Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Just a Bit of "Garden Whimsy!"

Nan Ondra at
has asked gardeners to participate in
"Garden Bloggers' Design Workshop,"
a monthly posting of interesting topics.

This month it's "Garden Whimsy."
Enjoy your visit!

This metal rose was "created in Mexico."
I believed it, so I purchased it. These flowers are being sold as a fund-raiser in support of the mural project on the exterior of our community's new civic center.
(Click on the photo below to better appreciate the mural.)

My 2-year-old granddaughter is patting one of two "turtles." But in the meantime, it looks as though she'll be soon making a new friend!


I thought this looked like me. At least she represents most of what I like to do outdoors...
She's waiting patiently for more butterflies... as am I.
If you look down, at her feet, you'll see what she stood on to get where she is!
Rounding the house to the backyard,
you never know who might come crawling out from under a hosta.

If you experience the need to go stepping into "light-footed" areas, you may as well have a pleasant place to rest your toes.
Hose guides can be fun, too. Are little white perch-birds nocturnal?

Knee-deep!
This fellow's mom taught him to "sit up straight!"
I believe he's quite proud of himself.
A long-time friend and former neighbor presented me with my first and only Faire Flower Fairy a few years ago. She likes to hide in cozy green places with scented pale petals.
Faire FF's able bodyguard enjoys the bolder blossoms. I don't blame him, as he is often called upon to defend FFF and her territory. Thus, Smell the Roses Whenever You Can, has become his most appropriate motto.

As we enter the Valley of the Shed, hopefully your first welcome is the ever ready teacup... for you and/or anyone needing a refreshing sip of water.
As you begin your South Woodland Walk, you'll notice the emerging hellebore bed. Aren't these plants worthy of a little extra attention? Someone else might give them a pillow...Notice your mid-journey's guide. Just follow her gentle nod.
Did you stop for a rest on the bench shown above?
If so, you were being guarded by our friend below.
He's really a good fellow, so don't be taken aback
by his rakish expression.

Whimsical it may be, for you and me, but the balloon flower is not joking around. She's only trying to whisper in your ear. She caught me the other day. And she has the sympathy of her neighboring daylilies. What was her message?
"Please move me."
Another cozy sanctuary for birds and their buddies.
I found this bespeckled fellow at an art fair two years ago this past June. My sisters and I were spending a "Sisters' Weekend" together, near the quad cities.I'd like to introduce a couple of my gardening buddies. They've appeared on this blog before, but some of you may have missed meeting them. :-)
This is Gardener Gladys.
She is good company while I garden in the backyard.
(soft sculpture, created 4 years ago)

This is Susan Scare-the-birds.
She's known for occasionally hanging around in the raised bed gardens. She vacationed last year, but has been begging to resume her position again this Summer. I'd better humor her. She's pretty good at what she does!
(soft sculpture - created 5 years ago)
Perhaps this isn't exactly whimsical,
but it is exactly where my heart lies.
I can hardly think of any other place I'd rather be,
especially when I'm finding it hard to be out there!

Not a "shady" sentiment. ;-)

13 comments:

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

You've got some wonderful things! I really like the teacup, that really is my cup of tea. (Sorry.) Just seeing the Bodyguard Toad would brighten my day, he has such a silly expression. And your soft sculpture people are amazing! I'm assuming you made them. Do visitors ever start conversing with Gladys before they realize she isn't alive?

Shady Gardener said...

MMD, She will startle even me, sometimes! ;-) After I first finished her, I took her for a ride downtown. It was quite a warm Spring day, and I left her sitting in the front seat. Someone followed me to inform me that it was way too hot for a woman to be sitting in a car with the windows up! I was somewhat flattered, but really (!) knew he hadn't looked at her closely. lol.

Iowa Victory Gardener said...

Hey Shady,
Thatsa lotta whimsy! We have practically none here, except a lion's head that came from an old demolished building years ago downtown that we use as a base for the birdbath. Suppose I should show it sometime, huh?

You have some fantastic Cyperus in your pond there ... I used to grow that inside in my grad school days, but it doesn't seem to like me anymore. Probably because we don't have a pond or aquarium, lol. D'ya think? :-)

I love your smiling toad and the frogs ... we just never think to add things like this other than more rocks, lol. I saw over at MMD's place the other day that she has a gargoyle in her garden and that gave me ideas! I collect them and have a few of those resin ones they sell at Target for Halloween, so maybe one should move outdoors for the summer!

Shady Gardener said...

IVG, Actually, I didn't know I had so many things until I started poking around. They're pretty far apart and fairly indiscreet. (Gladys isn't always outdoors... due to the threat of rain. Susan stb stays outdoors all summer, when she gets there!)
I think you should put out a couple of your items. They'll make you smile... :-)
I'm off to find rocks this a.m.

Julia Erickson said...

Wow, do your ladies really keep away the birds and/or other pests?

Shady Gardener said...

heirloom gardener... well, I'd like to think so. :-)

Annie in Austin said...

Those bird hose-guides are really attractive, Shady Garden - in addition to being functional. The most amusing photo was the Balloon Flowers doing the leanaway...I hope you have the new spot picked out because she's leaving!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Shady Gardener said...

Annie, Thanks for your visit... and yes, there's a great spot where Miss Balloon Flower will settle, but not 'til fall. :-)

Anonymous said...

What a delightful post, Shady! That was a lovely shot of FFF, and her protector certainly does have a rakish expression. And Gladys is absolutely pricless - as is your further story about her adventures.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi, Nan! Thanks for your visit and comments... you provided a fun subject for a post. :-)

Kylee Baumle said...

Your taste in garden whimsy is much like mine! But I don't have any people in mine! They're fabulous!

The "Kiss of the Sun" plaque is special...I had that in my 4H garden when I was about 10. I think maybe I should try to find one for my garden now, because like you, that's exactly how I feel about my garden.

Andrea Dellit said...

what great garden accessories!!!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Kylee, Maybe we're distant relatives? :-) Thanks for your comments and compliments!

Dellits, I have a lot of different nooks and crannies. ;-)