Thank you for stopping in for a little stroll through the garden. It has taken me two weeks to edit all these photos (there are oodles here today), so that I could invite you in for a proper virtual garden visit…
Gardening and painting are really my two loves. My garden is a bit shabby (as in literally shabby) cottage, but I do love it so. Especially since a green garden in the desert is not very common…
So, here is a proper garden post, and a little tour, with more photos than you bargained for 😉
Sometimes, I wander around my garden and feel like, I am getting to enjoy some of the hard work of the little old lady that lived her about 20 years ago (although Mister did a ton, and added a corridor of trees and shrubs years ago). She planted the coral, blood red and pink frosting roses. Mister Lovee said she was mean and rotten, and made everyone miserable on our sleepy street.
But, I like to think it was because, she could only communicate with the roses…
Mister Lovee says that the old lady's husband was a quiet man. He was more than shy and silent, and quite curiously introverted. He built all the canning facilities that were here (as well as the greenhouse that is almost gone), and all the cabinets and closets in those rooms. He did such a good job, you practically have to blow up the shelves to get them out of their sockets.
He worked quietly and meticulously.
I even heard a fairy whisper in my ear, that it was he that tended to the roses all those years ago…
I wonder if he saw all the magical things I see around here too?
So much goodness lives here. I am so glad my path wound me around, to this place…
With its, lucky spring-time abundance.
And, blessed abundance.
And even a hearty dose of, pinch me, abundance…
As spring faded into more summer weather, trees started to gather leaves…
Under billowing clouds, I pruned roses every morning for a month at 5 a.m. I thought that rose season for 2010 was complete. But, now I see that the rose bushes are going to gift me another wave of roses.
Sigh…
This is too good to be true.
I sure hope I deserve all that rose love 😉
Anyhow, let's continue our stroll through the front garden…
And over to my hidden garden…
The front garden and this garden are separated by giant oleander bushes. This is my enchanted beloved little garden right outside my office/playroom door, which leads to my gallery on the right…
I have 8 garden areas, filled with sprouting goodness, that I planted this year. I will show you a few snippets of them, but not all, for fear of boring you silly ;)
(now you know where I have been spending all my time lately)
In this little hidden garden you will find~
Furry Flowers…
Butterflies…
Love. In petals and fur…
Huge growing red velvet sunflowers. You can tell they will be red velvet from the dark veins…
The only sad news is that, I am losing huge chunks of my garden, including life size sunflowers, to gophers. They are attacking with a crazy force. I lost a 6 foot garden length of sunflowers, that were just sucked into the ground by gophers over the course of one afternoon.
Mister says we have about 8 gopher families living in my moist garden soil, since everywhere else is dry, and therefore too hard to dig in. He has lost huge trees and healthy climbing vines to gophers eating roots. But in my case, they are just sucking my garden down into oblivion. Or, into their bellies. One or the other…
They cause our concrete slabs to cave in due to underground tunnels, and they cause me lots of grief from time to time.
I know people say, embrace them, don't worry about them. All I can say is, it is easier said than done. Unless they are harassing your garden, they seem cute and adorable, don't they?
I have been planting almost everything in chicken wire and caging others. Who knows what will happen. At least I got this far. I actually, had to replant most of my garden the first time around, 3 months ago, as I lost most of my seedlings to critters.
Luckily, my worst downfall and my most valuable trait, saved this year's garden with sheer-
Foolish Determination.
Oh, but the spectacular news is that, these little guys went from this…
To this… (8 ft in the background already)
Oh and, this giant dwarf sunflower below…
Gets huger every single afternoon, as my skin gets toastier.
I just love this time of the year…
I love planting from seed. It is the most miraculous feeling. Seeing a tiny seedling turn into a life size sunflower. 90% of my garden was grown from seed. I have worked tirelessly on it, and I am gob-smacked at the results. It has taken me 10 years to see results like this in the country.
In previous years, my city house garden was my greatest joy. So, I have brought most of my potted plants from there to here. And many have been put in the ground here.
