I'm sitting on the sofa. My laptop is comfortably at finger-reach and the aroma of freshly baked cookies enhances my breathing experience. The Muppets' Christmas is on deck [TV] for what began as default entertainment. It's an updated version. The brief scene where Kermit pecks at his laptop, dead giveaway. I've forgotten how witty Muppet banter can be and I've actually let out a chortle or two as my divided attention relegates this blog post into the "it's taking way too long" category. ... On to the business at hand. With the Solstice in sight, I thought I'd borrow Tatyana's idea for a stimulating Hot/Cold Shower. Tatyana's blog
The above photo was taken by one of my daughters last December [2008] because I was way too big of a wuss to venture out. ... Oh yes, before I forget. Several of you have asked me to reveal the size of my garden. [How rude.] Well, I have nothing to hide. I'm a liberated woman. Oh yeah, the garden: It's approximately 40 feet wide, east to west and 135 feet long, north to south. I've drawn a simple map with "Garden Planner" software but I can't figure out how to convert it to jpg. so it will be compatible with Picasa where I can crop, water mark and post it. If any of you fine folks has done this, pointers are graciously accepted.
Late May 2009. This photo looks out upon my [rather scruffy] "north lawn."
Another winter 2008 photo.
Same scruffy north lawn.
The above photo was taken by one of my daughters last December [2008] because I was way too big of a wuss to venture out. ... Oh yes, before I forget. Several of you have asked me to reveal the size of my garden. [How rude.] Well, I have nothing to hide. I'm a liberated woman. Oh yeah, the garden: It's approximately 40 feet wide, east to west and 135 feet long, north to south. I've drawn a simple map with "Garden Planner" software but I can't figure out how to convert it to jpg. so it will be compatible with Picasa where I can crop, water mark and post it. If any of you fine folks has done this, pointers are graciously accepted.
Late May 2009. This photo looks out upon my [rather scruffy] "north lawn." Another winter 2008 photo.Same scruffy north lawn.
Too small, I know. But you get the idea.
May 2009 again. The outer pond is barely visible on the far right.
May 2009 again. The outer pond is barely visible on the far right.
And finally, this is the southern end of my 135 feet. Raspberries are on the far right.
Scroll to the bottom to view my first attempt at mapping my monstrosity.
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41 COMMENTS, Click here to add yours:
Now I feel so invigorated after that hot/cold treatment! I just love your garden, Grace. You have done a beautiful job with all aspects. Mmmm.
Fabulous, cold or hot. I will take your "scruffy" any day!
Love the contrasts, though the snow really should be pink to match the garden!
Hi Grace, love the contrasting pics. The snowy ones look gorgeous from inside, the warm ones more welcoming. I particularly love your stony path. And your colour schemes, as I've already commented. Cheers, catmint
Thanks for the hot/cold, Grace. We love seeing your garden and knowing the dimensions really helps us get a feel for the overall. You have done a masterful job planting this long skinny space, lots of paths and twists and turns and of course the plantings are superb! :-)
Frances
Grace girl .. what can I say ? I absolutely love your garden and it is one I would be so happy to have myself !! I love the hot and cold pictures (that snow was like our snow a week or two ago ! ) but I am fixated on how wonderfully full and lush and private your oasis is .. I so want to either win the lottery or find a fool proof way of blocking out my neighbors and being able to lose myself in my own garden .. what do you think the odds are on either ? LOL
YES .. I would love to see your plan too .. I know I have to kick mine up several notches and really get serious about an oasis of my own .. yours is certainly one to emulate girl ! Joy : )
Grace,
Your garden is always a wonderful sight to see. I noticed some really nice hostas, around here they would be a deer buffet.
Good morning Grace! I am glad you showed us more of your botanical garden. If you ever decide to arrange a Grace Garden Tour, I'll be the first in line. Wait, I already see several of your admirers pushing me aside. All right, I might not be the first, but I certainly would love to see all the plants and walk all the paths. As for the winter pictures, the very first one is heart-stopping! Bravo to your girls!
You probably get tired of hearing me say this, but everytime I see your garden it rings a resonant tone with me.
It has so many of the features that I envision my own having. The rocks, the small amount of grass, the beautiful trees, shrubs, and perennials. Can't wait.
Yours is stunning, thanks for sharing pics with us.
Jen
I SO enjoyed seeing these pictures Grace and it's fine with me the winter ones were smaller. It's the summer pics I want to see anyway! :-) You and I have a lot in common, I'm gathering. A dislike for the cold and a love of pink? Is that right? Your garden is packed full of beautiful plants. I think I have roughly the same size lot but not near the same number of plants. I must work on that this year. The grass could definitely be diminished in my back yard to make way for more. I've hesitated before because I am always thinking of moving ~ not sure potential buyers would love the extended garden I have in mind but now I'm thinking I should do it anyway because who knows? Maybe I won't?? Tomorrow is the solstice and we can start counting the days till spring! yay. Great post Tatyana did, and your version is equally compelling. Merry Christmas! (we had that Muppet movie on here too ~ my daughter loves them!)
You have an absolutely gorgeous garden! I will be coming back to these picks as I make a few changes to my own garden next year ;)
So, are you up for making any predictions on the "rest" of our winter? Or when we will see spring? While the cold photos were beautiful I certainly like the hot better...
Beautiful, Grace. I have a yard of about 2 acres and could do so much more if only I had more energy! You must be a dynamo. Your garden is lovely. I love to see diagrams so I hope you figure out the software soon!
