Patron Saints

Just spotted this thread in N.E. and they have spotted that we all have a patron saint of gardening - and here was me thinking we were all out there digging along by the seat of our rather grubby pants! How nice to have someone with us saying - "hmmmm, don't think so, that yellow and that red? maybe not your best......" I wondered if he could live happily along side some of Pixie's gnomes and sprites. I quite like the glass window they found of him, and he has a nice clustering of people he is saint to: gardeners, pewterers (did you know we still have pewterers?), cabbies, and potters - to mention a few. I am sure we can stretch that to concrete artists, and ceramics painters, not to mention the Purple Place - he sounds like a pretty flexible chap.

here's the link, scroll down a bit to see the glass window. I like his spade, I have a small version of it that I find absolutely valueable to the inth degree when trying to get yet another plant into a full bed.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/797309/

enjoy.

Read most of the tread, but we are the real saints, out and about in are grubby's and enjoying what nature has to offer and enjoy every minute of it, and still not happy with the results, but happy in state of mind, gardening is a self satisfying inter peace, and to let all other things go away, At least in my thinking!!!

When someone mentioned the Hobbit, that got to my ears, I loved "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" I had the orginal books by the father ( lost them in a fire back in 1985) I wanted to replace them ask for them for Christmas one year, I got them but they where not the orginals, they where rewrote by his son, so sad. Would love to fine the orginal writings.

I never thought of gardeners as saints, Jim

No, me neither - if they were they wouldn't be able to deftly palm all those cuttings and pinched seedheads, and covet their 'neighbours' gardens.

Laurie1, I thought I was the only one to do that. ( laughing histerically ) I carry small pocket pruners when I'm visiting nurseries, and private gardens. do you think they notice? Jim

Not if you wear them up your sleeve on elastic strings.

It's all in the slight of hand!!! Aren't we bad! But of course it's all in the name of plants and thier continuance in our gardens. I'm just helping them deadhead......

Deadheading, of course. I thought it was mild senility, forgetting where I was.

One of the reasons I never travel is people get so alarmed when you get out your little pocket weeding fork and start to go to work right in the middle of the garden guide's little (often patronizing) talk. Fortunately being married to a professor, he doesn't embarass easily - or is it that he hasn't notice?

I'm going with the hasn't noticed! Happy New Year all!

Oh, you've met my husband?

LOL! The quintessential absentminded professor? I believe having a husband who lives in his own world is just fine. It allows you to live in your own world without interference, as long as the worlds collide occasionally.
I love the patron saint of gardening. He would exist completely happily alongside the gnomes and fairies. They aren't visible to the naked eye anyway so he would not be disturbed in the least. I'm sure he would have rather delicate sensibilities.
It's a timely topic as I am currently completely engrossed in the book The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It's an awesome historical novel about the building of cathedrals in medieval europe, and all the intrigue and power behind the scenes. Does make me glad that if I ever lived in medieval England, I don't remember it. Especially being a woman. Shudder.

Gang, I hope Heidi from Dragonfly isn't reading this thread. we'll probably get frisked when we visit this spring, Jim

I think Heidi is right there with us! She is a true gardener!

With all those dogs? I bet she has learned to be completely tolerant of abberant behaviour. Or you are going to hear a lot of 'clicks' and weirdly find your hand immediately withdrawing and an overwhelming desire to sit on your haunches.

So glad you like him Pix, I thought he looked an incredibly flexible guy - especially once I read the diversity of who he is saint for - I can just see the ecumenical council handing out all the professions: "okay who is taking dentist, right ST. xxxxxxard you have dentists. Right, cabbies - no takers? Give him to ol' Fiacre, he'll put them next to the pewterers or someone, oh and might as well give him footballers, and gardeners, composters too - they sort of go together, they all like grass, and veneral diseases - HEY, if he has composters he'll understand viruses. Or something. Right who's next."

He'll be fine with gnomes. And sprites.

Laurie1, is there one for garden artists? oh!! how about garden challenged husbands? Jim

Hey, if they have a saint for selling your house, why not one for garden challenged husbands?

Ok I am reading I think I gave you all a chunk of that pink plant that I had to so thoughtfully weeded away from the path in the garden I was working in. I call it - I think it needed pruning. I always scan, Thats why when I mow other peoples lawns my lines usually aren't straight because I'm looking in the flowerbeds. I will share with you all. Someday if mine dies or I need another there will be another out there somewhere.. I am a true plant addict and running my business to support my habit. My husband asks once in a while as a huge truck pulls in what did you order. Oh plants for a job. One flat for a job a few for the nursery and the rest because I don't have them or didn't know what it was. Heidi and Dragonfly These are the two partners in crime Jessie in fron and turtle, I know why they were each returned 5 times.

