They only bloom a few weeks a year.
Here's a few photos taken around the house of the garden my wife put together. Also, some shots of my two favorite dogs, Abby the friendly Flemish Schipperke, and her kennel-mate, the Ill-tempered Scottish cur, Isobel. .
I was going to say - you have a big house. lol.
ReplyDeleteMy mum loves these plants.
ReplyDeletePretty. May I ask, who does the gardening?
ReplyDeleteOh this is nice. Something like this has always been on my wish-list.
ReplyDeleteShe's lovely.
ReplyDeleteAnother dog. How many do you have?
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit ominous the way she is licking her lips, don't you think?
Oh, no, Iri Ani, this is just an extra photo of a near-by county courthouse I added as a bonus.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a huge bonus it is hehehe
ReplyDeleteNice old building.
ReplyDeleteMy wife does all the gardening. I have a "black thumb". But I can mow grass when its called for :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree. Abby is a sweet-tempered dog. Much nicer to strangers than I am.
ReplyDeleteIt used to an area in the backyard for a hot tub. But we had so many problems with the thing, and it used so much electricity, that we went with this. Much simpler and less of a hassle.
ReplyDeletevery purty. Love the devil dog too.
ReplyDeleteJust two.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's a good word. Isobel can be "ominous" . Quick-tempered and tough on poor Abby; that's why I think of her as the "warrior" type.
I really like them too. My aunt used to manage to grow big bloomers like these at her house up near San Francisco---so they have a sentimental value to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Abby does get the most attention when we go out on walks.
ReplyDeleteI think it was once a local hotel for people getting off the railroad train. Now its a restaurant. So many nice buildings are knocked down or "retro-fitted" its nice to see a bit of local history aging in peace.
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing the pictures. Your dogs have some interesting nicknames
ReplyDeleteDandelion? Please tell me you don't cultivate these................
ReplyDeleteI can't grow these, wrong kind of soil. I've always liked them and used to have one when we lived in England.
ReplyDeleteRhodies are a big part of my garden here, too, Doug. Tell your wife she's done a great job with pruning those, also....
ReplyDelete(Funny - I know RIGHT where that Coke sign is located.....)
Doug a very nice Gazebo there finally we are within the same climate and this looks superb.
ReplyDeleteI think someone is looking for some food or left overs..possibly....
ReplyDeleteNo, Melanie, this one came up through neglect.
ReplyDeleteHahaha. You are exactly right, Jim.
ReplyDeleteI will Astra. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you've come down this way, and seen some of Ashland's off-the-beaten-path landmarks.
It's definately not for use in the Winter, although ours are a good deal less chilly in this part of Oregon.
ReplyDeleteEngland has some of the great gardens of the world. I've only been there once and missed that aspect. I hope to see a few when Shirley take a trip there...if the dollar ever gains any serious international value that is ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Fred.
ReplyDeleteImpressive display Doug I think they like acidity don't they?
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely display, they are doing very well....what are the white flowers, I like those a lot.
ReplyDeleteA splendid retreat from whence to contemplate the world Doug
ReplyDeleteI grow those too Doug, I think people often underestimate the dedication required to achieve such stunning blooms.
ReplyDeleteSee what you mean about devil dog, but it's good she's a friendly one.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot captured mid-lick
ReplyDeleteA fine regency type building, I'm glad the campaign to have you released was finally successful Doug
ReplyDeleteDoes peerless rooms mean you are not allowed to share them with your peers? Fine old brick wall, I wonder how old it is?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful display Doug!
ReplyDeleteLovely! Are the white flowers a form of Viburnum, somehow the leaf doesn't look right?
ReplyDeleteLovely summer house. A nice place to take a book!
ReplyDeleteWoooo, lovely grapes. Is that a bamboo to the right?
ReplyDeleteHahaha, I grow dandelions. How else can one tell the time without those puffball seed-heads?
ReplyDeleteAh, sweet dog, Doug!
ReplyDeleteHas she just finished off an unwelcome visitor, Doug?
ReplyDeleteA rather beautiful classical building and extremely elegant. Must make the scoundrels feel humbled.
ReplyDeleteNow that's the way to advertise. I'm just off to buy some Coca Cola. Now what made me think of that!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos Doug, thank you for sharing. Shirley makes a great job of the garden and what a good wife to let you play with the lawn mower! ;-)
Yes indeed, AA. Rhoderdenrons do well around here given the soil content; they don't need as much potting soil from the garden shops.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should ask...because I asked Shirley and her daughter who gave them to her and the fellow next door who'sa keen gardener apparently...and nobody knows!!
