I noticed that my garden didn't make the Fine Gardening edition of Great Gardens. For some reason they over looked Chez Cedar.
Today, my garden is perfect. Tomorrow I might be pulling my hair out and complaining...You know the litany: how fast the weeds grow, too much rain, not enough rain or the myriad other complaints I make to my gardening friends. Really more bonding experiences than complaints...
But at this moment the garden is lovely; the colors work together, the plant combinations are just right...we are at peak bloom. It's a good garden, maybe even great.
My great garden:
Has wonderful blooms (spring, summer, fall and late winter)
Lifts my spirits when I am down
Helps me burn off my chocolate calories
Rewards me for all the hard work
Doesn't complain if I don't pick up after myself
Entertains me when I am bored
Gives the neighbors something to talk about
Connects me with other people
Centers me when I am scattered
Is playful (hide and seek with my tools)
Encourages me to be creative
Shares its bounty with other living creatures
Now, it's your turn, what makes your garden a great garden?
Gail
Very cute post Gail and the pics looks like a very magnifcence spot.
ReplyDeleteAnything that grows for my brown/black thumb makes for a GREAT GARDEN!!!
jean,
ReplyDeleteI don't believe you have a brown thumb! After all you grew your girls.
Gail
Clever post, Gail, and so true. We should all remember what makes our gardens great---what they do for us. I think you covered all the bases for me. And by the way, your photo shows an absolutely gorgeous woodland garden. I love the wine-colored leaves with the yellow flowers, and the blue accent of the pot.
ReplyDeleteHi Gail, like Pam, you have done all the heavy lifting for us, what you said, ditto for me! The woodland shot is perfection, who said they couldn't do their garden justice with their photos? I especially like the chocolate line!
ReplyDeleteFrances
Pam,
ReplyDeleteI need reminding from time to time that the garden is all that it is...a pretty great place to spend some time...The burgundy is a Japanese Maple and the yellow is golden ragwort...I planted the maple last fall, what a happy accident.
Thanks Pam, that's high praise coming from you! Your photos rock!
Gail
Frances,
ReplyDeleteAgain high praise from another fantastic photographer...I feel a blush coming on;) I love working those calories off, in fact I just had some really lovely Vosges Calindia Bar..very good.
Thank you Francis...
Gail
Nancy, not at all...I don't know what to say...which is unusual! Later in the season when my garden feels brown and ragged and I am discouraged, I am going to take your lovely compliment out and read it over and over again. Thank you...
ReplyDeleteI have to admit it is a lovely shot, I especially like the copper on the pole.
Gail
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ReplyDeleteI like your list, Gail - you include the attributes of a great garden with no mention of "follows the latest fashion trends" or "is always perfectly groomed".
ReplyDeleteI agree with your other commenters - what wonderful composition in that photo at Chez Cedar!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Yours looks pretty great to me. Everything has come together perfectly in that photo. My great garden? It exists solely in my imagination and in that ever elusive place called "someday."
ReplyDeleteannie, we are having some Austin weather up here...hot, humid and not spring like at all! Thank goodness the trees are leafing out so the wildflowers can get some protection!
ReplyDeleteperfectly groomed and follow the trends won't be caught in my garden, it's too declasse for them;-}
Thank you, it has been a lovely spring here.
Gail
Gail, I agree this is a very clever post. I love the picture too!
ReplyDeletemmd,
ReplyDeleteFor sure it doesn't have pesky rabbits or squirrels!
Gail
Robin, thank you, it was really fun to write it and it's true. I think this is my favorite shot ever of that bed.
ReplyDeleteGail
It's a beautiful garden. I love the view in your photo today.
ReplyDeleteI think a perfect garden has something unusual everywhere you look. I like surprises, and novelty.
And it should be soothing and peaceful to spend time in.
My garden is a great garden because of the way I feel when I see it or am in it. No matter the weeds, the dividing, the whatever, I feel happy in it and I love it. It will never make Fine Gardening but that is ok with me.
ReplyDeleteSuper nice post Gail.
herself,
ReplyDeleteThose are good qualities..,novelty, surprise and peacefulness.
Tina,
That is a great garden! Can you imagine the maintenance to have a Fine Gardening garden!
Gail
Ha Gail, you are too funny! My garden is great because of working off those ice cream calories :-)
ReplyDeleteI love my garden, it's my place to think, smile, be happy, be a part of nature, be artistic, see the world through rose colored glasses and more. I especially love to share it with other people and to visit their gardens too.
I don't know why they didn't select your garden for their edition--it looks great to me! I also like the blue pot in the foreground; I love that shade of blue in the garden. What's great about my garden? I guess it's just the fact that it's all mine, and I can plant whatever I like.
ReplyDeleteGail,
ReplyDeleteYou covered all aspects I guess - it is a very good post defining what is gardening about :)
I liked best line with 'scattered myself'
Photo is georgeous!
My garden makes me feel happy when I feel down, and hopefully it may feed us a little this year
ReplyDeleteLOM
Melanie,
ReplyDeleteIce cream, yummy, java chip with chocolate...but I digress;) Those are great garden characteristics!
Gail
Rose,
ReplyDeleteThey are ours...we can be as creative as we want to be, without having to please other people. The blue pot was all blue and the paint peeled but I like it that way, too.
Anonymous,
Gardens don't judge or expect us to be happy...they just help us be happy! What have you planted?
Ewa,
I caught the garden looking her best, she had put on her favorite outfit and posed quietly for me. The camera loved her that morning.
Gail
That woodland scene looks good enough for any garden magazine to me.
ReplyDeleteBill, It's my front yard! Right below the screened porch we added to our house a few years ago...hope you have one, it is a good way to enjoy the garden when the mosquitoes arrive (yesterday)! Thanks, I think the garden is a great garden.
ReplyDeletegail
The picture is great Gail! Your garden is looking good. What makes my garden great? It's all me. Nothing good was here before so I can say I did it all myself! I hope that doesn't sound too egocentric. Hmm you're a therapist, I'd better be careful what I say I might get analyzed! ;)
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteI see a strong individual, very insightful with healthy ego strength! No way are you being egocentric...you made the garden; but I know what you mean, I sort of feel funny saying how much I like that photo!
Thanks, I am glad you liked it, too!
gail
Aw heck, who needs to be in a magazine when you can display your garden in all it's splendor for the world to see right here on your blog?
ReplyDeleteYes, we all need a constructive way to burn off our chocolate calories. At least I'm not feeling the need to scarf down several daily any more!
cinj,
ReplyDeleteI have been eating way too much chocolate lately...and not working near as hard at burning it off!
You're so right who needs all that attention! We get enough on our blogs!
gail
Wow, you said it all. I have nothing to add and thanks for defending our regular but perfect gardens.
ReplyDeletesusan,
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome...I think my garden is wonderful most of the time!
Gail
Oh, that picture of your garden is breathtaking! I love the colors and forms.
ReplyDeleteAnd great post! I know that one thing my garden has always done for me is give me something to look forward to. :)
What makes mine a great garden is those rare and wonderful moments when it all comes together and the vision I see before me matches the vision in my mind. It sounds like your picture captured such a moment for you and no wonder! That's an absolutely splendiferous view ... Fine Gardening's loss is our gain!
ReplyDeletelori,
ReplyDeleteThat is another great garden characteristic ...one that gives us something to look forward to...and thanks for the compliment!
Cindy,
Another great garden characteristic ...when a plan comes together. You said it better! Thank you, for adding that one, I usually credit luck rather than a plan when it comes together, but others can visualize and I can't! It's a great skill.
Gail