Monday, December 5, 2011

Naming Greenbow

Now I know I have written about this in the past. I just can't find it in old blog posts so I will explain again for those inquiring minds. This time I will label it so I can find it if I need it again.

 My previous house/garden was named Green Isle for reasons I won't go into right now.  Anyway, my DB didn't know what kind of a gardener he had married. I needed to make a mark on this property. It was mostly unused. Just a typical suburban plot.

Shortly after my DB and I married I moved to this property where he had been living I started creating a garden I would be comfortable in.  It wasn't long and I felt the need to name this garden where I now called home. Green being in the name of my previous garden seemed to need to be in the name. My maiden name also had the word green in it. So you see the green seems to follow me.

My DB mentioned that Weedy Wallow would be a descriptive name for it. Ha... that wasn't going to fly in my mind. Our garden is situated in the bow of a road. My last name now has bow in it. Are you following me now??
Now after several years of gardening, 17 years to be exact, the garden has gone through several modifications, there is a lot of green in it. So Greenbow has been created here on this weedy wallow. 
These pictures are of the same area and taken from the same vantage point about 15 years apart. I hope you enjoyed my story and those inquiring minds are satisfied.

31 comments:

  1. I love the story.. altho you had told me before when I inquired, I enjoyed 'seeing' the transformation.. and what a difference it made. Our garden has changed since we moved in our place too. There was a lot of weeds and poison Oak around. That was fun to get rid of..especially when my DH is alergic to it.

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  2. I love your story and I really love the before and after pix. Just shows what a lot of work and 17 years can accomplish!

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  3. Very interesting, Lisa. It didn't register with me that your Blog name was in fact your garden's name... doh :-0

    It's nice to have background on our gardens that connect them to us and previous ones. Transformation pics are always a bonus too. Thanks for sharing yours :-)

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  4. I love the story and I always enjoy before and after shots! I like to see how everyone's gardens began.

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  5. I am glad you didn't take DB's initial suggestion for a name:) I've always wondered about your choice of name; thanks for explaining it! What a change you've made in the years you've gardened--looking forward to finally seeing it in person one day--maybe May??

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  7. Names do matter, and yours is a really fine one, Lisa. I admire your logic, wrapped in evocative creativity.

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  8. Dear Lisa,
    Thank you! It is always nice to know the history of a garden.
    Gardens do change as your photographs show! Wow! nice change....
    I have enjoyed getting to know you and your gardens...I am still sad over the loss of your tree....
    Happy December,
    Sherry

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  9. I delight in the naming of the parts. I don't just name the blog/garden, I also name the bits. Why not? It is much more fun to take tea at Paradise and Roses, than just, in the garden.

    Your before and after must make your heart sing with joy. Before was hohum. Now it is Greenbow Garden!

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  10. Nice story, love how the name has incorporated with your family name. Also enjoyed seeing the before and after pics of the garden. Isn't it amazing how quickly the garden fills in, creating such an oasis.

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  11. Lisa, That is awesome !!! The pics say it all. You are an artist. I love it. Your love and art is there. Terah

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  12. I absolutely love before and after shots and this is a huge transformation. You've turned your yard into a green paradise.

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  13. Lisa girl it all makes perfect sense to me : )
    I also came into a home/yard with nothing but dead grass and 2 dead trees plus a sand pit for the little boy of the original owners.
    Some time I want to find those photos of empty yard to show like you have what happened here these past 11 years : )
    Loved the story and the amazing transformation girl !
    Well done you !!!
    Joy : )

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  14. Gode billeder.
    Hvor er det blevet smukt.
    Tak for kigget.

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  15. I love how you named your garden and your blog, and I'm so glad you started blogging so long ago. That's how we finally met and earlier beforehand, became friends.~~Dee

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  16. Hi Lisa ~~ I never know which of your blogs to leave a return comment but this post and the one before said "choose me."

    Your Greenbow garden is wonderfully beautiful. Thank you for explaining. I once Googled "Greenbow" and a state hoping it would produce a map for me. Haha :)

    I love the poems the few times you wrote for OSI and I thank you for reading around and for your nice comment on mine today.
    ..
    BTW, my blog is named "Jim's Little Blog" because there were already too many "Jim's Blog". I picked "Little" because I thought the posts that I would write wouldn't amount to much. I carried the "Little" over to several other blogs, the 'photo and poem place' is the only other "Little Blog" active now.
    ..

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  17. Well now I know! I haven't visited this blog for some time - no good reason other than negligence - and it looks like I came back at the right time. Also, I always thought you meant "brother" when you mentioned "DB". So now I know that, too!
    Your yard has progressed beautifully over the years. Not a weedy wallow anymore!

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  18. What a transformation! I wouldn't know it was the same spot. You've done a beautiful job. It was fun hearing about the name. And guess what? I didn't know what a 'bow' in the road was. I don't believe I've ever heard that. I think I've only heard 'bend' in the road. Like a curve, right?

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  19. Delightful! (as visits to your blog always are~)

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  20. Love the story and I may have to snitch the title Weedy Wallow for my own mess of a garden!

    PS: I have some tomato seeds for you. The giveaway over on my blog. Plz email me kate.miller57@gmail.com with your address and I'll pop them in the mail to you. :))

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  21. Lovely story and the I am glad to witness the before and after effect!

    Great effort and I love the centrepiece!

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  22. What a difference in 15 years -- from bleak to inviting. Loved the story of Greenbow. We tried to think of a name for our house/property but never did.

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  23. Lisa, what a great story! I don't think I've heard that before. I hope someday to see Greenbow in person!

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  24. I have to admit have wondered about that. LOL Now it makes perfect sense. Hope you are doing great Lisa!

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  25. Quite a transformation, requiring the expenditure of much blood, sweat and tears. Still, Weedy Wallow does have a certain appeal. :-)

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  26. Great story of how you decided on Greenbow ♥ Your garden is gorgeous Lisa. Green really does follow you as you definitely have a Green thumb :-)

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  27. I like this story. Your garden is very, very beautiful. Your garden blesses many lives!

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  28. Thank you for the story of your garden's name.It alwasy is interesting to have a look behind a name one creates itself. It seems to be the perfect name for your garden. Isn't it stunning how much a garden changes in all the years? It's somehow a mirror of the gardener itself and his interests that also change in his personal life.
    All the best wishes for a peaceful and blessed holiday season. Merry Christmas to you and your dear ones.
    Barbara

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  29. Lisa: Stopping by to extend a warm holiday greeting to you and yours!
    May you enjoy all the simple pleasures found in the quiet gifts of everyday life!
    love and light Anna

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  30. I love this story! I also love that green follows you--it should. And what a dramatic change you've made in the garden!It's shocking to see the "before" photo. :)

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