Yep, you were mightly generous with the plants when we visited, Heidi. I''ve got that pink one, the name of which escapes me right now, planted in the garden. By the way, I know you have lots of cool Heronswood plants (from the Real Heronswood, mind) and I wanted to let you know I have several of the nicer hydrangeas from there if you want cuttings this year. I got them just before they closed and would have bought more if anyone had been warned about the closing. Don't get me started on that.
Here's the casting of the tetrapanax leaf I got from your garden.

Heidi, what draws me to Dragonfly is the contageous enthusiasum of Heidi. you can go nursery hopping and rarely see that. that was what kept me coming back to Heronswood. I would talk to Celia and get totally wrapped up in collections of species and companion plantings. I knew when I got home I would have to enlarge my garden area to include all the lovelies. Meconopsis, Helleborus, Arisaema, species Rhododendron. I was so dissapointed about Heronswood closing, but when I heard about Dragonfly and visited the nursery I felt at home. thanks for being there, Jim

Ohhh, Heidi - these people are in luuuuuvvvvv! Hey, what if Heidi IS st. fiacre?

I'm with Jim. When you go to 99% of the nurseries you get to talk to someone who knows a little about a certain plant, it's a job to them. It's obvious that to Heidi it is her "calling." I am so thrilled that we all discovered Heidi and Dragonfly! Sending a big DG group hug to you Heidi!

Pixy- Your leaf casting is amazing, as always! You are so incredibly talented my friend.

My "pink plant" that Heidi chopped off and handed to me has already sent little sprouts up, wahoo!

ohmigawd - how did I zizz by pix's photo - I need to get up later. That is absolutely gorgeous - Pix, how did the e-bay trial go?

It was a complete failure. There is nothing like them listed on ebay, so no one even saw them. I might try again in the spring, but I don't know. I sold more to friends than I would have on ebay anyway. It didn't cost me anything to sell them, and I got to enjoy them on my walls until they went. My stock is really low now, except for the larger ones. I have plenty of those, most of them being used in the garden! I put the one in the photo in the living room, but I have another one that I haven't painted yet and it's even larger.

Hi Pixy,, Sorry your leaves didn't sell well, They are truly great and I make leaves so I know how hard it is. Hosta Jim is making more great garden sheres for me. I am making a seperate little section for garden art. If you want to bring some things up here to display you are totally welcome. I have the most to die for goofy bird houses you have ever ever seen and I can't wait. I would love to have some of your things if you have extra. Mothers day is an absolute zoo out here. There is the Hansville garden club plant sale which is huge. I have already donated 4 pack double packed trucks of plants. It,s huge then everybody drives by here to go home and stops in. For me it is a great day.If you get to the sale at 9 your too late. I think the little pink plant is persicaris. It might seem little now but remember how big it was in my garden of neglect. Can't wait to see you all this spring Heidi and Dragonfly

Thanks, Heidi. If I have enough I'll bring some up. I'm not terribly worried about selling them since I don't really have time to start another business. But I like making them so much, and then I don't have enough space for them all.
I've been meaning to try some garden spheres. The interest is there, but the time isn't. I also have plans for a very tall planter in a rather organic shape - sort of like a calla lily- that will go on a metal stand. Haven't even started it yet. No time. By the time I have time to do all the things I'd like to do, I will be too old to do them. Bad. Very bad.

Hmm. That Hansville garden club plant sale sounds a bit interesting. Might be a fun time, and then to stop at your place would be great.It's on Mother's Day?

Yes, the pink plant was a persicaria. So you know it's a spreader. But it is such a lovely shade of pink and so graceful that I gave it a really nice spot in the garden.

Pixy or Heidi- Do you know which persicaria it is? Rachel

I think it might be this one:
http://www.diggingdog.com/pages2/persicaria.php

Pix! That is a whole list! You just want all of us to grow all of them! (by the way, I grow microcephalia - Red Dragon and it goes enormous, but gorgeous! Looks absolutely fabulous with a stand of Crocosmia).

