Garden Treasures

This year I have spent more time in my backyard enjoying my garden.  South Carolina summers are very hot and humid and creating a garden has been a challenge. However, I did not let it defeat me.  My favorite plants that blossomed beautifully were lavender, "hot lips", and plumbago.  While not everything grew successfully, I did get more pleasure from my plants than in summers past.  As spring is approaching, I am hopeful to see what will return.
     The garden became a treasure to our home because it became a place where friends and family gathered often.  No longer was the main attraction simply the swimming pool.  This year, visitors could enjoy the water and the flowers. It was hard work, but it was rewarding work.
     The rewards eventually brought me out of the back yard and allowed me to venture into the front.  My front yard has long been a challenge.  Wanting a fence for privacy purposes has posed many difficulties.  So, this year I tackled the job with foliage.  My entire front lawn has now been secured with plantings of Crepe Myrtles, Gardenias, Ligustrum, and Wintergreen Boxwood.  So far, we have weathered the winter well, considering the record snowfall we have received.  We are anticipating spring and the new life that comes along with season.

     In closing, I will leave you with a photo of one of my favorite garden treasures just before the days grew cold.

Sharing my adventures

Walking the streets of Vienna, Austria just enjoying the beautiful city!




My son knows how flowers make me happy - his hugs do too!


















Do you think my husband and son are getting as much pleasure at the flower stand as I am?



I love tulips! A favorite childhood memory is my mom's tulips lining the front walkway.
They never stayed long enough for me.

Can any place be a "Garden"?

Good gardeners can create the space that make most people want to relax or just take a stroll and hang out for awhile, enjoying the beauty. Over the years and through many family vacations, I have sought after what I have believed in ads "The Most Beautiful in the World Gardens to Visit." Now, my husband and grown kids remind me, with roaring laughter and sighs, of the many treks across cities even international that we have had in the search - the search of the beauty of the garden. Well having said that, my search continues.

This week's adventure took me to the "Worlds oldest Gardens" or so the ad said. Well, it was old and I would like to have had a discussion with the gardener or overseer. You know, give them some suggestions. Anyway, while there I had the strongest urge to bend down and pull weeds. That is until the gator came into view. Then the stroll took on a whole new meaning - gator watching! Quite disconcerting to be only footsteps away perhaps one less leg away from stepping on one. Not my idea of a relaxing stroll through the garden. Saw quite a few gators along the way until I could find my way out. Oh well, the search continues . . .