ABC Wednesday - Oh, No! Gee Whiz!

Oh, My Goodness!  Oh, Say it's Not SO!  This Week's letter is O and I pulled a boner!  I created a post with the letter G.  Good Gravy!  You will have to suffer through my G post.  By the time you read it, I will have inserted a few "o"s.  :-)   

O me Sainted Aunt! 

 You should click on the logo above to visit posts by other participating bloggers.

Okay!

Gladys has been my gardening companion for many years.  She loves to entertain!  In fact, the first time I featured her on this blog, she was positively Giddy!  Click on these words to see why.

oh! oh!

 Then there was the time SHE had Her gardening friends over... and, well... you will just have to read for yourself.  This post was the first of two.  Click here.

You will find the second post, the sequel, if you click these words. 

Oh my Goodness!!

One more post that might be of interest is the ABC Wednesday "G" post dated Feb. 26, 2013.  You might enjoy seeing Gladys with all her buddies at once!  :-) 

The last post I will share with you is of one workshop in which several of my Gardening friends began work to create their own soft-sculpture Garden buddies!  Enjoy the progress-process!  ;-)  Click here.

 (Only one of our friends)

As I mentioned at the onset, Gladys is my Gardening buddy.   She and I took a road trip to Michigan last summer (August 2013).  We had a Great trip.  You will find a few photos below.  :-)

Over the River... and through the woods... (into Illinois)

We stopped for a little "break," and bought something to drink.  Gladys stayed in the car.  I wondered later, if she knew what was ahead of us - with regard to the weather!   Oh, Gladys!

 By the time we neared Michigan, the weather had cleared!  Thankfully!

 In case you wondered WHY we undertook this road trip to Michigan . . .

(by the way, the photo below shows our arrival!)

. . . it's Only because Gladys wanted to meet my Grandchildren! 

:-)

We had a wonderful time... AlthO' it might have been a bit "much" for Gladys.  Once "on the road," she began Getting sleepy!

So much for being the Good Guide and companion on the way home!

You are right.  If I were to have had amiable company, it became mandatory 

to stop for a "picker upper!"  ;-)   Oh, That Gladys! 

 Back across the Mississippi River into Iowa!

It was a Wonderful trip.  Gladys and I enjoyed ourselves immensely.  I wonder if she'd Go aGain?  ;-)

Only Slightly Goofy... lol
SG

Gladys was Positively Giddy!

A Garden Party?

With ladies that Garden??

My friend Gladys could hardly contain her excitement!

Gladys and I have been fellow gardeners since Mr. Shady and I moved into this home nearly 7 years ago. She is one with whom you can share anything that smacks of gardening... from the price you paid for the plant you could hardly get out of your mind (and you probably couldn't really afford) to landscaping ideas that might be good to either review and/or put in place.

Gladys is a perfect gardening friend. But the prospect of having a Gardening Tour/Party here had her positively undone!

"Don't forget," I told her, "these are my gardening buddies that we visit every summer. These are the great gardeners that cooperate with all my gardening projects. You remember the concrete birdbaths we made last year, don't you?"

Gladys nodded. Yes, she remembered.

"These are also my gardening cohorts who worked with me on our special garden projects this past Winter."

Gladys again nodded. Yes, she did remember. But today was special because She was going to help guide these fellow gardeners through our yard.

"Okay," I acquiesced. "You get to direct us through the Woodland Walk and the Center Back Gardens." After all, we do share a little "history!" ;-)

In fact, if you haven't yet met my friend Gladys, you can catch a glimpse of her below. She had decided to sit on the bench while waiting for people to arrive.

Gladys - our consummate hostess!

"Yes, Gladys," I responded. "The table is ready. I'll just quickly go indoors for the plates, napkins, cups and silverware. Please keep watch in case they come while I'm inside the house."

Gladys kept watch, but was relieved when I'd joined her again.

"Do you remember the projects, Gladys? The large food cans from the cafeteria that we flattened, pounded nail holes in, threaded wire through, and spray painted?"

"The gourd birdhouses?"

"And the hanging birdbaths?"
(This great idea was brought by Eileen!)

Yes. She remembered. She also very much enjoyed the company, the conversation, and the comradery. She did scold me a bit for being a bit of a chatterbox. I guess I must admit. I was excited, too. :-)

Bidding adieu.

Thank you, Gladys. You were right. I was a chatterbox. You indeed are a good friend.

We did have a great time.
The only thing "shady" here is the shade. :-)
Have a great day!

Just a Bit of "Garden Whimsy!"

Nan Ondra at

Gardening Gone Wild

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. ;-)