A SUMMER MEDLEY

A SUMMER MEDLEY

Goddess Planter

In the summer, I often reflect on quotes from Ray Bradbury’s book, “Dandelion Wine.” Bradbury writes, “Medicines of another time, the balm of sun and idle afternoons, the faintly heard sounds of ice wagons passing on brick avenues, the rush of silver skyrockets, all these in a glass.” It seems like a timeless quote to me because it echoes my past and yet places me squarely in the present summertime. In this post, I will attempt to have you enter my world this summer at Woodloft.

Side-View

I love when my plants get to the stage where they drape over the top of my Goddess planters and in some cases, they even begin to become integrated and look as though plant and planter are one.

Hidden Goddess Planter

Earth Mother Goddess Fountain

Goddess with Baby's Breath

My garden is doing great so far. Last year, the deer feasted on most of my vegetables and they seemed to especially like my impatiens.

Hydrageos and Petunias

Tomato and Bean Garden

The market has been hopping the last few weeks with one celebration after the other. We had a Chili cookoff, Strawberry festival, Local Colors festival, a dog festival, Festival in the Park Craft show, and last weekend was the Sidewalk Art Show.

Side-View of Booth at Farmer's Market Saturday

Picture of "yours truly" taken on the market by soap girl Rebecca

My Friend, Trish, Sitting on Back of B-dazzle With Her Flowered Dress

Rudy Saunders Drummed at the Park adjacent to the Market

Tim Belcher and Helper

Jerry and Brian-Who Call Themselves "Two Bitter Old Potters"

Chris and Friend Cook Up A Storm at 'Thelma's Chicken and Waffles' Restaurant

Pauline's Enticing Little Boutique on the Market

Since I acquired my Kindle, I read more books in a week than I used to in months. The reason: I am able to enlarge the font and have no need for reader glasses. Of the many I have read recently, one that I’d like to recommend for summer reading is 'The book of Lost Fragrances,'by M.J.Rose. I like it when authors names suit their titles~LOL. The book is very thought provoking and I’ve even started a new art series after reading it.’ Maybe you can guess what it is I’ll be creating.

Speaking of creating, I’m busy with my ‘face’ soaps for the market. They are major good sellers for me and I’m having a hard time keeping up with the demand!

My Face Soaps in Lavender and Rose Geranium

Even though it is not the season for eggplants, I have been craving them. Obsession is my name when it comes to finding the best recipe possible for any given dish. The last few weeks, I’ve been experimenting with recipes for Eggplant Parmagiana. Coming from an ethnic background, I have always made my parmagiana from traditional methods of salting, draining and dipping the eggplant before frying and baking. Recently, I attended one of our “Little Supper Club” gatherings and was delighted with Christine’s pasta eggplant. In her recipe, spaghetti was actually added as an ingredient and it was very tasty. I decided that there must be many other recipes out there so I searched the web and experimented with several. Finally, I came up with the one that rivals my recipe and is much simpler and better for you. I’ll be posting the recipe soon.

Christine's Eggplant Parmagiana

I vow to try to slow down this summer and enjoy all the beauty that surrounds me. Hope everyone else gets a chance to slow down as well.

NEFERTITI EGYPTIAN GODDESS PLANTER

NEFERTITI EGYPTIAN

GODDESS PLANTER

Nefertiti Egyptian Planter

I’ve been sculpting away every day trying to get ready for next spring’s Goddess planter presentation. Last year, as I noted in a previous posting, I sold out of the planters after a few showings and wished I had started a few months earlier. I usually start in January.

Close-up

JEAN'S MAGICAL GARDEN

JEAN'S MAGICAL GARDEN

Lifeguard chair "left by the beach fairies"

When I pulled into the driveway a few days ago, I was surprised to find an unusual item left on my front deck. It was a lifeguard chair! Did the beach fairies get lost and accidentally leave the chair in a mountainous setting instead of by the sea by mistake? After contemplating this strange phenomenon, I figured it out. It had to have been left by my neighbors, the Robertsons.

Sidegate entrance into the courtyard

Close up of Jean's wire and metal sculpture

Jean and her husband Bob, have the most fanciful, imaginative garden I’ve ever seen, including any that have appeared in national magazines. I figured they must have found the chair somewhere and thought of me. They fessed up to the deed, said they had hauled it all the way from Richmond just for me. They just knew I needed it for my pool area. I am grateful to have such considerate neighbors and grateful to have such a gem to work with. I am now left with the nagging thought of ‘what to do to spiff it up.’

Six foot tall sculpture of goddess inside courtyard

Courtyard includes stained glass and sculpture

I took a walk through Jean’s garden yesterday, trying to drum up some ideas or at least gain inspiration as to how to approach refurbishing my newly acquired sculpture.

I am greeted by the hardwood birdhouses Jean creates

Every single inch of this garden provides a vista that relaxes, yet revitalizes you at the same time. To walk along the path makes you feel as though you have just entered a nature retreat. Jean is a sculptor and makes use of discarded items, garage sale finds and flea market treasures. She says she can’t stand to see any item go to the dump when she knows it can be turned into a treasure. And..treasures abound in the Robertson garden.

