Sunday, April 18, 2010

Foliage and Follies

This time of year I am so busy in the garden. It seems like this year I have been particularly engrossed in the garden.  This obsession will wane when the weather heats up.  I am enjoying every minute out there while it is cool and comfy.
One of my projects was to make a trellis for some of the Sweet Peas I have started. This is the trellis I put up for the Norili Sweet Peas.  I am so happy these peas got started and they seem to like where they are planted becasue they are growing.
Another trellis I made was a little more elaborate. It also has Sweet Peas to grow up it. As you can see it is  near the Casa (screen house) so hopefully we will be able to see and smell these.

My design for this one was inspired by Robyn Gordon, at Art Propelled, who is an artist that carves totems. Her work is absolutely marvelous to me. She uses found objects in her work. So you can see that I have used some RR spikes for the top of the trellis. When this is no longer needed as a trellis I am going to make this a wall where I can place found objects like in this picture I tore out of a magazine 2 years ago. I hope to have a wall of 'stuff' at some point.
Another project I have done was lining part of the path that goes to a side gate with concrete that my DB busted out of the patio area.
I like that we didn't have to take it to the dump and it serves a needed purpose here by keeping the pea gravel in the pathway. When the flowers all fill out you won't see much of it either.
It seems that eveyone is talking about the explosion of blooms
and then of course the foliage that then will take center stage.
Even Lincoln seems a bit surprised at the way the ivy seems to want to overtake him. I will evenually have to get out there and rescue him.
Do you have any frivolous foliage or any garden projects keeping you in the garden longer than usual?

44 comments:

  1. I love your little tree dude Lincoln! Sooooo adorable.

    Diggin' on your blog, dearie! Good job.

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  2. Oh gosh Lisa, it is good to see your beautiful garden and Luna again!! Going to be so full of blooms, WOW.

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  3. Your garden is looking pretty! I like the new trellis! Poor Lincoln, he looks a bit wide eyed with worry!

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  4. I love sweet peas ... kind of an old fashioned flower! Lincoln does in deed looked surprised with his hair standing on end!

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  5. Lisa.....so very lovely. You know your garden has always been a favourite of mine. I must say the trellis are wonderful, your artistic skills have been put to very good use.

    I want to walk along your pretty path, stroke dear Luna and walk on through your gate. Wonderful design when someone wants to do that.

    Lincoln is a feature without a doubt and looking great (love those ferns)

    Have a good week.....

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  6. Sweetpeas are wonderful,they'll love their little trellis you've made.Your little tree man is great and I love your little wall of things.Thank-you for the lovely garden tour.

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  7. Can't wait to see your peas on your trellis!

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  8. Lisa girl you have amazing architecture in your garden ! .. I love the brick and stone areas and that canvas structure for the peas is a wow factor .. especially when it will be covered in pea foliage : ) .. I also love that character eyeing the ivy ? LOL
    I am so busy too in the garden .. mostly trying to make sure I know what I want the landscaping crew to edge out and create curves out of my straight laced lines ? LOL
    Joy

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  9. Lincoln is just a hoot with his ferny do and ivy decoration. And I think your sweetpea trellis really is a work of art!

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  10. Know what you mean about working in the garden this time of year. It's such therapy! :)

    As a fellow nature lover, I've signed up to follow your blog.

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  11. What a cute trellis for your sweet peas. I'm eager to see how they looking climbing on it. I started some of the annual variety this year, hope they do well.

    The broken concrete is another great idea. I'd like to find some for stepping stones.
    Marnie

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  12. Lisa, Your trellises are so darned clever and great looking! ...You've got my already over crowded with ideas brain thinking, thinking thinking! Projects...do I ever...glass on glass mosaic and a hopefully clever garden fence!
    Say hello to Luna~ gail

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  13. What a beautiful tour! I admire people who actually make sturdy supports for vines. Those sweetpeas will be gorgeous.

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  14. Lincoln does look surprised. You have been busy and love the trellis! Just basic garden chores here for the moment. Hope to have a bit more time for fun tasks soon.

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  15. Lincoln is very cool! You inspired me to grow sweet peas - via a post earlier this year - I'm so glad I did! They cannot be transplanted until Memorial Day but they are growing nicely in my sunny window. Now perhaps I'll copy you on the trellis. :) That's a goody.

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  16. What a beautiful space you have created! No wonder everything grows so well in your garden!

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  17. I love your RR spike trellis--cool design. And that's a good repurposing of the concrete for your borders too.

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  18. Love the trellises...I need to get mine up soon as I too have sweet peas. I want to use the bamboo we grow so not sure what I will come up with. The found art wall is wonderful. We are putting in a fence this year with materials we have around here. I hope it turns out to be an artsy fence!
    I am outside as much as possible too. I find I get waylaid with watching birds and bees. Soon the butterflies will be here. I have lots of seed to sow.
    Love seeing your garden projects.
    Sherry

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  19. Your trellises are neat. I learn so much every time I am here.

