The anticipation of the unfurling of flower petals is incredible to me. It is so exciting, so wondrous. So many people ask me about my garden obsession. The why and how of it all…?
If you are garden obsessed, growing things obsessed, then you totally get it.
There is a vast well of hope, of something to look forward to. There is a filler of voids, a sort of satisfaction in digging in dirt, planting a seed, watering it, nourishing it. And then, it grows, and gifts flowers or edibles – and there is this feeling about your garden, that you can’t expect anyone to share with you.
A secret feeling.
All started from a small seed.
A tiny specimen creates great life.
Amazing stuff.
The garden beckoned me in when I was 19, and I have not looked back.
I have not tired of it.
I love it more than ever.
Your own garden creates something in you that is hard to share or explain.
Not even Mister Lovee, who loves our garden, shares the awe and overwhelming joy I feel when I see the first flower buds emerge, after months and months and years and years of hard work and hope for a lovely space to act as your own secret garden.
To me, it is like this special little cell of immense beauty, when seeing what you worked so hard at come to life. And, the only person you can share the entire steps of the experience with – from seed, to breaking through the soil, to nurturing and caring for, to full grown plant – is with yourself really.
And, with the plants themselves.
Although, if you are very lucky, you might find a friend or two who wants to stroll through your garden with you, and let you bore them with all your gardening tales, haha!
The awakening of the garden lures me in.
Everyday I wake up early to see what is going on.
Everyday something new.
Although…
Rabbit damage always brings tears of frustration.
But, that goes away quickly, if they didn’t get it all –
And, that show of spring roses begins.
That magical once a year thing.
Once a year, in spring…
It begins.
First the climbers, and next will be the 30 year old rose bushes.
But for now, it’s the climbers that I planted last year.
I tended them all winter – and it is paying off.
Even the 3 year old climbing roses around the gallery have taken off (below).
After years of gophers destroying anything I plant in this area, there is life growing.
Oh, cross your fingers.
There is life.
One thing I will confess is –
I am not great at doing something now, that I will reap benefits from in the future. I have such a hard time with that.
An immensely hard time with it, what about you?
I am sort of a spur of the moment kind of girl.
In fall I decided I would plant all sorts of bulbs and tubers and scatter about wildflower seeds and poppy seeds.
Do things early.
Follow the rules for success.
So, I did.
Maybe it is impatience that makes it hard for me to sit and wait until spring?
I am not sure.
But I did it this time.
And boy, did I learn lessons.
Not just about the garden, but about all sorts of things in life.
Do those things that won’t give results for months and months.
Just do them.
And one day, in the future, you will be so glad of it.
You will be giddy glad.
And so, I planted my ranunculus tubers in November…
And we have had all sorts of waves of ranunculus.
So pretty and delicate.
Then there are all the wildflower seeds below.
Strewn about everywhere.
Watered through winter.
And now, now we wait for the flowers to emerge as the big bushels of green have gotten huge and strong over winter.
And slowly, they emerge.
And perennials, oh glorious perennials!
Self seeding too.
Paths and whole entire areas covered in wild sweet smelling precious chamomile.
The sweetest candy like scent I have ever inhaled.
Not to mention the older citrus trees, and their intoxicating scents.
The eldest of the orange trees, enveloping the entire street with its intense perfumed flowers.
And now.
Now the days of 90’F weather, and nights of swinging.
Night of singing while Mister Lovee plays his guitar, whilst swinging.
Nights that are so cool you need a shawl, but not cold at all.
Nights where the orange trees, and the jasmine, and the gardenia, and the freesia, and the lemon trees leave you tipsy with their aroma.
It was a night sort of like this, only in autumn, that brought us to be a part of something lovely.
Have you heard of Mingle Magazine?
It is simply beautiful.
So inspiring, with so many different types of parties and event inspirations.
We were lucky enough to be asked to be a part of the current issue.
Our 2011 Halloween party in the garden is on a few of the pages…
And oh, it makes me so excited that we get to have autumn again in several months, along with Halloween again! Oh, it is so exciting, isn’t it?
