Jul 14 2007
Another Day in Paradise
Before I start stamping I just want to share a few garden photos from today. It was one of those incredibly still and beautiful days we get before a rain. Mostly overcast but warm and so quiet you could hear the buzz of a bee in the far distance. I must have been the only person home in the neighborhood today, too, because there weren’t even any of those sounds. Maybe everyone stayed inside, put off by the overcast sky, thinking it a dreary day. It was anything but a dreary day in the garden.
The first photo is a view of the upper level of the side garden. To the left of the photo the garden slopes down, accessed by a set of brick stairs and a grassy “road” with a terraced bed between the two. I’ve shown glimpses of those areas in photos I’ve posted before. I’m standing near the honeysuckle arbor where the path curves around to the back yard. The yellow bench in the distance sits on our tiny patio off the kitchen and beyond that the path curves around the front of the house toward the driveway.
This photo is across the path, sort of skipping over top of the sunken area and looking to the upper level beyond it. Our stone walk is a work in progress. I envision it cushioned with steppable ground covers, making the path more a part of the garden, less raw and glaring. It can actually be quite blinding on a sunny day. It’s paved with Rocky Mountain Rose Quartz and looks like it’s sprinkled with glitter when the sun hits it just right.
Let’s go around to the front of the house, now, but rather than curving to the right behind the yellow bench in the first photo, we’ll step through that little break between the butterfly bush and the Rose Glow barberry. We then enter a grassy area where the picnic table sits under the cherry tree. I’ve stamped out there before but I’ll confess, the garden does distract me. These words by Morpheus express it so well:
When bright flowers bloom parchment crumbles, my words fade, the pen has dropped…
I posted earlier that I’d make quick work of my gardening today so I could spend the afternoon stamping. Who was I kidding, I wonder? I simply cannot resist the lure of the garden on one of the few days I’m able to enjoy it. I guess I’ll be doing some evening stamping after dinner… Until my next post, take care and enjoy your weekend!
What a gorgeous oasis. Oh my, no wonder you love to spend time here. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful! I’m working on getting mine to look that good, but I only have 100 sf to work with in my yard. So it’s kind of limiting. Maybe the next house will have a bigger yard.
One of these days I will find myself in your area of the woods and I will be walking those paths with you! I cannot imagine the great joy and serenity this garden brings to you — I know myself that I would love to spend hours there just sitting.
Leslie, can you come plant the garden at my new house? I’d like one just like yours!
Oh my goodness!!! I stumbled upon your blog from lord knows where, and these pictures of your garden are AMAZING!! I’m in the process of looking for my first home and I’ve always dreamt of having a garden like yours. Maybe you can suggest some easy to grow and maintain plants? What part of the country do you live in?
My goodness…it just keeps getting prettier!! It looks like heaven on earth!!
You have taken my breathe away! This is a magnificent garden and I am so envious. You are truely blessed! Thank you so much for sharing!
This makes me SO jealous. The only plants I have are the two urns outside my apartment door. Well, that and the corn field out back!
Oh my honey…what I wouldn’t do for an outdoor space like that. So peaceful and serene. Lucky you! Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures.
Oh my word Leslie, but every picture of your garden just gets better and better. Did I see Hydrangea’s? If so, you will not believe how envious I am. Colorado’s arid climate isn’t known for growing those beauties. Just beautiful!
Linda
Ummm…care to take a trip cross country?!
Your garden is breathtaking, Leslie! All I can say is WOW!
I swear this looks like someplace I’d pay admission to enter. Absolutely breathtaking!
Oh, wow! As I’ve told you before, I have serious garden envy when you post your pics. It looks so incredibly lovely and tranquil. I can see me sitting in that chair with my new HP book…
Oh wow.. oh wow.. oh WOW!!
OH MY GOSH Leslie…your garden is unbelieveably gorgeous!! I would spend all days there, rain or not….it’s so lush and green and wonderous!!
Oh, Leslie. . . I love, love, love, love, love! your beautiful garden. Wow!!
absolutely breathtaking, leslie! i know how much work is involved in my little areas of flower garden, so i can only imagine how much of your heart and soul you’ve put into yours. what a blessing for you to be able to experience the fruits of your labor every day. and thanks for sharing a little taste with us!
I love seeing your garden pictures. It’s absolutely dreamy.
Paradise indeed! I don’t know which is more breathtaking - the dazzling array of colors from the beautiful flowers and shrubs, or all the gorgeous shades of green. Please don’t make me choose. Thanks for sharing another enchanting tour of your garden, Leslie. My dream is to see this IRL someday. Linda
We really do live in paradise! I am spending an hour each day just deadheading, esp. all of our day lilies. TFS your corner of paradise!
Wow Wow Wow Wow! Your garden is probably the most gorgeous one I’ve ever seen (and I’ve only seen it through my computer screen!) Oh, how I miss the Northwest (I’m origianlly from the Portland area) If I were you…I would never ever stamp in the summer..LOL! I don’t think I could actually leave long enough to go stamp…
Beautiful garden. I love it very much.
This is truly awe inspiring! I need you to come landscape my place!!!
Your flower garden is out of this world beautiful! Wow, how wonderful…I could just live outside anyway, and this is to die for!
WOW. I love your gardens.
WOW - I have just found your blog, and not only are your stamping and papercraft projects inspiring - but your garden is AWE INSPIRING. You are one talented motivated chickie…. feel like a visit to Australia to make a garden just like yours? *wink*