A Garden of Color
October 4, 2013
A Garden of Color
This is not your run-of-the-mill garden, it is a visual feast!
This week the boys and I have been visiting my parents. I have been exploring mum’s garden. I had planned to add a post about low-cost family meal ideas but I have snuck this one in first. I apologise if you were waiting for the other post, it will come next week instead. Grab a cup of tea, relax and feast your eyes on my mum’s garden.
I love looking at other people’s garden’s to see how they have planted their vegetables and herbs. I admire pretty cottage style gardens as I have no luck growing anything that is not edible. I enjoy their free form and color. My mum’s garden includes vegetables and herbs amongst a free form, anything-goes garden, that is a little bit cottage-style.
She has herbs tucked in-between other plants, nasturtiums float across one garden bed edge, while Mint, Rosemary and Vietnamese Mint pop up between lavender, lilies and shrubs.
Fruit trees – Orange, mandarin, lemon, lime, kaffir lime are planted along the fence line.
Wine barrels and an old concrete wash tub are filled with herbs, garlic, spinach, carrots and salad greens.
Treasures and odd bits and pieces are tucked away all over the garden so it feels a little like going on a treasure hunt when you wander around. Mum has been honing her mosaic skills for the last few years so there are many of her colorful art works on the walls as well as pieces of furniture around the yard.
The heater for outdoor entertaining is a recycled water cylinder – nicknamed “The Tardis”
I enjoy the playful nature of my mum’s garden – did you see the mosaic leg sticking up in the first photo? There is another in progress to make a pair. If you look high up in this garden you will find as many things to admire as what is planted and positioned on the ground.
Every time I come home the garden has evolved and changed in some way. Always different than the time before. This garden has never been dramatically impacted by the seasons changing but more so by what mum has decided to mosaic, paint or move around or re-fashion to her current taste.
Do you love a garden full of color and surprises? Does your garden constantly change and evolve?
I would love to hear about it in the comments below.
Inspiring families to grow at least one fresh food item at home to experience the benefits of fresh food.
oh wow what a beautiful garden! thanks for sharing those photos!
Thanks for visiting Gillian. I do love it so was happy to share 🙂
Your mum’s garden is a visual treat Kyrstie. I love the garden art and the bright bits and pieces. I bet your children enjoy exploring!
Sometimes when I try to replicate this style in my garden it becomes too busy and messy looking!? My garden changes and evolves…over the years I have moved away from ornamental plants and more towards vegetables and fruit. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
The kids did love it Jane. I sent them on a “treasure” hunt to see what they could find. It doesn’t work in my garden either so I know what you mean. You have a beautiful weekend also. K
A beautiful and effortless looking garden that is obviously the result of lots of hard work and patience over many years. Good gardening must be in the genes! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
It is a beautiful space Erin, relaxing but fun at the same time. I did neglect to mention the hard work that my dad has put into the infrastructure to support mums ideas! Sorry Dad!
I find gardens like this enchanting, the more time you spend there the more you discover.
How gorgeous Kyrstie! Thank you for the tour… love it!
So many people move often and keep their houses ready for re-sale so there isn’t a lot of personality in the garden. I love this happy mix of practical, quirky and experimental elements. It looks lived in and loved!
I’ve moved a lot in my life but I hope to stay in one place for a while now so my daughter can appreciate this sort of permanence and peace.
PS. The Tardis is brilliant!
My parents garden is magical too. School holidays spent there playing hide and seek, and watching blue wrens, Willy wagtails, thrush, and honeyeaters, create fabulous childhood memories. Will try and post some pictures.
I absolutely LOVE her garden!! Wow! I’d want to hide away there every single day. 🙂 My mum is a fabulous gardener too. I’m definitely fledgling, but it’s still fun to try. 🙂
It is fun, thanks Krista.