Yesterday Ceedub and her husband JC came out to Jensen's greenhouse to buy a few goodies.
Afterwards, they came to visit me for the first time.
I am in the purple vest and Ceebub is in pink. This is in my Secret Garden in an old small apple orchard. The trees are in glorious bloom.
Ceedub had the lovely idea of bringing a picnic for us to enjoy in the garden..but the wind kicked up and it got a bit too cold to be comfortable outside, so we had our picnic in the kitchen. She and JC brought me the cheerful yellow Fleuerttes plant you see on the table. She had outdone herself with chicken, greek salad, cous cous salad, and bean salad..the lunch was wonderful, with lots of conversation of course.
This message was edited May 29, 2005 8:01 AM
The wind died down, and off we went to the garden again.
This is Christine and JC at the entrance to the Secret Garden in front of the gate arbour.( can't get enough of those blooms..LOL)
My daughter and her girls came to visit just as we were finishing lunch....so Christine and JC got to meet them too.
I asked them all to help me put together an arbour I had been given. It was avery lightweight one so we put it in between two apple trees for support, where I already had a Josephine clematis growing up the tree.
This is my daughter and grandaughters.
Christine wove the clematis through the rails while I used some of that fabulous garden velcro tape to help hold it, and JC had fun pruning the apple tree limbs with the heavy lopers. We had a good time joking and chatting while we worked. Here JC is clowning for the camera with the lopers.
Reminds me of the famous painting of the farmer with his rake beside his wife. LOL It was so relaxed and easy being with them...and I sure appreciated their help.
The three of us together..my grandaughter took this pic.
It was a fun day and it was great to meet a fellow DG'er and talk about our gardens.
I'll let Christine tell you all about the fabulous plants she bought at Jensen's.
Thanks Christine and JC.
Cheers,
Carol
Sounds like you and Christine and her DH had a wonderful day, Carol. Thanks for sharing it with us. Your lovely daughter looks like you and your granddaughters are little beauties as well. It's early here, and that dinner scene has made me hungry for Breakfast. :Donna
How wonderful to see both you and Christine, Carol!!! Your secret garden has always been one of my favorites and seeing your lovely family was another treat! Ü
Carol, those shots are great! JC and I had a wonderful time visiting with you and seeing your gardens. I especially appreciated the guided tour and your being able to tell me what all the plants were. Yes, the apple blossoms were glorious and smelled so sweet. Carol, your secret garden is so beautiful and peaceful-its a very special place to be and I feel honoured to have visited there.
Your daughter is a lovely person and your grandaughters are very sweet and bright girls. It was a joy meeting them all, thank you so much for letting us visit your place and meet your family.
We only got four plantsJensens, but what we got was very special. I got a Red Hot Hibiscus- it has varegated leaves and fire engine red flowers, smaller than a lot of other hibiscuses. I also got a diplademia, aka Mondevalia, and a duranta, with tiny varegated purple flowers, that are just so pretty! I also got my heart's desire, a neon pothos, which I've been wanting since I first saw one about a year ago.
Here's a branch of the Hiiscus with a bud about to open, and you can see the varegation in the leaves.
Edited to say, duh, its a Red Hot Hibiscus not a red hot clematis.
This message was edited May 30, 2005 9:23 AM
And the little baby neon pothos...hmm, gonna have to clean those water spots up! The reason I haven't bought one until now is that I hadn't seen one for under $20 until now. I once offered to buy a cutting from a shop keeper, and she acted like I was trying to steal it...sigh...
I'll definitely go back to Jensen's, which is a supplier of tropical plants-I was told they supply about 200 flower shops and garden centres. From the size of the operation, I can believe it!
Thanks again Carol, we had a great time visiting, and hope we can visit again. BUT, now its your turn to visit us!
Christine.
Oh Chistine all your plants are lovely........but that Duranta is taking my breath away! If you ever see a tiny one would you pick one up for me please (begging on hands and knees here)! ;)
Very pretty plants you got there, Christine. Was this part of your birthday booty? Thanks for sharing with us.
No Donna, my birthday booty was strictly hoyas - 12 of them - I get 8 of them delivered this week. Our banker told us about Jensen's and we didn't really know what to expect, but I had a wish list from Lilypon for a clematis and several passiflora. Unfortunately they didn't have what she wanted. But everything we did buy was strictly impulse buying - we were both like kids in a candy shop. JC picked the hibiscus - I think my heart stopped when I saw the duranta...lol.
This message was edited May 30, 2005 9:25 AM
Ah, yes. That Duranta is a beauty alright. You are a lucky lady! :D
I can appreciate your DH's delight in Clematis. I have a soft spot for them as well.
Good Morning all,
Donna,
Thanks for the nice comments on my "girls". My grandaughters stayed overnight with me and in the morning we planted some impatiens together. They decorate the playhouse they call the "club"
Lilypon,
The Secret Garden needs a lot more weeding and so on yet..but the apple blossoms kept us distracted and the fragrance was wonderful. It makes me smile to know you enjoy seeing the photos. While we were sitting out back in the 'Nook Garden we saw the Oriole in amongst the blossoms..what a pretty sight. He has such a clear call you know when he is around.
Christine,
I'm happy you enjoyed the photos and our visit. I think you said your "Red Hot" was a hibiscus. Here is a link to it.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/46827/
It must have been all the time you played with my Josephine clematis getting it unwound from the tree and weaving it on the trellis that made you have clematis on your mind. :) I think you chose some very special plants at Jensen's.
It was fun doing a little work on the garden together. I got some weeding and trimming done yesterday after the girls went home. The pot of yellow Fleurettes look lovely on my kitchen table.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Carol
Christine and Carol........what cozy fun together! I still miss meeting everyone at the RU in Victoria! So glad we can post pictures..I have some more of my grand babies too.............our backyard is on a slope and to see these little guys trying to walk up the hill, fall down and roll to the bottom..........that's entertainment at it's best! E
hiya Starzz/Ceedub
What a huge treat to meet and be able to share such beautiful gardens together. And ceedub, those plants are great.
best to both of you,
Don
Nice to see you visit, drdon. I have been watching your post regarding "Living with a Rose Addict" and have found it very interesting and compliment you on all the work you have done. Your garden looks terrific. Also, congrats on hosting the CA RU next month. I am sure you'll all have a wonderful time.
:Donna
I have been enjoying the ongoing tale of the "Rose Addict"...I was telling this to my hubby on Sat morn whilst a garden tour romped thru our spread! So many of the roses are out! He was walking around, with the ladies, every once in a while asking......."Woould you like to take on some of this garden" yikes.........please do, TOO MUCH! I suppose, as I have this theory........one who doesn't quite understand the passion of gardening, cannot really take it all in.....although, he's the first to show somebody new, the garden......and I have a feeling, you, drdon, are in the same boat! I have this picture in my mind, with your wife, standing at the top of the hill there, conducting you like an orchestra, but very gently!! keep up the journey..........Elaine, aka ramblin'rose, rosenut**********