Halloween time?
Summer days are grand, and to be savored.
But it doesn’t hurt to think about what you’d like to do in the next Halloween season does it?
Summer is a great time to start holiday crafting, because all of a sudden, the holidays hit like a tidal wave. And I for one, never feel prepared.
The magazine touches on all sorts of holidays and events, and is packed with beautiful photos…
Oh, sigh….
Oh, yes please!
I would love to host a little event like the one below!
Summer berries and more!!
You can get your own copy of Mingle Magazine right here.
(or find it at your local book or craft store)
We are so delighted to be a part of it.
So much fun!
I am dreaming of making strawberry treats now, you?
I am so excited for spring and summer, and the annual Mad Tea Party at the end of June.
I love the buzz the Mad Tea Party creates in my little hope chest of inspiration.
Planning, and thinking, and spring, and gardens, and berries, and….
Oh, what a good time it is.
A good time indeed.
A time to savor.
A time to jump into a great big vat of gooey delicious revived excitement and inspiration.
Spring time, the only ring a ding time….
Birds sing, in spring, a ring a ding 😉
Love, V
ps: The 3 little egg head recipients are….
(by random number generator)
Sheila Novara
Sarah from Circles of Rain
and Carol Mc
Hoooray you lovely gals!!!
I e-mailed you girls the details 😉
Beautiful pictures. Can’t wait to check out your spread in Mingle.
Vanessa, something I have found to be helpful with bunnie garden raiders is to put human hair around your garden. Just clean out your hair brushes in the vicinity of your veggies. Quick, easy, non toxic, and nobunny (ha ha) gets hurt.
XO
Lisa
You have many amazing gardens..It shows that you take special care with them. Things are starting to bloom here. Thank you for sharing them.
I off to check out Mingle…
your pics so pretty and close to nature!your blog very nice…………
Your passion and dedication to your gardens is evident in their beauty, Vanessa! I once had that and then lost it when I entered the work world again. It became a chore and not a pleasure. I know it’s not an age thing though, because my Dad is 75 and he has loved gardening all his life. Any nice day and you know exactly where to find him! I just put in so many beds when I was a SAHM that it was difficult to keep up when I was working. Luckily, I used lots of bushes and perennials, so I had the beauty, just needed to keep up the maintenance.
We are in a condo this year having moved to another state and down-sized, but I am looking forward to planting some annuals and containers this year. I may not like the maintenance part of gardening now, but I will always want the pretty part!
Congrats on your magazine feature!
Congrats on Mingle—what a great spread! Do they carry it at artsy craftsy places or book stores?
Love your big gnome. I’m afraid I’m going to develop a gnome addiction. They’re so fun peeking out from things. And mushrooms!
Hey—when you were describing the scents of the trees, I had a thought—-you need a perfume! There are those ‘make your own scent’ places. You should bottle up your garden as best as you can. Call it ‘Fanciful Spritz’, perhaps?
Congratulations on a beautiful garden and on a wonderful magazine feature!
It has been exciting for me this last year visiting magazine racks in store and being able to exclaim – Oh, I “know” her! Several of my online friends have had features. (I also see a few books in thrift store by people I have met online. I always feel I have to rescue those books.)
This year the gnomes are multiplying in my yard as well. I do my best with the wild (self planting) flowers.
And this morning once again we had a glistening of snow. Our glorious spring is playing hide and seek.
LaaaaaaLauraaaa, I adore my 2 big gomes – but they are fading…. not sure
how I will tackle a repaint… what paint etc.? Any professional
thoughts???? You know – the scent of the orange tree and such can be so
strong it can make you dizzy, have you ever felt like that???? That would
be funny — Fanciful Spritzzzzz 😉 What about Fanciful Face
Fungus? Oh, perhaps not, haha!
