Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Back to June and another garden walk

More photos snapped on a June garden walk. These things caught my eye as I strolled around yards and gardens. Hope you find some of them interesting.


It's hard to see well in this first photo. The window frames are covered in ivy. I don't know how much damage this will do to the frames but it was very attractive. The purple shrub in front is a smoke tree cotinus. They seem to be gaining popularity again. Click on the photos to see the detail a little better.



Below is a chandelier and a framed print (probably taken from a dining room somewhere and now hanging outside). The wide soffet must protect them from rain. I thought barbequing under a crystal chandelier was interesting.


A cute idea. An old western boot was made into a bird house. If I was going to copy this idea, I would hang the boot under the canopy of a tree (like a maple tree). Left in the sun these decorative birdhouses get too hot inside and kill the hatchlings.


I see mailboxes in gardens everywhere. I like the idea of having extra pruners, gloves, trowels handy to each garden area. If it was mine, I would plant a vine over it. In the winter I would put peanuts on the open door for blue jays and squirrels.


43 comments:

Unknown said...

That was a fun June walk! Needed it today.

beckie said...

Marnie, the chandeleir and print take the saying 'outdoor rooms' to a whole new level. I see there is also a stereo speaker.

I am just not a fam of the smoke trees...but I know they are making a come back. I do like the mailbox. What a great idea to have gloves ect. handy for a quick job in the garden. Like you, I would plant a vine over and around it though or maybe do a little stenciling on it.

Fun ideas and how great to see the sun if only in a picture. :}

Roses and Lilacs said...

Darla, I hope your son is better and you, you must be worried sick. Take care of him and keep us posted.
Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Beckie, I agree. That crystal chandelier made me smile. They barbeque in style.

My grandmother had an old fashioned smoke tree that I always loved. I'm looking for the right place to plant one.
Marnie

Anonymous said...

Lots of cool ideas here Marnie ~ the reason we go on these tours, right?! (oh and the plants!) I also love the idea of a chandelier hanging outdoors. Just something very appealing about it. I think maybe a chandelier using candles would work best for me tho. I agree a vine over the mailbox would make that idea even better. It's a good one as is tho, a place that provides protection for tools as well as keeping them handy is welcome to me! You are so right about the boot getting too hot. We really need to think about some of the things we do. Great post Marnie and thanks for sharing more of your garden tour photos. I always enjoy them.

Pat said...

Love it !
The crystal chandelier and the boot are very creative.
Want to see more ! :D

Randy said...

I never get tired of seeing other folk's gardening ideas! We just planted a Purple Smoke tree this past year.--Randy

flydragon said...

I must admit that I'm not a fan of the outside chandelier, but the mailbox...now that I like!

tina said...

You went to a lot of fun houses! I especially like the crystal chandelier and mailbox. But really that smokebush is outstanding! It is doing so well to be in shade. I love it.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hey Kathleen, you are so right. I never leave one of these walks without getting an idea.

Hi Patsi, I do have a few more pictures to do in this series;)

Hi Jamie and Randy, other people have such good ideas. I never have an original idea. Good luck with your smoke tree.

Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Flydragon, I can't see a chandelier hanging outside my house. It would look absurd;) A guilt framed print would look silly too. I wish the snow plow hadn't mangled my mail box. I'd recycle it into my garden.

Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Tina, I like the smoke tree too. Many people are cutting them back every year to keep them small and full. Unfortunately they probably won't bloom if cut back in the winter/spring. Maybe an every-other-year chop would work.
Marnie

F Cameron said...

Fun photos!

My husband has his own grilling deck. It's the Musician's kitchen and I rarely set foot outside MY kitchen door into that space. It is an extension of our kitchen in that he assists by grilling the Thanksgiving turkey, pork roasts for dinner parties and such. I don't think he'd go to a chandelier! :-)

Cameron

troutbirder said...

I've been always intrigued by the idea of having a smoke tree but am not sure it would be hardy here on the tundra.

Phillip Oliver said...

We made a planter out of an old chandelier and it turned out great. That smoke tree is so pretty!

Dog_geek said...

Ah, I have vague memories of June... long days, warm sun, flowers.... it's all coming back to me looking at these pics!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Cameron, from the comments, I think these folks may have a one-of-a-kind barbeque chandelier;)

Troutbirder, I don't know either. From experience I've learned you can push the zones for a while but sooner or later the tree is gonna die and leave a big hole.

Phillip, I'd love to see your planter. I've seen some mirrors hung outside and they look great. I'm thinking about finding a place for a mirror.

Marnie

Donna said...

Oh, Marnie, your comment on my blog made me cry... First, thank you for sharing that Lord Byron quote. It is beautiful and rings with such truth. Second, your sweet Voodoo (who looks so much like my Mr. B)... I am so, so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with you right now... Donna @ An Enchanted Cottage

raccoonlover1963/Lisa Myers said...

Hi Marnie.
I love the your header picture! I think that most snow pictures are pretty. I'll be glad when spring is here again so I can get out and take some decent pictures.
Take care and have a great week.
Lisa

BeadedTail said...

That was a very lovely walk through the garden which I so needed today! I love the ideas and can't wait for everything to be blooming again!

And to answer your question on if I use flash when taking a picture of my cats, only if it's absolutely necessary. Isabella closes her eyes when she knows a flash is coming and Angel's white fur washes out and she has red devil eyes. Both have laser eyes too with flash. I use macro for the close up photos of them and try to have plenty of lighting on in the house.

