No pictures can do any garden justice because often it's the spirit and intent of the gardener that most defines its appeal. A simple little swept yard in the deep south with a few flowers lovingly cared for (I'm thinking of a photo in one of ARE's Mike Shoup rose books) can be more moving than anything a landscape designer did for big bucks.
This is the truth I found in Billie's garden. The minute I stepped into it I was taken over by the fairytale magic there.
As was the case with many of our gardens the effects of last winter's prolonged low temperatures could still be seen, but in the absence of plants the story book bones of the garden as well as the garden art items were more evident.
Barbra remarked that previously when visiting Billie's garden she hadn't noticed many of the re-purposed items Billie has arranged because of the lush foliage and plush blooms everywhere.
Incidentally, I love the term 'repurposed'. It can be applied to lives as well as things :-)
We arrived unannounced and found Billie and her hubby busily working in the yard. A welcoming 'make yourself at home and look around' attitude was extended.
Billie is a spry and sparkling 89 years old, and began this garden 17 years ago at 72.
I guess you could say this garden, at this moment anyway, is not about flowers and plants. It's more about the unique imagination and expression of the gardener in how she has laid out the garden and how she uses garden art. We spent two hours in Billie's garden and it seemed like 20 minutes.
This sign expresses the theme of Billie's garden ...
Upon entering the garden we find the first of the many beds bordered by stones Billie and her hubby brought from their ranch in the Texas Hill Country. Pink crinums are blooming ...
One of two bottle trees. Remants of a vine could be seen on the decorative wrought iron ...
There are several garden arches and brick paths throughout ...
Lots of resting places are scattered throughout the garden. This is Billie's hubby. Sorry, I didn't get his name ...
A Texas style invitation to 'stop and smell the roses'. And they were there to be sniffed ...
Surveying the stone bordered beds and walks ...
A large blue vase is near this area ...
One of several meandering paths makes you wonder what treasures are around the bend ...
Here is one treasure, broken but still beautiful. Why not dispay it?
Another path leads to this secluded corner hinting at its before freeze glory ...
Ah, a hidden potting shed ...
Pots of plants are being nursed back to health for future planting ...
Has Venus taken a tumble? No, Billie laid her down so the large branch she used the chain saw on wouldn't knock her down ...
After meandering for quite some time we come to the home Billie and her hubby built on their water front property ...
More garden art treasures are in this area. The light fixture was rescued from a school being torn down ...
The turqoise vase is nicely displayed ...
Here we find several pieces of element sculpture. The windmill was brought into the area for repair ...
These are beautifully weathered fence posts surrounded by those pretty rocks we all seem to like collecting (and then don't know what to do with) along with colorful glass insulators ...
A deer with an attitude ...
Next to the back patio a white ceramic fish leaps from it's pond to see the bay ...
And this is Billie. When I grow up as a gardener I want to be just like her ...
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of Billie's yard. Thanks Barbra for knowing Billie! I have a few more pictures, but this is enough for now.
Next I'll post pictures taken when Barbra took me to see the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens.
rock_oak_deer
caroleena
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roselee z8b S.W. TexasOriginal Author
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roselee z8b S.W. TexasOriginal Author