I am also trying to grow roses and ivy from cuttings (I followed all the rules). The ivy is coming along. The rose cuttings are still alive in the soil, after two weeks. Time will tell…
Oh, I veered majorly, what a surprise 😉
I was telling you about my hidden garden…
And how you will find things growing in there, like Passion Fruit vines (which have already gifted us ripe fruit)…
And, Alice Dupont Mandevilla…
Oh, all sorts of precious little flowers fill the space (actually the one below is pretty big).
Cosmos everywhere…
Tender little creatures…
There is a carnation patch in the main front yard garden that I love.
Even the cacti give precious flowers…
Oh and, don't you just love Foxglove and Delphinium? I am enjoying some cut flowers from the garden, inside…
They are actually growing in a little garden I planted under a big mesquite tree, just behind my gypsy wagon…
One of the moments I have been waiting for the longest, is starting to unfold. It's the blooming of the wildflower seeds I planted months ago. Slow, but worth it.
I am collecting all the seeds I can from dried blooms, for next year's planting spree…
I just adore dried herbs, don't you?
I planted 3 small lawns from seed, and they all grew. I tested two kinds of grass seeds, and found it all quite interesting. I had a little grass seed left over, so I made Mister his own lawn love path…
We waited a couple of weeks…
And then, like magic in the desert, there was grass (with a lot of love & water that is, although I believe in water conservation, so our indoor use water, like the washing machine, all filters into the garden). Mister's little lawn love path looks like this, and the pups love it.
Oh, oh oh, but the best part. I saw lady bugs for the first time since childhood. There are a couple huge ones in my super tall flowering parsley.
Aren't lady bugs just awesome?
I heart ladybugs, a lot.
You will see more of another secret garden soon, where the flower below lives. Soon like, maybe when there is a wild party, or somethin'…
Below is (to me) one of the most exciting areas in my garden. This space houses some of my pumpkin and gourd vines (there are others in other places). Oh and, there is some Nasturtium growing that I planted from seed as well. It's the lily pad looking plant (I am eager for it to bloom)…
I have pumpkins growing on both sides of the front garden.
Mister says that if I grow one pumpkin (if, being the operative word) -
At the end of the season, it will be the 500 dollar pumpkin, due to time invested, water usage (which I am being rather frugal about anyways) and energy. One 500 dollar pumpkin is all he is predicting. Umm, very funny…
I sure hope he isn't right ;) I have everything ready to hand pollinate as soon as some girl flowers show their faces.
Oh and, my snail vine is blooming. I LOVE snail flowers, so unusual…
Notice how many times I have said "oh, and" – I should be fined for that 😉
I have always grown huge hibiscus plants at the city house. So, I had to have one here…
But beware, for when you are gardening, you might get attacked by that pure wonderful Matty love I have told you about…
He is soooooo sweet when he is sweet.
And, I feel so over-joyed that he loves me so much…
Don't worry, he doesn't bite down on me hard at all, he is just playing…
He is a sweety love muffin.
And maybe, just maybe one day, he might consider liking someone other than me and his human daddy.
He is getting socialized. He went on a long outing today with me and Baby, in the car, and we made some visits to Granny, Grand Pappy and Uncle Adam. He is getting better socially. Slowly, but surely…
(I hope)
Little rascal!
And, as a last little tid-bit, I planted my first tree at the country house. There are lots of trees here already, but there was a space in my hidden garden, that really was screaming for a tree. So, I did a ton of research, and talked to an awesome woman at a nursery, and I finally settled on a Live Oak tree…
It has been in the ground about a week or so. And guess what?
A yellow belly (bellied) finch already moved in.
Swoooooon…
So, there you have it. 3 blog posts in one. The longest blog post ever, and a little stroll through my garden…
I hope you enjoyed it a little and that it didn't bore you beyond silly. Although, silly is good. Isn't it?
See you sooner than soon!
