add arbor envy to our list of reactions to your superb work. I would love to see a few photos of your quilts, also.

Talk about having a worthy destination...who wouldn't want to enjoy the walk down on those sturdy looking steps, settle into a comfy Adirondack chair and relax by the water. I've gotten to the age where I especially appreciate well thought out (meaning safe and visually interesting, if possible) ways to get from one part of a yard/garden to another.Each stepping stone looks generously sized and allows room for feet as well as adorable groundcovers to gentle their edges.

Would the guitar strumming frog mind some company? I'd be happy to have some aged patina paint slapped on me (hey, who am I kidding...I'm aging fine without any artificial help) and I could strike a pose and just BE...that way, I could be a part of this beautiful garden. Hmmm, come to think of it, I wouldn't make very good garden statuary because I'd want to cheat and move around. There's so many stunning areas to take in and immerse myself in. What a glorious time of year for your garden, Irvin and Pauline...such an celebration of all the beauty that spring can bring.

Kathie, all your pictures communicate a very appealing sense of serenity and soothing harmony with nature. Even though you have great variety in your plant choices, they all work together seamlessly. Does the stream you mentioned have a vigorous flow throughout the year or does it pretty much dry up during summer? I always envy properties that have a source of natural running water.

What a wonderful series of colorful exclamation points your wall of different varieties of clematis creates. If I were you, I would just stand back and admire the heck out of it! Then I'd turn in another direction and beam at the picture perfect picket fence that surrounds my well organized vegetable garden. Hmmm, then I'd take a leisurely stroll among my beautiful plants to get to my handsome workbench and attempt to do something productive before I wandered off to see what was going on in my lovely water feature.
Yes, without a doubt, Katie, the hard work you and your husband have put forth over the past 12 years have given you much to enjoy and be proud of. Kudos!

Tricia, not only do you have an eye and a talent for beautiful garden design, you have an equally impressive talent for photographing all that beauty. Sometimes such abilities do not go together so we are fortunate you are sharing your multiple gifts. The picture you captured of the little frog on the vibrant Black Eyed Susan is delightful...his surprise appearance started my day off with a smile.
The bare bones photo of your water feature is very interesting and shows what a large scale undertaking it was.I'm sure it just gets better year after year.

Well, Michelle, I think you need to play the "one of my oldest and dearest friends" card and beg Kathie to send in more pictures throughout the year...looks like a great garden that I would love to see additional pictures of!
The photo with the yellow crocuses sings springtime and has such joyful energy. Initially, I thought the white seeming bush was the azalea but then looked harder and came to the conclusion that it was the false holly...yes? The arum is gorgeous...hard to believe it just disappears in the summer and then comes back looking so full and healthy.

Whew, I felt an empathetic bead of sweat form on my brow just reading about your rock hauling and placing exploits...and, then, to think you "relax" by making things out of concrete! Imagine if they finally perfect cloning and there could be more than one of you!
Your pond is beautiful and the picture that includes it with the peacock house (mansion) in the background is a delight...loved how a glint of goldfish matched the orange daylilies growing above. Your entry driveway has the perfect welcoming curves to it...who wouldn't want to turn in and enjoy the view along the way. Those spruce are so impressive and a fine testament to the fact that planting something of quality is always worth it.
Your concrete leaves are gorgeous...please tell us a little more about you create your shapes?

Ahh, no fair, Irvin, now my eyes are slightly welled up with tears and it's hard to see to type...how sweet of you to share that lovely memory about the camellia corsage and Pauline's highschool junior with all of us. I join you in shaking your head and wondering, "where does the time go?" Well, it certainly seems that with you and Pauline the time has been spent well. Bless you!

Ha, tractor1, "the Petals of Pauline"...you definitely won the clever comment of the day award...that was very cute. Although, come to think of it, it's probably only those of us who are of a somewhat older age (notice I didn't say OLD...only older) who understand what's it's a play on.
Hmmm, even though I don't currently envy your snowy conditions, come the suffocating heat of July and Aug. here in east TN, I will probably think living in a cooler part of the country has its allure.

A sweet thing happened when I saw only the title for today's GPOD in my email list...it was a little surge of happiness because it included the words "Pauline's" and "California". The garden that she and Irvin have created is so memorable and he always so dearly refers to it as Pauline's garden. What with this abundance of such stunning camellias, this has to be the ultimate 4 season garden...there is no blah time. I'll bet as the petals fall to the ground, it's like a dusting of magically colorful snow! It's all so beautiful.

Shhh, don't wake me, I'm dreaming of a beautiful garden with inviting sitting areas surrounded by intoxicatingly aromatic flowers...oh, wait, it's day 2 of Tricia's pictures!
I lay claim to the comfortable looking chair situated by that glorious stand of Oriental lilies. What a treat to enjoy this garden even if it's only through the lens of the camera.

What a truly fabulous garden! Tricia, I can't believe you only sent in one photo back in 2011 with so much beautiful abundance to share. When I go on a garden tour, this is the kind of garden that energizes me so much...just sets my brain a tingle with admiration and a desire to work even harder when I get back home. I love how you have used fairly good sized boulders to achieve your terracing...the scale looks perfect. Can't wait until Monday!

Ha,looks like caymanmama and I had the same word phrase tickling our brains.

What fun...and to get a visual treat effect like this during the off season is the icing on the cake (well...literally, it's the snow on the grass). I'll bet to get such perfect looking results is way harder than it looks.

Great shots, Linda, each and every one. I'm especially partial to the second one down on the left which shows the two waxwings and a robin getting along in harmony (at least for the duration of taking the photo) for the sake of eating. I was not aware that photinias were so bountiful in the berry department. Are they prone to being invasive in some climates because of that?

tntreeman, speaking of hearing things, do happen to have a water source nearby where you hear the spring peepers. Gosh, I love that sound. Sometimes there'll be a warm stretch in early Jan. and they come to life singing their song and then when it gets cold again, they go quiet. It's been a crescendo for the past couple of weeks so I'm hopeful that means the nice weather is here to stay.

Oops, not sure how my brain and finger got disengaged so that an empty post showed up. Ha, I shouldn't type before I have finished the first cup of coffee. Anyway, I wanted to ask pattyspencer where she lived that elephant ear spread like a weed?

Wow, Dorothy, not just every brick... but every brick in a herringbone pattern... with brick edging...on a patio with curves... with two brick pathways leading off. Yikes, the exact measuring needed, the precise cutting, the careful placement, the daunting leveling...I am so impressed. The result is truly lovely and so generously gracious as are all your beautiful shade plantings.

Sending sincere Get Well wishes your way,Michelle. Hope you have a lovely outside view to speed along your recovery. Or maybe it's still a blanket of snow up in your part of CT but, hey, that can certainly be beautiful. I know where I will be spending some time this morning...getting lost in the GPOD Pinterest page.

I always enjoy when a contributer has been previously featured and I get to click the link and take a walk down memory lane. It usually lets me see the garden in another season and that enhances both the current and past viewing experience. Nancy, you obviously have a love for color in all seasons and have made wonderful selections through the years.

Sight for sore eyes, Nancy. Thanks so much for lifting our spirits! Your snowdrops look like a swarm (???) of rare albino butterflies...all dainty and ethereal. And the double petal hellebore is gorgeous. Is it the result of some lucky cross pollinating or is it a purchased variety? Your new screen is very handsome and makes such a nice backdrop.

tractor1, thanks for the helpful info on the more preferable placement for a Forest Pansy Redbud. Mine was out in pretty much full sun so I guess it's understandable that I didn't have a good outcome with it. Sigh...it was a beauty for a while!

Happily Gardening, I sure know what you mean about the close-up shot of the varying blue shades of that lovely large flowered clematis. After I made it larger, I stared at it like a starving woman just presented with a bountiful buffet! I am soo ready for spring to really kick off and the cycles of flowering to begin.

tntreeman, boy, do I know what you mean about the heartache of trunk splitting Forest Pansy Redbuds. We had a glorious one...ha, I referred to it as my "vanity" tree because I loved where we planted it and I was so pleased with picking out one with great bones. It stroked my ego for 3 or 4 years and then, one day, when I was toodling past it on my golf cart to do some chores a little further on in that bed, my jaw dropped and I literally gasped with horror as I saw it broken apart. One half had split almost totally off and there was no rescuing it. I was really bummed to say the least!

What a delightful arbor for your beautiful, large flower clematis to scamper up...I won't dwell on how fortunate the new owner is. One of the nice things about screwing up one's courage and submitting pictures to GPOD is that now these images will live on in cyberspace and will only be a click away for anyone to enjoy. I, too, am interested in what challenges your new gardening situation is presenting. Hopefully, you still have places for lush hosta, delectable daylilies and stunning clematis.

Linda, what a warm and lovely tribute to your parents...sounds like you are a winner in life's lottery of families to be born into! Your mom has a great eye for color combinations that work....the first photo shows that off to perfection. And there is something so evocative about a red barn that one can tell is still being used...the picture says it all!

Gotta' chime in and say yes to the kitties on helping to control voles (our two are barn cats and one has a particularly well developed hunting instinct) and, also, yay to a golf cart. Mine is modified a little and has a 3.5'x3.5' aluminium bed and it has been invaluable to me in carting around tools and weed or mulch filled buckets. We also have 2 Kawasaki Mules and the golf cart has never gotten into trouble where it needed to be "rescued" by a mule (except when I have carelessly run out of gas). Linda, seeing your dog sitting happily on the golf cart seat made me smile in a fond way!

Linda, you and your husband have created a magical paradise...spring must be particularly amazing with all the rhodies, redbuds and dogwoods in bloom. It truly doesn't get any more breathtakingly beautiful than that. I could spend the day just staring at that second picture down with that alluring curve to the swath of grass and the flowering trees beckoning my eyes forward...just perfect!

Wow, anyone who ever wonders if it's worth putting in a perennial garden need only look at these pictures to be reassured that the effort will be well worth it! Amazing that everything looks so bountiful and filled in by season 2. The spiral pathway now seems much more welcoming and generously sized. Maybe in the years to come, there should be a community fundraising effort to buy some great benches to place along the way and/or a special piece of artwork at the end of the spiral (ha, there I go with ideas of how to spend other people's money).
Anyway, Sarah, great job!

Hi, tntreeman, I'd love to take you up on your offer of red daylilies. We can ask Michelle to be an email exchange facilitator and, at some point, co-ordinate a meeting on your turf since it now getting to be your busy time. Maybe my husband and I can rendezvous with you at one of your favorite garden sites and sneak in a walk about. Thanks for thinking of me!

Ahh, Christine, my heart felt an empathetic pang at reading of your loss. My area was hit by a hellacious hailstorm 2 years ago that denuded trees and shredded to smithereens hosta and dayliliy foliage. The daylilies shrugged it all off but some of the hosta waved the white flag of surrender to the forces of nature and disappeared on me. I am optimistic on your behalf that your daylilies will return to party on and that delightful fiesta of color will light up your garden again this summer. Your view is magnificent!

Hi, Christine, your garden is gorgeous. I really appreciated reading your reasoning in putting together your "white" garden....you are so right about daylilies marketed as white being more suffused with hints of soft yellow. The cinnamon colored peeling bark of the limbed up yew is gorgeous...you were so brave to embark on that strategic pruning..it totally gave you the effect you wanted!
I,too, would love to see more!

Jane, your words and pictures took me on such a delightful journey...thank you...and you're so right about unique quality of shadows on snow...they are magical. The vision of the hellebore buds nudging up through the snow reminded me of a small child playing pee-a-boo with a grown up and the mutual delight that results in.

Daniela, what a delightful stroll through your garden...it is sublime. Are the tall spikes of flowers behind your red and white roses some of your lupines? Whatever... that whole grouping is glorious. Our east TN heat and humidity always kills off lupines and delphiniums but this is how they look in my imagination when I ignore the hard lessons of experience and some if I see them offered for sale in the spring. I plant them with the hope they were flourish and give me majestic spikes like yours. Sigh...it never happens.

Well, Calvin, it seems like you, Mother Nature, and the "trust us, we know best" regulators (yes, I started reading your blog) are working well together to create a very beautiful space. I love how the mosses are making themselves at home and spreading generously...they are already giving the ground that rich, multi-hued tapestry effect. Thanks for all the plant names. I wish I could walk among things and see them in person.

Sheila, I was struck with a pang of soil envy as I looked at all that beautiful dark dirt. Ha, when you spend years working in orange TN clay, you tend to notice things like that! By the looks of your beautiful vegetables, your soil must contain wonderful nutrients. Do you bother to do any amending with compost?
And, tntreeman, is so right about us paying our penance in August for our much enjoyed early spring.

Count me in with trashywoman2...I needed a geography lesson and just came back from visiting what seems to be the official website of Newfoundland Labrador. Thanks, Sheila, for helping to broaden my horizons of knowledge. Your property is gorgeous and will be the site of much happy gardening for years to come. Sigh...imagine working busily... digging, weeding, concentrating on a ground based task and then taking a mini break with looking up and out at that view...WOW!
Your garden shed is adorable especially with the beautifully bountiful flower filled window planters. Is the house we are seeing the refurbished farm house? Please stop back in and tell us about what style of architecture you have chosen for the new home you are near completion on. Ha, I'm not nosy or anything, huh?!

GarPho, so sorry that a winter crud has descended upon you and taken up unwelcome residence. Such an affliction can be so wearying literally and figuratively...one gets sick and tired of being sick and tired. Hopefully, you will look back on this stretch of time and be happy you weren't feeling well now instead of when spring starts knocking on the door.

bee1nine, I made a few treks over to Cape Cod (not frequently enough as I think back on it)and was so taken with the charm (in spite of the traffic)and natural beauty of the area. It has to be quite a visual treat throughout the summer to see the mounds of blue hydrangeas in all their glory. I grew up in a seashore town (Ocean City, NJ) and the yearly hydrangea festival was always a highlight.

There has to be some kind of award we bestow upon you, Betsy, for the beautiful results and the heroic efforts it has taken to achieve them. I remember vividly your previous sharing and the amazement I felt at the physical dimensions of your yard and yet, the seemingly endless garden your pictures showed. Your water feature looks convincingly like something I would see in a hike in the Smoky Mountains...it's just lovely.I'm quite taken with the yellow blooms of your clematis 'Bill MacKensie'. Your have to keep us apprised in the years to come whether or not he is over vigorous..he certainly looks glorious for the time being.

Happily Gardening, thank you for your kind words and right back at you! Your comments always give off such positive energy and enthusiasm...your GPOD moniker is aptly chosen and I always smile ahead of time as soon as I see your white flower show up.

bee1nine, I lived in Hopkinton MA (its claim to fame is that it is where the Boston Marathon has its official start) for about 6 years but in 1993 when my husband got a chance for very early retirement from the heavy construction industry, we picked the state of TN to put down roots. We wanted slightly less winter and a longer gardening season. Where do you live in MA?

tntreeman, you pegged me right...my inner yankee has prevented me from taking on a southern drawl. My husband worked on the Fort McHenry Tunnel project in Baltimore and sure loved going into the downtown for some special MD crabcakes. We actually lived in MD two different times...the first stretch was out in Bel Air which is Hartford County and then, as I already mentioned, Fulton which is your stomping ground county of Howard. Maryland really is a beautiful state.

Here's a perhaps novel take on "to have a vegetable garden or not have a vegetable garden, that is the question" ...if fans of Shakespeare will forgive me for some indulgent paraphrasing.
Anyway, we live in the country and certainly have ample room for as big a garden as we would like to put in. However, from the very beginning of our moving in, some of the local farmers made it a habit to stop by and share their bounty. We always express very sincere thanks and when our blueberries and apples are in season, we return the favor. At this point, it would seem ungracious to plant our own tomatoes, zucchini, corn, onions, etc. and shut the door on the tradition of generosity that seems to exist out here. As transplanted northerners, my husband and I never wanted to seem off putting. We're probably considered a bit eccentric because of the extent of our landscaping but since we're usually outside weeding, mulching,and planting, at least the locals who have lived here from birth know we have a work ethic and we feel accepted.

tntreeman, it sounds like a lot of fun to share some Kingsport gardens with someone as much in the know as you. And,please know that there is always a standing invitation to you and any other fellow gardener to spend some time meandering about my garden. Do you make a visit to the UT trial garden on occasion? If so, I'm about a half hour further south. I have gotten a lot of inspiration from the trial gardens over the years...they were particularly helpful to this transplanted northerner who moved here from MA about back in 1994.
I loved your story about the 90 year old lady and her porch dripping with plant filled hanging baskets...my heart warmed at how thoughtful her family members were to do that for her.

Lots of great plants and fun treasures to feast the eyes on with, of course, the living, bubble blowing angel the greatest delight. Lucky her, she gets to enjoy heaven on earth and think that's just the normal way to live.