Garden path leading to aviary and waterpond

Water pond featuring koi and exotic water plants

Another view of the water pond with more of Jean's amazing sculpture

Purple vessels and statuary reflect a monastery atmosphere

Jean's handcrafted clay fish bird feeders add whimsy

Metal sculpture of man and pink guitar

I love the almost life size metal horse sculpture

Birdhouses Jean created using porch columns

Bottle tree

Sculptures are tucked into areas along the many paths

Mosaic of woman guarding plants

Before leaving this magical garden, I must comment on the birds I saw flitting from one of Jean's many feeders to the other. The sound of the water, the birds melody and the light breeze gently coaxing the chimes to ring put me in a meditative state. I found it hard to leave this haven. The photos I have shown do not do justice to this charming garden. One has to walk the path, hear the song and feel the ambiance to fully appreicate it's worth.

Sculpture Jean recycled from fence pickets

The Robertsons listed their home for sale a few weeks ago. I will be so sorry to see them go but will always remember the spark they added to our neighborhood. Their telephone number is 540-776-6568 for anyone interested.

Another small garden room

In honor of Jean and Bob’s gift to me and because I have been blogging for four months now and want to celebrate that experience, I have decided to have a contest and a giveaway. To provide you with a little hint, it will be a contest involving the lifeguard chair. Tune in for my next post. I will explain all about the contest and show pictures of all the wonderful gifts I have planned for the winner.

GARDEN STRATEGY-WOODLOFT

GARDEN STRATEGY

WOODLOFT

Woodloft vegetable garden

What a beautiful garden, right? Wrong! What started out as my vegetable garden is slowly but surely turning into a chomping ground for some bean varmint. And it’s not only the beans, but the impatiens as well. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love my bean garden. I grow the very best each year. Sometimes, I order them from Italy. Beans like fagiolo rampicante or fagiolo nano or maxibel filet or haricot verts all have their place in my garden.

My garden journal -- beans are my number one concern each summer

I use a very pungent -- and that's saying it mildly -- organic fertilizer with chicken manure. You would think the smell alone would scare off any creature. Nevertheless, it seems the entire vegetable garden is doomed this year. My basil, which is my cooking prize, is pitted. This seems unthinkable since I plant marigolds around the ends of the row. Marigolds are supposed to ward off bugs of all kinds.

My vegetable garden is beginning to look like a bean cemetery

Basil garden

I have begun to try to outplant the varmint. Each morning, I plant a new packet of seeds, hoping that whatever it is -- rabbit, ground hog, chipmunk or ? -- will get its fill and move on. But so far, every day starts with me finding the remnants of another night's destruction. I'm starting to feel like Bill Murray in "Caddy Shack."

I hate to think that my beautiful garden of impatiens will be gone soon. Each morning, I find them bitten off at the root, lying hopelessly in small heaps.

Today, in addition to planting a packet of beans, I'm going to use an old method I’ve used in the past to scare off the critters. I use dish soap and hot pepper. This time, I chose hot chilpote pepper and the pepperchino that I purchased last time I was in Italy. I mix them with water and spray the mixture over the entire area. I’ll try to hit the basil and hope for the best. If all else fails, I guess I could resort to purchasing a Havahart trap. Then what would I do with the creature? I know! My friend, Marcia, across the street, has told me she wants a little pet. Hee Hee… .

If anyone reading my blog today has any idea of how I can solve my garden problem this year, please let me know. I'm running out of bean seeds; and I'm becoming impatient with the fate of my impatiens!

Pepperchino, dish detergent and water

RECYCLED WOODLOFT

WOODLOFT GARDEN RECYCLED

This ragged wheelbarrow was ready for the trash heap. Wheels were broken and sides rusted through. I added a bit of paint which brought it up a notch.

Woodloft garden, like most gardens, has gone through many changes over the years. I love to take items that are clearly ready for the trash and give them new life. I’m going to show you a few of my before and afters.

Meet Peggy Pots

Peggy a few summers ago

Peggy had a rough winter

This year my granddaughter, Marcy, redecorated Peggy. She still needs a bit of work but she is almost ready for another hot summer. She sports a pair of my mother's old tennis shoes and we used a gourd for her head.

Peggy, 2009

Before

Just because your old door mats are looking worn and tired doesn’t mean you have to throw them away. The backing on them is usually pretty rugged and meant to last many years. A little acrylic paint on the front design and they are even better than new.

After

Before: faded doormat

After

I bought a simple $13 plastic Adirondack chair from Home Depot and a can of berry Rust-Oleum spray paint. What a difference! I’ll probably replace the pillow I temporarily placed on it with something waterproof. I bought 2 of these chairs and am so pleased at the way they rev up my garden.

Before: dull, lifeless yellow chair

After: bright, bold and cheery

Next time I’ll show you a few more of my recycled creations.