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  20. Lisa, you are so clever! I love the concrete edgeing-makes the path look so neat. Also those trellis are gorgeous. And a very good use of found objects. You do the same thing I do when I see something in a magazine that I like. I simply tear out the page. I have a folder of 'ideas'. But I don't know when if ever I will put them in place. :) You have been working really hard-just be careful not to overdo!

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  21. I adore those trellises--and the creative reuse of the cement. Great job! And I see that Luna approves of the nice cool pebbles on which to nap. :)

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  22. Oh wow, Lisa! LOVE your trellis and Lincoln Log is adorable! I love his hair! LOL Your path is beautiful and I like the concrete edging. Someday, I've got to get down there to see your garden in person! It's beautiful.

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  23. I love your sweet pea trelliage, Lisa! But the thought of the wall of found objects blew me through the roof! What a great piece of inspiration, thanks for sharing it. :-)
    Frances

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  24. That trellis is awesome! It's going to be a cool wall too. Like you, I'm repurposing old concrete, but an injured thumb really slowed me down on it. Luna looks like she thinks you want her to move from her basking spot.

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  25. Ha, ha, I love Lincoln's new hairdo:) Once again, you have been so busy, Lisa. Your trellises look great, and I love the idea of the recycled concrete as edging. By the way, all the ferns you gave me are coming up again this year!

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  27. I love sweet peas and your trellis. We had them in "Kate's garden" when she was a little girl. Now I buy them at the farmers market (little bundles for a dollar that are perfect for tiny arrangements).

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  28. Yes, it's such a busy time. I'm working at the nursery as well as school (except this week is school break, thank heavens) so I'm not finding much time for the garden. Boo hoo!
    Those trellises are a great idea. They'll be perfect for sweet peas.
    Isn't the explosion of blooms wonderful? Our reward for enduring the long winter :)
    Poor Lincoln. I hope the ivy doesn't swallow him! Lisa to the rescue!!

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  29. Very professional trellies for your sweet peas. I like this summer flower very much too. Do you sow them direct on place? We first sow them in little pots (otherwise none of the little seeds would "survive") and then in middle/late May the seedling will find the final place in the garden.

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  30. Ooh, your hostas are beautiful. Yes, I've been at it in a similar fashion as you. Every day that I'm out in the garden I'm there for hours. And very tired and sore by the end. Today I spent 4 hours in my smallish rose garden - trimming, weeding, adding compost and mulch. I love your sweet pea trellises (and wish I had luck w/sweet peas!).

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  31. OMG!~ Lincoln is awesome!!! I will go see if you have any other pics of him!!!

    Hi to Luna!

    Love your pea trellises...very nice work. Glad your peas are happy too!!!

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  32. I love your very artistic trellises. Now i realized we have a lot of old wood from the old loom which were just eaten by termites. I should have had it as a perennial trellis instead. I just wonder if i can make it stand on its own. How were you able to make it stand without harnesses?

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  33. Hi there Lisa, first off I can’t believe the growth on your hostas! Ours aren’t even through the ground yet. It seems you are ahead this year and we are well behind. What a mix up this will be this year ;-)

    I’m loving your projects Lisa :-) The trellis supports are brilliant. I love the simpler version too. Now that wall does sound interesting. As an artist I can see you making it work :-D

    Wishing you a great weekend :-D

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  34. Thank you for your kind comments on my blog.

    I have to tell you that the gargoyle on this blog makes me smile every time I come here. Thanks for being you.

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  35. Lincoln is a hoot. I love him. Your trellis work reminds me to plant some morning glory seeds out on the fence by the roadside vegetable garden.

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  36. What a garden Lisa! Beautiful!

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  37. Hi Lisa, so much is going on in your garden! I love the pea trellises, esp. the use of twine (?) and railroad ties--ingenious! The three fleece flowers you gave me have all come up now--their spotted foliage is so cute... we're behind you weatherwise here, but I'm so glad they all came back. Now I'm just trying to figure out where my bergenia are...

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  38. Great photos of a beautiful garden. I like Robyn's art, too. And I adore your Lincoln!!! How clever of you to turn an old stump into a work of art!

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  39. How many sweet pea plants can you fit on the trellis, Lisa? It will be a wall of scent! My 4 plants are supposed to be fragrant, but they're still only leaves so I don't know yet.

    Your found objects wall sounds very cool...some houses in older Austin neighborhoods have memory walls with things connected to people embedded. Your artistic talents would make such a wall wonderful.

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  40. I'm just trying to care for it all. Ate my first veggies out of the garden today in a stir fry. Heaven. I just love being out there and sniffing everything and finding new things to love.~~Dee

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  41. Oh, I forgot to say I love the trellis. You have wonderful taste.~~Dee

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  43. Wow! I always find Luna so cute posting well anywhere as she goes.
    She is a happy, beautiful and healthy sunny dog, just made me smile!
    I really adore your special garden project and I love the last funny but very creative garden shot too.
    I just smiled again:)
    Thank Lisa, I love you:)

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