Sunday, June 27, 2010

Secret Gardens


Thank you everyone for all of your well wishes for my dear friend Dan in the UK.  Taking this weekend off to relax and concentrate on those I love and the things that matter most to me was wonderful!  

On Saturday Mr. Tide and I went for a nice long paddle in the kayaks, complete with a walk along the beach in search of sea glass and a beautiful sunset.  When we reached our creek from the river it was under the light of a full moon undergoing a lunar eclipse.  So by the soft reddish pink of the moon we headed home where we roasted marshmallows in 90 degree heat with our son on our new fire pit!  It seemed silly to have a fire going in the hot, humid weather but it helped me to just slow down a bit and to enjoy the simple things life has to offer!



While I was sitting enjoying the evening, eating slightly scorched marshmallows and watching the lightning bugs flit about, I remembered that I had some great photos of gardens I had taken last weekend while doing scouting shots at two beautiful homes.  So I thought I would share these pretty gardens with all of you!

The garden above is just as charming as the house to which it belongs!



There are whimsical elements like this rusted rabbit holding a pot of colorful marigolds!  Don't you love that pink rake?!



And the potting shed with it's rustic charm and white picket fence could be straight out of a fairytale!




The owners of this beautiful home and garden are hospitable, kind, and humble.  And their garden mimics those qualities, creating beauty in a quiet unassuming manner that makes you want to stay and linger as you wander from one lovely spot to the next!



Vibrant overflowing flower boxes add to the cottage feel and hint at the lovely decor inside.



Lush plantings in the foreground are like an accessory to the stunning backdrop beyond!



The gardens are full of color and feel as though they were effortlessly created for a Victorian cottage by the sea!



A cottage filled with romance, or perhaps one owned by a famous writer who drew inspiration from her surroundings!



And although there are no gardeners or Victorian ladies to tend to this tranquil yard, just hardworking homeowners, it is a place where at every turn you are inspired to think, reflect, or maybe even pen that famous novel!



This huge Ash tree resides at the second gorgeous home I was lucky enough to photograph!  I can't even imagine how old this grand dame of a tree must be, but I know that it has seen a season or two in its time to be this massive!



This stately farm has a few other things to look at besides trees and flowers.  Beautiful horses grace this 60 acre spread, and when you drive down the long lane you feel like you're on a movie set from Gone With The Wind!



This 1800's farmhouse boasts plenty of beautiful landscaping to welcome family and friends.



And the owners, friends I've known for years now, love to entertain and share their gracious home with others!  They can even ring the dinner bell when it's time to come inside and pick a bushel of crabs!

Like the first home and garden I showed you, if I had a home like one of these I would want to share them with everyone too!



Like every historic farmhouse should, this home has gardens that are not too fussy, but still beautiful to look at!



And like the owners, there is a sense of whimsy and fun found all around the property!  They love nothing more than to have their two sweet granddaughters over to swim in the pool or go for a pony ride!



I think a garden can tell you a lot about the people who created it.  Those who like formal gardens tend to be very orderly, wonderfully methodical, and they thrive on the precision of everything neatly in it's place.   Those with a cottage style garden are often more artistic,  romantic, and introspective.  While farmhouse gardens are often created by free spirits, where a few weeds or spent blooms don't seem to matter so long as everyone is happy, and where a little mud tracked in from the garden is never a big deal!

I'm not quite sure where I fall into those generalizations.  I think I have a bit of all 3 of them in me!  How about you, what is your secret garden style?!

15 comments:

  1. Wonderful gardens. I enjoyed every photo cause I love gardens. Thanks for sharing....Christine

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mmmmm, that was a delightful post. My secret garden would have to include water - and, because this is about secret, secret gardens....I've always wished for a grotto.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kat,
    Thanks so much for sharing these beautiful pics...I so needed them tonight:) Our beaches are getting hit hard this weekend by the oil and it has me very SAD:( Please pray for all of us here and ask others to do the same...thank you!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a pleasure to see such well loved, well tended gardens - they radiate pleasure and hospitality. Lovely of you to share!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kat, I love places with beautiful surroundings like these homes. I could just stroll around out at either one of these for hours and the bushel of crabs sounds real good. I think I hear that bell!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kat, I think I have some of each type of garden in me, too~ and I could LIVE at any of these wonderful places...I just love them all! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, I love this collections of gardens! Especially that potting shed, it's my favorite. Right now everything at This Old House looks so new, it's going to take a few years for my gardens to look time-worn.

    ReplyDelete
  8. i love all of them!!!
    thanks for sharing!!
    elena, from spain

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kat, what beautiful pictures and gardens. And what a beautiful day and night you must have had with Mr. Tide, eclipse, fire, marshmellows! Sounded very relaxing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lovely all, Kat. My secret garden would be flowing with informal beds and have winding little paths to water features. And roses, many roses.

    xo,
    olive

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love that carefree gardening style, but the upkeep is probably anything but! Your evening fire with marshmellows does sound wonderful! ~Lili

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a treat it must have been to shoot these gardens and to be right there on the water is an added bonus. Nice job on the photos. As far as what my gardening type, definitely all three depending my energy levels and mood swings ;^)

    -Rene

    ReplyDelete
  13. Kat, Beautiful photographs and gorgeous gardens. The saturday you spent with your husband and son sounds perfect.
    xo, Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  14. All of these gardens are wonderful. My new place is very disorganized, but the plumeria cuttings I brought from from my yard in Florida are blooming, so I'm very happy.

    I'm a bit behind from a busy but fun week, so I had to look back. That antique place is wonderful and you can bet those mermaids would have jumped in the car with me. I can't believe how low the price is, sure wish I lived closer. And that sandwich? Now that's my kind of meal.

    We had a storm come through yesterday that brought a nice cool breeze and drop the temp to 70 degrees! Loved sitting on the porch once the rain stopped and roasting marshmallows would have been perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Just gorgeous, Kat! There are so many ways to make a garden beautiful.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.