GardenMama

.: A Story-Book Adventure! :.

Many years ago (while my husband and I were just dating) we enjoyed visiting a very inspiring topiary garden that is home to eighty unique topiaries.

This whimsical garden was so inspiring to us that we decided to travel back here with our children to share with them these gardens that were established in 1872.

It is incredible while walking the garden to know that some of these same plants have been growing for over one hundred years.  You can feel the history in this place and the adventure while walking through the winding garden paths and happening upon giant topiary animals reminding us of the story of "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi"  by Chris Van Allsburg.

The trees on this seven acre estate are very old and very strong. Branches wind up high and then dip back down low.  The roots are planted firmly in the soil below creating an incredible invitation to play among their branches. 

We stopped along the way to view the garden from a birds-eye perspective.  While the trees cradled us we wished that they could speak to tell us a story from so many years ago!

The three children lead the way through winding paths drenched in color and filled with intoxicating scents of heirloom plants that still stand tall today.  We wonder just what will greet us along these paths next?


We happen upon a horse and rider that points the way to an old grape arbor. We take joy in walking this path alongside these new friends. Closing our eyes the sun warms our faces and the powerful scent of sweet red grapes fills the air.
 

The children take notice of an elephant, wide eyed with wonder and awe. We back up just a bit under the grape arbor giving him just enough room to enjoy a meal of fresh flowers that grow all around him.

 

After such a close encounter with this wild elephant we continue walking through the flowery path. among the flowers we find a pond filled with darting Koi. Soon we find ourselves weaving through a maze of bamboo. The children run and play hide-and-go-seek, enjoying this day of magic!

We ramble alongside a patch of antique damask roses that scent the air with a rich perfume that find us lingering just a bit longer...

Excitedly my eldest son finds the most beautiful and colorful Dahlias while large animals watch over us in the distance!

"Hello there friends" they call out to us! "We wish you a happy day in our garden!"

"Thank you for visiting with us, now come follow us right along this path and we will play!"

 We followed these playful animals and played alongside them too until our feet brought us into another garden room where colorful butterflies led us from flower to flower.

"Well hello!" We hear as we stumble upon the vegetable patch! "Let us show you around!" So we walked amidst giant rainbow swiss chard and  sweet yellow pear tomaotoes...

There she was, the same wild hare we had spotted earlier in our day.  She followed us here to tell us a very exciting message! With a twitch of her nose and a wiggle of her white cotton tail she said "Come, follow me past the rust-colored sunflowers and the windmill"...

"Come along, follow me through the lettuces, pumpkins and peas"...
 

"You will see a green archway in the distance. Walk under these arches and they will lead you to a wonderful place!"

"Here we are, you have found it! Now walk upon the grand veranda of this lovely home. Through the heavy doors you will find well-loved toys hidden in some of the rooms!"

A dainty set of miniature saucers and cups even tiny sets of silverware  are set out before us. We stop for a moment to wonder if  a mouse family that lives among this old home was told of our arrival!

Oh, if I could only find myself behind this glass  for some time of play I would be ever so happy says the little girl!

We linger for just a wee bit more over this perfectly lovely kitchen, imagining ourselves slipping behind the glass and shrinking ourselves for just a short time to cook up a mouse-sized cake to go with our tea!

In the halls of this antiquarian home we find ourselves in a childs room.Beyond the sheers there is such a lovely view of animals marching about in the flowering gardens below!

With a curious eye we see that yet another tea party is taking place tucked away in this room!

 

We continue to walk along into the rest of this home. My mind wanders with each new hallway and set of stairs imagining who used to live here in these rooms!

 
 

With books set out and saucers and plates upon a small table in the beautiful living room, it was an amazing place to visit. Yet, back outdoors is where I felt the 'heart' of this home still alive and growing strong!

The hands, hearts, and minds who dreamed of these gardens and poured forth their work to trim each shrub and plant and care for each tree were most certainly appreciated as we ended our day up in the arms of a very old tree.

Thank you to the gardeners and dreamers who lived in this place so many years ago who have also shared their creative spirits with my family and many other families on this day! 

.: May you experience magical adventures in your every day! :.

.: Branch Vase ~ Tutorial :.

.: The finished Twig Vase ~ Inspired by children and nature! :.

Today the children were intent on gathering twigs and found objects in nature to create. While watching their play I found inspiration and soon this twig vase was born!