Thanks, user-282771, for clearing up my befuddlement about the fourth picture down and whether or not peonies were blooming simultaneously with asiatic lilies...beautiful stands of dahlias during that time of year make much more sense.

Hi, Gail, I used to live in Fulton back in the 80's(on Cherry Tree Drive) and it certainly is a beautiful part of MD.I was not a follower of GPOD when you posted the picture of your stunning rose covered arch and the link to other photos of your magical garden. You are definitely a garden appreciator who walks the walk and I certainly agree that today's featured garden looks like a wonderful place to visit and leisurely wander about. In the fourth picture down....does that show an overlap of peonies(large white flowers) in bloom with asiatic lilies (light yellow)? I guess a more concentrated growing season opens up possibilities for different flowering plant combinations...I never thought about that before.

Hi, trashywoman62, my guess for those daisy like gold, white and orange flowers is a certain kind of zinnia that is very easy to grow from seed. It is called zinnia angustifolia and the narrow leaves (as well as the flowers, of course) are what makes me think it is that. I don't see them offered for sale all that often but I bought some once and, so far, I have enjoyed a bounty of reseeded ones for ever after. In fact, just today, I was pulling out their dead little carcasses in one of my beds and I give them a good shake to make sure seeds drop for germination when it gets warm again.

Thanks, Happily_Gardening, for refreshing my memory...somehow I knew when I wrote it that "gravel pit" wasn't significant enough to result in the dramatic changes in elevation that are part of what makes Butchart garden so amazing.I remember reading about how Mr. Butchart had staggering amounts of topsoil trucked in so that the retired rock quarry could become the site for the bountiful planting beds.

My husband just tried to engage me in some chit chat about something in the morning paper and I have to admit, I shook my head and said, "give me a minute". I couldn't stand not to look at every picture uninterrupted. The photos are phenomenal...not just for their subject matter but also the incredible clarity. Tatyana must come back on the board and tell us about the camera she used. I think I have said this before but Butchart Gardens is the most beautifully lush garden I have ever seen in person. Every inch (and I'm not exaggerating when I say "inch") is planted to colorful perfection. They plant annuals on such a large scale and harmonize the colors so wonderfully, you don't feel it's hodge podge or overly busy. Because it's a once upon a time gravel pit (or something like that), there are high vantage points to gaze down the mesmerizing views. It's like being in a living kaleidoscope!

For those of us in a slightly "mature" age category, it doesn't help that botanists are forever changing names and classifications on us. But, since I mostly stick to common names or refer to the pink, yellow or whatever "thingie" over by the whatjamacallit, I get by!

What a beautiful property situation. It has a air of graciousness and serenity. The line of oak leaf hydrangeas in bloom is stunning...looks like they are very happily situated. In the picture with the three clumps of ferns by the walkway...are they a perennial type fern or the Kimberly Queen which I always consider an annual here in TN? I bring mine into my garage for the winter and try to get a few years out of them but I really like how they look planted in the ground (if those are Kimberly Queen).

Jeff, thanks so much for making mention of the Bullington Gardens in Hendersonville. I live a teeny tad south of Knoxville and need to make the drive (a beautiful treat in itself) over to NC to visit it. Reading over their website, it seems like they have a very admirable sense of mission about how the experience of gardening can enhance people's lives ..esp. people with different kinds of challenges. I'm sure it would please your friend no end to see how his property has evolved.

Well, Jeff, besides being a talented gardener, you're a guy with an engaging sense of humor.I'll bet you bring good energy and smiles to whatever jobs you take on and have happy clients. And, yes, what an amazing surprise that had to be to have what looks like a trumpet flower arise so gloriously from your compost pile? I guess one got discarded at the end of the previous growing season.Do you expect it to return from now on?Your sea of daylilies is sumptuous...and the ones fronting the bluish toned evergreen look particularly great.

Thanks so much for the visual treat, Nancy. My energy level went up a few notches just looking at the swath of red exclamation points...hope it stays with me throughout the day and I can be particularly productive! Do you happen to know if Mr. Chihuly himself participates in the selection of his sculpture pieces and their placements when a public garden features his work in a way such as this? And is this a permanent installation or was it just for a set period of time?

Jeff, your garden gives off a feeling of generosity...all the lines flow and curve in a very appealing way and shows how you can't beat grass as a natural unifier. Even though you are fessing up to being a "collector", nothing looks cramped or forced into place.Each of your selections seem to have ample space to develop and fully express their natural shape and personality. And, your pot combinations are very interestingand look like they are planted for year round display.

Whew, Sunny, what a saga of perseverance ...and, fortunately, the pictures show how worthwhile all your efforts ended up being. In fact, I have a recollection of a saying (might not get it totally right ) that seems to fit your labor of love..."perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did". So, everything looks beautiful and very conducive to giving your bed and breakfast guests the feeling of being somewhere very special.
I was wondering if the lovely abode right on the water is where the guest accommodations are or are they in your home at the top of the hill?

Thanks, Maria, for doing a little homework on my behalf when it comes to the life span of willows esp. the ones in Monet's garden. That was really interesting information about the gardens being so damaged during WW2 and yet now, they look as one would like to think they looked during Monet's time. Your posting of his garden did take me to Wikipedia to do additional reading about him and see more of his paintings than just the ones that come more easily to mind. Thanks for the nudge!
By the way, with your name being "quiltingmamma", I guess the logical assumption would be that that is also a passion of yours. If so, how about throwing in a couple of pictures of some of your completed works. Frankly, I'm impressed by all quilting since it's something I've never attempted to do because it takes a skill and dedication I haven't discovered in myself. And the level of intricate artistry some people take it to is so beautiful and amazing. Ha, don't mean to put any pressure on you about the quilting...just curious.

Such beautiful pictures, Marie...I felt transported to another time. You really captured the spirit of serenity that seems to have been retained even in these modern times. I wonder if any of the willows pictured are from Monet's time? Hmmm, I can't imagine that is the case since it is my understanding that willows are not known for their longevity. How wonderful that the gardens are being preserved and replenished. Thanks so much for sharing your travels with us.

I really enjoyed your website, Deborah. The completed projects you highlighted in pictures as examples of the quality of your work were all very impressive. Obviously, the one titled rooftop oasis was amazing and I have to admire your pluckiness in taking it on! That was one serious sized crane that got the material up to roof level. My husband was involved in heavy marine construction up in the Boston area (we lived in Hopkinton for 6 years) and when I showed him the picture with the crane, he gave it a thumbs up. Your clients for that project must be so pleased with the finished result.

The only thing missing in the first photo is MY glass of wine! I would love to know the different kinds of flowering shrubs that surround that magical setting. It must give you so much pleasure, Deborah, as you're tucked away in your favorite chair, to gaze about your oasis of beautiful privacy and enjoy the world you have created.
Now I'm off to enjoy visiting your delightfully named website.

Your gardening style is delightful, Carol Jean and I'm sure you will have very satisfying results as you make the changeover in plants that will thrive in your new, sunnier conditions. I empathize because I have an area that we have always referred to as "the pine grove" where I created a hosta heaven and, as the pines have come down (grrr, Mother Nature shows no mercy), I have had to adjust to the less shady reality. But, boy, your Sum and Substance was glorious in that spot. I enjoyed a warm smile at your first picture when I saw your birds since I have one like that that is more all blue. They are a fun ornament. Your clematis are stunning...hopefully, they will only get even more floriferous with the increased sun.

Ha, I never thought I'd say this but, "I'm with her" meaning Marie Antoinette and her desire for less formality in her surroundings....not that the Queen's House isn't impressively grand. These are fascinating pictures and show a level of garden maintenance that I can't even begin to imagine. Can't wait to vicariously share more of your travels, Maria

There's something so appealing about a naturalized woodland garden....to have plants nestled in by composting leaves is as Mother Nature intended it to be. The happy daisy like faces of the windflowers really light up the ground and are very charming. A walk through your flower dotted woodland setting would be a real treat. I have some hellebores that have been open for about 2 weeks so I know spring will be here before I know it.

Well, Janet, it certainly looks like you are an A+ student (hmm, let's make that an A+++) from the school of Fine Gardening. Each issue really is a treasure trove of helpful information.
The picture that shows the sweeping swath of pink peonies and blue siberian iris is gorgeous...and I'll bet the fragrance from the peonies fills the air in the most delightful way.

Ask and we shall receive...yay for day#2 in Barb's garden. That's a great looking structure by the pool. I think that's where I would be parking my butt in breaks from gardening. Seeing the winter shot of the cattle was a reality check although even that was picturesque.
I got a pang of serious envy at seeing your thriving clumps of what I think is variegated hakonechloa grass "Aureola"....they obviously love your care and growing conditions.

Fabulous color combinations in your pots and throughout your garden areas. I love the exclamation points of chartreuse throughout which are then calmed by soft blues or quieter burgundies...all very effective. I'm sure you had many very satisfied clients throughout your years as a garden designer. I join the chorus in singing that I'd love to see more.

Well, Mary, your "nothing" backyard sure as heck has turned into Something....Something great! Loved reading the saga of your journey of self discovery...yes, with the right motivation, it turned out you found your inner gardener. You must so enjoy your backyard now. Sunrises and sunsets sure are a lot prettier as they light up beautiful flowers and leaves , aren't they?

Your fence is genius, Ann. I am so glad it worked because, although it was probably fun to do, no doubt it took a lot of time and effort. It fits your setting so perfectly since things look woodsy right outside its perimeter. You're lucky the deer haven't decided to test out their jumping muscles to to get to the alluring buffet bar of beautiful colors and scents ( and to them, tastes). Love the objects you've used for ornamentation....yup, everything is genius!

Seems like there isn't a direction to look where your eyes aren't bathed in beauty. The garden areas themselves are magical and the views out onto the large body of water are stunning. What kind of art work does Vanessa do? Painting? Sculpture?

There is something so appealing about a generous sized covered seating area that looks out on beautiful landscaping...just makes me want to plop down in one of those comfortable chairs and daydream...(ha, and the daydreams would be about having a generous sized covered seating area that looks out on beautiful landscaping where I could plop down in a comfortable chair and...ok, you get the point).
In other words...everything is very lovely and alluring.

For all of us who have visions of flower filled glory when we plant a clematis to scamper up through a tree...OMG, that photo of the bougainvillea spilling out from the top of the palm type tree is beyond amazing! I am humbled and inspired by it and the lush bountiful beauty of how things grow in Guatamala.

You're a great tour guide, Kathy, as you took along on your potager's journey of development. Love all your branch based structures....they are fun looking, functional and friendly to plants and birds. I bet that birdhouse at the top of the arbor is a very popular place to raise a family as far as the winged residents of your neighborhood are concerned.

I see lots of great plants and interesting features. I especially like how the raised rock wall is finished off with smooth capstones that look so inviting to sit a spell.
After too much holiday eating and not enough calorie burning gardening, I identify with the chubby, full faced Buddha. He's happy looking guy and should be since he's surrounded by particularly beautiful blooms and foliage.
Very nice job, Thea.

Looks like it was a great tour and, I'm sure, much appreciated by all who participated. I'm particularly fascinated by the picture showing the dappled shade scene and how the white blooms of the plant in the center look like shooting fireworks. My guess for the identity of the plant is a cimicifuga racemosa but I'm open to correction. Whatever it is, it is certainly an eye catcher in that setting.

Jan, loved all the additional photos you included on your blog and your commentary was quite entertaining. Ha, do include us all if your wedding plans to the particular oh, so handsome Tasmania Tree Fern takes place. I'm sure you'll make a stunning couple!

Sigh, I'm mesmerized and enchanted...what a beautiful, beautiful place. Jan, your pictures are wonderful as are the ones on their website. I even spent a little time enjoying the videos featuring Peanut...the real owner of The Harvest Inn. It was fun taking the tour and seeing things through his eyes. There is such impressive attention to detail throughout the place and sincerest kudos to Brandon Augustine for all he contributes.

Tatyana, your gazebo's blog (ha, that's a combination of words I never thought I'd be writing) is quite charming and entertaining. It made me smile throughout the reading of it and think of my own garden structures in a different way...and wonder what they would have to say about their life in my garden. I think they would be a little snarky about how little they are used in a functional way. However, I love looking at them just as I love looking at the picture of yours. Please share with us why you decided upon grapevines as the key plant to grow up and adorn your beautiful structure...seems like a bold choice!

All very lovely, Zach, but also intriguing... I think we need more pictures! Is the stone lined cascade an extension of your wonderful pond? And, if so, where does it end up? Or,perhaps, more correctly, where does it begin? What is the groundcover in the first picture?...the uniformity of it contributes so nicely to the feeling of tranquility the pond communicates plus is looks like a great weed suppressor.
Yes, I agree with Michelle, your garden does not give off the impression of one-itis at all. Maybe it helps that everything is so lush and intertwined.

Very, very nice...lots of visual interest and yet the plant choices probably aren't real water needy. I'm thinking that the very round, blue flowering bush in the background of the 4th picture down is a butterfly bush? If so, which particular variety is it? It's so full and under control looking? Perhaps one of the newer, smaller hybrids? or just very conscientious pruning?

Yes Michelle, you are sooo right when it comes to the cost and care of properly maintaining Victorian architecture. I guess I put myself in the passive appreciation category. I'm happy some others have the addiction although I know I could never be a worthy owner of those types of homes. When I was younger, I was drawn to sleek contemporary looks but I have evolved into more of a traditionalist.

What an absolute treasure of a community Union Hill must be. Garden tours are such a treat. As much as we each love our own gardens, it is so fun to get to stroll around some one else's and appreciate their efforts and vision. Looks like the houses in this area are filled with charm and personality...hmmm, the older I get, the more I love Victorian architecture. I'll bet that's a progression many others share.

These pictures certainly answer the question "Can there be too much coleus throughout a garden?" As a matter of fact, "NO!" It goes with everything and looks great. It's like a fun, exciting party when a bunch of different colors and varieties are used together like around the base of the tree and it's wonderful in the stretch where just the one color lines the stairway.
Thank you, Joy, for sharing your friends' garden with us.

What an amazing transformation...truly worthy of an episode on an HGTV show that features such total turn arounds. Your birch looked so lonely and forlorn in the before picture and now it anchors a lovely garden. It even has a charming stone pathway leading to a seating area near it. "YES", it says, "This is how I was meant to exist...surrounded by beauty!"
Sincerest congrats, Helene,to you and all those who helped on a great job!

Snow and ice can can create such dramatic transformations in a garden...the most insignificant element can look fascinating when it is dressed in shimmering ice or plumped up by a thick snow. Although I am usually transported to childlike wonder at the magical beauty an ice storm brings, I am also quite content to simply enjoy your pictures, Mary, and not deal with any of the after effects in person.

Happy Blogoversary ( or some such spelling)! Sincerest thanks to you, Michelle and Fine Gardening for creating this common interest community. And what a fun pictorial trip down memory lane to commemorate 3 years running. I love the one constant that runs through each day's offering...the love of gardening no matter what form it takes or challenges it faces. A person's garden can be small and intimate or grand and glorious but it is always a reflection of that urge within us that keeps us playing in the dirt.

Good thing I don't have a travel agent on speed dial...these pictures today and Joys's from Friday certainly show a beautiful tropical paradise that is very appealing.
OK, I have to ask even though I should be embarrassed at my ignorance but...how does it work for, say, a butterfly bush that in our climates goes through dormancy in winter. Does it just bloom and bloom (and bloom) in a climate like that found in Antigua? Do plants have a shorter lifespan in tropical climates because they don't have a forced winter rest period? They obviously are gloriously robust and look like they are singing the refrain of the old Bobby McFerrin song, "Don't worry. Be happy"
Thanks, Joy and Heather, for this round of spirit lifting photos.

Tony, you have been an impressively productive guy over the past 5 years. You are definitely a doer! What is that stunningly vibrant gold and red ruffly edged flower...boy, is it an eyecatcher!

Just simply amazing, Bill, you have totally achieved your goal! It has to be very gratifying to discover which plants will allow you to push the envelope of the hardiness zone with the right winter prep techniques. I would definitely want to be first in line when your garden is open for public enjoyment.

Who knew there was such a thing as an orchid TREE!? Certainly not me! Soon as I finish thanking Joy for bringing some joy to this particular reader's gray, cold morning, I'm off to do some google reading. How tall does an orchid tree get? Are there different varieties? So much info to gather.
Your garden is beautiful and you are obviously a dedicated caretaker who helps keep it flourishing and interesting.

Fortunately, Sue, all the plants you regard as survivors are favorites of gardeners for more than their lack of appeal to deer. Who doesn't love a grouping that includes hellebores, ferns,lamiums...yours looks great and is beautifully set off by the beautiful blue gazing ball (ha, I first typed "grazing" ball but that would defeat the purpose of it).
I have not been put to the test yet of deer proofing my garden but since I know the critters are around, my days are probably numbered.

