I should say I went to a Garden Club Party (the fun group) at a gorgeous property that looks more like an arboretum than a backyard garden. It is over three acres, and I know we did not see more than half of the woodland garden. This property is owned by a real plantswoman who is a student of horticulture and has tended this expansive vista for almost forty years.
I dug plants here more than a month ago for a plant sale benefiting our local historical house, and today she opened her home for an end of the year festivity. We all signed up to make an appetizer or dessert and had our last meeting of the season on the patio taking in the breathtaking views. It has rained for the last few days, including during the morning and afternoon, but it seemed to have stopped just for our occasion.
Again, this is a property that requires a lot of work, daily work, until the snow falls. The deer had broken through the protective fence and had a feast on some of the decorative containers, and I'm complaining about rabbits!
This group is diverse, with different ages, backgrounds, small gardens, large gardens, no gardens anymore, and balcony gardens in the condo they have moved to as they aged. Real gardeners live on through others efforts!
Wasn't it Ricky Nelson who sang, "I Went To A Garden Party," except he meant Madison Square Garden, not our type of garden!
Sounds like a wonderful soiree' at a wonderful garden, Eileen.
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to check out our local garden club. I hear it's a nice group of people.
A beautiful setting! I like the stone pathway. I sure wish I had enough stone convenient to do that here!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I spent years wishing I could join a group, but with working full time, I never could. I always learn something new when I go to a meeting.
ReplyDeleteEileen
Dave, this is only one of several paths she put in over the years. The owner said the other evening that there was only a viburnum and some evergreens and big trees. The woodland garden didn't exist.
ReplyDeleteEileen
Dear Eileen, I thought that the woodland garden looked lovely. All those wonderful fresh greens, fresher probably on account of the recent rains, and an Alice in Wonderland experience to explore it all. I do enjoy hearing about this fun group. How, by the way, is the other, less fun club?
ReplyDeleteHi Edith,
ReplyDeleteI did write a post about the more serious group, not posted yet. They are also fun, but I had to differentiate between the two. So, the serious group means they do more commuunity service work. The name "fun" was give to the other group by the person who sponsored me. She called it a "fun group."
I am always concerned I will get them mixed up.
Eileen
It sounds like a great time and a wonderful garden! I actually am attending something similar tonight... good time spent with fellow gardeners and as I commented on another blog... gardening is a great equalizer among mankind... I know my gardening friends come from all walks of life but we can all enjoy one another's garden skills! Larry
ReplyDeleteWell that sounds like my kind of party. Good food, fellowship with other garden lovers and actual gardens. I am loving the garden paths. Beautiful. Have a good day. Becca
ReplyDeleteHi Eileen. What a lovely pathway through the shade garden. I wouldn't know what to do with that much garden to care for. Glad it did not rain on your party. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI do remember the song by Rick Nelson; your garden party sounds like much more fun! What a lovely woodland path; this would definitely take me a lifetime to create:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by and visiting me recently. I, too, am a retired teacher. I used to wonder what I would do with all my free time once I retired, but gardening has certainly filled up much of it.
The party sounds like fun. I feel for people with serious deer problems. Deer tend to be more a problem in my garden during the winter, but I still rely on copious amounts of repellent. And whether something is eaten by deer, rabbits, woodchucks or squirrels, eaten is eaten.
ReplyDeleteI love your container planting in the photo above. Great color balance. I think my chiropractor might have Clematis 'Duchess of Albany' blooming at his office. I was admiring the color and form yesterday. I think I need that one.
Mr. McGregors's Daughter, there is also another clematis which resembles Duchess of Albany, it is Princess Diana. I have already moved the Duchess once out of necessity and I may have to move it again - it gets so big!
ReplyDeleteEileen