Isn't my heather plant beautiful? I miss those purple flowers. Focus Heather, this post is about the statuary theme (look for a post on the ever-shrinking heather plant soon). June 11th:
VPH's mom, Ruth, had quite a thing for frogs. There's a big brass frog (indoor sculpture about a foot high and very heavy) that gets passed around the family as a zonk gift. Does that only make sense if you have watched Let's Make a Deal? Last year we had a water garden in the herb barrel and the fountain was a frog laying on his back with his legs crossed spitting water into the barrel. I miss that guy, so I had to buy this guitar playing cross-legged frog when I saw him this spring. The frog theme is at least in part in Ruth's memory.
The large bare spots in the above photo are because we took down the old temporary retaining wall and VPH put in this awesome one a few weeks after the wildflowers sprouted. I've seen a lot of people on-line complain about concrete retaining wall blocks, something about them not being as "organic" or attractive as natural stone. I may be biased, but I think this wall is pretty darn attractive and in terms of ease of installation...I helped with this install and easy it was not. Easier than trying to level natural stone, sure, but you know what, it's not made of nuclear waste and this is a tricky spot. There are no gutters on the house and when it rains this area really wants to wash away and take the concrete walkway with it, so we need a really strong retaining wall here.
VPH is not a fan of the frog statue (he's a minimalist), but it's okay because the wildflowers are just about obscuring him (and the ugly foundation) at this point:
And today you can hardly see it:
I just had to have this decorative pot holder (the pentas in it are quite nice too and supposedly attract butterflies):
And since I needed hose guides, why not get frogs? Sorry about the focus on this photo, I have two of these, but the hoses rub the green-black paint off, and I keep spray-painting them with black enamel. They've lost some of their contrast since this photo was taken weeks ago and look like black blobs in photos, but like frog statues in real life.
I bought this momma frog and babies last week and stuck them under the hydrangea. And yes, my hydrangea is supported by one of those round grid-wire supports because all the blossoms are too heavy for their branches and it looked awful flopped over on the ground. Unless you stick your head down there to photograph a frog statue, you don't notice the support too much -- or at least I didn't until I cut a bunch of hydrangea off last Saturday, sigh. I stupidly threw some fertilizer down around the hydrangea the following day without thinking and now it's turning purplish/pinkish. I will love it just as much not blue, but I think this may be the first spot to receive our completed compost in a month or so.
I see gardens full of angels and fairies all over the place. Do you have a theme in your garden?
Hi Heather: My future daughter-in-law also loves frogs! My theme? I have lots of statuary, mostly cast offs from samples but the ones I tend to like have faces on them. Posted about that in May or June. No time to look that up...sorry! Also, love the post about the outside shower and LOL at the cold water hitting you as I have one just like yours only not so landscaped. It is behind the barn and only the critters in the field can observe any shower taken there so no problem with screening. It is cold though!
Posted by: layanee | July 23, 2007 at 09:33 AM
My garden theme is/will be Japanese minimalist, utilizing specific specimen plants, native stone benches, and graveled paths. My little (600 gal)pond and stream is usually rain-fed, and is inhabited by many-generation descendants of six goldfish.
My larger (8'x10')of two pergolas supports native wisteria,clematis,and Fall-blooming Jaanese wisteria. I despair of any of those ever covering the top for shade.
The smaller arbor has a Frye grape vine. This year so far I have six grapes. Nothing does well in this NC beach sand.
Posted by: Mummer | July 23, 2007 at 09:43 AM
I have several themes, depending on where you look. I definitely like to attract garden fairies to my garden, wherever I can.
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
Posted by: Carol | July 23, 2007 at 09:34 PM
How fun to read about your multiplying frogs, Heather. They definitely count as garden whimsy. I predict even more frogs in your future!
Posted by: Nan Ondra | July 04, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Frogs are great whimsy for the garden Heather. Yours look right at home here. I have a frog or two of my own amongst many other things.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | July 31, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Carol -- Your fairy garden is absolutely charming. You've been gardening a lot longer than I have and have had more chances to develop themes...hoes for instance!
Nan -- You're absolutely correct about people starting to give you collection themed gifts. My sister started it all with a figurine of a fish from Italy which turned into a china cabinet full of glass fish, wooden fish, fish jewelry, fish soap, you name it, it's been given to me.
Lisa -- I just saw a garden full of real live frogs. I'm afraid I prefer my fake ones...I can't quite get over the fear that one will jump on my flip-flop shod foot.
Posted by: Heather's Garden | August 02, 2008 at 08:23 PM