Jarmila, my eyes couldn't help but linger over that glorious pink tree peony (?...I'm thinking that's what it is) in your first photo. Those blooms are positively decadent.
Since my part of the US hasn't gotten any of the white stuff yet, I also enjoyed your picturesque snow filled pictures.

Oops, I hit submit before I wrote (and that is with no holiday imbibing of adult beverages so... no excuse).
Anyway, I wanted to wish tractor1 well with his changeover to outside status for Newt. I'm sorry Garden Picture of the Day doesn't have an archive system which preserves the pictures you have shared throughout the year via your ID photo. Of course, maybe they are tucked away somewhere in cyberworld and I just don't know how to access them.

I am such a creature of habit....even Christmas morning finds me putting in a quick stint on the laptop before all family members are up and at'em. Brenda's pictures are a wonderful way to start the day.

Merry Christmas to all!

My biggest challenge in writing an adequately communicative comment is how big can I types the words WOW, oh, WOW!! Hmmm, ok, the "WOWs " are not large enough but, hopefully, you get the idea. Brenda, I am so appreciative that you took the time to do some sharing with us. I just learned a new Urban Dictionary word yesterday and it captures your gardening and decorating skills...they are Fantasmagorical.
I spent yesterday cutting berry filled nandina tops to fill planters and create low colorful drifts in now empty garden spots leading up to my front entry. However, my efforts pale in comparison to your beautiful, variety rich displays. They are sumptuous and a true celebration of the season.

That had to be a real sensory treat to get away from the cold in the Northeast and immerse yourself in the much warmer New Orleans. It looked like those elegant trees lining the long driveway still had some leaves on them...were they a kind of live oaks, do you think?
Anyway, I really enjoyed all the pictures, Nathan. Thanks so much for taking the time to send them in.

My goodness, Judy, you have certainly proved to be the victor in whatever battles you have waged with Oklahoma's challenging growing conditions. Everything looks lush and gorgeous. Your arbor covered with the morning glories and silver lace vine is the very definition of glorious! Your combo of the orange chair and color co-ordinated trumpet creeper would be an especially big hit here in East TN where orange and white are the school colors for our local Un. of TN.
I love every thing in every picture! Thanks!

You sent me off on a google search to find out more about the dark mysterious stranger...definitely sounds like an interesting plant although I'm not sure how I feel about it as a candidate for my garden. However, it does look like like a formidable sentry as it stands guard on the approach to your delightful pergola. I agree that we need to see more pictures of your lovely garden. The clematis scampering up the birdhouse pole is beautiful.

What a beautiful and tranquil looking public garden. I'm sure it has always been a place for quiet contemplative walks but now its soothing energy is needed more than ever. We are all deeply saddened by the terrible event which has struck your lovely town.

So many great scenes to absorb. I love the hovering blooms of the magnolia so aptly names "Butterflies"...I'll bet that is quite a treat each spring when it magically lights up the garden. You have a truly beautiful and delightful garden, Kathy. It would be fun to live on your street and get to be a regular visitor.

Besides having lots of great plants, this garden has tons of engaging personality. It says that the person tending it who isn't afraid to incorporate the old with the new.
Kathy, are either you or your husband the builder of the birdhouses that add so much architectural interest to where they are placed?
Your 'Shoal Creek' vitex is a beauty! Do you cut it back to the ground each year so it doesn't get too much height?
Really looking forward to Monday's installment!

Nancy, it looks like your garden sings a colorful song from spring through fall. As others have already noted, you have some great combinations and I, too would love to see some additional pictures of how things flow.I was admiring your very attractive paver edging in the photo featuring the large hosta. Do you have that along all your garden lines? That is such a handsome, classy look.

Sue, I love your "can do" spirit and refusal to look at the glass as half empty. Seems like you choose to view your relocation to southern Nevada as an opportunity to experience (and conquer) new challenges. Every baby step you take that gets you further along in realizing your vision will be highly satisfying and you will find your efforts validated because of your great attitude.
The mimosa tree must be very flexible in its needs (it grows like a weed here in east TN) and its nice to read that one is doing well for you. Mimosa flowers have such an amazing sweet fragrance...they literally do perfume the air when in bloom.

Love your plant combinations and embrace of color, Sue...your containers are like a movie trailer for your garden to come.I hope you will have a good source for compost type material since that will probably help the soil in your beds. If there are any horse farms within easy driving distance, maybe they would be willing to let you have some manure that you could take home and add to a compost pile. Fresh manure needs to age for about a year but eventually it transitions to black gold.
Anyway, best of luck with your ongoing gardening adventure!

Since I have outed myself earlier as a big daylily fan, I will make a confession...I have to laugh at myself because I sometimes make my carefree daylilies a lot of work. However, I do trim them down to about 6 inches after the leaves and stems start to look ratty. In my defense, I find such grooming must tap into their inner vanity and they always flush out with fresh new leaf growth fairly quickly. Then the clumps look vigorous and healthy and I don't have to feel embarrassed on their behalf. I don't think it affects the robustness of the following year's bloom.
When it comes to mail order sources, I think very well of Oakes Daylilies which is north of Knoxville, TN. I have attended their June festival several times and their display fields are a visual delight. I have bought from them via mail order and have always been pleased with generous sized fans they send.

Well, Ann, if some country western singer wants to write a song titled "Daylily Heaven"...I know where they should shoot the music video! There is no such thing as daylily colors clashing, is there? Too bad the world can't get along in the kind of harmony daylilies do? Have I mentioned that I, too, love, love,love daylilies and their bloom season is one of my favorite times in the garden. Thanks for your delightful pictures.

Nina, my goodness, the vibrancy of the blue in your monkshood is amazing...it borders on being electric. What a treat to have such a strong color statement amongst all the subdued fall tones. Ha, would you believe that for a fleeting minute I thought to myself, "hmmm, a hound Lily...I'm not familiar with that plant". Whew, caught myself in time before I went off on a google search!
Everything looks lovely and it is interesting to see the differences between your fall garden and the pictures you shared earlier.

Joan, this sounds so lovely and picturesque..."the house and grounds...overlook Smithtown Bay" and facing west, no less...you must have magnificant sunset views! That is...when you're not looking down at your beautiful plants combinations.
So sorry to read that your garden has been discovered by hungry deer. It's hard to shake off our childlike love for Bambi, but grrr...treating devotedly nurtured gardens like a Shoney's buffet does push the envelope of acceptance.
I agree that the little pink flower looks like a clematis. and it complements the other flowers in your picture perfectly. Note to self...stop being lazy about doing a fall planting of Allium bulbs. Those tall stately purple globes look stunning.

Fall color combinations really do create a beautiful, mutli-textured tapestry....love the blood grass with the Virginia creeper. Constance, your 50 year old lace leaf is magnificent and you've "accessoried" to perfection with the stunning cobalt blue pot and the artful climbing clematis.
By the way, I hope next year you will treat us to some pictures of your back meadow garden .

By the way, Michelle, that very annoying Share with friends box popped up in the middle of my posting space and wouldn't go away when I clicked on the "x". So, as I typed, some of my words were hidden behind it. Some amusing misspellings might show up since I couldn't proof read everything I typed. I sure hope this intrusive box location doesn't happen again.

Phillip and Michael, your garden is definitely a multi season gem. It is interesting and fun to toggle back and forth between your previous picture offerings and today's fall display. The warm reds and oranges look stunning against your beautiful wall.
I would love it if you would pop back in to tell me about your pruning schedule you follow (if any) for your oakleaf hydrangeas. Yours have so much balance in their width to height proportions...just curious if you are lending a helping hand to Mother Nature's efforts?

Dan, you really are doing a great job with your topiaries...their identities are definitely recognizable which is probably waaaay more difficult than I could ever begin to imagine since I have never tried my hand at that art form.
The Chinese yellow banana plant is fascinating looking...so much architectural interest to it.
Kudos to you and your wife for being such good stewards of your property by making it beautiful and yet being respectful of keeping water needs of your plantings as minimal as possible.

tractor1, I know you have many beloved cats but do you have any dogs? We have a decent sized acreage in a somewhat rural area and there are certainly deer that roam about. However, multiple times a day, we take our dog (an Australian Shepherd)for runs about the property... through the woods and across the fields where she tends to do her "business". We have always felt that the well dispersed smell of her existence has kept the deer from making our property their home and grazing ground. I suspect that some year I will be rudely surprised and find my garden chomped to the ground. It will break my heart but I accept that Mother nature doesn't play favorites.
Anyway, just thought I'd mention what we credit working for us.

Bob and Linda, you have created such wonderful walls and landings...the stonework is soooo handsome. Are the rocks indigenous to your property (which means twice the work but at least they are free)? You have a wonderful balance of plant material, beds, lawn, sweeping curves...they all frame your lovely home beautifully. Grammy and Grandad's must be a favorite place to visit!

I'm always a sucker for winding green pathways flanked by colorful and interesting plant choices...Jo, yours do not disappoint! I like the pops of burgundy along the way.
You have a lovely property and it wears its fall mist well!

Nancy, the vista framed by the stunning redbud archway certainly gives the impression of a much larger garden area than your description would lead one to guess. The sweeping curves of the gravel walkway are very inviting and I'll bet when your Black Beauty lilies are in bloom, a person can't wait to walk along and follow their nose to get to the source of the alluring aroma. You've really done a great job. Ha, I'm sure the adorable Tuxie agrees!

What a cheery sight that blue toned,lived in birdhouse makes as it hangs in the crab apple tree...just looking at that picture made my day start out happy. Then to move on to the bloom filled clematis and be reminded of how glorious gardens are in spring and early summer...great images for a gloomy late fall day. Barb, looks like you're still doing a great job incorporating tropicals into your garden. They really do add a lot.

What a lovely foursome of pictures, Elaine. The harmonious and blending elements of their composition give off a Monet feeling so your inner artist is being well served by your physical efforts. Your garden seems like a serene place and the
adirondack chairs invite sitting and indulging in restful contemplation.

Besides being a human sanctuary, I would guess that your colorful, flower filled cottage garden is a very popular tourist stop for all the winged, nectar loving creatures in the area. You have a wonderful variety of things growing.I love the spots of purple which contrast so nicely with the golds and oranges. And, all that double digging..wow!

Kate, what you have accomplished over the past 20 years is amazing. You give those of us who also share some Irish blood coursing through our veins a good name! Your perseverance and creativity has resulted in transforming your 3 acres into beautiful garden spaces. I have enjoyed today's pictures immensely and am very much looking forward to tomorrow's.
I am very familiar with your part of NJ as my mom lived in one of the early condo developments off of the Black Horse Pike. I would drive through the very charming town of Mays Landing on my way to visit her.

Chip, your garden looks so much more extensive than the 1/4 acre you describe it to be. It's always fun to see plantings that emphatically says, "you're not in Kansas, anymore"...ha, or in my case, Tennessee! I agree with Michelle that that burgundy cactus is quite intriguing.
Happy Thanksgiving wishes to all my fellow GPOD readers!

Sally, your garden is a vision of exquisite loveliness...from the graceful curves of the beds to the enchanting lines of the Japanese maples...everything is truly perfection. I will probably return to this set of pictures multiple times throughout the day and just click through to my heart's content.

Ha, tractor1, you're too kind not to call me out for being a careless reader. How did I completely miss Stacie's very precise labeling of what was for me "the mystery plant"...that falls in the dumb, dumb me category!
Hope Newt thrives in his imminent indoor cat status and your current five make it an easy transition for him.

Those very smooth flat rocks really do make a statement...the eye goes right to them and lingers for a moment. Is the bush/small tree with the dark golden blooms some kind of witch hazel?
I remember really enjoying the Fall Fireworks article...it showcased some great plant combinations.

Karen, how nice of you to share your sincere enthusiasm for some of your favorite plants. I humbly admit that I was not aware of the fall virtue of the old fashioned bridal wreathe spirea...with it's uplifted tapered branches all aglow,it's truly stunning. You're a very effective plant evangelist since you have made a believer out of me!

I love the pictorial stroll through the four seasons. Dry stream beds are always very appealing to me...there's something about them that tickles my imagination as I picture them serving their purpose in a torrent of rain. Your plant choices and spacing are very nicely done. Things give off a very naturalized and serene impression.
Soon as I clicked on the link to your previous sharing, it was like, "oh, yes, the garden with the beautiful bench".
Maybe for the sake of keeping GPOD going strong through the winter, we should all make the effort to try to find pictures that show the same general part of our garden through a few different seasons. It's very interesting to see things presented that way.

Ahh, thank you ahead of time, Teresa, for identifying the forget-me-nots. I was a beat too slow in seeing your answer before I went to post. I have an area where I let the forget-me-nots have their way and they never fail to delight. As a matter of fact, this might be the nudge I need to transplant a few so they start colonizing in a second area. Thanks!

Teresa, your garden must be great medicine for the soul as you deal with your physical health issues. You are surrounded by beauty. I, too was immediately struck with the question about the identity of the charming blue groundcover. I was all pleased with myself for recognizing the Fothergilla but then got stumped by the dainty mass of blue.

What a treat to spread our cyber wings and get to visit a far-away land. Ali, it certainly seems like you have an ideal situation...stunning far away vista views and beautiful things to enjoy up close.
That dramatic yellow and green birdhouse is certainly an eye-catcher. OK, I'm going to now beg for your tolerance as I ask what might be a very dumb question...does your part of the world have pretty much the same species of birds a fairly similar area of mountainous terrain would have here in the United States? Could you share the names (ha, and I don't mean Tom, Dick and Harry, if you get my joke) of some of the birds that frequent your garden? Thanks!

Christine, that's certainly a very impressive looking bounty....seems like you and Mother are a successful team...Although, after rereading the challenges of your weather conditions during the growing season, it seems more like Mother Nature was testing your commitment to this endeavor.Congrats, you passed and have the harvest to prove it!

Jan, what a treat! You must be quite an inspiration to your neighbors (ha, or else they curse you for being an over-achiever). Anyway, you have done a magnificent job giving your Florida get-a-way a real gardener's touch. I love your plant material choices and your rationale for why you have placed them where you have. The accent color of the blue of your pots is perfect. You really have a special gift.

Jodie, after reading the philosophy section on your website, today's pictures show you to be a landscaper who walks the walk of what you espouse. The color tones of the very handsome vase and the decorative sea of pebbles upon which it sits display soothing harmony with the lovely porch of your home...very nice.

Your water feature must be an eye catcher all year long esp. with the grasses making their contribution to visual interest. I'll bet you don't even mind weeding in the bed surrounding your waterfall rock so you can enjoy it up close and personal!

I really like the extra flare you put in the stone pathway in the first picture...gives it aesthetic appeal as well as functionality. You look like you are making wise choices in plant material with attention being paid to those with more modest watering needs. Your wife's pots look great and make wonderful exclamation points of color to highlight all the natural stone. Definitely looking forward to tomorrow's part 2!

Hi, Clare, love everything and especially your delightful parasol lady! Is she strategically placed in the bush the way she is because she is only half a torso to start with? Or has the bush grown up and around her to give that effect? Your garden has beautiful lines and great bones...no doubt, it looks wonderful in all four seasons.

Clare, even though your exact street address isn't given, I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere, the word "Heaven" was included...your garden is DIVINE! What a sensory delight it must be when that line up of peonies is in bloom. Also,everything is so beautifully and impeccably maintained...you and your husband are an impressive team. I can't wait for the next round of pictures.

Hmmm, those pictures are mesmerizing...such exquisite detail. It's a gift to have the photographer focus the viewer's eye so we do take that moment to notice nature's delicacy. The final photo is very soul soothing. Thank you, Kathy

Those vines certainly got the message to grow up, up, up! Is the pink flowering one a mandevilla or is it a special variety of black-eyed Susan vine?
Regardless, the whole effect is very charming.
Best to all in the Northeast as they now deal with arduous clean-up efforts. That part can be so mentally depleting as well, of course, as physically.

Happy to read that your area escaped the worst. So sorry for all those folks and places that have been so negatively impacted by this horrible fall storm.
After re-enjoying your article on Autumn's Subtle Charms,I was reflecting to myself on how restful I usually find fall. However, in view of the work intensive clean up many will be facing, I will quietly count my blessings and wish others well.

Irvin and Pauline, it is always a treat to start out the day with pictures of your beautiful garden...they never fail to delight and enchant. I love your subtle attention to detail ...an example being the polished dark stones that help set off the stone lantern in the first picture.

Heather, your children are going to have earned their PhD. in fine gardening by adolescence...sounds like they have the perfect learning environment...literally and figuratively!
Your garden is beautiful with lovely combinations and some impressive backdrop evergreens. Your first photo is a perfect example of everything that is right...you have a great eye for balance and color.

