Thursday, June 30, 2011

A Collectors Garden Revisited

I was back at my brother's and sister-in-law's garden to document some of the changes that have been made since last year.  The pond is still beautiful in this 1930's home, not a plastic pre-formed pond but poured concrete.  Their children when young used to try to skate on this pond, must have been very tricky!


The Persicaria is in the background and being held up with a vintage headboard.

My sister-in-law is always out in front regarding what is going on in regard to garden art.  Take a look at some of the ideas that can be incorporated into the garden.

This old faucet is not going to spill into this cup.  Plates collected from the antique store with vintage cup attached.  Note the crystal as a drop of water under the spout.



A vintage crystal bowl with a vase and plate attached at the top, bird added to make an unusual birdbath.




Places to sit and then some places you can't sit!

A remembrance garden for Barb's mother, engraved stone and Addie Branch Smith Daylilies donated by me.

A couple of her mother's birdhouses


Another remembrance garden for my mother with her favorite saying on the fence.

The car is now part of its own garden.  These were placed throughout the downtown area where they lived and then auctioned off for charity.  Various communities have done this through the years with cows, penguins, snowmen, etc.  Large glass blocks are holding up the planters.

Everything you can think of using in a home is used in Barb's garden.

Everywhere I looked there was Autumn Joy Sedum like frames around the picture of the gardens.  Mine flops but Barb says hers do not and are like a sea of pink in the fall.




There is room in the back for the veggie garden.


The old wooden compost bins were dismantled and new resin ones put in their place.


We all have different ideas about how our gardens should look, but the most important thing is that the garden should be you!





42 comments:

Netty said...

Gorgeous! I love the crystal water drop - what an amazing touch. Her garden looks like one I could spend HOURS walking in!

Michele said...

Wow! Thanks for sharing-what beautiful gardens and it really gets the ideas spinning in my head. Love the old mailbox and the old pipe/water drop-amazingly creative. The rememberance gardens are a wonderful touch.

Balisha said...

I can just imagine a walk through this fun garden. Something at every turn to catch your eye. I especially like the bird bath. What a great idea. Thanks for the tour...Balisha

Larry said...

A very interesting and varied collection of plants and objets d'art! I always enjoy the visits via your posts! Larry

Alison said...

What creative use of art in the garden! Thanks for posting about it. I love those scrolly metal birds, also the birdbath. And the cute little car. So nice to have family things to remember people by.

Jenny said...

What a treasure! The first photo looks like an impressionist painting. Thanks for sharing. xo Jenny

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Netty,

I almost didn't notice that crystal drop until I enlarged the photo.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Michelle,

Even the rememberance gardens change each year.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Balisha,

I really like the birdbath also. I think I could even make one of these.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I know Larry, this really is art in the garden!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Alison,

The birds really stand out in the garden. THey glisten in the sun.

Eileen

Lona said...

She always has such fun things in her garden. The car is so sweet. I love the pond area. So many great pieces in it.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Jenny you're right kind of like a Monet.

Eileen

Sissy said...

What a fun couple this must be! The pond looks like it's been there forever, in such a natural setting. I love love love the persicaria and how they have featured it! Gardening surely does run well in your family!

Diana LaMarre said...

What an interesting garden. I really like the vintage crystal bowl with a vase/plate bird bath.

This would be such fun on a garden walk!

joey said...

Amazing, Eileen! So much to see ... so personal and wonderful. Thank you for sharing. Happy 4th :)

Joani said...

Thank you for sharing. How beautiful this garden is. I'm envious for all the green. Here in the southwest green is sometimes hard to come by. Have a great weekend.

Beth said...

Eileen, First I want to say that you have one of the best gardening blogs in existence in blogland! Consider that a huge compliment; I read MANY blogs!!! Thanks for sharing this garden. My favorite part is the pond and its' surroundings. It looks so natural and so beautiful. I like the cranes and the birdbath too, as well as the little car. What a unique and pretty garden!
Blessings, Beth

Beth said...

Eileen, How did the garden tour go?
~Beth

Karen said...

