Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Monday, March 9, 2009

What Was Needed


I have a garden filled with lovely flowers.

False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum) 


Spring's ephemerals~~
Cutleaf Toothwort 

and colorful bulbs~~
Crocus


Grape Hyacinth


Daffodil

Winter's perennials~~

Helleborus orientalus hybrid

Silvermoon Helleborus

Colorful flowers ~~
 that delight the senses
all summer long.


Sometimes, we seek help without knowing exactly what we want.  We just know we need change.  That's how it was for me.

The patio garden was desperately in need of help.   It needed to be organized, well,  really...made habitable.   I didn't know that what was needed, what I needed,  was a place to rest.  A place for  my senses to take a break  from the color wheel that is Clay and Limestone. 

What was needed was a place to sit

Still under construction

surrounded by native plants in a calm and peaceful space.

Sometimes, we get what's needed.

Gail

I am so glad you came by to see me today...My plan is to take a healthy walk through the neighborhood,  walk around the garden and then  spend some much  needed time  with you...I've missed you all.  All flowers were blooming this morning, except the summer perennials!  g

57 comments:

  1. But will you actually take the time to sit in it? How wonderfully spring-y your garden looks with all those bright, cheerful blooms.

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  2. Your flowers are lovely indeed, and I'm guessing that you are going to sit in that bench and relax and enjoy the beautiful garden you've created.

    I love the spring ephemerals; we should all take time to enjoy their fleeting existence. We'd be better off for it.

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  3. I loved watching your blooms, Gail. They're all so lovely and as always, I love your crocuses.

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  4. The flowers are lovely. I am really looking forward to getting more spring ephemerals here in my garden, but my budget might be all tapped out with all the plants I've been getting lately. The lawn looks very very nice.

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  5. Lovely, lovely photos, Gail. I’m hearing an awful lot about Hellebores these days and I don’t know a thing about them. Seems every where I turn I’m hearing that word, on tv, blogs and what have you. I think I need to get to studying up on them.--Randy

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  6. Beautiful Blooms Gail! That lawn and seating area will be a nice place to enjoy this summer. I should add more of the ephemerals to our gardens.

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  7. Hi Gail, it does look wonderful and restful. I think your home and surrounding gardens are very restful already, but now they are serene. The red bench looks perfect, as do the cedars. Can't wait for the big reveal!
    Frances

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  8. rest and sitting in peace is exactly what should be done. how nice things are looking! sunny skies to you today.

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  9. I love the red bench. I hope you have lots of time to use it and gaze upon your new landscape.

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  10. Gail,

    A wonderful post chock full of color! Oh, and yes, Randy has heard much about the helleborus, because I keep telling him we need some in our garden! LOL... Spring has sprung here as we saw all kinds of bees, ladybugs and lizards running amuck in "Our Eden" this weekend. Catch our post when you get a chance and you'll see just how busy we were ;0)

    --Jamie

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  11. You have Spring blooming all around you! I know you are excited to have a place to sit and enjoy it all(-:

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  12. Lovely blooms and great photograqphy! The garden bench will be wonderful, I have one as well just opposite the greenhouse. Very nice.

    xoxo Tyra

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  13. I love that red bench! I'm working on editing the front gardens to provide more resting areas for both eyes and bodies. A red bench might find its way to my corner of Katy, too!

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  14. It looks beautiful there and the new garden is so inviting. The red bench is great! Wish I were sitting there with you discussing all manner of flowers and foliage.

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  15. What lovely ephemerals, and that Golden Lotus Hellebore - gorgeous. Like Mr. McGregor's Daughter, I suspect you'll spend more time this summer looking at it rather than looking at the garden from it - maybe we should start a section called 'gardeners actually sitting on their furniture in their gardens (favourite beverage optional).

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  16. Just knowing that a beautiful place to sit is available may make one feel rested, Gail! I have a feeling this will be a very photographed red bench.

    Some of us are like songbirds rather than cats in the sun...we don't want to lounge for long, just need a safe spot to perch for a couple of minutes while we decide where to fly next.