What can I say, Terie, except that your garden is Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah beautiful and truly blessed to be visited by bluebirds. It's so nice to read that you and your talented husband take the time to sit by that totally picturesque pond and just soak up some rays and serenity.

Barb, looks like you have a very effective learning curve with your modest admission of being a "trial and error" gardener (ha, trust me, we all share that description). All your plant material looks like it's thriving and I love the sense of whimsy that abounds throughout. Your most recent project of the cast iron tub is a sure smile generator especially if little fish are swimming about. Your husband does great work and I know how important his contributions are.

What a heartwarming and beautiful community achievement...Midland, MI must be a very special place to live. The flowers are gorgeous and Mr. Breed's sculptural pieces are stunning.

John, your fall garden is stunning and is equally beautiful to the pictures you shared from earlier in the year. It's fascinating how each grass variety has its own personality and appeal. Love the particularly airy delicacy of the panicums...they have such a special allure is a gentle breeze

Love them all, Jan. Your pictures show a great mix of colors and textures and the always appreciated sense of humor with the face pot adorned with cascading soft green locks.

The abundant beauty of Lorraine's gardens leave me (almost) speechless...there is so much appealing color and texture and wonderful combinations. I also appreciate the little artistic additions that bring a smile.
Thank you so much for being so conscientious in providing exact names for the pictured plants...very informative and helpful.

The abundant beauty of Lorraine's gardens leave me (almost) speechless...there is so much appealing color and texture and wonderful combinations. I also appreciate the little artistic additions that bring a smile.
Thank you so much for being so conscientious in providing exact names for the pictured plants...very informative and helpful.

Kielian, I had the refrain of a James Taylor song tickling my brain as I gazed admiringly at your photos..."winter, spring, summer or fall" (ha, I'll have to do a google search to get the rest of the lyrics). But, anyway, if the song was about your garden, the line "never a disappointment no matter what the season" would have to be worked in.
Everything you have created is a wonderful complement to the natural beauty supplied by Mother Nature. But, brrr, that magical line of late Sept. icicles is a reality check!

Whew, talk about someone who walks the walk in what became her chosen profession and passion...Lorraine, your gardens are stunning and I would be so inspired if I came to your nursery as a customer. The photos you shared with us here and on your website are beautiful.
Could you please pop back on here and tell us about your seed starting techniques with perennials in your early days before you became a business. I would imagine now that you have a greenhouse facility but how did you handle things when you first started?

Goodness, Carolyn, your half acre looks so spacious and has a wonderful mix of plant material and hardscape. Looks like you've included a lot of lovely evergreens so things probably remain very attractive even during those snow covered Ohio winters. Love that pop of red in the final picture!

Bob and Lisa, you guys are brilliant and definitely have a sense of fun and liveliness in your approach to gardening. I love your "au natural" table centerpiece. You must be doing lots right since your daisies look they don't get fazed by SC heat and humidity.

Beautiful pictures taken by a beautiful girl! It was nice to have some shots with sky (as tractor1 says) and get a sense of scope and scale. I lived in MA during the 80's and remember visiting this public garden during its fledgling time. Kaia's photos gave me a glimpse of how far it has come. Thanks.

Very fun and, I'm sure, always a source of conversation and inspiration for garden visitors. I love it when a gardener has some hands on personal creations tucked in amongst their garden plant material.
Lately, I've been doing some mosaic tile and/or stone covered birdhouses and have gotten my fair share of Liquid Nails stickiness on my fingers.My go to product for removal is Goof Off...how about you, Ruth Ann? Anything else you would recommend?

Well, well, I never thought GPOD was going to be the place I found an answer to a question from several years back..."what the heck is the name of that silly bird that likes to lay its eggs in the gravel near our barn?" So, it's a killdeer...thanks!
That band of trees is beautiful and it has to be so satisfying Dennis and Jean to see them growing into maturity. I'm sure all the local wildlife is very appreciative of their efforts. I love when old farm implements are given a showcase spot in a garden...very nice.

Now, GPOD friends, don't jump all over me but I'm going to confess that I have never grown a sunflower...seeing Connie's super fun picture, I need to correct that! What a kick that must be to see that stalk growing taller and taller and then have that glorious flower start to unfold. I really enjoy the energy and exuberance of your garden, Connie.

All it took was the headline headline, "Tim's garden in Ohio, Revisited", to start my day off with a smile of anticipation...and, no disappointment after enjoying the pictures, thank you very much! The picture showcasing the succulent in the conch shell is an instant pleaser...that had to be fun to put together and see it work. And I'm a sucker for the way the Elfin thyme does it's spreading thing over and among the rocks. Everything looks great, Tim, thanks for letting us visit!

Syd, your garden is very lovely with all its elements working together in very pleasing harmony. Even though your artwork is decidedly unique and unusual (at least to this simple farm girl), your pieces have the successful melding of different shapes flowing into each other to form something that the eye feels comfortable with. This is true of your garden also which communicates an over all compatibility of shapes, textures, colors and heights.
I have to confess to surprise that I didn't see any of your artwork finding a home outside in your garden...or did I miss noticing something?

There's the common phrase, "My cup runneth over" and in honor of Carla's wonderful pictures, I am inspired to create a new saying, "Her garden spillith over". What delightful and enviable abundance. I am not familiar with two of her named echineas Papaya and Milkshake but they look fun and interesting. I planted a couple of the Pow Wow Berry echinacea two years ago and was happy with how they stayed shorter and more compact.
Carla, you really have an artist eye for great color combinations that echo and compliment each other.

Several years ago we were gifted with a generous sized Bridgewater Chocolate's variety box by a friend to whom we extended human and horse hospitality as they were traveling from Bridgewater to AZ for a horseshow. Let me go on record that the all Dark Chocolate Toffee selection is beyond heavenly. You have to taste it to believe how delicious it is. It takes all my self control not to just gobble a whole box down as if calories and price don't matter when we treat ourselves to an order. My husband and I store the box at the opposite end of the house from where we sit to watch evening tv so that it becomes a ceremony to each have a piece. I know...we sound pretty pathetic, don't we?!

If it doesn't already exist, I now officially coin the phrase "Bridgewater Worthy" when it comes to something oozing charm and character. I would go out of my way to patronize such a shopping area and would make sure to pass along compliments to the individual store proprietors about the lovely landscaping. I have a friend who owns a horse training business in the area and she introduced me to Bridgewater Chocolates...pure heavenly deliciousness! Thanks to the internet and mail order, they are now a special occasion treat between my husband and me.

Bob and Mary Ann, you have so many standout parts to your garden...it has to be such a pleasure to stroll about and gaze upon one beautiful vignette after another. Love the photo of the vibrant blue clematis(?) cresting over the arbor with the white blooms of the hydrangeas like splashing froth...so picturesque!
If ever there was a summer to be feel good about the investment in an irrigation system, this past one was it. I'm just below you in east TN so I know your new system was put to the test.

Ha, Steepdrive, my thoughts exactly...I honestly would never have guessed these were pictures of container plantings if not told. Miyako must be very conscientious about weekly fertilizing since her beautiful efforts are not suffering from end of season fatigue and sparseness. Michelle, if she has time, I would love for her to pop in and share a few tips on how she maintains such lushness.

Besides being blessed ( ha, or afflicted ) with an enviable work ethic, the two of you also have a gift for creating a highly pleasing naturalized look. Your woodsy garden areas are delightful and are very much in harmony with your generous sized ponds. Things look like they have been in place for much longer than your 9 years of ownership which is always a sign of a job well done.

Jacky and Lynn, you do beautiful work and make a wonderful team. There is nothing more satisfying than putting forth heroic efforts on a project...being physically exhausted and during the process, giving each other those looks that say, "we must be crazy". Then gazing with such pride and satisfaction at the finished results. Your husband has done an amazing job on all your pathways...which was the first one he tackled? the stone? the straight line brick? the herringbone brick pattern?
Love how the sweeping swaths of grass set off your colorful beds so effectively. Everything is in such pleasing balance. Can't wait for tomorrow's installment!

Gregg and Kindra it's amazing to me how your one acre in suburbia looks so much more extensive. The area past your bridge looks like it could go on forever in a very inviting way..."ha," the deer say, "tell us about it". Congratulations on creating a beautiful garden and a magical habitat for nature's miracles.

Oh, my...just simply stunning...what wonderful images to start the day off with. Those glorious crape myrtles circle your garden areas like a beautiful colorful necklace.
I have some baby crape myrtles that are the result of some reseeding and I have wondered what I should do with them...pull and toss? or dig and relocate? Well, thanks to you, Ruth Ann, I have my answer. I should take advantage of Mother Nature's generosity and replant them to create my own kaleidoscopic piece of jewelry.

Your beautiful garden is certainly an inspiring testimonial to the power of commitment. And, my goodness, what is the "secret sauce" you use to get those stunning purple blooms on your hydrangea? Your garden must attract a lot of complements from people walking by since it grows so lushly down to the sidewalk. I'll bet that generous clump of red Crocosmia has its own fan club!

Gee, I wonder why I'm feeling like going healthy and having oatmeal and fruit for breakfast?! Actually, that's what I have every morning but I think I'll go heavier than usual on the strawberries and blueberries.
The duck pond is magical and the contorted branches of the aged tree in the background are perfect.
Looks like you had a wonderful trip, Kielian. Thanks for sharing snippets of it with us.

Hmmm, my aging brain is reminding me that the seasons are reversed from ours in the Northern hemisphere so did you take your trip during your Montana winter? I am not much of an adventurer so it's always nice when pictures from another land are shared via GPOD and and remind me that there's a whole big world out there. I especially like the line up of the blue columns with the hanging plants.

Daryl, I jumped into looking at pictures before I read your copy and, as a former NJ girl (southern end in Ocean City) I was immediately struck by the fact you have a crepe myrtle. "Hmmm", I thought to myself, "I just don't remember seeing any of them while growing up". So nice that there are now varieties that allow more northern gardeners to enjoy what southerners take for granted (I'm now a zone 7a in east TN) as a summer flowering mainstay.
I agree with others that your wrought iron planter is a standout and I also enjoyed the white pot with the smiling face surrounded by loopy hot pink "hair" tendrils.

Be still my heart...there's something about this kind of garden that sings a song I can't resist! I have always loved the Virginia spring as do the azaleas, ferns and hosta that are on such beautiful display in these pictures. John, your clients have been well rewarded by their successful collaboration with you throughout the years. Each plant seems to complement its surrounding neighbors and the results are captivating.

What a beautiful makeover...your first photo is literally picture perfect. I can see it being featured in Fine Gardening or some other prestigious publication. Thank you so much for including the before shot so we can more fully appreciate the dramatic transformation. You have made wonderful use of your space to create a world of serenity with that peaceful Asian tea garden aura. Great job!

Lori, the blues of your spruces are so vibrant...must be thanks to your Rocky Mountain climate (and your loving care, of course). They make a wonderful contrast for the pink in the coneflowers and clematis.
I like how you gave that smallish ornamental tree (a variety Japanese maple, perhaps)some extra pop by planting it slightly higher than its neighbors in the rock surround...very effective.
You and your husband do great work together and the contributions of a live in hardscaper can never be underestimated!

Sweet, sweet, sweet...so totally adorable...I'm an instant fan of your enchanting tiny creations! I love all the fun little details. I find this whole concept so captivating. I'm sure there is a plentiful audience out there just ready to be inspired by this delightful idea. Now, I'm off to click on your website to learn more. Thanks for sharing, Susan.

tractor1, thanks so much for thinking about my challenge and coming up with an interesting possible solution. My husband
(who tends to be the technical problem solver between the two of us)never thought of that. We just experimented with a bunch of different adhesives on a trial piece of PVC. I'm far enough along that I'm committed to sticking with my present modus operandi on my first couple but I am definitely going to share your idea with him and maybe give it a try. Thanks again.

GreenGrowler, I would really love to see some pictures of your mosaic work and also, I would avidly read and appreciate any tips you might want to pass along. My first couple of works in progress are a bit unconventional because they involve a round shape as I'm using PVC pipe. Finding a mastic that would work on the plastic of the PVC with hard surfaces like stones and glass tiles took a lot of experimentation. My next couple should be easier since my husband will build a more traditional looking structure for me to decorate.
I don't know the proper etiquette on a public board like this in posting an email address? Should I just post it or, perhaps, Michelle can serve as the conduit in getting it to you. Any suggestions?

Wow, rivers of color everywhere...love it! This is what happens when both partners are plantaholics...there is no better addiction. I'll bet you guys have a blast just living your life and sharing this passion.
Your pictures struck a special chord with because I'm embarking on a first attempt project of making a mosaic tile birdhouse and my brain went "PING" when it absorbed your blocks of color.
I will tackle my tile placement with extra vigor after being inspired by your photos. Thanks!

Jana, your photos have wonderful clarity and I feel I am almost walking next to you. You are a masterful creator of delightful combinations that provide charming vignettes. The picture that includes the mature blue spruce and wonderful abundance of daisies is perfection.
Also, it's a treat to see such robust astilbes ...they struggle here in my east TN garden and I have ruefully bowed their reluctance to thrive for me and stopped replacing them in my garden.

Jean, your property is not only well named but looks well as well loved and well tended...Operation Less Mow is a resounding success. Your grass paths are very inviting and invite a relaxing stroll to gaze upon all your lovely plantings.
Is the final picture a view from your house...talk about icing on an already beautiful cake!

Hmm, since I usually do my commenting somewhat bright and early in the morning, I almost always run into the side bar intrusion. However, as I just scrolled down after reading Antonio's helpful hint about clicking the "close" option, I'm noticing that now that there are some comments already in place, the intrusion of the sidebar is non-existent. Maybe something got tweaked to eliminate the problem for all or maybe it only affects those of us who comment early in the day?

Who says "You Can't Go Home Again"...looks like you have done it very successfully. It must be very satisfying to create beauty to enjoy in your personal environment and also have a part of your life where your efforts improve the lives of others.
I agree that the cabbage leaves are a delightful foil with the petunias...I would never have suspected that would make such a fun visual pairing.

Verna, although you describe your city lot as "ordinary", what you have created within its borders is truly extraordinary! I am awestruck with how beautiful and bountiful your containers are.
In fact, having spent one of the enjoyable days of of my life being mesmerized by a visit there, I can sincerely say that they are Butchart's Garden worthy (and believe me, there is no higher praise). I can remember so vividly standing on one of the elevated "cliffs" and looking down on a sea of almost never ending resplendent color...it was amazing. I have to ask, do you revisit the Garden at least once a year?

Wished I lived even remotely close to such a wonderful nursery...although my checkbook is probably breathing a sigh of relief since it knows it would be reduced to zero with so much temptation. I really appreciate when a nursery business goes that extra mile to create bona fide gardens for customers to enjoy and be inspired by. Now I'm off to enjoy their website.

Phillippa, forgive me for gushing, but your fiber art is amazing. I loved this sentence in your artist statement:
"Work tends to take on a life of its own, and ideas are followed where they lead."
I am sure that philosophy carries over into your gardening as it does for many of us. The composition in the photo with the bench and cascading petunias with the exclamation point of the vibrant red dahlia definitely gives the impression of one of your fiber creations. You have a wonderful artist eye!

What beautiful views you have, Kimberly, when you stop a moment and look up from your labors of love in your garden. As I gazed at your pictures, I heard a little of the John Denver song "Take Me Home Country Roads" with the line "almost heaven, West Virginia" filling my mind.
Your plant combinations are beautiful and I, too, am a big fan of lime green. The picture featuring the anise hyssop and its companions is great...shows how wonderfully that color scheme works.

Irvin, beautiful pictures...beautiful creatures...beautiful attitude...you are definitely reaping what you sow in the best possible way.

Leslie, you really have a lot of interesting elements to your garden and many gorgeous plants. I feel like I could spend a very satisfying day wandering about and noticing different details. Your husband is a judicious as well as willing pruner...I like the balance of some plants being shaped but others maintaining a more au natural appearance.
Do you and you husband ever stare at your pool with that questioning look of,"hmm, more space for gardening if..."?

Roger and Mary, your have created a mesmerizing garden. I found myself lingering over each photo to enjoy all the intriguing and sometimes subtle details. Love the cast upon the ground statuary head in the picture featuring the succulents and Yucca rostrata. The swath of grasses and lavender in the first photo is intoxicating...my cup runneth over from the beauty of your efforts.
What is the luminous light colored tree in the final picture? I had initially assumed it was a dogwood in bloom but since your identification comments did not mention that, I'm now wondering. Is it a type variegated Japanese maple? And, by the way, do Dogwoods even grow in your part of CA?

Jill, it really is satisfying to do a "tree planted" count every now and then and realize how valuable those efforts are throughout the years. Were the trees you had to take down original to the property or ones you planted?
I love how you have so many seating opportunities tucked in amongst your bountifully flower filled garden beds...gotta' have a place to sit quietly and watch all the butterfly activity. That is so neat that you are such a nurturer of those beautiful creatures.

