Tuesday 16 June 2009

A Designer's Nightmare

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When I finished my entry yesterday, I stated we have just had a thunderstorm. Well, at around 6.45 p.m. we had another one. I do not think the above photo does the rain justice. The storm lasted for over two hours with forked lightning everywhere. Luckily no harm was done although not all that far from us a house was struck and set onfire.

Whilst it was storming I was looking out at my rear garden and thinking what a designer's nightmare it would be! I love to watch gardening programmes on t.v. especially the Chelsea Flower Show. All those gardens are laid out to perfection, mini paradises, everything fitting together perfectly. So very tasteful.

If a designer came to my garden he or she would have a pink fit! Where else could you see all the following things in the same small area. Plastic Meerkats, assorted coloured childrens' windmills, a plastic Heron, stone gnomes, stone frogs, plastic squirrels and rabbits, Venus rising from the waves , plastic butterflies, resin fairies etc. etc. Noses would definitely be turned up by any design experts. My garden would be considered in poor taste and common.

So, why do I have these things? Firstly the Heron and the windmills. They serve a very good and sensible purpose. A pond covered in netting does not present a pretty sight although the fish can still be seen, it is never quite the same. My plastic Heron and twirling windmills put any real Heron right off. They like to have a clear shot at their prey. My pond is so surrounded by pots, windmills and the plastic bird that any real one truly does not have a leg to stand on.

The plastic butterflies are also around the pond. That is because they light up at night. Solar powered, they cost nothing to run, look attractive during the day and more so at night as they slowly change colour from turquoise to cerise, green, to gold and then red.

As for the Meerkats, well I happen to love Meerkats. The birds also like the birdbath they are decorated with. Once again, solar powered, it lights up in the evenings. I have other plastic Meerkats on the small rockery to break up all the greenery and the rocks themselves.

I have always had a gnome or two in the garden as they are considered lucky. Venus comes from our old home and our old pond where she used to take pride of place rather than the fairies we have now.

Our plastic deer and fawn mark the last resting place of two of our cats. As for the rabbits and squirrels I like those as well. So why not have them.

At the end of the day, it is our garden. Who cares what anyone else thinks? We like it as it is, always something to catch the eye, always something of interest.


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Now you have seen a little for yourselves. We would not have it any other way but, like I said, enough to give any professional garden designer nightmares.

Now for some photos of our Koi. We have nine as both Mike and I were born on the 9th albeit in different years and months. It also gives them plenty of room to swim and to grow.

Firstly, "Big Blue" - just as Mike took the photo a white petal dropped in and the shot is therefore not as good as he would have liked.




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Now come Freckles, Moonlight and Sovereign

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The small one, front left is Flipper, the black/white one next to him is Domino, on the right is Sunset and behind Sunset is Phantom
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We also have Ginger, not shown in these photos.

Well, it is getting on for dinner time. Happy Gardening everyone.

Love, Jeannnette




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15 comments:

  1. i LOVE it jeannettte,and i want them butterflys.lol.were they expensive?and where did you mget them from,think they great.as someone who has a boy riding on a dolphin for a waterspout in his pond,yours is very tasteful lol.and it looks great.those koi are great,my goldfish nearly as big,lol.just bought a pump to clean pond out,found i now have 2 babies,7 newts,3 toads and a very lonely amorous frog lol.bless.he is always croaking for a mate.lovely pics,take care love mort xxx

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  2. Hi Jeannette, designer gardens are like designer clothes: nice to watch but unpractical and cold. Yours is full of life and colours and fun for yourselves and your grandchildren instead! I'd never swap it with one of those stiff TV gardens! All the best. Ciao. A.

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  3. Well, I agree with you your garden looks beautiful. The plastic butterflies are particularly lovely and when they light up at night, they remind me of fireflies. Eileen x

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  4. beautiful! ty for sharing.
    huggies...

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  5. i absolutely love your garden. and who cares what others think. i mean, what garden show is going to show up at your house anyway?

    i love those home shows as well.

    thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures.

    regina

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  6. Lovely to hear from you again so soon. Our gardens are our little oasis and it is up to us what we do. I have one gnome and an owl in my garden Stuarts not too keen but I get away with those. Why does it alway pour down just when our flowers are at their best. My giant re poppies came out at the weekend and this morning it has been very heary rain not a thunderstorm like you had just heavy rain an now all my poppies are lying down. Have a good day Love Joan.

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  7. Sorry I missed Mondays blog..But glad that te Drs visit went so well. Shame about the mam. though. But it is good that they are so understanding..I am sure you will have to wait a looooooooong time to get the results.. Your garden sounds just great to me. I to love the meercats..as does my Brother in law. We alwasy buy him one when we see them !!
    Sorry to read that you have had so much thunder etc. we have been lucky here and missed them or if we have it has just been the very edge of the rain no thunder etc. In fact there is a heavy shower going at the moment with torrential rain. Mary has just gone home and has had to make a dash for it !!
    Keep smiling and please if you can come in and share some more with us I do micc you when you are not about.
    Much Love Sybil xx

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  8. (((Jeanette)))
    I'm so sorry for the long absence, but have been dealing with "mental/nerve" things. I love ya and miss you. I'm doing my best to get caught up with you all :)
    Your yard, pond, lighted birds and just EVERYTHING is magnificient! Absolutely eye candy and you have all done a fantastice job. I love looking at it :))
    You look so beautiful in your pictures.

    Huggers, Gayla
    PS: I'm posting some pretty pics of baby hummingbirds that are nesting in my backyard, with mama, and also have a video. Hopefully it will get done today :)

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  9. Jeannette I love your garden it is so pretty ~ and the fish are beautiful ~ It looks like you have put a lot of work into making it look so lovely ~ Ally x

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  10. Well, your description just made me wish I could see this very interesting looking garden, and I think you are perfectly right to please yourselves first and I am sure you please the grandchildren! Gerry

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  11. Hey Jeannette,

    Its nice to come and visit your journal. I liked looking at your garden and your koi and things. I have been meaning to come and leave you a comment. I sent you a card recently and I don't know if you received it yet. I do hope that all is well in your neck of the woods. Do take care. Monae.

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  12. Hi Jeannette, I'm glad to see you posting again. I envy you your pond and your fish. I would love a water garden in my back yard but would have to spend major money getting electricity to it, so I don't see it happening. I'm glad your medical appointments are behind you, and I trust you'll get the "all clear" notice soon. - Linda in DC

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  13. Hi Jeannette
    I love the light in your garden ,we have just put some in ours .
    Hope you get good news from the hospital.
    Love Jeanx

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  14. Grrr...I had a nice long comment but it was lost in cyber space somewhere!!!

    I love your koi and pond, it is just gorgeous. I have three who are very big and the rest of growing ever so slowly.

    My gardens are a reflection of me and I believe each person should have their own style with a garden. A designer would have a fit if they were to see my wild mixture of plants! I love your solar butterflies, what a neat idea.

    Enjoy your lovely garden & fish.

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  15. The garden and the butterflies are gorgeous. No, the butterflies are awesome! The koi are to die for!

    krissy knox :)

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