Are you on a PC with Microsoft accesories? If so, pull your pic into Paint. You can save it from there as a .jpg.
Paint has few uses, but that's one of its best.
Those pictures are amazing. :) I'll be glad when I get my garden farther along in its development. Of course we have only been living here for three years, but I'm impatient!
I agree with Nell Jean, I usually do a 'Print Screen', paste into Paint and save it as a .jpg. It might not be as good as having the program convert it, but it can do in a pinch. :)
Grace:
And then he thought he could get lost in a garden the size of yours, and never come in contact with another human ( well meeting you amongst the flowers would be divine!)for at least a week! its bloody ginormous. I was so thrilled to see that you actually do get a fair amount of snow as well..... a siting such as yours looks fabulous with a layer of snow!
Now that was a beautiful snow that graced your garden but I still want to look at all of the beautiful flowers instead.
You have so much packed into your beds and even in your stone paths. You have so much that weeds must not find a spot to bother grow in it. That is what I want ;-)
By the way you did a wonderful job on the garden plan and I for one would never call you a wuss. It is just practical that the children should go out and take the snowy pictures. ;-)
Grace, you have a Grace-ful garden (parden the pun, but I think it's true!) ;-) The map is very nice... gives a much better overall visual of where you're taking us! Have a Wonderful Christmas!!! :-)
Hello Grace,
I am impressed at how you have maximized all of your gardening space. I am also a huge fan of Hot and Cold photos, especially since I cannot do that where I live. Your garden is beautiful and well though out.
Oooo! That is a nice map. What did you use to make that?
Your curved pathways do a wonderful job of making the garden appear endless. Lots of different views. You pack a lot of garden into your space. Hats off.
Grace,
I love your hot/cold images. What a winter wonderland you had last year! I have a fabulous idea... I will go sit and admire your garden, and meander along all of those delightful paths. And, you can come here and finish designing mine. Sound good?
What fun to see the winter scenes mixed with the garden in full bloom. I'm filing the idea away in my mind to try myslef;)
Your garden map looks very professional.
Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year.
Marnie
Pretty, pretty! You have done a beautiful job with an interesting garden with paths, beds, ponds, etc. I can't wait to see more photos in the future.
I so love your garden pics. I am trying to make our yard into a beautiful garden also. Not there yet though. I hope you and your family have a Happy Holiday.
Willow
Enjoyed both the hot and the cold Grace. Thanks for showing us more of your beautiful garden. You must have great powers of concentration to be able finish your post in spite of the distraction of those magnificent Muppets :)
Just beautiful, cold and hot Grace. I will be back to nose around a little longer in a bit. I found myself giggling out loud to Frosty over the weekend..even posted two photos I took of the T.V. when it was on....mapping looks pretty darn good Missy!
Oh Grace, Your garden is heaven on earth! Your photography is exquisite too. The winter then summer sequence is stunning and I so prefer the summer too!! I want to become a butterfly and flitter about in your magical plantings for days. A masterpiece! Happy Winter Solstice! Carol
Hi, Grace! I don't see anything scruffy about that garden. It's lush and lovely... downright gorgeous. I should try to map out my gardens. I think we're about the same size just different dimensions.
Keep warm and have a very Merry Christmas!
It's just so pretty there! I absolutely love your style of gardening and how full it is. I'm already planning on ripping out more grass this spring to add more beds. I love your gravel paths between the beds.
Hard to believe we had so much snow this time last year. My daughter is convinced it hasn't snowed because I actually bought toboggans this year.
Grace....Carol took the words out of my computer~~so to speak! Your garden is a delight...hot or cold! Have a happy holiday....gail
Very beautiful Grace. Your garden is beautiful and what a great map to it! Now wonder you can pack so many plants in!
Cold or hot your garden looks great! I have to admit I like the hot better! But it is the cold that makes us appreciate the hot!Happy Holidays to you and your family
Yummy photos, Grace! The last 2 winters gave me plenty of snowy photo ops, but this year has (thankfully!) been mostly snowless. It's been raining. I love rain. It doesn't have to be shoveled.
I can't wait until my garden looks as mature as yours. I keep saying that, but it's what I think each time you post these wide view pix!
great shots and love the contrasts of hot and cold...though I prefer the hot. ;-)
I love the Muppets and one of my daughters is hooked too. She even skipped out of grad school classes for a day and drove with a friend to the Smithsonian to see the Muppet exhibit. That's my gal!
Gorgeous pictures both summer and winter. I love the plan of your garden. 40 x 135 is actually a large area to intensively garden I think -- that's bigger than my big perennial bed, which at times has seemed to stretch to infinity when I am weeding it. All of the layers of colors and textures in your garden is really beautiful.
Grace, bellissimo!
From our family to yours, May you have a Blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with good health and Joy. Diana
Hello Grace,
I'm loving the hot way more than the cold right now! Especially love all the chartreuse and gold in your garden.
Cheers from Alaska,
Christine at Last Frontier Garden
My garden in Scotland just looks like one of your snow pictures just now. I love the colour in the garden and all the curves in your design. I could spend hours in your garden:)
Even though you don't like winter, your gardens look almost as pretty in snow. Thanks for putting the map of your garden on your blog. I don't know how to do that. I'm assuming you used a program for it.
I don't remember if I wished you a Merry Christmas. I think I"m the queen of the scatterbrains.
Grace - this is what I dream of my Greenhouse Landscaping project to look like one day! I LOVE IT!!! THank you for sharing your beautiful garden.
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