Oops, sorry for letting my fingers type faster than my brain was working and misspelling Karin's name. I have a good friend I email regularly who has the other spelling so once I start out with K-a-r... I'm on my way to finishing it with an
e-n.

It's always a treat when GPOD sprouts wings and goes international! Peter and Gisela, your garden is beautiful...everything looks so sumptuous and I'm sure the harvest from your vegetable garden is bountiful.
Your son's sculpture is charming...it brought an instant smile of appreciation.
Thanks, Karen, for sending these pictures our way.

Beth, kudos to you and your husband for being brave enough to get rid of the overwhelming front boxwoods...frankly, your home deserves to be seen. It is very charming and your new walkway perennial border is very welcoming.
I agree with Michelle...the picture with the crane in front of the miscanthus is perfect.
Do you happen to know if your happy faced yellow daisy like flower is a rubeckia called Denver Daisy? Whatever it is, it definitely lights up your perennial bed.

Ann, it certainly looks like you and John have been a very successful and collaborative team in creating a delightful back yard oasis. The deck is beautiful and I can well imagine how satisfying it is to sit there and look out on your labor of love. The design details in the railing of the upper deck railing are particularly handsome and impressive. I see lots of my favorite perennials so I would feel right at home.

Linda, I love how each pot is captivating on a stand alone basis and yet adds so much interest to the grouping. Of course, your lovely lady pot is a standout with her Medusa like green locks cascading downward...very fun!
I add my voice to ncgardener in asking you to share whatever tips you can think of about wintering over succulents...how much indoor light? How frequently to water? Any room temperature considerations?

Hi, Leslie, sometimes I look at pictures before I read the accompanying copy and, in today's case, I was immediately struck with an attack flamingo envy. "Wow, what great finds" I thought to myself. How sweet to then read that they were a gift from a dear friend of yours. I have to ask....does she just take a more conventionally colored pink one and do some creative painting and embellishing? or does she start totally from scratch? Anyway, they're adorable and go so perfectly with your great plant combos.

Can't wait to spend some time on your blog...based on the pictures and prose you shared here, I'm already a fan! In fact, I owe you a big thanks for starting my day off with a laugh with your romantic carrots.
You accomplished great things in your previous garden and because of the very effective learning by doing curve, your new garden should be amazing. I identified with your clump of clay except mine here is east TN is bright orange. Funny how the solution to both sandy soil and the clay stuff is adding compost, compost, compost!
We'll all be looking forward to future pictures from your new labor of love. Hope an abundance of daisies will join your already existing crop of fledgling delphiniums.

Pam, the picture of your daughter is beyond adorable...totally enchanting...I feel like I was transported back to an earlier time when the young ladies of "the manor" would cavort about their grounds in proper finery.
Anyway, your garden is truly lovely and all the more so because of the way it has gradually evolved.

Beautiful pictures, beautiful setting...yes, Michelle, you must at least treat yourself to a walkabout on this lovely property even if you can't fit in an overnight stay.

These pictures are perfect examples of why public gardens are so special and add so much to the world of gardening. Without a doubt, the "organic" lady and her companion pet are a sight to behold. Anyone have any idea what plant material she is draped in? Some kind of moss?

Cute, tractor1! I have an untidy stack of Fine Gardening magazines that sit on the floor of my equally private "library" just within reaching distance from the seat of honor. I find the articles endlessly interesting...they are usually timeless and I never throw any issue away.

Christmas in August...it doesn't get any more delightful...each picture is like unwrapping a wonderful surprise. I have started to dip my toe in garden ornamentation like this and these photos only inspire me further. Although,I know the challenge is to keep things in impeccable good taste as you have done
Terie, your eye for detail is delicious and enchanting. We are so fortunate that you share your garden with us.

Wow, Mike and Sheila,you have certainly created a wonderland in your 13 years of gardening. I am particularly fascinated by your waterfall and how it seems like just a step outside your home....talk about something that has 4 seasons of interest! It looks like you have some wonderfully large fish and I'll bet they are very responsive to human activity and all have names.

Mike and Sheila, you really have some lovely specimen size conifers...love the weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and the weeeping Norway Spruce(?) along your driveway. I can certainly understand why your area gives you such a sense of serenity and satisfaction. Although there is a lot of variety to what you have planted, there is, nevertheless, a sense of calm...I guess that must be because you have given your trees and shrubs enough room to fully develop...things are in balance. Looking forward to seeing tomorrow's edition!

My goodness, your artfully shaped yew is striking. How old is it and do you need to do a lot of grooming on it throughout the year and just some minor tweaking? Was it just a big old blob of yew when you first started your pruning effort on it?

Wow, this sure puts things in perspective for the rest of us. Obviously, the actual produce from these efforts is the main point of the endeavor but I'll bet that just to walk into the green house areas and see the greenery and smell the heavenly smell of living and growing plants is a great lift to the spirits.

Well,Michelle, your plants certainly seem in fine fettle (hmmm, are things ever in a bad "fettle"?)...had to be good for your spirits to see everything looking so healthy and robust! The grouping that includes the canna and coleus is gorgeous. And is the white flowering plant that is companion to the variegated striped grass a cleome? Whatever it is, it certainly has a delightful affect in combination with that particular grass. Welcome back and continue to get well.

A perfect picture for the first day of August....interesting how the height of summer lushness hints at the approaching of fall.

These pictures reminded me of why I should not forget how shades of white light up a garden. The tallish stand of Oriental lilies really makes an impact as it contrasts with its dark foliage neighbor and the same thing happens with the luminous daylilies against the smoke bush...all very nice.
Keep getting better, Michelle.

Michelle, so sorry you are suffering from one of those wretched and relentless summer colds...they are the very definition of misery.
The light blue on that one plant is amazing....so clear and true.

Looks like a fabulous garden with lots of interesting elements. Love the watering can arbor with its sense of playfulness.

I got my usual attack of northern climate Hosta envy seeing how happily Janet's guys are growing basking in full sun. Here in TN mine would be experiencing death throes not protected in mostly shade.
The repetition of white along the fence in the first picture has a very pleasing rhythm. What are the two larger bushes that seem to float like puffy clouds and show off so nicely against that luscious green grass?

Jane, your gracefully winding brick path is perfection...and so beautifully framed by lovingly tended plants. I, too, am impressed with the tasteful restraint your style of gardening exemplifies. In a way, your empty spaces are garden elements in themselves because they are purposeful and contribute mightily to the serenity your garden communicates. The lovely marlborough bench invites a restful sit to make time for peaceful contemplation.
I think we are all hopeful that you will share more pictures so we can see the other aspects of your garden which you mention.

Hi, all, thanks so much for all the positive reinforcement and for taking the time to notice little details. Your generous complements have made my day!
To those who wondered about the big wheeled "thingie" (that is my catch-all word when in doubt for a real name). I think I ordered it from a catalogue many years ago and it was charmingly referred to as a grape gathering cart. The wooden box that it originally came with had disintegrated a few years back so my dear husband raided his stockpile of saved boards and found one that was covered in lichens to build me a new box for this latest endeavor of mine. We did the same for the teal metal sleigh planted with the euphorbias.

tractor1, there's a cute story behind my long necked chicken...I had bought it as a gift for a friend who raises chickens but then I chickened out (ha, how could I resist that pun) in giving it to her because it was so silly looking. This is the first time it has made it off of a shelf in the garage after 3 years of banishment. Thanks for appreciating it.

kzoocookie, yes, I should probably put a full page ad in Fine Gardening for the garden knickknack sale of all time when I'm finally wheeled off my beloved property. I have some interesting treasures as well as a ridiculous number of smile evokers. It was sweet that you mentioned the flowers on the little pig.

I love gardens that invite and encourage wandering about and following pathways that lead to delightful destinations.Instead of just having some property (which is certainly wonderful in itself) , your clients now have "grounds" that are a feast for the eyes. They must be so pleased. To have a floating gazebo is the ultimate destination feature and just looking at all that soothing greenery leading to it, I feel like I can almost hear it whispering alluringly, "just come a little further and then sit and relax. Your troubles will disappear...trust me...just come a little further."

Oh, my, Laura, looking at all your green lushness and beautifully framed vignettes, I feel like I just got my ticket to paradise punched. Those fabulous clumps of Hakonechloa grasses are positively mesmerizing..I am breaking one of the 10 commandments as I lust for them in my heart!
Are any of your beautiful glass sculpture pieces done by the artist Barbara Sanderson?

To terieRL, I smiled reading your reference to suffering from what I call "summer hose attachment syndrome". I think many of us identify with this seasonal medical condition. I was joking with a friend the other day that I felt like I was in training for what should be a new Olympic event...Competitive Hose Dragging...I think my highly developed skills could make me a medal contender especially if they offered a senior division!

Sara, I am awestruck with how stunning and sublimely pleasing these groupings of plants are. Not to overly gush (oh, who am I kidding, yes, I am going to gush), you are the Michelangelo of conifer gardening. Each picture is a mini college course in placement, spacing and harmony of colors and textures. Sigh, those paths are meant for meandering...slowly taking in all the sensory saturating delights.
And, my oh my, that weeping blue atlas that frames your porch entry way is amazing. Please share how old it is and was that your vision for it from the very beginning?

Veneeta, you can now know that your gardening efforts have brought joy to people all over the world. I am particularly enchanted by the charming composition of elements in the bluish planter....very lovely.

Absolutely stunning,Jay....shouldn't be any controversy today!
One of the things that is most striking is how settled in and naturalized all the plant material looks already. The inclusion of artwork that has an aged patina is also very effective in eliminating that just created sense to this garden. I'm sure your clients had a lot of input and they should be totally thrilled with the wonderful collaboration that is the finished result. From an artistic point of view, the composition of the picture with the blue grass, antique-y looking pot and smidge of burgundy foliage is perfection.

Ellen,thanks for the info on the groundcover...now that I know what it is, I can recognize it as lamium but that sure wouldn't have been my first guess. I was thinking it looked like a speedwell called Waterberry Blue...pictures can be tricksters sometimes.
I really like the size of the weigela in its companion role to the baptisia. Do you do some strategic pruning to keep it lowish like that or is it a particular dwarf variety?

Ellen, these are some fantastic plant combos. You and Mother Nature are a winning team! If I had to pick my favorite...hmmm...maybe the weigela and baptisia although I would like to know what the low groundcover is in front of those two that completes the photo.
Must be nice to live in a climate where lupines thrive and can look like a series of happy exclamation points in the garden.
I really enjoyed this up close and personal look at some of your favorites.

Ellen, it must warm your heart to revisit the "before" pictures and see how you have transformed your property. Prior to all your gardening and landscaping efforts, you had nothing much to look out on in pleasure from all those beautiful porches that seem to surround your house. Now, it is one gracious vista after another. Everything is lovely!

Hi, Michelle, it's a rainy day here in east TN so I'm putting in more inside time than usual. Anyway, my point in popping back on the comment section is to say that I just revisited the Pinterst page you have put together and enjoyed myself immensely. It is better than ever...lots of great categories and wonderful pictures. Thanks for keeping it going. It's great to be reminded of favorite gardens or see ones that got posted before I started following GPOD.

Fascinating progression...yes... before, during and after pictures really tell a story. I'm not sure I would have been daring enough to take down the large spruces and start over so completely. You had a lot of foresight, Ellen, to put in such generous walking paths from the beginning so that your garden can be enjoyed from all angles. Can't wait to see tomorrow's installment!

A little PS to tractor1...your final comments from yesterday made me reflective about how different it was for young men just getting out of high school during those years of the draft. Some made a preemptive choice like you did so they still had a little control over there destiny. I smiled at your bemused acknowledgement of how your life is now filled with happily (I hope) tackling tasks you once tried to avoid! Most of us by a certain know that life is funny that way!

Irma, no need to apologize for your English...it is excellent and it was so thoughtful of you to address our questions individually and so thoroughly.

tractor1, hope you don't mind me saying but... what a great picture. I love seeing my husband's old pictures from when he served in Vietnam. He looked so ridiculously young in his army fatigues and gave off that "I've got my whole life ahead of me vibe" like you do in your photo.

I, like ncgardener, was also struck with how beautifully maintained everything was. It is almost hard to imagine how it would have looked in a neglected state.The grouping featuring the cordyline and pentas is particularly pleasing with all the tones working so well together.
Irma, did you add a lot of new plant material in the 2010 remodeling of the garden areas or mostly do a heroic clean-up of weeds and other unwelcome "guests"?

Kim and Bobbi, you are two remarkable ladies with a love for gardening that goes above and beyond. What a wonderful way to grow a friendship as well as a charming garden to share with the public. I'm so glad you included some before shots. The once almost bare area is now a delightful feast for the eyes and other senses as it beacons visitors to literally get off the well traveled path and enjoy a delightful diversion.
Great job on the arbor( I have a serious case of Mexican Flame vine envy)and making your stone pathway so inviting.Yes, you definitely have earned your sign!

Oh, GreenGrowler, your absence was noticed but I had no idea you were in the middle of such a terrifying situation. I'm so glad you were one of the fortunate ones but know that your heart aches for the devastation others in your area suffered. Although we regular visitors to GPOD are most always big fans of Mother Nature, we are also humbly aware that she is a formidable force. Just watching the tv video footage of those fiercely burning fires was definitely distressing. I can't imagine what is was like to experience the possibility of being in their path. The bravery and dedication of the fire fighters is awe inspiring. Take care.

Hi, Jay, thanks for being so forthcoming in describing the thinking process you go through in making your plant selections for such a large landscaping project. It has to give your clients a lot of confidence in your vision for the finished look since you are able to explain why you are making the choices you are. The finished result is very successful to me because the large impressive home is now softened with enough interesting plant material so that the eye has something more to absorb and react to than just all the hard materials of the house. The owners must be very pleased when they pull into their driveway and see that first impression of graciousness in and elegance in their landscaping.

What fun...talk about Christmas in July...clicking on a picture was like opening a wonderful present! I love the vibrancy of the red bench (note to self, for once and for all, get over my fear of bold colors in garden accent pieces). The blue atlas cedar "fence" is already intriguing and will be a heart stopper (ha, not literally...that would be self defeating) in a few years.
Jay, your garden is a treasure trove of inspiration and great ideas!

There is something magical and timeless about the combination of moss covered rocks, water cascading down and bountifully airy fern fronds gracing about. I can almost imagine a friendly dinosaur popping his head up in the distance. As Annedean said these are the perfect pictures to get lost in on a sweltering hot day.
Jay, you're obviously a master in your profession and I can't wait to enjoy tomorrow's installment!

Hmmm, being presented with all these beautifully put together pot compositions made me feel like I was in a lovely restaurant and the elegant dessert tray was brought to my table...and there sits one scrumptious looking work of art after another. If I were shopping at that nursery, it would be hard to resist not splurging and bringing one of those beauties home. There is no doubt that Shelley is an artist. And, Cherry, your pictures are great! I especially appreciated the times when you took not only the overall view but then zeroed in on a second shot so we could see the finer details. All very inspiring!

It has to be very gratifying to you, Cherry, to know that your beautification efforts inspired a friend to take on their own project. This is a very successful island bed with what looks like 4 season interest. It definitely commands attention and draws the eye to enjoy the pleasing plant selections.
I envy those of you who live further north who can have Silver Mound artimisia survive and thrive.It mugs out for me when it hits the wall of heat and humidity here in the Southeast.

Hi, cwheat000, Oakes Daylilies is in my neck of the woods and I love to make a visit there at least once a year. Their display gardens are just beautiful and each variety is usually presented in a generous clump so you can really tell what they are going to look like. I decided to make my visit this year towards the end of the bloom period so I can decide on a few late season bloomers to order come fall or spring. There are two other growers within driving range...Sunshine Hollow and Champion Daylilies. This time of year I come down with a serious case of daylily fever!

With a harvest like that, you sure can't argue with success! And, it sure seems like Cindi won the daylily lottery to get such particularly lovely blooms.

Love the effect the laddering of the plant stuffed pots gives along the stairs and railing of the front porch. It would certainly draw me up the walkway to get to that waterfall of interesting colors and textures. Yes, I certainly hope Linda allows another round of pictures to be shot and shared!

As much as I love plants (and I have a LOT of serious love for for plants!), my favorite picture was of two happy gardeners...I smiled right back when I clicked on that picture. Anyway, that looks like a delightful path to stroll down. Are those sprays of flowers from lavender that spill over? I like how the there is variety in height to keep the eye stimulated and encouraged to look about.
The composition of pots up the stairway is beautiful and welcoming.