Anonymous said...

I just love remembering June. Our snow melted and we now have blowing wind and pouring rain. The warm weather and sun seems like a long time ago, so it is a delight to visit summer again.

joey said...

Ah, sweet June ... yes, I remember it well. Thanks for the reminder, dear Marnie ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi Marnie, what an excellent idea with that mailbox and the peanuts! Thanks for the idea. :-) Maybe the chandelier is not wired, just a decoration or uses candles. I love that look too and have an arbor now that might need some decor like that! Another good inspiration from this post, keep 'em comin'!
Frances

Roses and Lilacs said...

Donna, thank you for your kind thoughts. I noticed the similarity to your Mr B. Everyone of us who loves animals knows that they are with us for such a short time. We allow ourselves to love them even tho it will mean sorrow in the future.
Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi RaccoonLover, it's good to see you again. I know what you mean, snow is beautiful but it isn't user friendly;)

Thanks BeadedTail, I'll just have to get more light into my dark house. I appreciate the tip.

Hi Gayle, I know. Summer photos are so great to look back on.

Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Joey, spring seems so long ago and still longer until we see another.

Hi Frances, I guess we need to start visiting the thrift stores to stock up on possible decorations for the coming season. I have a few collected from last year that I plann to trot out;)

Marnie

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Hi Marnie, I love attending garden walks--it is indeed a great way to get ideas, plus I really like seeing other people's gardens.
~Monica

Machelle said...

Is that your garden tools I see in the mailbox? What a great idea!! I may have to steal that trick, I am forever misplacing my hand tools.
Great pics!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Monica, I love seeing other people's gardens too. They go to so much work to get those gardens looking perfect.

Machelle, no those aren't my tools. I plan to steal the idea too. I'm just too lazy to walk the extra distance to the garage;)

Marnie

Anonymous said...

What a fun walk to retake in January, thanks for sharing. The crystal chandelier was an interesting addition to the garden. :)

Rose said...

Just what I needed on this cold wintry day! Lots of clever ideas here, including the mailbox. I have an extra mailbox...hmmm, I might find a place for that. And my husband has some old boots, but I can't imagine the birds would find one of his too appealing:)

Gail said...

marnie,

You have a great neighborhood to walk around and see gardens. We don't have access to folks gardens here or sidewalks! I have only seen the chandeliers hanging in a garden magazine article. What did you think of it?

Thanks for reminding us that the birds need some breathable homes! I wonder how many of us were given such birdhouses for Christmas.

gail

Anonymous said...

I do love to go on a walk and discover treasures in my neighbor's backyards. I would most likely be staring at yours! I like all your pic ideas and they aren't to hard to do..well..if you have an old cowboy boot of course. Don't you know the birds are loving that.

A Wild Thing said...

Hi Marnie, I Googled Bobbie McKibbin too and what wonderful work she does, I especially like Iowa Savannah, but the Queen Anne's Lace is gorgeous too. Our beautiful landscape in the Midwest is wonderful in any season.

While you were typing your comment, I was thinking the very same thing. The man out hunting for game and the woman out foraging for roots and berries. What a hard existence they suffered, only to bless the land and the beast for their very survival, a kinship not easily won, but a necessity.

We're getting a little snow mist right now and brrrr winds. I'm staying warm making a new 'Mother Earth' necklace, will post it tomorrow...have a great day.

sharon

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi PerennialGardener, I was thinking the same thing. A brief visit to a warmer, sunnier time.

Hi Rose, the older and grungier the boot, the cuter it would look hanging out there.

Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Gail, these gardens aren't in my neighborhood. Various garden clubs in nearby towns sponsor the garden walks. Some are free and some cost $20.

Flowergardengirl, I keep my old western boots until they fall apart. Once they are broke in you don't want to get rid of them. I was thinking of buying work boots at a thrift shop. One could be a bird house and the other a planter for sedum.

Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Sharon, if I had an extra $2500 I would love one of Bobbie McKibbin's paintings. Iowa's landscapes look very much like Illinois. It was great to discover her even if just to see her paintings online.

Marnie

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Thanks for your comment on my blog.I enjoyed my 'walk' with you,looking at different garden scenes.People are so creative,it's good so see their ideas.
Blessings,Ruth

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

I forgot to mention, and I'm sure you're just dying to know (??!), that purple smokebush is one of my favorite woodies. Mine's only maybe three feet tall, but it's been transplanted twice.
~Monica

Roses and Lilacs said...

Monica, it's one of my favorites too. I had one struggling with Verticillium wilt for years so I've been slow to get another.

Hi Ruth, people do have excellent ideas and it's good of them to share those ideas with us.

Marnie

Anonymous said...

Oh..nice to take a walk isn't it...Thanks for taking me along on this very cold snowy day..

100 Thoughts of Love said...

Love, love the mailbox....not so the boot:)

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I have gotten behind in my blog reading! I enjoyed catching up here. I like your Christmas greeting, too. Each picture in this post had something I kept saying, "I like..." in it. I love smoke trees. Our neighbor across the street has one he or his former renters keeps chopping back with other stuff that just needs to be dug out to leave room for it to look nice. Maybe I'll talk to him about it this spring.

That mailbox is a great idea.

Happy New Year,
Sue