Kathy, I think about that sometimes. How if I had to go out into the
world to work, my garden would die. Although, a lot of it has drip
irrigation – but a lot I do by hand too. At my city house, it was
great. I had a courtyard + a side garden. And I loved watering it
before work. Very green and pretty, but a small little space. It was
so easy to care for. But this one is like – crazy insane work.
Although, I love every minute of it, it keeps me sane 😉 I think some
potted plants will be great for your porch, and you will certainly love the
blooms!
DogsMomsie – me too me too!! When I see people I know from blogland
published, I get all happy happy joy joy. Its so much fun!!! 😉
Lisa – this is so funny…. once I threw a bunch of my hair in the garden, and the birds stole it and I found nests filled with my hair as woven fibers. Isn’t that funny? OKay, we must try this again. Hair strewn around makes my stomach flip flop a little, what about you? Especially a hair stuck to my foot, eeeeeeeeeughhghgeeee!! 😉
I hated hair as a kid. Finding it here and ther made me so sick 😉
I am soooo onto this right away!!!
Thank you for the awesome tip!!
Be still my heart. It quite literally leaped at photo #3! For just a minute, I entered your private garden, this delightful hide-a-way, wandered the path, stooped to smell the rose, and quietly sat on the bench. And it was DeLovely.
Please do let me know that all of my garden fairies arrived safe and sound. Only three stayed behind with my largest blue pots, which are being babysat by a friend, hopefully to arrive at my villa soon. The others could not bear to stay without me and begged to join their cousins in your gardens. So I gently held each one in my hand, kissed their teeny faces, and a little pufffff, and off they went to your Magical Gardens. **kisskiss** Deb
The best part is that we get to reap the rewards of your hard work! We get to oogle all your amazingly lovely garden and flower pictures and pretend like we are there too even if we don’t have gardens of our own (yet). So thank you Miss V, your garden photos are always some of my favorites!
Your garden is looking incredible! Oh I dream of having a magical garden to walk through… we can’t grow much here but I do live in front of a forest. So happy to see you’ve been included in Mingle magazine! That’s wonderful 🙂 Your Halloween party last year was truly splendid.
Jenn, you live in front of a forest??? Well, what more do you need??
A forest is all I would need to make me happy 😉 Fairytale
lands!!!!!How scrumptious!!
Alia, you make me feel so much less guilty for sharing way too many garden
photos and garden talk. Once this girl told me that she would puke if she
saw one more flower photo. So, I think about that sometimes, and wonder if
I am soooo snoooring boring 😉 So, THANK YOU for liking the garden posts,
that means so much!! Happy Studying lovely you!!
Missy V. A lot of hard work and dog poop and your garden is magnificient! Once it gets under your skin it never leaves, does it. Gardening is so peaceful, you don’t think of anything, just planting and talking to the flowers (anyway I do) and know you are making something beautiful to enjoy (and/or eat!). TPL
Mad Tea Party in June ? Aaaaaaaaaah!!! It is going to arrive REALLY quick!!!!
Love the little tree with pink flowers in one of the mags’ page. I have no clue what it is as I am sooooooooo rubbish at flowers names but..sigh..it’s beautiful!
Congrats on the publication! How many is it now?
You must be so proud!
We’re clapping our hands here.
(WE= the dolls and I of course…who else?)
TPL, we missed you!!!!!! Where would we be without your encouragement
in the garden, and the saving tips of all times??? I will never plant
another plant without dog poop in the hole first, ever ever ever again.
Good reason to get more puppies ;))))
Patricia, I KNOW!! The Tea Party will be here tomorrow!!! It always comes
to ridiculously quick indeed!! Thank you for the publication love, you are
a doll. Ah, yes a doll, who makes dolls, and talks to dolls, and lives in
a doll house, oooooooo wonderful!!!
I am loving your garden photos and I so get your “love of the garden” :)) My Nana and Mom inspired me all through my growing up years and when I am home, you will find me in my garden. Congrats on being in the magazine!!!! Happy Spring to you!!!