Wow that is soooo cool! Beautiful, beautiful … Thank you for this treat!
Pure Bliss!!!! <3
I love your pictures!
I live in the high desert of CA and can appreciate the work it takes to create such a garden. I love gardening and plan to do more, since I’m retiring this month.
How do you keep your roses looking so healthy. Any secrets?
I would love to see more wide view photos to get more of a perspective
as to your garden design. Keep the pictures coming!
~elaine~
Silly is great! I really enjoyed the stroll through your beautiful garden this morning and my only regret is that I can’t bury my face in those roses.
My silly thought was that many years from now, someone will be thankful for all the plants and tress you planted and think of you…
wind and rain…wind and rain is my reality today so thankyou soo much for the garden tour. I have such a soft spot for Cosmos and Cornflowers, I love seeing someone so far away in a different world growing the same things.
My father used to eat Nasturtian leaves in his sandwiches when he was a little boy, that does not mean it is nice! bleehh
thankyou Vanessa for bringing the sunshine, I could practically smell the roses.
xxx
sheree
yay for grass
Well, I feel like Sally in Dick and Jane when she says “Oh! Oh! Oh!” I like it when you say “Oh”… about your beautiful, awesome, stupendous, loverly, gardens. Absolutely gorgeous photos! Gophers are not fun…my brother and his wife in Virgina have fought the big ones for years trying to have flower and vegetables gardens. I’ve heard of some ‘hillbilly’ remedies for getting rid of the critters, but those escape my mind at the moment. To have such lush gardens in your dry area is quite remarkable…many cheers to your well earned hard work. And I know your love for flowers will spill over into your paintings… I can hardly wait!
Have a lovely weekend!
XOXO
Miss Teresa
Absolutely lovely! Thank you for taking me on that stroll! To keep my veggies from gophers I garden in raised beds. They don’t have to be a regular shape or size… but they do need welded wire under them to keep those hungry gophers out. Blessings to you and your garden!
Jill
Absolutely beautiful. It’s almost like an English country garden; I can’t believe you’ve managed to do this in the desert!
My goodness Vanessa your garden is INCREDIBLE! I am having some serious flower envy right now. 🙂
I enjoyed the vicarious garden love! It’s been raining too much here to spend any time in the garden.
So , is Tucson that much different than Phoenix? You can actually grow some very lovely flowers? I have had MUCH success with white pumpkins. I harvested 7 big ones last year. I also had some enormous sunflowers. Of course we also have desert plants like sage, rosemary and desert honeysuckle; and trees like palo verde, citrus and mesquite. But you have gorgeous flowering flowers of all kinds of brilliant colors and dreaminess (sigh). I also wonder if you ever sleep. How do you find time to do all that you do? I can only dream of days spent in gardens and working on creative projects all day.
magic!!!!!!!!!!!!you live in a fairytale!!!!
not bored yet…i want more…cant wait to see where the tea party will be.
that puppy is too cute.
xxrosey
What a delightful morning I just spent with you. This was truly, truly wonderful. Thank you for sharing. Have a great weekend! – Kathy
I have loved taking a walk around your garden. I love my garden too. It is a small, private garden, that I planted out nine years ago. It was bare and empty when I moved in. Now I have jasmine, ivy, honeysuckle, bamboo, rambling roses, grasses, and oodles of flowers. I potter there each day, dead-heading and having daydreams. Each year I get birds nesting in the ivy and clematis as I don’t keep everything neat. As a child I read “A Secret Garden” and always wanted one, so I let everything ramble and twist and turn and the birds get to hide and play. I completely love my small, private garden.
Oh, Vanessa, I just loved strolling through your garden. I am an unfortunate combination of “would love to have a garden like that but don’t have the vim and vigor to put forth the effort.” A very unfortunate combination indeed. Thus! I will enjoy through your eyes. Everything was just bee-utiful. I saw flowers I have never seen before. Thanks for your time and effort in sharing!
Seems to me your garden is truly magical. And the new tree with the nest! I would be swooning too!!