I'm trying to identify a persicaria that is growing wild in a parking lot in central london - it is just gorgeous, sprawlly, and clearly tough as boots - I've taken a bit of it this year and fingers crossed (I think) it will take - probably with regret in a few years time!!

Whoops! I meant this:
http://www.diggingdog.com/pages2/plantpages.php/P-0547

but sure, if you want to grow them all, go for it! I have 'painter's palette'. We'll see how it does this year. The only thing about persicaria: it can get out of control. I've always been a bit timid about it because of that. That 'with regret' you refer to...

Laurie- I fell in love with the picture you posted this summer of your Red Dragon and Crocosmia. Just as the plant sale was winding down and lady asked me if I would like a 1 gallon pot of Red Dragon! Wahoo, do I want it, of course! I planted it along the property line in front of the cyclone fence (3 sides of our property have 7 foot high wood fence) and the other has cyclone. Sooo I am doing everthing I can to make it eye appealing! It's planted about 6 feet away from the Beauty Bush that Pixy gave me. I think they will fill in nicely.

The persicaria will definately 'fill in' - look forward to pics! Rach, they really see you coming - "quick get out all the plants we don't want to pot on, RAchel is coming!!" And, ohhhh, Pix, that persicaria. I have that one too, and it is really quite well mannered here - in fact a tad on the slow side. So should be okay.

It is a gorgeous morning, husband is vacuuming and I am going to slip out the back door and to the greenhouse. here's a whispered 'wahoo' for a good gardening day! shhhhhhhhh, don't let him know where i've gone (as if.....)

Hi Pixy, I got it from Lindas garden and she probably traded it with someone else. I havn't seen it before, And she onle likes the odd. I saw you were on the concrete section. wasn't the couch from N Y cool. I hope he got it pained and post some finished photos. I would also like to know what he did for his base. I dont think it is that one. Heidi and dragonfly

pixie--what is the leaf you made? it is beautiful but i can't tell what it is made of--i love hand made things and the detail is so pretty!

There is a concrete section? I am a woman who got a cement mixer for christmas - I have to find this section!!

You got a cement mixer for Christmas? !!! KEWWELL! I have my own, too and you won't be sorry you have it. Mine is red. What color is yours?
There's an entire forum for concrete and hypertufa projects. Check it out.

Planolinda, that's a concrete casting from a Tetrapanax leaf Cattledogs gave me out of her garden at her nursery. That one was a little harder to make than most because the leaf has all those thin 'finger's that need extra support.

Yep, Heidi, wasn't that couch cool? I so want to make something like that. I have a very large chunk of concrete sitting in a place that calls for a small bench. My idea is to make a bench out of it, but time is always short. Maybe this year.

i love the casting--as for selling it on ebay-wouldn't the shipping scare people off? i have a good friend who sells stepping stones she makes with cement and ceramic chunks (mosaic) and that was the problem she ran into when trying to sell on ebay--she sells at home parties over the holidays and of course by word of mouth--

Yup, wasn't it on every girls list? Mine is orange. I'm planning on taking over doing the next set of paths in the veggie garden. Although right now, I just want this patio project finished!! Close, it is getting close to finished, but I am desperate to get my hands back in dirt and out of cement/pebbles - sheesh! Let me plant something, anything! I really hesitated getting a cement mixer wondering how I was going to rationalize cost, storage space (for goodness sake, I have a barn and two sheds!), all that stuff - then my neighbour pointed out that she uses her's (I didn't even know she had one!) for blending compost mixes - brillant idea, just brillant. I always struggle to get a good mix of compost and leaf mould, it is either roughly mixed or all over the grass, or the barrow topples while mixing, grrrrrr - but now........perfect. DH even put a big red ribbon round it, but it didn't go under the tree.

Laurie1, I've been contemplating getting a cement mixer myself. my gardener wanted to sell me one cheap. but I wasn't sure if I would use it enough to warrant buying it. but I didn't think about blending the compost in it. that's a great idea. Pixydish, I think Tango88 has the best formulas and ideas for benches, I don't think I could complete the benches without some help, they are fabulous. from what I've seen in the pictures. Jim

exclt. And another cement mixer person is made!

It was on every girl's list if she was 'in the know'!! So good work, Laurie!
Yes, Jim, you are so right about Tango88. I haven't visited that forum in awhile. I get too tempted to try new things. then I will have another project that I cannot finish.
Planolinda, I was selling really small castings that you hang on the wall. Here's one of a maple leaf. These don't weigh much at all. I make them really thin.