Robert, your artwork is stunning...the landscape pieces are mysterious and intriguing and yet very harmonious with their garden setting. The picture with the entangled tree roots and moss reminds us that Mother Nature is the ultimate artist. I visited your website and have to confess that I am not familiar with the word 'fenulent' which you use in the title of your wrinkled half globe type objects. Is it a word of your own creation?
Forgive me for my banal word choice but your work in your other category Fractal Art is amazing.

These definitely evoke a smile of delight. They provide lots of textual interest and, in their subtle way, invite a closer look. I didn't realize the secret behind rooting succulents...certainly sounds easy peasy and I have no excuse not to give it a try. I recently stopped in a local nursery and they had a wonderful display of succulent crammed containers for sale. The fun part was that there was no duplication of container or arrangement. They ranged from a dainty teacup to a galvanized metal horse trough. Someone on the staff had a lot of fun shopping at yard sales and estate auctions and snapping up anything cheap that could have a drainage hole drilled in it and hold soil.

Cheryl, I agree with wittyone that the English cottage vibe is alive and well in your very charming garden. I absolutely adore your windows in the fence idea and your execution of it is perfection. You have a wonderful eye for delightful details that just pulls everything together so successfully.
Now I'm off to enjoy your blog.

There is nothing more alluring than sumptuous clumps of peonies beckoning us forward with their intoxicating and nostalgic fragrance. We all become children again on a visit to grandmother's house as we take a moment and breathe deeply.
You really have wonderful plant choices, Harriet. It's like the perfect neighborhood where everyone gets along and brings out the best in the ones on either side and across the street.

Betsy, what a remarkable achievement your garden represents. I would never have remotely guessed that you are dealing with space limitations since the pictures show one beautiful vignette after another. In fact, if it were April 1st, I would suspect Michelle of playing a trick on us! You definitely deserve the "where there's the will, there's a way" award of the year.
Do you happen to recall the name of the pink peony...it's very lovely. And while I'm in the question mode, what is the beautiful white flowering tree in the over head shot?
I find your commitment to the color blue in your choice of ornamentation to be very effective...it provides continuity and communicates serenity. You are really a dedicated and talented gardener.

Amy,your vegetable garden area is very impressive. It must be very satisfying to have everything so under control and organized. I have a friend who is attempting to create what you have already achieved to perfection and will make sure she sees these these pictures...she needs some encouragement and inspiration because it is a lot of work to do what you have done. You've even got the white picket fence she sees in her dreams.
Cute...your pooch coordinates beautifully with the oak leaf hydrangeas in their glorious bloom!

Hi, Alyson, I followed the link you provided and I was transported to a land of enchantment. It was truly a delightful read and, of course, the pictures you provided of your garden were wonderful. I, too, have a blue theme going on throughout a shaded area with pots, bird feeders and butterflies all of shades of a royal blue so I enjoyed Karen's descriptions of all your fun stuff with extra fervor. I plan on devoting some rainy day time reading through old posts on Karen's blog. Thanks for bringing her to our attention.

What a gloriously sumptuous Sum and Substance hosta...my eyes positively feasted on it. The picture in which it is prominently featured is a beautiful tableau as the different plants each have their season to be the star. I'm sure it is enchanting when the wisteria is in bloom.The tower of smooth stones sculpture is just perfect...it is serene yet intriguingly mysterious.
And let me add my voice to the chorus of "More pictures, please!" You activated our appetites when you made reference to "different garden rooms"...the plural!

Besides solid colored Big Blue liriope, variegated lirope would also be a nice choice since it is even more eye catching. It stays in clump fprm and just gets fuller each yeaq but doesn't spread in an invasive manner. There is also a pachysandra called Green Sheen which has amazingly glossy leaves and it fills in fast. It would drape over your wall a bit.

Wow, Stacy, when does the reservation hotline open up for calls.."book me, Dano" (ha, for Hawaii 5-0 fans). Your garden looks like such a fun place. Love the totally tropical vibe of everything...even the patio umbrella screams vacation!
I always envy gardeners who have such a clear vision and then carry it out to perfection. I'm a hodge podger myself but I certainly share the delight of spending those winter months mulling on different ideas.
Your final picture shows a radiantly happy person who is thriving in her element.Thanks for starting out my day with such a contagious smile.
ps I lived in Hopkinton for a while many years ago (suburb outside of Boston) and I would have freaked to see a coyote. That is fascinating that they are roaming about your area.

tractor1, thanks so much for providing the link to the Hamlet Gallery featuring Charles Smith. Somehow, that led me to getting on another website that was created by one of his sons, Beau Smith... who also does large frog sculptures. Anyway, seems like there is a complicated family story going on as Beau shares on his blog. So, I've just spent some interesting time reading about something and someone I knew nothing about until you pointed me in the right direction. Here's the son's website address...http://www.coppersculpturegarden.com/

Michelle, you did my old eyes a real favor with your photography when you provided close-ups of some of the more intriguing items. I had my nose almost pressed against the computer screen in the first pic because I wanted to see more detail on the light colored pot. Ha, ask and ye shall receive since the second photo showed it in all its fun glory and I was able to smile back at the gracious lady with her bountiful curls. The sphere was also a mystery object that drew my eye for closer inspection. Of course, I now have a crush on that handsome hunk of frog and would love to sit next to him and share in a cocktail.
This is a beautiful garden that well communicates the love and thoughtfulness that has been put into it by Margareta and her proud husband.

Hello, Garden Photo of the Day friends, I feel so touched by the warmth of your comments....group hug for all! Ironically, I've just come in from facing a chore of failure... I must be the only person on earth who has terrible looking Knockout roses. I cut them all back pretty severely and gave them a drink of a fertilizer/disease product and have hopes that a second flush of blooms will come my way. Anyway, it meant a lot to read such generously expressed compliments and I'll make sure my husband knows his efforts are well appreciated. Thank you all so much.
We moved around a good bit during much of his career so when we settled here in Friendsville for what would become retirement, we put down roots in a very literal way. When some women say they want a "rock" for Christmas, they mean a diamond...as you have seen from the pictures, I am happy as can be for a chunk of mountain stone! I have very much appreciated Mother Nature's helping hand...all the volunteer impatience and, come to think of it, many of the oakleaf hydrangeas are also unexpected but welcome guests. Some of them are growing between rock crevices where I would never have thought to plant them. I love the surprises of
gardening regardless of the size of the garden.

It's beautiful the way it cascades down the wall...like a deep mahogany waterfall touched with white froth. Often times, serendipity is a gardener's best friend when it comes to plant placement or combinations (ha, but then again, sometimes not as things clash and crowd with the passage of time).
Miyako, your patio rehab looks like a huge success and I'm sure it gives you much pleasure.

Thanks for passing along the name of the artist who did the bird gargler. I just went to his website and he certainly is bountifully blessed in imagination and creativity. Your relatives were very thoughtful to give you something so unique and interesting. I think I'll tuck his name away until closer to Christmas when my husband is wondering what the heck to get me. I'm always happy to receive a fun gardening surprise.

Well, Michelle, breathe a sigh of relief and hold your head high, your photos show you are NOT a case of the cobbler having no shoes...the garden picture editor has a beautiful and charming garden! I totally agree with Sylvestris on how well it works to have the shed as a focal point in your perennial border. I love its proportions and soft subdued colors (it's too classy to give off an authentic outhouse vibe). Please pass along kudos to your husband for his fine craftsmanship...it's such a blessing to have a talented partner in crime when it comes to garden hardscape projects.

Sally, the additional pictures now coming up on your website are such a treat. I watched the slide show several times in my attempt to absorb everything. You are truly a master when it comes to the wonderfully artful pruning of your smallish trees.The "Waterfall" cutleaf Japanese maple is a vision of heavenly perfection.I also really appreciated seeing your crape myrtle pruned to be so ethereal and airy.

This a garden of sublime enchantment. Everything is in such exquisite balance...this is where Mother Nature goes to spend her vacation because everything is so perfect... all she has to do is relax and enjoy!
Sally, I love your inclusion of the petite forms of hosta. I've never been quite sure how to add them to my garden but you have shown me how they make a wonderful transition from larger hosta down to a very low groundcover. Please share the name of the vibrant blue and purple flowered plant is on upper side of the patio wall.
Now I'm off to visit your blog...should be a treat!

Bonnie, I'll bet that your beautiful Dreamer is lost in thoughts of gardening and is conjuring up visions of what your next project should be! My husband sometimes finds me in a quiet thoughtful pose intently staring at an area and it's all about the gardening...what shall I do next to make things a little more pleasing.
You have many delightful spring favorites and they do such a good job of multiplying...like the hellebores, columbines, and euphorbias.

Marie, your garden seems to have a very serene and tranquil quality. I'm sure it's a wonderful backdrop for good conversation and convivial laughter.And, it effectively shows off your design skills to potential clients who want their own outdoor spaces to be elegant and tasteful.
Love those clumps of geranium maderense...gonna' have to go do a google search and see if they'd grow happily here in my southeast garden.

Very, very lovely, Beth, you have really accomplished a lot in such a short period of time (ha, proof I'm getting old that 2004 seems like just yesterday). Love your touches of whimsy..such personal selections always add so much personality to a garden. I can see you have a sense of playfulness and want your garden to evoke smiles of pleasure and surprise.
I definitely agree with Michelle...another round of pictures would be very much appreciated!

Wow, what a regally gorgeous Angel's Trumpet...it does look like a gift from the heavens. It was kind of Mother Nature to imbue such a beautiful flower with an intoxicating scent (which is not always the case). Reading your list of plants was fascinating since none are things I grow in my east TN garden.
What kind of lawn grass do you grow? It certainly looks as green and lush as the perfect swath of fescue or kentucky blue.

Tim, these pictures show your garden to be a beautiful tapestry of color and texture.I love how one plant eases into another ...it's like a sumptuous buffet of gardening delight! The picture of the rock surrounded by the sedum and wooly thyme is pure perfection.

For some reason, when I think of gardening in CT, what I see in these picture's of Carla's garden is exactly what comes to mind. I envision interesting rock walls with a sense of history, charming gates that beckon one to explore further, tidy picturesque fences and everything surrounded by beautiful flowers and bushes.
We need to see follow up pictures when the dahlias and cannas are in bloom although nothing could be prettier than this stunning spring display of the iris and peonies at their peak.

What an absolutely gorgeous and yummy centerpiece the hydrangea surrounded candles make...Martha Stewart take note!
Rebecca has some beautiful plant combinations going on and the pictures show she is as masterful in her sunny spot gardening as she is with her shade areas from the previous sharing.
What fun it must be for you, Cherry,to have this love for plants and gardening in common with your mom.

This is one of the most dramatically pleasing transformations of property I have ever seen! You certainly had a blank canvas to start with and have created a masterpiece. I'm sure you are forever tweaking and improving things (because that's what we gardeners do) but to this viewer's eyes, it is perfection.
And, I love the graceful sweeping curves of your driveway...it sets off your lush beds so beautifully.
I, too, am interested in how much soil/loam you added to get such a rewarding growing medium.

Bob, I would find it very satisfying to sit on your bench in the Zen garden and feast my eyes on all that beautiful color. And my mind would be filled with thoughts of reflection on the magnificence of nature so I think the "Zen" gods will give you a pass during Rhodie blooming time. You certainly have some stunning varieties and what a treat to have one bred by a friend.

What a wonderfully inspiring garden to feature on Memorial Day as we here in the States reflect on the specialness of the human spirit. Although, obviously, Marilyn is not a soldier who has died in service of her country, she has, nevertheless, fought a battle and been triumphant. Every flower planted and weed pulled is a testimonial to a strong will.
Marilyn, you and your husband Ian have created an oasis of beauty and visual delight. Your neighbors must never cease to be amazed. Have you started a front yard gardening trend up and down your street?

Lotta, your garden is the very definition of charming and lovely...so many idyllic spots. No wonder it is so beloved by you and family. You are obviously a very worthy owner of a garden that has proven to be timeless.

Judy, your pot compositions are beautiful...each one an individual work of art and all clustered together a masterpiece! I particularly like the one with the tall burgundy spiky plant ( a millet?) with the accompanying dark sweet potato vine.
What is probably most impressive of all is that you start most of your plants from seed...wow! Also, thanks for sharing your fertilizing routine. Speaking for myself, I always slack off on that part of things and frankly, by the middle of summer it shows. Maybe this year, I'll be a better pot parent. Hmmm, looking at that last sentence, I think I should swap out the word "pot" for container!

Judy, your birdhouse lined garden pathway is thoroughly delightful. You have a wonderful diversity of plant selections and everything seems so robust and healthy. I love how the birdhouses provide a unifying theme and inspire the eye to keep looking up and down and forward.
And, yes, those rows of iris are beautiful. What a treat it must be to attend your festival... I'd be there at the crack of dawn (or however early you open the "gates) to enjoy taking it all in!

Well, for me, such perfection is a treat to see even if it's only via pictures. Each click flooded my senses with delight and appreciation...for the beauty of nature and mankind's urge to enhance when possible. Some of those rhodie blooms look like exotic orchids.

I really like how naturally your clumps of red asiatic lilies are spread throughout your garden...they look like kisses left by Mother Nature. A special thanks for including the id on the lime green spiderwort. I was initially puzzling on it until I saw that you shared the info. It is very bright and eye catching. Your whole garden gives off a happy vibe!

What a fun, novel idea! Oh, sure, there might be some practical considerations that could make it have a downside in actual use but the idea and look of it is so darn appealing. I'm a sucker for creativity.

Bravo to Cindi and her husband for being such ingenious recyclers! We should always keep our eyes and minds open to the concept of reusing. The corn crib given a second life as a gazebo is a real delight and, I'm sure, always a fun topic of conversation to new visitors to the garden.

Tree peonies are almost decadently sumptuous...the blooms so large and lush! Yours are gorgeous. I love how you have mirrored the design and color scheme of your porch and your fencing...it is understated and yet striking.

There can never be enough visits to Pauline and Irvine's garden. The woodland area is truly a paradise and Mother Nature must feel very well rewarded with the partnership. That thick clump of Ostrich Fern is particularly beautiful to me although I love it all.

I'm with you, Cand...the combo of chartreuse and purple can't be beat.

Everything looks lush and bountiful. The bearded iris are majestic. What is the chartreusy leafed plant in the last picture? Is that the perennial geranium that GrnThum made reference to?

What a wonderfully informative tutorial you have given us, Dan with your very thorough plant identification info. I was not familiar with some of the plants that seem to thrive in your heat and dryness.
Love the Tasmanian tree fern. How large does it get?

This is truly a particularly lovely pond and your surrounding plantings are perfect. Talk about a setting to enjoy a "staycation"!
I couldn't help but notice the clarity of your water...seems like you must have done everything right to achieve the right balance. I'm sure many of us would like to know if you have a special filtration system or simply an especially good relationship with Mother Nature?

Yes, my immediate thought was to wonder if Cherry had ever entered (and WON) the FG container gardening contest. Her plant compositions within each pot are masterful and then the effect of the pots clustered notches up the impact significantly.

I think tractor1 nailed it! I, too, find them all totally captivating!

Goodness, if you put the same kind of effort into your teaching as these pictures show you have in your gardening,then there have been 30+ years of my fortunate young people! I am sure that is the case.
Your dahlia hedge is amazing and I, too, would delight in sitting in front of the fireplace and feasting my eyes on that rainbow of colors.

Wow, wow, double triple WOW...your meadow is spectacular! You and Mother Nature are a dynamic duo.

Kielian, your flowering almond bushes are particularly lovely as their enchanting pink blossoms catch the eye throughout your garden. Perhaps you feel towards them the way I do towards the redbud trees whose bloom period seem to put an exclamation point on the fact that spring has really arrived here in the east.

Ahh, the good life...it doesn't get any better!. I have a little plaque hanging outside my back door that says:
"My goal in life is to be the person my dog thinks I am"...
not a bad aspiring principle!

Looks like a wonderful piece of property for either energetic or lazy walkabouts. Love the fact that there are welcoming seating areas and interesting garden features to explore.

I am captivated by that amazingly large leafed plant on the edge of the pond. It is positively sumptuous! I hope Ann will share the name of it.

Kathy, my heart, too, felt a pang of empathy at the thought of you saying goodbye to this beautifully tended garden. However, you seem to have a good attitude and, just as our gardens have their seasons, so do our lives. I hope the new owner of your place has a generous attitude and lets you take memories galore...meaning lots of carefully dug out divisions. Happy gardening creating your new oasis.

Adorable...I would be immensely pleased if they were my idea and creation!

That look greats and opens the door to thinking about variations on the idea using colored glass or broken pottery.

I felt my morning brain cells ping with delight at seeing this one...very fun! And it does make me think about what I have laying around that could be given a second life.

I would like to visit the Mannis Gardens in Knoxville TN. I always like to visit open gardens in my area and this one sounds like it has some interesting features.