🖤
HI there! I found you thru Creative Dreamer. What a wonderful garden you have. I couldn’t tell where you live but from what you describe sounds like it might be TX? I’m in west central TX.
You have waaaay more energy than i have but i do try to garden too. I use mostly drought tolerant plants and after a couple years they are finally showing their drought quality tendancies.I’am in LOVE with my ‘red hot pokers’ they are amazing and hummingbirds absolutely love them. I could name some more if your interested. I don’t know where you are but most of my plants are cold hardy til 10 degrees. Beautiful garden! Thank you for all the pics. deb
Swoooooon! is right … I am green…pink.. yellow and blue with envy… and every other color in the rainbow too!!
What a heavenly place to live … love and be happy…
It is obvious you have put a tremendous amount of work into your gorgeous garden… the rewards are so worth the pain!!
Cant wait to see more… !!!
LOTS OF HUGS
JO
I loooooove all your blooms!!! I have not stopped for awhile!!!look how big your puppy is?! I am in Arizona this weekend for some r&r at lake havasu;) just saw a summer teaparty ?!!
I will join in when I get back home!
Hugs,
Kay Ellen
I looove this post! I must be living vicariously through it as this year I have done absolutely nothing to my garden/yard – for several reasons, gophers being one. I didn’t want to invest time and energy only to be disappointed when all my plants started dying, etc. So, anyway, this year I’m feasting on pictures of other peoples’ gardens.
I particularly enjoyed the pic of the snail flower – I’ve never seen one before – What a treat!
And your new yellow bellied neighbor – so sweet and lovely! I once had a hummingbird neighbor, and it was quite an experience. I watched her build her nest (she really liked spider webs), and then we got to sneak a peek at her eggs (with a mirror held above her nest), and then we got to see her babies grow and finally leave the nest (which I still have).
Yes, thank you for sharing your garden – just what I needed on this fine Saturday morning.
Pure Magic. What a delight. I am ever so impressed with your gardening skills. That is the wonderful thing about living on one plot of land for a long time…to know the seasons, to know how long the sun hits every inch of your land…what will grow where. De-Lovely. No canas? Me thinks I must go digging in one of my patches for bulbs to send you…hopefully of the two-toned type. You, little one, are my JoY! **blows kisses** Deb
You are amazing. Here I was having a *rough day* and then I stumble on your magical garden with loveliness everywhere. <3
What an oasis. I am unable to grow anything for any lengthy period of time...just don't have a green thumb like my Grandma & Mom. Truly bums me out too because I envy people like you who can grow things. It's awesome to see and be around Mother Nature at her best.
Oh Vanessa:
Thank you so much for sharing your garden goodness. I know how much work it takes to have such a lush and colorful garden in the desert. It can be challenging, but, it is worth every minute of the work it takes, isn’t it?
I love the unexpected glimpses of your colorful roses with the stark and heavy structure of the cacti in the background.
I live in the desert of Southern California, and every year, while growing up, my family made the drive on Interstate 40 from Cali to Northwest Arkansas. My favorite part of the trip was the drive through Arizona and New Mexico. There’s a certain feel in the air…a crispness and lots of lovely fresh smells. Looking at your garden photos allows me to remember that crispness.
Now…I’m feeling a pull to tip-toe through my own garden for a while!
Thank you again for always being so inviting and so willing to share.
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
P.S. Those Nasturtiums should do beautifully. I have them planted all about in my garden and they are lovely every year.
Oh dear Vanessa, what beautiful gardens you have! Someday I hope to have some as wonderful as yours. Oh and the pumpkins! Last year I grew pumpkins and had several small ones come up but eventually they would just wilt away. I ended up with one very nice sized pumpkin. He was such a beauty! Don’t give up on them… even if you get just one it is so worth it!
blessings
~*~
ps…give Baby and Matty my love!
I have a fascination with Gypsy Wagons!!! (I don’t even know where it comes from) Do you think you could show pictures of it? Love your abundant personality…..