Happy spring lovely Sandra Leeeeeeeeee!!!!! Oh, is that you, through
the secret garden door? Trimming and speaking to your garden
sprites??? I do think it is you!!! Secret garden doors, I tell ya
;)))) You never know where they might take you 😉
Vanessa Dear, Please never stop sending your lovely Fanciful Garden pictures! I love to visit your enchanted world that you have created from hard work and pure LOVE. I know for myself that seeing your garden takes me away like “Calgon†for some or shoe shopping, for others! Ohh yes, it does!
I am glad that you are noted in these magazines for the BEAUTY you create in this world!
You are sooo right that gardening is a learning lesson of Patience, timing and Mother Nature calling the shots!
Your ranunculus WOW me! The rose trellis has made me decide to definitely go out to purchase one of the white or maybe the yellow that I have seen here around town.
I am glad that you are feeling much better and that you seem energized to tackle your Fanciful World once again.
Umm Question? Have you seen the white rabbit amongst your gardens? Tee He Hee!
Big, Huge, Happy Congratulations to you!!!! How grand to have your Halloween Party featured in the mag!!!
Your beautiful garden is positively brimming with the special magic only Spring can bring! Orange blossoms is my most favorored smell. I love love love Arizona in the spring when the breeze catches the orange blossom perfume and transports it directly to me :o)
Have a great day!
Always, Queenie
What an amazing post!! The nights smells..orange and all with candles just thrills me..Oregon is cold…flowers are out on trees..among the gray cold skys..and a few sunny days..but too busy to go hunt them down and sit underthem..I live on a hill so my yard is behind..but I dream with you. and soon I will be in Europe and Russia and Ukraine in May/June..and there will be plenty of joy!
I love your October gardens..so beautiful..wonderful you are in the Magazine!!
Did you know that bunnies LOVE rose hips?? I found one living in my wee front yard beneath the crumbling picket fence. All the while dining on the biggest juiciest rose hips. Maybe if you create a special area just for the bun’s they may stay away from the rest of your lovely garden. Ooh Ooh!!! Have you tried planting Double poppies??? They are so beautiful with all their layers of frilly lacy petals. By the way, your rennuncula’s are so gorgeous!!! I just love rennnnnn…..how DO you spell that??
much love to you from me
I need more of your delightful glimmering magic you spread a over blog land.I don’t comment much but I’m out here still checking once in awhile to see what your up to.Hope I remember your party is the end of June.
“In every gardener there is a child who believes in The Seed Fairy.” ~ Robert Brault
I love your garden. Monday I spent hours weeding and planting. I was so excited to see some seeds I’ve planted have sprouted.
I’ve bought Mingle. Glad your Halloween party is in there. I’ll have to get the current issue. I have an addiction to anything Stampington:)
i love your garden.the best is that we get to reap the award of your hard work!!!!!!
Hi Vanessa! I’m catching up on posts here after several hospitalizations for hubby and one for me. Your blog is so uplifting and magical, just what I need now. 😉
I’ve seen Mingle at Barnes and Noble, but have never purchased – will pick up this issue for sure though!!
Happy Spring! (or maybe summer already where you are?) 🙂
🖤 Carolee
oh, your garden looks just divine!!! all the confederate jasmine is in bloom here in new orleans, and i love to just walk around, sniffing the air!! i tried doing some container gardening a few years back ( we live in a small apartment with no outdoor space to speak of) and i found it very relaxing. but time consuming. so i gave it up. one day though, i’ll have a beautiful outdoor space i can go hog-wild in!!
Hi Miss Vanessa! I’ve missed you. 🙂 I can see and appreciate all the hard work you’ve put into your simply magical gardens. If I were there, I’d so enjoy a stroll through them. 🙂 You have such a wonderful gift for gardening. Big congrats and hugs to you on your magazine feature! You do host such amazing parties! Looking forward to the Mad Tea Party again…hip hip hooray! xoxo
I love your blog! I nominated you for the Sunshine Blog Award: http://triciasthings.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/blogging-awards-sunshine-award-what-is-it/
I’m being very serious about exploring possibilities of a garden in my home… your photos are so inspiring!!