Oh,terieLR, my heart feels a jab of concern for your garden being hit with this onslaught of snow. You sound heroically chipper. I have my fingers crossed that damage will be minimal. It was close to this time last year that my part of TN got hit with brutal spring storms and incredibly damaging hail. My hosta ended up in tatters and it was just sad.
I especially like the watering can tuteur...what a fun, novel way to display a collection of anything.

Gorgeous garden. I love everything pictured.I experienced a serious pang of daylily lust at the one you featured in the closeup, Nina. Do you happen to recall its name? Besides being a wonderful color, it has such great substance and petal frilling.

You are so lucky to live near such a lovely public garden. I just visited their website and it seems like they have much to offer.

What a beautiful piece of land you own,Brooke. Those kinds of rolling vistas are priceless and sing a song that touches the soul. You must wake up every day energized by your partnership with Mother Nature. It's so gratifying to have a passion and when it's gardening, every little effort is so worthwhile. Enjoy your canvas.

GreenGrowler and Happily Gardening, thanks for the welcome back good wishes. I'm stuck on the sidelines for a while since I wasn't fortunate enough to have the nasty old gallbladder removed laparoscopically. However, on the plus side, I get to be a visitor to my own garden and just stroll about. I am NOT allowed to bend over and weed or move a hose. This is a very novel experience!

Eva, it is readily apparent that you are an artistic person who creates beauty in any medium. Your 'Fairy Spring' photo is a delightful composition and would be stunning as a framed wall poster.
Love all the distinct and intricate little groundcovers in the rock garden.

Sally, your garden is pure enchantment and looks like the wording on any invitation it issued would be, 'welcome and come get lost amongst my beauty'. I love the generous proportion of your patio. What a glorious vantage point that provides to soak in all those lovely curving bed lines.Your tapestry is a triumph!

Grrr, Michelle, I have been in the hospital all week and have missed one of the best stretches of east Tn gardening weather. I'm just so glad I was very industrious before this glitch hit me. Now I would like to be home and enjoy some walkabouts!. I'm supposed to have the at fault gallbladder removed this afternoon. Let's hope it happens (ha, crazy thing to wish for...yes, please cut out my organ).
Anyway, thanks for your good wishes.

That really is a wonderful story, Harriet and I'm so glad you wrote in more and shared some additional pictures. The fascinating thing is how when your garden is in bloom there really is no strong sense of its original rectangle footprint. The design you gave your pathways create the pleasing curves that always give a garden extra visual appeal. Your plants look supremely happy and seem to thrive on their great view.The difference between that concrete swimming pool as opposed swaying colorful plants against that stunning backdrop is so dramatic...guess which one I like best?!

John, your pictures were just what the doctor ordered to make me feel less punished by being in a hospital room on a beautiful spring morning. I'm a few hours away from gall bladder removal surgery.
Your plant combinations are all wonderful and work together beautifully. Love that last shot of the Russian Sage and Coneflower...they are definitely 2 plants that always play nice together.

Susan, your garden is enchanting. You obviously have a very successful recipe for making lemonade out of lemons. It's amazing how much color and vibrancy your beds have inspite of not having an abundance of full sun perennials.
And, oh, I know what you mean about the clean up chores associated with those large magnolias. Our property had 2 to start with when we moved here and I'd feel traitorous getting rid of them since they are healthy. But they do take a lot of work.

Harriet, I love your boldness in chucking the pool and turning the space into a colorful island of flowers. I, too, share your addiction to daylilies. The breeders are doing some amazing things in their hybridizing efforts. Sometimes when I look at the pictures of the latest (and most expensive), I almost can't believe they are even daylilies. I know some people would argue against messing around with Mother Nature like that but I find it fascinating that such cultivars are able to be created with human 'assistance'. Anyway, congrats to you on not slave to a swimming pool anymore and instead letting your daylilies call the shots!

It will be fun for all of us to see this garden area evolve so that means future pictures are a must! Looks like this project is very close to a corner of your house so it will be enjoyed from inside as well as out. I find that the bar is particularly high for areas I look out out as I do dishes or sip coffee since I see them even throughout the winter. My mind stays busy throughout the "off" season thinking about how I can tweak them (or do a major overhaul) to make them more to my liking.
Marcia, have you already selected which variety of climatisis that is going to be center stage growing up and through the tuteur?

I guess it is only fitting that the accommodations for dogs belonging to someone named Majestic would be 'palatial'. It cannot be denied that Bucky and Baily won the doggie lottery when they became part of your family, Elizabeth. I'm sure now you cannot imagine life without them!
Love the 'Chocolate Chip' ajuga and your pictures have inspired me to be on the lookout for some.
All of your stone work is beautiful. I'm a big fan of undulating curves and find the design hugely pleasing.

What a lovely, intimate spot. I'm sure it's very gratifying to have created your own personal oasis that is shared by fish, birds, other little water loving critters and, of course, invited friends. Nice job!

I also love the blue accent pieces seen in 2 of the pictures. They stand out and yet are calming and very much fit the soothing vibe of this woodland garden. I really appreciated the additional info Irvin shared on the Japanese maples.

Thanks, all, for indulging my obsession with creeping phlox and understanding why I am so drawn to it this time of year. Vojt, I do have many other perennials planted in layers behind and between the clumps of phlox so I don't feel punished when its bloom time is over. Then the show starts for daylilies, daisies, coneflowers, wonderful self seeding little zinnias, catamint, russian sage... well, there's always something! That's what keeps us all so interested and addicted to our gardening.

I got up this morning thinking. "Oh goodie, more pictures from Brenda's garden" and I was not disappointed! The soft pastels have a very serene appeal and without a doubt, the tulip, Angelique,is thoroughly enchanting.
To gottagarden...I visited Brenda's blog yesterday (really enjoyed it) and in one post, she had a picture of her drill and auger attachment. It looks very effective!
http://www.thegracefulgardener.com/?p=1218

I'm not sure I can find an adequate adjective in the dictionary to describe how beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, incredible, breathtaking (ok, you get the idea) Brenda's amazing (oops, there's another adj.) stone bridge is. And, oh, those bulbs...how rewarding a labor of love is when the results look like that. Last fall, Brenda inspired me to do more with adorable little pumpkins...this fall it will be PLANT MORE BULBS!

Brenda, I enjoyed your blog and think you provide a real service with your advocacy for safe public accessibility for all as well as your passion for gardening.It was very interesting to read why you have the preference for a non power chair and how you have coped with some of the challenges of your situation.

tractor1, when we first moved to our fairly extensive (at least to me) property situation 17 years ago, I got a golf cart and had a 4x4 bed put on it. It has been a god send and I totally identify with your rueful observation that distances get longer as we age...funny about that! I sure know what you mean about how arduous dragging a hose can be if it's over a longish distance...seems like it defies some law of physics or nature about how an inanimate object can get heavier all on its own.

Brenda, on every level your garden is beautiful and is a wonderful example of how nothing need be sacrificed to make pathways safe and friendly for all. Love your touches of garden ornamentation...the happy grinning gnome made me smile in return.
Your story resonated with me on a personal level because my dad was paralyzed from the waist down during my ages of 10 through 21. He stayed housebound and never ventured out. Your reality is so dramatically different and it says so much about the power of the human will. I never thought about it deeply before. Your story will be with me today as I garden. Thank you.

One test for a successful garden is how it fares through the succession of seasons and I give this lovely garden a strong A. And, even though there isn't a picture to show it, I'm sure it holds its appeal blanketed in snow also. There is a restful quality to this area since it is in such harmony with its more natural surroundings. I feel like I can actually hear the gentle and serene rustlings of those gorgeous grasses. I really love the design of the bench...it is very striking.

Sheila's plant compositions, either per individual container or in the groupings of containers, are thoroughly delightful. They are an inspiring reminder not to just think in terms of flowers when putting together the elements for a colorful grouping.

Hmmm, after looking at these pictures, I suddenly felt a hankering for a margarita and some Jimmy Buffet instead of my usual morning coffee and news...I wonder why? What a fun surprise it must be for folks when they see your palm oasis, Bill.
And I gotta' ask, what is pink in the final picture? My initial impression was that you were pulling a tease with a flock of (plastic) pink flamingos and I gave a giggle at your sense of playfulness. But then I looked more closely and couldn't figure out what I was seeing?

Couldn't let such beautiful pictures slip by without throwing in my 2 cents worth (OK since I'm always so wordy...maybe a nickle's worth). I love the contrast of the bountiful hydrangea blooms with the peek of the very lush tropical banana plant leaves...quite an intriguing pairing in the picture which includes the talented gardener herself. I'll bet those adorable stepping stones never fail to evoke a compliment and a smile.
GreenGrowler, how sweet of you to notice I am "off schedule".

Yay, this is just what I wanted/needed to see to further encourage my clematis fever... hmmm, coincidentally, which just happened to come on after seeing Terie's first clematis up the tree photo! I was inspired by Terie's efforts to look at my own areas with a fresh eye on where it would be fun to have some unexpected color heading skyward. Six clematis later (and with a hunger for more), I can't wait for a few years to pass to see how things will look. Thanks so much, Terie!
The blues are gorgeous and I love the double whammy of the one seen from inside and outside.

One of the things I so appreciate about the Picture of the Day feature is the chance to be exposed to what grows in other parts of the country. For some reason, I wasn't expecting to see daffodils and hyacinths in a Sacramento CA garden. James, do help Mother Nature along with some refrigerator time for your spring bulbs?
Your garden is gorgeous and your attention to detail really shows.

I would have a smile of satisfaction every time I came home and turned into my drive.That is a gloriously lush vista to be greeted by.
Looking at those wonderful large mophead hydrangea blooms gave me a trip down memory lane. I grew up on the shore in southern NJ and hydrangeas were definitely the most popular plant. There was always a big week long festival to celebrate them at the height of their blooming season and it was very much an honor for a local homeowner to make the list of "places of note". I think there was also a contest with several categories and the winners got lots of local newspaper coverage. Anyway, Melissa, it looks like you would be a "contenda"!

What a magical walk that must be when the wisteria is in glorious bloom and that heavenly fragrance fills the air!
And the plant in the second picture made me smile because it looks like one of those playful fiber optic light lamps.

Wow, let me add my voice to the chorus of "all that in only three years?!" Bob and Mary Ann must be whirling dervishes of productivity. I especially love the photo that includes the huge panicle of a white hydrangea...could I ask the named variety of that beauty?

Sincerest kudos to Benjamin for so beautifully showing the art of form and function in his approach to gardening. The plants all look very happy in their placement and really serve a purpose.The picture showing the cluster of monarch enjoying the bounty was perfection. GrnThum made me smile with the cute comment about the monarchs singing your garden's praises once their trek to Mexico was completed.

Without a doubt, the yumminess of that purple clematis and peach rose combination is the stuff of dreams.

I felt my blood pressure calm just looking at these beautiful water features...to walk among them must be sublime! I'm sure they provide a wonderful symphony of sounds that is enhanced by all the calls of birds and some croaks of frogs as exclamation points.

The older I get, the more I appreciate well constructed paths that allow me to walk without worry.Belinda's paths are very welcoming especially since there are so many beautiful plants on either side to stay busy looking at.

I, too, was admiring how thick and filled in the golden sedum groundcover is. It certainly likes its location and thumbs its nose at those challenging Kansas weather conditions Cynthia describes. I hope Cynthia treats us to another round of pictures that shows off her butterfly bushes in bloom.

What a wonderfully lush composition of flowers. I especially like the close up of the lavender swamp milkweed leaning down to the black eyed susan...like they are whispering secrets. Ha, maybe gossiping about which visiting butterfly they thought was prettiest!
And like Steepdrive, I, too was struck by the piece of driftwood and how much it reminded me of the arching neck of a heron.

Looks like it should be a wonderful opportunity to see some fabulous gardens. Note to self...mark calender for a getaway to western North Carolina over the weekend of June 23rd. That is a heavenly part of the country with such breathtaking views. I'm sure the local gardeners are inspired by the wondrous vistas created by Mother Nature and all the gardens will be a feast for the eyes.
Thanks for the heads up on this, Michelle.

Thank you, Terie, for being so prompt in providing info on that delectable clematis. I love what it does for that expanse of bare trunk. Now that I know it's not being held in that position by gardening magic or wishful thinking, I do see a faint hint of the metal trellis. After seeing your picture, I went out and prowled my yard looking for a tree candidate to try to duplicate that lovely affect.
And to Happily Gardening as well to you, Terie, I say a humble thank you for your kind words about my expressions of appreciation for the content of the daily photos. It's just such a treat to see all the different ways love of gardening gets put into practice. Wouldn't it be amazing if we could just instantaneously zap ourselves here, there and everywhere for an in person visit to all the fabulous gardens we get to see in these pictures?

Sigh, such enchantment...it doesn't get any better than these alluring shots of Terie's woodsy garden areas.
Question...how is that beautiful blue clematis secured to the tree trunk so it scrambles up so enthusiastically? Also, does Terie happen to recall the name of it?

It was so inspiring to see the before picture since the other five show how worthwhile your efforts were. What a satisfying and delightful view you have from your kitchen window. I love the idea of placing plant material in the birdbath and then having the bonus of rooted cuttings to turn into more plants to take cuttings to put into the birdbath and on and on...
The Jack Frost brunnera is gorgeous!

I'm so glad I clicked on the links provided to see other parts of the Tanner's garden. They certainly do have a wonderful talent for adding those perfect finishing touches. I confess to breaking one of the Ten Commandments when I saw the picture of the enchanting gate made of shovels and rakes...I seriously "coveted" it.

After seeing the previous photos as well as the ones featured today, I am forced to come to the conclusion that Jan is a Gardener Extraordinaire! Her beds are beautiful and impeccably maintained with interesting and harmonious plant combinations. I love her whimsical touches. The pop of color with the chartreuse chair is perfect.
The succulent filled birdcage from an earlier posting is amazing.

Usually I start my day with cereal and coffee...today some welling tears were added to the menu...what a heartwarming tribute to the bonds of family and gardening.
Linda, your mosaic stones are beautiful and especially so because they are made with such love.
Thank you for sharing the journey you are on.

That really is an especially beautiful water feature! I suspect that if I were a guest entering Bonnie's home and seeing that alluring back yard, it would be hard to remain indoors.
It is so wonderful when a property with "great bones" finds the perfect owner like Bonnie. I love the seating areas with the colorful chairs. I would never think to be so bold as to make them different colors but it's very charming...kind of like having Easter all year round.

Besides admiring Sarah's flower packed meadow garden, I got a serious case of soil envy after seeing the second picture down. Wow...talk about black gold...that is some beautiful dirt!
I garden in East TN where red clay reigns and compost additions are essential.
The fish is perfect since he is gazing out on a sea of flowers!

What beautiful sweeping grounds and views. It must be such a treat to get up each day and do a "walkabout" (wrong country but you know what I mean). I love how lush and colorful everything it.

What a mutually beneficial and successful partnership Michael and Gina have established. He does wonderful work and she has great instincts on how she wants things to look. Michael is so right about it being important to pay attention to a client's dislikes when it comes to plant material.
I enjoyed looking at all the garden areas and love the colorful and whimsical decorative touches. This definitely looks like a garden that is going to age well!

Without a doubt, those photos of the cycad are very cool. The opening fronds are beautiful and fascinating with their sculptural curling precision. Mother Nature never fails to impress in her artistry!
I, too, would be interested to know what US state has climate most similar to Rwanda.

Oh, phoo, not that is matters to anyone but I mistyped "fothergilla". I know we all hate when we make a mistake like that.

What an absolutely beautiful area Jan has created in her front entry area. I am enjoying my morning coffee right along with her as my eyes soak up that peaceful setting.
Everything about Jan's gardens communicates a very appealing serenity and yet, it certainly doesn't lack pops of color. Is that red leafed tree that is harmonizing so beautifully with the azaleas a Japanese maple? And, wow, I didn't know fotherfilla could get so large...that one (or clump?) behind the azaleas is stunning.

Barb does an amazing job of incorporating tropical plants into her landscaping. They add so much vibrant color and interest. Question for Barb if she has time to answer: "Do you overwinter your tropicals or go on a fun shopping spree each year?"
Her husband and I are on the same page for loving silly frog ornamentations...love the one taking a rest on the edge of the waterfall.

Yum, yum...am I looking at photos of a garden or scrumptious deserts?
The combination of that weeping butterfly bush and the climbing rose are stunning...just what every gardener dreams of achieving. Your garden is truly a multi season delight, Phillip!

Hmmm, I don't know if this is just a coincidence but Phillip's garden gives off an Italian vibe to me and then, I noticed the name of his town is Florence. So, Phillip, were you inspired by the beautiful gardens of Italy?
I admire his willingness to do such a bold thing as the wall, the large statuary, and the other artistic ornamentation. The generous plant material makes the inanimate objects look timeless and right at home.