Oh… your garden is sublime! I love gardening and am in the process of turning our small plot into flowers beds and veggie patches. We have a big groundhog problem in our yard. Nearly impossible to grow some things. I feel your pain!
Dear Vanessa,
What a beautiful, beautiful post. Thanks so much for sharing your lovely gardens today. I stared in awe at all your wonderful flowers. I swear, you have magical hands – everything is so full of life and color. 🙂 I am happy it brings you so much joy! The roses are just amazing, and some of the lesser known flowers were glorious. I’m sorry to hear about the gophers. Our nemesis is the groundhog. Maybe they are in cahoots together, eh? My husband has been trying EVERY natural method he can think of to politely ask these critters to move along. They are extremely persistent, however! It is quite sad when you’ve labored on planting lovely flowers and delicious veggies only to discover them gone the very next day! Thank you again for sharing this MAGIC today! Theresa xoxo
PS I love ladybugs, too. 🙂
Yes, silly is good for the soul.
I would love to take a walk through your garden and see all that I could see. Great shots of the ladybugs too.
Veevala lovely ~
oh and….if thats what comes from “oh and” i will you give my lifetime allotment of them!
I <3 that you gift Lovee with patches of grass.
I <3 that you are growing a $500 pumpkin.
I <3 that you are growing carnations-i always wondered who did that besides florists, i knew they had to come from somewhere! 🙂
You just always know what to post, to make my heart full. SWEAR TO GODDESS, i was just drafting a sketch of "rooms to grow" in the backyard. Dont think cowboy hasnt seen, well, at this point, been subjected to tee hee, your outdoor shower post about a thousand times. oh yes, he has, and it all started there for me!
You have taken "bloom where you are planted"
to a whole new level haven't you?
Could I get some seedlings from your foolish determination that is blooming so incredibly please?
XOOXOXOXOXVVIIIXIXOXOXIXX ROO
PS ok-I am the yellow belly finch living in the new tree. Just call it Roo, you'll see!
Silly is the best! And your garden is beautiful! My head is spinning with inspiration but it will have to wait, for we are entering Winter…I have just pruned my roses – they each have a story…most of my plants are gifts or cuttings from loved ones…the best kind of garden. Pesky gophers…here in Australia the possums drive me nuts! We live on an acre of bush, and they love to eat everything in sight – destructive little critters and very frustrating! Enjoy your lovely garden sweet girl x
your long hours and days of tender loving care is paying off in beautiful dividends. The explosion of color and grass and plants and flowers is incredible and you should be quite proud of yourself indeed. We are going to put some sod in an area for Sadey as last weekend in Petaluma she found a patch at my friends house….rolling around as if to say “this is amazing”.
Well done you! The pictures were fabulous and not at all too much….I’d delight in seeing more!
Love you,
Lisa
XOXOXXO
The next best thing to actually walking through your lovely garden! I got as far as the Gophers this morning and then we went out, so I have just finished the tour now. The gophers sound like a pain! I have never heard of snail vines before-the flowers are lovely. Does Matty chase the Gophers?
I would love a rose garden. I am not sure where to start. I am in Colorado and my latw aunt and uncle had the most incredibly beautiful rose garden when I was young. I wish I had paid more attention to them back then! I love that puppy! But your garden is such a beautiful gift to yourself. Thanks for sharing. Anne
Absolutely beautiful and intriguing! Don’t know how you do everything but the flowers and plants are gorgeous. I LOVE having fresh flowers in the house and these roses are so lush. You are quite talented in gardening…thanks so much for sharing!
xoxo
Pat
Your garden looks so cozy and peaceful and your pictures are so perfect that I can almost smell the plants! Thanks for sharing 🙂
bore us? you have got to be kidding, this entire post is just wonderful and beyond gorgeous. if you weren’t such a sweet person i’d envy you, but now it feel just right. you and such a garden belong together :). i’m just curious; is gardening something that you have learned how to do or is it more like trial and error and then complete success ;)?