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  17. Your garden is looking so pretty Gail. It is a couple of weeks,at least, ahead of mine. Seeing your pretties makes me anxious for ours to open. Such fun. I hope you get all you need and want in the garden with your remodel.

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  18. Gail ! Congratulations girl ! we share a very similar bench .. the one the Benchwarmers share ..but I will be taking that down to the garden patio soon ..I have to find a new something or other for them to sit outside the deck door on now .. Hey ! no fair with all those gorgeous flowers !! we have freezing rain and snow .. it is a mess out there and looking VERY sad .. can I come over to play ?? LOL

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  19. My blogging Friends,

    I am so glad you like the bench. If anyone is interested in acquiring one...World Market is where I found it! What a fascinating store...they also stock my favorite chocolate...hmm, I think I need a piece right now!

    Gail

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  20. I love your red bench. Resting and reflecting is needed by all. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

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  21. Oh my goodness Gail! What a transformation from progmess on Friday to today's shot of your patio garden! I love the meandering curves of the beds.

    I'm looking forward to seeing the completed (is there such a thing?)project.

    I hope you'll enjoy many peaceful moments on your new red bench, getting what's needed!

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  22. Dear Gail.....you have some beautiful spring blooms.....the muscari are so beautiful, aren't they? An all time favourite with me...
    I do hope that you will use your new seat well, give yourself some time for reflection.....a peaceful moment here and there.....

    It sounds delightful.....will you put lavender, and herbs in this space? A healing garden is good for the soul as well as the body......

    Lovely post as always Gail....

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  23. Gail, I suspect you're going to be happy to have that nice expanse of green grass. It's a calming presence among the rest of the gardens. Looks good over there!! :-)

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  24. Gail,
    I always think of the John Denver song that goes something like... someplace cool, green and shady.

    I have been playing blog hooky to be outside!

    Cheers,
    Cameron

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  25. Wow, your Toothwort is blooming already? I'll have to check to see if mine has any buds yet.

    Lovely post Gail. Sometimes a neutral green space is exactly what's needed.

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  26. Are you sure you need only one place? I have a chair in the shade, a chair in the sun (planned), a hammock, and a bird-watching chair. Well, it's a start. ;-> Enjoy!

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  27. Gail, how wonderful! Look at that wonderful sweep of lawn -- and that red bench! Oh my, this is going to be amazing. How exciting!

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  28. Oh, Gail, you are exactly right... the bench is perfectly what was needed. Just the sight of a bench suggest restfulness. It is inviting, too. And might I say, my favorite color~ red... makes quite a statement near that green, cool grass. Love the wall of cypress, too. It is all coming together so nicely... looking forward to the next stage.

    (BTW- our rains come by way of summer thunderstorms and don't start until about mid June/end of June- until then we will be VERY dry typically) Hope you get more while it is your rainy season... you will need to store up for your summer I suspect.
    Meems @ Hoe and Shovel

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  29. You have some great spring colors Gail. The bench looks like a perfect spot to sit and enjoy everything while the birds sing from above...

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  30. Hi Gail,
    I'm trying to dig myself out from under the pile of work crushing me and your fantastic blooms helped me claw my way to the top! We've gone from snow covered to mud bound of late, BUT we do have several clumps of Snowdrops that have just started blooming! Now if the crocus would just hurry up and start popping, I'd have plenty to be shooting out in the garden!

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  31. This is coming along nicely Gail. I'm sure you are so pleased. I don't think you can ever have too many places to sit in a garden. I don't know if I'd need to take a break from all your beautiful color tho?? Maybe rather take a seat to enjoy it? Does that make sense?

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  32. It's coming right along Gail! How much will you really sit down?

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  33. Darla,

    Apparently not much at all...I removed the bench! Once we put up the bird houses the bench was just too small and delicate...it looks great on the patio!

    Gail

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  34. kathleen,

    Yes I do know what you mean...and I love the color in the garden..and this spring it's going to be perfect sitting there looking at PPPP! How are you?

    gail

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  35. IVG,
    I hope you posted those Snowdrops! I will by by to see them this morning! You need a day like we are scheduled to get...record breaking warmth to dry out the mud! I am sitting here with the front door opened...that is where the screened porch is located listening to a squirrel arguing with a chipmunk!