Denise's garden is fascinating to me particularly because it seems so much larger than it is. She and her husband have done a masterful job of filling it with many interesting plants and garden features. I love the bench in blue especially complimented by the soft pink of the peonies. This might be a stupid question but has the bench aged to that color or was it helped along?

Although Terie admits to "severe pruning of the wild", the impression is, nevertheless, of a gardener who is getting along gangbusters with Mother Nature. Everything is absolutely stunning! In fact, as I look at these beautiful results, I wonder why I haven't been more ambitious with some of my own somewhat shady areas. I love the airy effect of the goat's beard...I'll bet it is particularly enchanting with a gentle breeze. This garden is perfection!

That was a real treat. Obviously, I loved the pictures but I also enjoyed seeing how you labeled the categories. Thanks so much, Michelle, for putting it together and bringing it to our attention. Do you have a time table in mind for updating it or will it be for that rare occasion when you have something called "free time"?

By not being overly dependent on annual flowers, Eve's planting choices look like they would continue to give their A game throughout the season (Of course, as long as they are watered). I really like the simplicity and blending of color choices. The more serene impression they impart fits in with the gentle calming energy of a shade garden.

What a stunning garden and certainly a testimonial for how colorful and interesting a shade garden can be. The stonework is to die for. I love the inclusion of the colorful large leafed tropical plant that was repeated at least twice in one of the pictures. Everything is perfection!

Yes, in Sarah's words, her trumpet vine certainly did "take off" and it looks like it has been a good soldier in completing its mission...giving her back deck lots of lush privacy. Also, is the beautiful waterfall of tiny white flowers cascading over the wooden fence a sweet autumn clematis? It's glorious!

I enjoyed reading Sarah's reasoning for her plant selections as much as I enjoyed looking at the finished product. She was totally successful in her goal of creating something welcoming and serene. My eyes would stay busy absorbing her landscaping as I walked up to her front door. I really like the massing of the silver artemesia...in fact, I am breaking a commandment by coveting it! One little suggestion...she should keep her eye open for a stunning tallish ornamental pot for that corner on her porch that complements the colors in her plantings.

Graceful lines and chock full of plants...what's not to love! Doesn't look like a weed could even have a thought about moving in.

What an amazing increase in productivity from year 1 to year 2! I would like Andrea to step back in and tell us how she prepared her planting holes...any special additions of compost? And does she do extra fertilizing? The apples from year 2 look large and luscious. Great project!

What a thoroughly delightful project. I can't believe it has been in place for such a short while. It looks timeless. From my point of view as someone who likes to do a little (admittedly, emphasis on the "little") hiking in my neighboring Great Smokey Mountains, Liz did a masterful job in making her stream look very natural.I'm especially impressed that she went to the trouble of adding the tumbles of small size pebbles and the artfully laid tree branch. Small details are often what add up to perfection.

Rebecca's display of hostas are so perfect that I feel like I'm looking at an enticing sale's page from one of the creme de la creme plant catalogs. They are really a feast for the eyes and soul.

Michelle, I wanted to come back on to wish you a happy birthday. I don't know what your big number is but every new decade for me has turned out to have happy surprises!

Also, I can't resist laughing with cwheat000... so funny! I guess if tractor1 plays the Simon Cowell role, that makes me Paula Abdul (hopefully, not as loopy sounding). I do try to see the positive in everybody's efforts because I know and appreciate how much love and passion usually goes in to things. All sorts of factors affect how our finished project matches our vision or the wondrous pictures in magazines and books. But, what the heck, I know we all understand that we do what we can with what we have and,hopefully, we have enjoyed the process.

I've really enjoyed Tim's series of photos. He has some great plants and has reawakened my desire for some of the more recent peony varieties.

Your very successful front yard transformation must have kept your neighborhood buzzing. Your hosta are so robust and healthy looking. What kind of soil/compost did you add after you had your rocks in place? Certainly looks like it had all the magic ingredients in it to make your plants very happy campers.

What a really nice project...gardeners are masters of making tasty lemonade out of lemons! I especially appreciated seeing the before and after pics. I would have thought that the circle of grass would have worked better than it did. Without a doubt, the gravel garden is much more pleasing and interesting.
Looking forward to seeing more of Tim's efforts in the next 2 days.

Goodness, these garden pictures make me feel like
I've stepped into a land of enchantment. Everything is absolutely beautiful and looks to be wonderfully maintained.
I love the plantings along the paver pathway...it's all so serene and welcoming.

Yes, those plant combos are outstanding. The proportions of the pathway to the plantings seems ideal. I felt like I was standing on one of the paver stones and soaking it all in.

That is an absolutely beautiful composition. Everything seems to bring out the best in its neighbor. The gentle delicacy of the Russian Sage adds to the perfection. I hope this grouping is in a spot that Jane sees multiple times a day.

I'm glad that Julia mentioned that she and Jorge do sit on occasion and literally "smell the roses" and gaze upon their beautiful backyard garden as well as the big city skyline. I have a serious case of vine envy...I'm thinking that is a variety of clematis. Am I correct? And, sigh, her hostas look glorious.
When it comes to suggestions, the first thing that came to mind is to, perhaps, not necessarily have the goal of eliminating all grass. I find pathways of lush lawn very attractive and soothing as they curve around flower beds.

It is quite a contrast from then (the earlier shared photos) to now although the happy grin on her big black dog is a constant. Her garden certainly has a whole different look covered by the blanket of snow...nice to have the comforting thought that everything is resting up and will come back to life in another couple of months.

Well, your Wee House is truly the the very definition of adorable. It seems to be tucked into the surrounding trees just perfectly...giving such a cozy feeling. Your grandchildren must love to visit and get to spend time in such an enchanting place. The stained glass window creates a magical spot of natural light. Congratulations on a beautiful piece of work.

What a treat...everything looks beautiful. Hopefully I won't hear loud guffaws of laughter as I voice this query..is New Zealand currently in the middle of it's summer season? I'm thinking yes but my lazy brain is not completely sure.

Uh, oh, an attack of evergreen envy just hit as I looked over this group of photos. I love their varied colors, shapes and textures and they offer year round interest. Add in the fabulous moss covered rocks and you have perfection.

Lola is certainly multi dimensional in her array of talents...her gardening is done with an artist's eye and her painting is done with a gardener's eye. Both are lovely.

Gosh, when you see the see the photos of the bare earth and excavation, you really get a truer sense of what a big project this was to tackle. Sincerest kudos to both husband and wife working together to give themselves what is now a very special spot. The picture of the frog tucked happily in the leaves is adorable.

Marcia sure has lots of plant diversity which has to be very compatible with her desire to live in harmony with Nature. Loved seeing just the hint of the super large leafed Hosta in one of the pictures...it looked glorious!

That sure looks like the good life! I'll bet a well earned dip in the pool feels delicious after putting in a few hours of gardening.

I'm so glad Kielian decided to share the winter pictures. They are truly mesmerizing and such a dramatic contrast to the other set of photos of the garden in colorful lushness. However, both times of year provide images that are a feast for the eyes.

Sincerest thanks to Fine Gardening and Michelle for this very enjoyable feature.Yes, I, too, look forward to starting my day with great gardening pics and a cup of coffee. I have been inspired and humbled by the efforts of others. I love how Jane has softened her expanse of asphalt with such an interesting collection of plants.

I want to be consistently conscientious about dividing perennials to take advantage of the bounty I already have growing. I have some repeat blooming bearded iris that I adore (nothing like seeing a favorite spring friend show up in Nov.) and I need to spread them around to more locations.

Very fun arbor...I couldn't tell from the accompanying copy whether or not the structure was composed of 2 live
plants??? Happy New Year to all my fellow gardeners!

I love when gardening ideas show a sense of humor. The "crocs" as planters are quite fun.

Besides enjoying the pictures immensely,I have learned a new word from Irvin's written commentary...I had never heard of a Machiai. They certainly picked a beautiful location for it as the outlooking views all communicate the wonderful serenity of nature.

Although Odile modestly admits to "trial and error" in her garden efforts, her pictures reveal the end results as delightfully successful. I love all the vibrant purple tones which go so beautifully with the chartreuse and white.

Love the bold color choice for the bridge and tea house accent trim. If Gary is anything like me, he is already envisioning his efforts a few years into the future, when his maples and other plant material have settled into their new home. Gardening is often as much about the anticipation of tomorrow as well as appreciating the reality of today.

What a fascinating garden...it definitely looks environmentally friendly in being plant appropriate for the local rainfall and yet, there is nothing sparse about it. Sara has certainly achieved her goal of providing plenty of visual interest.
Now I'm off to her blog!

Katy and Tom, you do beautiful work and your garden areas brim over with love for the activities of building and planting. The incredibly lush hosta bed looks like a display page in a White Flower Farm catalog. I'll bet your place is an inspiration for your neighborhood.

As I'm viewing these photos of Bonnie's, I realize I have a big smile on my face...I'm sharing the delight she must feel over a job so well done. It's so satisfying to be part of an ongoing property transformation. Of course, it goes without saying (ha, but I will anyway), that I love, love, love that she has bedecked her adorable potting shed in Christmas finery.

Gosh, what a pleasing combination of plants. The Blackie sweet potato vine looks like such a robust exotic...makes me want to try it in the ground next year instead of limiting it to a pot.

Goodness, every vantage point is perfection. I love the calming arrangement of smooth stones at the base of the lantern.

That is enchanting...my imagination wants to tuck in an imaginary elf.

Wow, what a glorious looking garden. The colors seem particularly vibrant and all the plants are so robust and strong. It is all a real feast for the eyes!

It is certainly true for me that my eyes are drawn to the inanimate elements in the garden during the winter as their form and shapes really stand out.
For the past several years, I have used a metal pan feeder with drainage holes that I have attached to a porch railing outside my kitchen table window. I purchased it at Lowes. I use a commercial Scotts Songbird/Colorful Bird Blend product and it attracts cardinals, chickadees, mockingbirds, etc. Sometimes I'll spread a piece of bread with peanut butter and lay it on the pan. That seems quite popular also. This feeder arrangement brings the birds quite close to my view and, fortunately, I don't have them flying into my windows so I don't feel guilty

Not only is Rebecca's mother a talented gardener but Rebecca herself is a gifted writer. Her commentary added a lot to my enjoyment of the pictures.

What a lovely series of pictures...each click on to the next photo was a delight. I can just imagine how pleasing it is to walk along the paths and soak in all that color.

I was deeply touched reading your story especially in view of being in the season of gratitude. You have shown inspiring
evidence of having that wonderful American spirit of
indomitable perseverance...making lemonade out of lemons.
Your new garden areas must give you so much satisfaction. Your front area looks like a living cornucopia...so lush and bountiful!

What a great way to add a little fun color and pizzazz to your garden. Is there a particular kind of adhesive that works
best?

Lots of visual interest. The rich tones of the Pinky Winky
(ha, that's a word twosome that's fun to type) are a great
accent for the begonias.

It really doesn't get any prettier, does it?! The feeling of serenity is palpable.
That clump of the graceful variegated grass (Hakonechloa macra Aureola ??) is truly glorious.

I appreciate the positive comments about my displays of muhly grass. FYI...I don't cut it back as early in the spring as I do my other ornamental grasses since it is marginally hardy for where I live. I think that helps it self insulate and also explains the reseeding. It seems happiest planted near hardscape like rocks and brick pavers where the micro climate is probably 7A.
Thanks to Wife_Mother_Gardener for making mention of the Rhone Street Gardens website. He has wonderful pictures and takes them in such a way as to really focus attention on foliage and colors. I have a Verbena rigida plant that has vibrantly purple blooms as opposed to the soft pink shown in the Rhone Street photo...I think either would look wonderful with the muhly grass. I need to keep that combo in mind for next season's tweakings.

Apologies for misspelling Karin's name.

Karen is right...some of us don't think of CA as having traditional fall color. I confess to being guilty of such an incorrect assumption. Karen's pictures show off all the beautiful warm autumn hues that anyone could wish for. Her yard has some particularly trees.

Oh, an attack of lotus blossom envy just hit me...I don't think there is an easy cure for such an affliction. There is something so majestic about that proud flower floating above the water.
Nancy's blog is a real treat...click on any month and there are wonderful flower pictures to enjoy as well as other interesting subjects.

I love how bold in size and yet subtle in placement this outside mirror is. It looks like it was definitely a two person job to get it safely hung. Marilyn and her very helpful friend should be quite pleased at their finished product. My main reservation about such a feature is the rude surprise I would get at unexpectedly catching a glimpse of myself in all my bedraggled gardening glory...ignorance is bliss!

I never mind if a featured garden has been professionally designed and installed. The final product is still the result of someone's creative aesthetic. There's always the possibility that some element will seem doable for us regular "folks" even if on a smaller scale. I have a generous sized garden and some hardscaped areas have been done by young, capable muscle. Those of us who garden in our somewhat senior years have to be selective in how we expend our physical resources.
Anyway, Michelle, don't be scared off from sharing whatever comes your way. Some rainy day, maybe I'll try to learn how to send pictures your way.

I really enjoyed following the link gottagarden provided and seeing more of Jan's work. It's a rainy day where I am so it was quite a treat to sit at my computer and take a lovely garden tour.

Looks like Eamonn's pond is the ultimate sushi buffet bar for the visiting heron. I know that's the food cycle of nature but the fish are so pretty and colorful, I would begrudge the sharing.

Oh, my goodness...so very, very beautiful. It look like Eamonn, along with Mother Nature, has created heaven on earth.
What are the flaming red tipped bushes behind the white bird?

Nora definitely has the gardener's survival instinct of making lemonade out of lemons. Her areas are very interesting and visually pleasing. Is the plant with what seems like pendulous purple flowers a wisteria?

What a stupendous display... a real feast for the eyes!

What a serene palette of glowing yellows and blues...very pretty.

Wow, talk about something being worth the effort...everything looks so lush and healthy . In fact, because your plant material is so robust, it actually gives off a tropical vibe which must make you feel right at home. I'm so glad you have outdoor seating now so you can enjoy looking at your beautiful hard work while relaxing.

Your lovely pictures show that you walk the walk as well as talk the talk when it comes to good gardening. I can see that texture is an important element in your plant compositions which really keeps things interesting even as the flowers are waning.

So, is commenter JuliaBW correct in identifying the white flowers as Montauk daisies? I love how they combine with the sedum. Are the Daisies in bloom throughout the summer or do they just start putting on a show in the fall?
I am super impressed with how complete Viktoria's garden looks in such a short time. Sure makes the rest of us realize that there is no excuse for not giving things a try!

No doubt about it, Brenda's garden has it ALL going on in the best possible way. It's the kind of garden that you could visit repeatedly and always delight in a new fun discovery.

Big WOW over Brenda's pics. Can't wait to see the next round of photos. Her garden aesthetic is a feast for the eyes. Love the stone work and, well, everything. I am going out today to buy some smallish pumpkins to tuck into container compositions...an adorable idea...thanks, Brenda!

I wouldn't have thought that a tropical like Canna could give off such a great autumn vibe but the colors in your 'King Humbert' are perfect for fall.

That's a beautiful composition of grasses. I have become particularly fond of the Miscanthus variety Adagio. It is large enough to make a statement but never gets so tall that it separates and flops over regardless of what it endures weatherwise. Plus, it does not have a tendency to reseed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tour of Leslie's garden areas...a true feast for the eyes! Her fuzzy wuzzy black Chow Chow is posed perfectly presenting a wonderful contrast with the chartreusy lady's mantle and complementing the dark leaves of the heuchera.

You are correct....pictures of home gardens do strike a special chord. I guess we all like to be inspired by the efforts of a "regular" person as opposed to a paid staff of professionals that care for public gardens. Today's picture is lovely and I'm delighted to read that it the Farias continue to be devoted gardeners in their "mature" years. Now that's INSPIRATION!

Love the charming moss accents but had to smile because my husband would be out there with the pressure washer tidying things up in the name of safety!

Chanticleer is one of those garden lover treasures that is beautiful and fascinating regardless of season. Because of
it's wonderful hardscapes, it is even a delight to visit
when much of its plant material is asleep.

Some clumps of Siberian iris would help bridge a color gap between daffodils and daylilies.

I live in east Tn and Russian Sage is the gift that keeps on giving as far as I am concerned. I cut it back in the spring and then, after it's first flush of flowering starts to wane (late July/early Aug.), I cut it back again to get a beautiful fall swath of blue. It spreads and reseeds so I am never without volunteers to start new patches. Also, in late fall, if I can cut a stem and just poke it into the ground or in a pot with potting soil and it roots all on it's own.

I suspect the straight line impression will lessen as your plants get larger and fill in to make a mass of wonderful color. I try to overcome the linear look by going with a drift approach Have one or two singles that extend into a rounding larger number and then taper off again. The Cherokee Sunset is a great selection. Enjoy!