Our Gabby Garden Gals' Garden Tour!

Five of us toured SE Iowa today!

First, we visited Tender top Nursery. They maintain lovely gardens both in the shade and in the sun, and three ponds that are very intriguing. They sell plants for any environment. This is where we began our purchases. My little Toyota Camry has a trunk that dares to compete with the storage of most SUVs. ha! :-)

In went our first purchases.
(To be quite honest, I didn't purchase these (not available) ...
but the are definitely on my wish list!)

Next we visited Lowe's - home/garden/lumber store. Of course we were interested in their plants, especially the bargains. We found a few!

Again, in went quite a number of purchases, but they fitted in perfectly with much room to spare.

(I DID purchase this!)

You can see that it's already "in place!" :-)

After lunch at Culver's (yum!), our next stop was Hilltop Gardens, owned by Gerald Hobbs. Mr. Hobbs is a member of Cedar Valley Iris and Day lily Society. He not only grows but develops new varieties of day lilies. A copy of his plant list is here.

Hmmmm. Those look interesting . . .

We're all smiles as we look for the perfect flowers!

Into the trunk went several of his day lilies ... check out the trunk!

Our next stop was Hillcrest Hostas & More, just west of Donnellson.

Yes - we found a few plants to bring home. Most of our purchases were miniature hostas.

There are two spaces left . . . just the right size for Becky's and my hostas. :-) The others had to balance their purchases on their laps, all the way home! ha.

A fun time was had by all. We missed the rest of you! Next time! :-)

Violets and Tricyrtis - Oh, My!

Our Garden Tour was rained out today . . .

We'll try again.

Hardy Little Miss Susan Scare-the-Birds was out there in the elements. Believe me, I tried to offer retirement, but she thought that with a little new makeup, a new dress and shirt, she could make another "go at it!" So there she is, out there in the storm.

Do you see the river that flows through raised beds and especially through the Woodland Walk?

Can you imagine I was at loose ends?
Can you imagine I was feeling a little melancholy?

But guess what! I was able to give a mini-tour to a special guest!
Let me explain . . .

Two years ago, before he stopped blogging, I visited "Iowa Boy," who gave me a wonderful tour of his gardens. He was very generous and shared a few plants. When I found I was going to be on this year's Garden Tour, I wrote and asked if he and his wife would like to visit. At the time, he didn't think he'd be able to make the trip. However, there was a break in the weather (meaning the sun "came out" for about two hours before it rained again). And guess who rang the doorbell?

Yep! "Iowa Boy!" Mr. Shady enjoyed visiting a bit about prairies. But I was very happy to let him wander around through the gardens about which you read. :-)

Again, he shared a couple of plants with me:

Tricyrtis formosa 'Autumn Glow'

and a Korean Violet 'Syletta'

This is an unnamed violet he shared with me in 2008.
Do you see its first offspring?

Believe it or not, I was able to share a couple of my plants with him! He took home a baby Dwarf Aruncus - Goatsbeard and a Dwarf Astilbe 'Pumila.' :-)

This improved my outlook considerably and Made My Day! I know of the superstition that says you're not to thank a person for the gift of plants. So, I'll just say "Thanks!" to Iowa Boy for his visit and his generous nature.



We'll try having that Garden tour next Sunday, June 20. I hope it works out!! After all, the sun still shines - above the clouds! ;-)

Have a great week!

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!