On this bloggers' bloom day, the shiniest flower in the garden was my dear friend, Gloria, author of
Dakota Garden.
She and hubs, Ted, were in town for a conference so naturally I had to throw a slumber party. We gabbed, non-stop. Poor Ted could barely get a word in edgewise!
I was so fearful that she'd stand in my garden, all dejected, thinking...
Wow, this joint looks a whole lot prettier online.
Because ~ honestly? It does! In the real world, there's just no hiding those pesky weeds. Or, the spots where flowers eagerly curled up and died.
Plus, there's not much rhyme or reason to this place. If it strikes my fancy, I'll probably plant it. Whether it should live here, or not.
Anyhoo, Gloria, Ted and I had a grand time. Nobody croaked from the din-din I prepared. (Breathing a sigh of relief.)
And, after a giant panic attack, prior to their arrival, I figured out that meeting blogging friends, in the real world, is two tons of fun.
PS: She asked that I disguise her if she ended up in my blog. So, dear Gloria, how's this? :)
To see what's blooming elsewhere, check out
Carol, of May Dreams Gardens, inventor of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.
Forgot to mention. Went to Dakota Garden and saw your best buds. Good disguise, but they forgot about their picture on the site.
ReplyDeleteGreat flowers, and--despite what you said about the online gallery being splashier than the entire garden--that final shot that shows your garden looks amazing! Happy bloomday.
ReplyDeleteGardeners are always the toughest critics of their own gardens! And yours looks great. I love orange and purple together (is that calendula in the 2nd pic?). And the yarrow looks pretty fantastic next to the blue.
ReplyDeleteThe garden looks lovely, the platycodon is a favorite of mine. Take care and have a great week.
ReplyDeletei really like the sign This Way To The Garden, so cute. we have a bench that says My Garden. jazevox
ReplyDeleteBet you had too much fun. Visitors never see the weeds. Funny see how much your friends look like Brad and Angelina - lol. Beautiful blooms by the way.
ReplyDeleteLOL--nice disguises you made for your visitors! (And I love your VP hole digger on the right side.) But I'm with James... the garden shown in that last picture shows that you don't have to worry at all about how things look in person. Gorgeous. :)
ReplyDeleteFun! It sounds like a blast. Poor Ted. It reminds me of listening to my husband talk NERDY car talk with his brother.( which I kind of enjoyed, although I won't admit it.)
ReplyDeleteI am glad I am not the only one superstitious about Friday the 13. ( regarding the comment you left on dung hoe.)
Hi Kate, Ted and I loved our visit. Your garden and hospitality are amazing. We had so much fun! Good job on Angelina and Brad - but you know, I prefer my Ted. Ok, to the rest of you wonderful readers: We were having way to much fun for me to worry about combing my hair, etc. LOL-
ReplyDeletehow fun that you got to meet in real life. Beautiful blooms for today!
ReplyDeleteHi Kate,
ReplyDeleteSometimes I find it easy to underestimate just how many flowers are in bloom in our gardens.
I can regularly post 30+ images even though it feels like there's barely anything flowering... I cut the photos down as 30 images can be far too many.
But to those on the outside it feels like our gardens are over flowering with blooms and colour.
Sounds like you had a great weekend, Kate. Gee, Ted and Gloria look much younger in your photo than I imagined than to be:) I have a blogging friend coming for a visit in mid-September, and all I can think about is can I get this place in shape before then so that she doesn't think all I grow are weeds?? That's why I like to use lots of close-ups in posts, too:) Seriously, though, your last photo of the garden next to your house proves that your garden is just as pretty in person as it is online.
ReplyDeleteMeeting bloggers is indeed a lot of fun, right after the panic attacks. Your garden looks wonderful but I know what you mean in that my photos focus on the color and nice things, not the vast blank spaces, weeds, etc.
ReplyDeleteWell, ya never know Donna... Perhaps they'll like that dolled up photo and add it to their blog, as well! ":))
ReplyDeleteThanks, James, that's really nice of you to say.
Very true, Amy. I was genuinely surprised when Gloria complimented the flowers because they look pretty tired to me... In that second pic ~ bee balm (pink) and a mish mash of helianthus, lemon blanket flowers and golden marguerite.
You got me, Garden of Threads! Had to google platycodon to discover which blossom you were referring to. Now I know. (And, I'm not tellin'. :))
ReplyDeleteThx, Jazevox. There's a little joke that goes along with that sign -- it spins with the wind, because the gardens are all around it.
Hi, Tufa;
It was so much fun!! Say I just noticed your plumeria pic thumbnail. I've got the same flower blooming on my deck!
Thx, Kim;
ReplyDeleteGloria and Ted were a pretty cute couple b4 I started touching things up. :)
It was really fun, Rosey, have you met up with any CO bloggers? There are so many of them compared to UT. Which made this extra special...
It was great fun Gloria and that Ted of yours is a sweetie pie. And, thank you so much for the gift basket! I'm luvin' that lotion!
ReplyDeleteHi Kate, I just did my post on our visit to you....would you believe it, while I was just finishing it up we got our 5th, yes I repeat, our 5th hailstorm of the season! Hail has taught me one thing big leafs plants get big holes and that it will be ok.
ReplyDeleteGloria -- Another hail storm?? That is just not fair.
ReplyDeletePS: You forgot your little 'weeds' garden ornament... :((
I'll mail it to you.
Kate, yes, I forgot my little weed stepping stone and I wanted it! But, please don't mail it out. It will cost a fortune. How about you keep it until you come out here. Gloria
ReplyDeleteKate Your flowers are beautiful. It's fun to meet blogging friends. I'm glad you guys had such a fabulous visit.
ReplyDeleteI should post a pic of the current state of my flower garden. Then you'd see how truly beautiful yours is!!! I love your flowers!
ReplyDeleteHi Kate,
ReplyDeleteYour garden does look very nice online. We tend to see the flaws in our gardens, but those who come to visit see the pretty blooms that are there. How cool that you got to meet a garden blogger. I've never met anyone online in person. Ben, from The Deep Middle lives in the same town I do, but when I suggested a plant swap, he wasn't interested. If it was a woman, I'd pursue trying to visit each others' gardens. Still, I wouldn't want to do that right now, because my beds are not at their best.
Thx, Melanie;
ReplyDeleteOf course now I'm over-zealous and I'd like to invite simply everyone to visit! You and Titanium would absolutely love the backcountry skiing out here. Just tossing that out there in the universe....
Ah, Snowcatcher, you're always too kind.
ReplyDeletePS: You need to come for a visit, too! You and Lizard would be quite thrilled with our mountain biking trails. [I'll drive the sag wagon!]
Hi, Sue;
ReplyDeletePerhaps the Deep Middle fellow was intimidated. You have the prettiest flowers! I'm certain I'll meet you sooner, or later. Probably when I'm busted stealing cuttings from your blossoms in the dark of the night. tee hee.
I have followed Gloria's blog for a while, and I am happy she led me to yours. Your setting is wonderful! How true, however, that reality in person may look different than the edited version that comes out of our cameras! That said, your garden is gorgeous and must be a butterfly magnet!
ReplyDeletehow beautiful! love the sign.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous blooms...probably in person, too & not 'just' on the blog---but I do know what you mean about those pesky weeds, bare spots, etc! Gloria is such a nice blogging friend; it's so exciting you both got to meet!
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks marvelous. I would dread having anyone see my garden right now. It is about to lay down and die. Rain is all it needs. Even the weeds are giving up. Happy GBBD. It is a lot of fun meeting other garden bloggers. Lucky you.
ReplyDelete