This is Why I Garden

No explanation or description is needed.

Flowers sing to my soul.

Belles at the Fernwood Ball

I wanted to share some of the glorious flowers I have a chance to dance with in my garden.
The red poppy was discovered at the garden center where I worked-she stopped me in my tracks and I knew she had to be in my garden-even though it doesn't get as much sun as she would like. The red is brilliant and inspires me to have a scarlet , vampy petticoat someday. I think the name is "Belle of Liverpool." The white clematis is another beauty-blooms are almost 8" across and her name is "Duchess of Edinbourgh." (I think). Don't you just love the names? The foxglove are
incredible this year-some stand over 5' tall and given that they naturalize, it is an added bonus.
The lime green foliage with purple flowers is a hardy geranium and happily blooms all summer. The screaming "chartrocity" of the color is a great foil against the purple. I will be thinning out the yellow poppies but only after their luscious petals are finished twirling.

My Buttercups Runneth Over

While I intend to focus my blog mostly on business topics, I am proud of this recent accomplishment-it's almost a contender for the "Weeding Hall of Fame." And shouldn't we celebrate our accomplishments whenever possible? There were two areas in the garden that were being overtaken by buttercups and lamium. With a tremendous amount of pulling, pulling, and more pulling, most every stem has been removed.The photo doesn't do the size of the piles justice- they were as big as Godzilla (or it feels like they should have been). The stairs and stones under the upper deck had been totally covered with the mucho invasive plants. The next phase is to lay down landscape cloth into the steps and back-fill with crushed black basalt. While I pulled, my "fertile" brain drifted to thoughts which I will dub, "Garden Musings."

* Who needs the gym when there are buttercups?
* Cyndy, garden gloves, and the Nijiri Gama tool-it's a beautiful thing (it's a
Japanese tool that does everything-my favorite!).
* A loaf of bread, a jug of wine on a picnic blanket in a field of buttercups-as
long as it is YOUR field.
* What's the childhood thing about rubbing a buttercup under your chin?
Indicates true love? Lifelong happiness? A gardener to show up?
* Where are my goats now that I really need them? Yes, I had a pair of goats once.
* Pulling weeds on your knees really is a humbling experience.

That's it for now. When rockwork is finished, I'll post the photo. Then you can be duly impressed, if you aren't already. "I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds around neck." Whoever said that must have pulled buttercups.
May your garden almost be weed-free (refer to last entry in "Musings" above).

From where it all begins

These photos show the setting from which many of my inspirations arise. I live on Bainbridge Island, a beautiful island in the Puget Sound. I design and create areas on my property that are alluring and eclectic. One can find the wicked witch from Oz, Frank Lloyd Wright containers,water bowls and fountains, Asian influences,a yellow brick road, and more. HGTV did a wonderful short video of my place under the title 'Story Book Garden'.Other garden scenes were featured in WestSound Home & Garden magazine. I enjoy most of everything which results in a very wild mix of styles. I can be as passionate about glitter as I can be with something rusty. There is so much beauty all around-it is easy to be inspired daily by life and all that unfolds. I look forward to our journey together and I hope what I share will bring a smile.

Over the Top is the umbrella name given to many of my endeavors. By entering the world of blogging and computer networking you will learn about classes at Fernwood Studio, sales in The Rabbit Hole, events and happenings with The Gilded Lily, designer wreaths from Four Seasons Wreaths, new products from Tiger Lily Productions, Etsy Shop, Photobucket images,and personal updates.

Peaceful Scene

Tea House

Path to Sanibel