It's Time

....... I have been touting my 'secret garden project' over this past summer with a promise of a reveal.   And I may regret this but......those who already think I've lost my mind, I am giving them their needed evidence.

So back in May I went to the Wilmington Garden Day Tour.  It is an annual tour of homes and gardens that I attend most years with my daughter.   I originally attended with my mother years ago so it is always a special day.   Much inspiration is gained and many oh's and ah's can be heard.

At one home that was absolutely incredible from its setting to the inside was only to be second in beauty by their gardens.

From their orchid room

The view from their dining room.

It went on and on.   There was not a bad view to be had.

And then I came upon this.......everyone was saying they needed to do this in their backyard.....and I thought, hmmm, I have a trouble spot.......and so it began this twisting and turning in my head.....

(I apologize for the blurry spot.....didn't see the smudge on the lens until l downloaded the photos.)

An idea took shape that I would create a Fairy/Gnome Garden in my backyard.    Yes, I know, who needs more yard work?  Well, I am to a point that I only have to pull an occasional weed and dead head flowers along the way so.....THIS is my permission to play in the dirt.

A few years back a strong storm took down the 75-80 oak tree and it changed my back yard.   The arbor that lead to the path and the path were both totally destroyed.  The tree, technically not on my property actually is about 25 feet off the property line.   But it is part of my back yard by virtue of me clearing the underbrush, planting seed and maintaining for the last 35 years.   (The property is a landlocked section of woods 150 feet deep)  This is what I had to start with.

This is where I have thrown seeds for years only to have only a few come up.  I've thrown a hosta or two, daffodil and iris bulbs, and similar.  To get started, I spent a couple of nights a week putting in about an hours worth of work.  For those of you who don't garden, it is so much like needlework in the sense that you have no worries, no stress, no demands just pull the next weed and have the reward of seeing the completed project after all your efforts.

Above, sometime early on in the summer.   I started this project Memorial Day Weekend so it is only fitting to share is Labor Day Weekend.

I shopped my closets, and shopped consignment stores.   I really didn't spend more than $50.  

I put in pickets from a now defunct vegetable garden fence.

I strung two strings of solar lights. Two strings at $4.99 each

As I looked around recently, I discovered I gravitated to things my family is interested in.

My daughter has a travel trailer and there she is with her fire pit.  My daughter has plans to do a similar garden treatment around the tongue (trailer hitch) of her trailer as it is permanent on the site.   I will have to share pix if she does!

I've got a Penn State Gnome and a Billy Penn Gnome for my son and daughter, respectively.

The camping cabin and canoe for my son-in-law and son.   The birdhouse I grabbed off a shelf and the totem pole I bought for my s-in-l's travels to all the hiking trails he can find across the country when he travels for work.

The every present squirrel on a motorcycle for my husband. (Who by now is just shaking his head at me as he returns to his garage to crack open a beer.)

 The Statue of Liberty for my son and the dolphins swimming past for my daughters.  (Lighthouse $1,   Statute of Liberty $2., the Dolphin below $2.)  I did buy the glass pebbles from Michael's to  create the water

The Dutch Boy and Girl for my Dutch roots.

 Of course a cat.....

 Some whimsy, a fairy and her dragon and her coach awaits her. (Wait, really did I say some whimsy?? It is all crackers!)


 Another squirrel and a traveling Gnome. Turtle and Squirrel from dish gardens.

The  rabbit and the  gnomes working in  their garden.    The  watermelon and orange are votive holders I never ever used.  

In additional to knowing it is really silly, I do know it is kind of sparse still but any new development or landscaping project takes a couple of years to fill itself in.

But I did get the Buddy Cat Seal of Approval.  His presence does explain why things are moved each morning.

 So there you have it.   I am not one to sit and do nothing.  This little endeavor had me out and gardening instead of in the house with the boob tube on.  No matter how tired I was from work, if the weather permitted, I dug in.  Not to worry, I have no plans to shovel snow for these Gnomes and Fairies but I may be on the lookout for some new additions to the neighborhood when I am thirft shopping.  Heaven help the person that buys my house when I do sell it......