You Will Need:

Recycled glass jar / Mason jar

Hot gluegun / Glue sticks

Dried twigs of equal size

Flowers for the finished vase

.: Cutting dried twigs from the Lilac bush :.

Step One: Measuring The First Twig

Choose a recycled glass jar or mason jar for this project and bring it outside with you to use as a measuring guide. Pre-measure a twig against the side of the jar to make a template for your twig vase.

.: The bundle of equal sized twigs we used to create the twig vase :.

Step Two: Cutting Equal Sized Twigs

Cut as many twigs as you will need to encircle your glass jar (using the first cut twig as your ruler.)

Bonsai shears work very well for this.  Use a tool that will give a precise cut to leave the bottom of the glass jar with a flat surface to sit upon.

You may keep the tops of the twigs similar heights, or it also looks very natural to stagger them a bit to blend with the flower's differing heights.

.: We begin gluing twigs to the mason jar :.

Step Three: Gluing

Begin with a line of  hot glue down the side of the glass jar and place the first twig in place.

.: Some of the gaps may later be filled in with smaller twigs :.

As more twigs are glued into place you will find each sit nicely against the last by locating a similar curve to the other twigs.

Gaps can be filled in later with thin twig pieces.

.: Make sure the bottom is cut more precisely than the top so that the vase will sit flat on the table :.

.: The finished Twig Vase :.

Once your vase is completely covered with twigs you can enjoy gathering up flowers from the garden to fill your new twig vase!

Similar to my last vase tutorial, these vases would also make lovely tea light holders.  In a set of two or three they would make a wonderful gift!

.:May your days be inspired by the creativity of your little ones!:.

.: Good Day Sunshine! :.

.: Sunflowers reaching up tall saluting the sun! :.

A  favorite song of our family is "Good Day Sunshine" by the Beatles. We enjoy this cheerful music by turning the volume up on the record player and singing our hearts out while appreciating the soft crackle that goes along with this album that has been played time and time again.

The melody and lyrics warm our hearts and linger with us throughout the day. Today we venture into the garden to say 'Good Day Sunshine'  and appreciate all of the energy she has gifted us with!  

.: Gathering from the garden is a favorite summer pastime of the children! :.

 

.: This little cherry tomato was the very first of the season to be picked! :.

With gathering baskets in hand and three garden helpers by my side, we begin filling our baskets with these red, orange and yellow treasures! 'Sun batteries' we like to call them, as they are storing the energy of the sun.

As we move through a sea of tomato plants we notice delicate yellow blooms herald each new fruit as it arrives.

 

.: Golden Sunflowers-- a  flower that brings me instant cheer! :.

 

.: Many hands work together to harvest from the dozens of tomato plants in the garden :.

As we walk along the rows of the compost rich soil, we brush against many green tomato leaves and their intoxicating aromas are released to bring us a  bit of heaven here on this day!

.: The sun illuminates these beauties in a most gorgeous way! :.

Each sunflower stretches up to the sun practicing it's sun salutations while also providing radiant halos for us to gaze at. I can feel instant cheer whenever I notice them waving in the breeze. I can't help but smile when I see these majestic plants in all of their sunny glory!

.: I can't get enough of my garden boy's golden curls! :.

.: I appreciate seeing my little one having a fresh organic snack straight from the garden! :.

The Beatles record that was playing in the living room before we stepped outdoors continues to play in my head. I feel such a connection here in the garden with my family and the earth.

"I need to laugh, and when the sun is out
 I've got something I can laugh about
 I feel good, in a special way
 I'm in love and it's a sunny day"

These are the lyrics we sing together as we continue filling the baskets.

  .: Natural bird-feeders growing up tall and strong! :.

  .: The aroma of tomato leaves - an intoxicating scent of summer! :.

.: Each day we visit the tomato plants and harvest to create sauce, salsas and salads! :.

As we continue to gather we work together in harmony with the earth,  and with each other. 

.: Just a few from today's harvest that will soon mingle with corn, cilantro, and many more delicious ingredients when I grill some fresh salsa ! :.

.: These sunflowers will certainly inspire me into the winter months while I create! :.

I am looking forward to canning these summer days from the garden for the winter months when snow is falling and we can open up a jar to be brought back to this very day.  The images, scents and tastes of summer will be etched into our memories when we reach for them into the colder months.

  

.: We hold onto these moments and give thanks for the sun that has gifted us so richly with these natural treasures that live harmoniously together in the garden! :.