Eileen, I've been away for far too long...first off, love the garden and all the interesting art she has added to it. The crystal water drop is adorable.

I was reading your older posts and just wanted to tell you your container gardens are gorgeous! I need to work on my skills in this department, you have an award-winning way with them. And I'm sorry to hear you had some very scary, rough weather...I'm glad you didn't have major damage, but that tree, oh, my. That was definitely a tornado.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Lona,

The pond area faces the side street, so it is always an attraction as people pass by.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Sissy,

They always have a project going and usually do most of the work themselves.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Zoey,

We could make that birdbath couldn't we? I have suggested that her garden should be on a housewalk.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks JOey,

I am sure I could do more than one post on this garden, so much to see.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Joani,

We have had a lot of rain again this year. We can get pretty dry and hot and sometimes the plants and grass burns up.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Beth,

I do take that as a huge compliment! The garden stroll went great and I just explained that I had to cut back the persicaria because it was all broken in the storm. You know gardeners, they just looked at me and moved on to the next plant.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Karen,

My sister-in-law reads your blog and loves all the ideas with your unique metal containers.

Sometimes the old standbys are the best for containers. My theory is that if they look bad by July 1, I don't use that plant again. I have a couple in that category this year.

Eileen

The Sage Butterfly said...

What a very creative garden...so lovely! I agree...a garden should reflect its owner or its gardener. Thanks for sharing...Happy 4th!

Shirley @ The Gardening LIfe said...

There's a little motel at the side of the highway near a small town which has a "bed" in front. It is always planted up with colourful annuals. Your photo reminded me of it. Thanks for the visit to a charming and creative garden.

Behind My Picket Fence said...

Just surfing around and I found your blog - what an enjoyable visit I had. The gardens are so interesting it would be fun to spend an afternoon. I'm looking forward to looking back at more of your posts.

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Hi Eileen, Your bother and sister-in-law have a very unique and interesting garden. I like the birdbath and I must show my husband the compost bins. What a great design! I wouldn't mind copying the basic concept.
P.S. Your planters are looking just beautiful. You always do such a good job on them.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Sage Butterfly,

It is important that a garden just not be programmed by a design. There must be the personality of the owner to be interesting.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Shirley,

That's great that it reminds you of something that you have noticed before.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi BMPF,

Thanks for visiting and please drop by again.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Yes, Jennifer,

They are a creative couple! My brother bought the resin posts at a big box store and they had the lattice (wire mesh behind it), slats are also resin.

Eileen

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

How fun to have a tour of their garden. Their pond is beautiful, I remember you sharing it another time. I love the old faucet idea. I also really like the memorial gardens, very special!

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Eileen, what a great garden, and your pictures are great too! Cheerful, colorful, happy place! Two mothers' gardens are very special...

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Catherine,

Her garden is always changing so it is fun to check back to see what's new.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Tatyana,

Even the rememberance gardens change a little each year so it's always interesting.

Eileen

BernieH said...

It's such a treat visiting this garden. I'm so glad you pop in every now and then and share your photos with us. Love that crystal waterdrop coming out of the tap ... love the pond area ... love the Sedum frames ... love the birdbath. I wish I was this creative!

Betty819 said...

Amazing how much their pond area has filled in since last year. Do you help them decide what to plant or does your SIL have your creative talents too? Beautiful! I love all the garden junk..that she has worked in..it is unique..doesn't look like junk to me!

Please tell your brother and sil..that they have done a fabulous job on their gardens. I saw those yellow pots in last year's gardens and bought the yellow spray paint to paint my strawberry pot but still don't have it painted yet..but I used the bright sunflower yellow color on round, brick stepping stones in my garage flower bed which is 5 ft. wide. The man that put down my mulch for me last fall covered up the brick pavers, guess he was just throwing the mulch from the edge and didn't realize he was covering the stepping stones up. You can't miss the bright colors now..I'll do my own mulch in that bed!

Betty189 said...

Eileen, which is the Memorial Garden? Did I miss something in the photos?