    I am glad you stopped by!

    gail

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  36. Skeeter,

    Hi! How are you doing? We are just a bit behind you in color! Aren't the azaleas gearing up to put on their display? I wish we could grow them but we haven't the acid soil a Georgia garden is blessed with...must be the pine forests...I saw my first buttterfly...have they been spotted in your garden?
    gail

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  37. MMD,

    I do sit...maybe too much! But now I will sit and think...I can lie down and look at the sky...that's what grass is good for! Is yours clear of snow?

    gail

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  38. Hi Carol,

    I love the spring ephemerals, too...here today and gone just as quickly they are a joy to behold....I hope to get some time sitting but I moved the red bench to the patio!

    gail

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  39. Chandramouli,

    They are the sweetest little blooms and they never last as long as we want them to...can you grow them?

    gail

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  40. Tina,

    So, do you think you or Dave are more shocked that I put in lawn?

    gail

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  41. Randy,

    I think hellebores would be thrilled to live in your beautiful gardens! They do bring a spot of green to the winter garden...and then the flowers are very nice.
    Glad you like the design...it is coming along very nicely...I was glad to see them arrive and I will be glad when they leave!

    Gail

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  42. What a lovely quiet place to sit & contemplate. It all looks so calming.
    Love the bench & flowers.

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  43. Dave,

    I just asked Tina if you or she were more surprised (shocked might be the better word) that I added grass?

    gail

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  44. Frances,

    All shall be revealed soon! Thanks for all your wonderful support...you are the best of friends to this gardener.

    gail

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  45. Hi Lola,

    Thank you! Btw, I sent the video to my sister....she so needed a pick me up!

    gail

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  46. Marmee,

    Hi. Tt's coming along nicely and so is spring! How is the bloom in your garden? ...I moved the bench to the patio...Now I can sit there and stare at the PPPP when it blooms!

    gail

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  47. And that's the perfect spot for the bench! It is in one corner where you can see everything. When it's finished, it's going to be lovely, I just know it. You've already got such great stuff blooming! I know it's coming our way!

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  48. I love our native spring emphemerals, but the early spring bulbs are so wonderful to see, too. I like to think of them flowering in the mountains of Turkey and Greece! Crocuses, Spanish bluebells, and Spring Snowflakes are some of my favorites.

    Your red bench is great!

    Best,
    Lisa

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  49. I have a lovely bench but never seem to find the time to sit in it...maybe this summer! Kim

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  50. Just a spot to sit a bit...a big part of my garden "design." More like happenstance for me. But I so enjoy sitting and staring about, listening to the birds and water surrounding me.
    Brenda

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  51. The red bench looks perfect in that location and is so inviting. It's good to remember to take the time to enjoy what is here for this moment. I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday, Gail.

    Beckie and I put aside other obligations and took the time to go to Chicago yesterday for the Flower and Garden Show. We had a wonderful time, and it was just the rejuvenation both of us needed.

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  52. Hi Gail, ephemerals, isn't that a lovely name? And they are, so delicate and fleeting.

    I love your photos.
    Marnie

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  53. "If you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need." Eh yep! I love the cutleaf toothwort, by the way. Am looking forward to seeing the native plants around your bench! Don't forget to sit in it once in a while and relax.

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  54. Yep, butterflies, bees and azaleas showing up here...

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  55. Ok, back up and show it all. Love the bench. I planted a whole a whole bunch of rudbekia. Gail, what happened to your computer? I missed that? Didn't you have a Mac? You got me worried.

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  56. Hi Gail,
    Your blooms are beautiful, and I like your yard. I hope the area turns out how you like it.

    I hope you get your computer problems resolved and are able to salvage your photographs. My husband lost thousands of mine, not just gardening ones, when he transferred stuff from one computer to another. I am so disappointed at the loss. I back things up now.

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  57. Can't wait to see the results of the new patio garden. Hope you get lots of time to enjoy it this season between gardening tasks. :) Your spring bloomers are a nice burst of color for me on a rainy day!

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