Hi Vanessa,, I am in such AWE of your gorgeous garden in the desert! Living here myself I know you are truly gifted! I have had alot of luck with roses here too. They do well for some reason. I enjoyed the visit sooo much!
Have a pretty day (()) gail
You have done well!! Your garden would be peaceful to sit in and fun to observe every little thing!
Beautiful garden photos, beautiful blog. So glad I found you…I’ll be back!
Your garden is such a magical place
Vanessa. Thank you for sharing these pictures, By the way we call Laby Bugs – Lady Birds in the UK. XX
just beautiful V… i loooooovvveee a garden…especially one that goes on and on and is an adventure around each corner like yours seems to be….
i could almost smell those roses…the sun on them and the scents just drifting in the air….that lady bug is a wonder..the sign of a very healthy garden..
Hint…mulch some straw around and under your pumpkin vine..keeps moisture in your soil and keeps your pumpkins clean(notice i said pumpkins..i backing it you have more than one girl!!!)and the from the bugs… happy Harvesting.
I’m so glad I visited today… we are moving to a house with a garden (not as big as yours) but as soon as I saw the garden that was it….. I can’t wait to add my ideas to my new home and my gorgeous border collie, Mollie, LOVES being outside so we shall have fun together. What a beautiful post…. Ciao
It’s lovely!!!
What an amazing and abundant garden and with delicious mesquite, oh you are blessed, blessed blessed!!!
Oh!!! Your garden is a magical place, indeed!! 🙂 We just planted some heirloom tomato babies this weekend, and a wee baby basil….YUM!! I’ve been drooling over all the hollyhocks and foxgloves in the nurseries, as of late, as well!
I LOVE ALL THESE PHOTOS!!
Oh, my little boo gives me a gnaw now and then, but as soon as she gets ahold of me, she stops biting down. I love how they talk so much with their mouths!
Aren’t roses fabulous? We’ve had several bloomings! Your wildflowers are WILD, baby!
Simply beautiful. I’m digging all that rose abundance you have been blessed with. Maybe there is a way you can naturally get rid of the Gophers.
Gorgeous garden.
love snail vines too – we have a wonderful one and it bloomed all summer long here in Australia
The infamous black gopher…the bane of my garden as well. I have all but given up! They even sucked down our tomato plants…the whole thing!!! There are several areas on our property that we can’t use due to the massive gopher tunnels!!
But I have plans to circumvent them. It involves giant containers and sinking them into the ground. I have a plan!!!!!!
Your gardens are fabulous!!! Love the roses…oh I just love it all!!
Hugging you
SueAnn
I have just recently found your blog through a link at my friend’s blog and I am captured by your photos and enthusiasm. Your garden is AMAZING! I wish I didn’t have a black thumb, or else I’d surely want a garden such as yours. Until then, I will live vicariously through your photos and stories. Thanks so much for sharing with us 🙂
your garden is amazing.
V- I recently saw some flowers and couldn’t remember the name until I saw your post- Foxglove! I googled it and found another name is “Fairy Caps”!!! It seems perfect that you’d grow fairy caps in your garden. 🙂
Hello Vanessa!
It’s been a few weeks & I’m so glad I popped in again today. I loved this chance to tip-toe in and around your lovely garden oasis today. GORGEOUS pics as always! I, too, have a distinct affection for roses, ladybugs, cute pups, photography, nesting birds and the fantasy world you so eloquently weave into all of your posts. Y-U-M
Thank you for sharing and for all of your hard work weeding, watering and photo editing! WHEW!
much love dear blog-friend,
– vicki xo
I would just like to thank you for all the hours of pleasure I have received from your site.I dont usually return to peoples blogs or sites but yours is so full of beautiful art,photographs,gardening,music and interesting narrative I just love you! I am going through a really hard time right now and feel like you are a kindred spirit. Thanks again for your talent,your humor ,positive outlook on life and eye for beauty