England and Its Gardens

We are thinking spring today. And remembering one of the greatest garden adventures ever.
We saw so much on our whirlwind tour of English gardens five years ago. It was amazing!

We would love to go on the 2016 version of this tour which moves North and into Wales, and are a bit envious of a friend who may get to, but even while the price of gasoline is dropping like a stone, confusingly, airfare is not.

Deborah Kerr in An Affair to Remember says, "Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories." and she is so right. So for this year we will rely on memories of our brief affair with English gardens and be thankful for them.

When we need a little garden fix in the winter we watch, and watch, and watch again this little production made from our photos of England and Its Gardens. You might enjoy it too.



If after this you still need even more promise that Spring is on its way consider coming together with like minded people for this annual, perennially inspiring event.

Think Spring!

Love Hurts

To mitigate the damage be careful where you step in matters of the heart 

(and on the winter landscape), but by all means go for it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Alphons

.... is ready for love, are you?

Valentines signed, sealed and delivered?

While the mustache is cringe-inducing, the penmanship  is divine and totally swoon-worthy.

We give Alphons a perfect ten for style and hope it got him somewhere with Mlle. Marie Louise. 

Available for Immediate Occupancy

Prime Location: Tasteful, no bedroom, no bath, unfurnished, newly landscaped clay pot with high ceilings, natural lighting and great view located in quiet neighborhood just steps away from downtown. Utilities not included or needed.* 

To get a garden fix on a winter day we took a little class at Down to Earth Garden Center and 

came home with a lovely little green oasis for a partly sunny indoor location

.

Many gardens like this one are inhabited by fairies, but most modern day fairies are not content to live in a hollow log or under a toadstool anymore and require stuff, lots of stuff. We suspect many of them will soon be in need of fairy storage units for all the diminutive merchandise they are acquiring for the new standard of living in the realm of pixies, sprites, and elves. 

We wanted to see who might show up to live in our garden as is, without need of a house or gazebo, arbor or patio set, or even an Adirondack chair.

First to apply for the vacant habitat was this guy, but being a bit of a swinger he decided this neighborhood was likely not "happening" enough for him and shuffled off, knuckles dragging.

Then these two showed up, but they were really hoping for something swampier. When they left they said they were going to check out a place on Tainter Lake.

It was love at first sight for this couple.They moved in immediately and were thrilled to be first occupants of  what they proclaimed would be "their own little Eden" .

   

Perhaps things will evolve and some companions will come along if no meteor hit (in the form of a lapse in watering) occurs.

Based on past experiences this landlord could make no guarantees of successful long term upkeep so the lease is month to month. We did however, waive the damage deposit. We have much confidence in these tenants being quiet and responsible. If they were on the second floor it would be an entirely different story.

* Tips on the art of writing rental ads here. Interesting and apparently effective.