ReplyDelete*host blogger looks sheepish; tries to think of ways to change subject*
It's a handy retreat. It's screened-in so one can get all of nature's air and sunlight come Spring and Summer--without nature's insects.
ReplyDeleteUPDATE: My wife found a probable specimen of the white flowers online: its very likely a type called "Baby's Breath" over here, originally native to Europe.
ReplyDeleteIt's listed as "soap wort" in England. (Link below)
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wildseed/19/19.1.html
The trick here is, of course, to make them look like they just pop up out of nowhere.
ReplyDeleteSchipperkes are rather like penquins in that they are hard to differentiate. I think it was the Dutch or Germans who tagged them with the term "devil dogs" But she is quite friendly, and rather a big dog in a small dog body. A nice breed, but not the best with small kids. Nips a bit if the little ones try to get near her ears. Beyond that, a most marvelous dog.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Pretty much sums up her attitude I'm afraid, AA. The Summer cut she gets for the hot weather brings out her pugnacious side when it comes to Abby. I have to referee a lot.
ReplyDeletelol. Those "Free Doug" t-shirts you and your colleagues sold over in Birmingham certainly helped AA. Yes, suffice to say I have seen my share of courthouses.
ReplyDeleteThat thought crossed my mind as well :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you asked that, AA, because, lo and behold once again, I didn't know for sure myself. Turns out the building dates back to 1900, and the Coca-Cola sign to 1915, which is rather historic in these parts.
Actually, it has recently become a hotel again, which surprised me. Here's a bit more of its history and some better photographs below:
http://www.peerlesshotel.com/
Shirley does good work, Cassandra. I will pass on your compliments.
ReplyDeleteI believe they are "baby's breath" or "soap wort" but the jury is still out I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteIt''s perfect for one or two people. And, yes, except for the very hot "dog days" of Summer its perfect for a few chapters of a book or to spread out the daily newspaper.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good eye, Cassandra. That's exactly what it is.
ReplyDeleteI understand the careful tranfser of them into the greenhouse is the most difficult part.;-)
ReplyDeleteYes, you can see her personality showing up well here.
ReplyDeleteBack at the puppy farm, they didn't call Isobel "Lady Macbeth" for nothing.
ReplyDeleteBy "scoundrels" do you mean the crooks and scoff-laws, or the judges and lawyers, Cassandra?
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome. No grass shall grow unchallenged while I have petrol for my four-wheeled "avenger". I hope she will let me have that new weedtrimmer I have site on for my birthday :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, please do. It's lovely to have somewhere you can escape from the world outside. Your own little place to lotus eat (although Homer had that crowd totally out of it). I have in mind for you, a glass of good wine. *Grins*
ReplyDeleteI love the rustling noise it makes in the breeze. I placed a plant in a tub so it didn't take over the garden, the roots pushed straight through it and went on its own merry way. I'm happy it did because it's a lovely structural plant.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, indeed!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever seen so many dandelions in the grass verges of the roads as I have this year. They made a lovely splash of gold and defy petrol fumes.
Alert to all that is going on eh?
ReplyDeleteHahaha, well whatever Lady Macbeth had to eat, it was a tasty morsel
ReplyDeleteLike that eh? I always say you'll never be poor if you're a lawyer.
ReplyDeleteWoooooooooooer, I think Shirley needs to watch you, you'll want one of those "Head Gardener" aprons soon!
ReplyDeleteBamboo does have the habit of quick growth. Unfortunately in the western USA, its hard to find a rent-a-panda-bear service to come in and deal with that problem ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat would be a nice welcome little addition indeed :-)
ReplyDeleteAll too much, Cassandra--Abby saw the stock market meltdown coming months before I did! It's a bummer when one of the family dogs has a better pension plan than her master! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love your grape trellis, do you get lots of grapes?
ReplyDeleteI have a big bamboo plant right almost in my creek and I have been chipping away at it for the last 5 yrs trying to get it growing other places...and it takes really well and is growing along my back deck....I think bamboo is a really pretty plant but it does like to invade.
Why is these plants grow so profusly while other plants that you tend and baby die? I have lots growing all over too, but wish I didnt...lol
ReplyDeleteshe is very pretty Doug, almost looks like she is saying hi.
ReplyDeletemmmm tasty what ever it was!
ReplyDeletebeautiful rhodies Doug, look nice and healthy
ReplyDeleteYes, we've more than our share you could say. Not very tasty though.
ReplyDeleteThere a tough flower that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteAbby was a wonderful dog. She passed on in December of 2010. I love this picture of her because it really shows a lot of her personality.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It's mostly Shirley's gardening prowess. She does a great job with them. Of course they only bloom like this for a short time.
ReplyDelete