An Artist's Garden

This week I was invited to tour a friend's garden. Not only is Miss Becky a fellow Master Gardener she is also a very talented and award winning artist. Her artistic flair is woven into all aspects of her garden from plant combinations to sculptures and the artistic elements which are found throughout her garden.


She gardens on a 1.5 acre sloped lot with equal parts shade and sun. The front of her home welcomes you with this stunning combination of giant pitcher plants and blue sage.


On the shaded slope facing the street Becky has a mass of shade loving plants including hydrangea, ferns, Solomon's seal and trillium. This is a challenging area because the deer forage here.


To deter the deer Becky created these coyote statues by painting some canvas which she stuffed and mounted on a rebar frame. She says it works! Later on the tour you will be in for a treat with another project made from rebar.


At the back of her house is a stunning tiered garden welcoming all types of pollinators.


Her hydrangea are very impressive. In Georgia we typically see blue hydrangea because of our acidic soil. Becky has amended her soil to neutralize it and now has blooms in several shades of purple.


And they are stunning!


She has several blue hydrangea including mopheads and lacecaps through out her garden. In the shade garden it is very calming and just makes you want to take a seat and stay a long while.


Recently, Becky began square foot gardening and won 2nd place for her family garden. To keep the deer, rabbits and other critters out of her vegetable garden she built this rebar house.


I love this! Not only is it a functional structure it also adds an airy, industrial element and fabulous focal point to this corner of her garden. Here is a closer look...


The rebar frame holds the netted walls that still allow pollinators, rain and sunshine to enter.
The  photo below was taken inside the structure and gives you an idea of the massive size.


Walking back toward the house is this view. In the foreground is a lovely pomegranate shrub in full bloom. In the background you can see the artist studio.


The garden is such a nice composition of color and texture.



The insects abound from all types of bees, beetles, beneficial insects and butterflies.




There is even room for faeries to dance here.


Becky painted several gourd kitties which her grandkids placed throughout the garden.


This is one of the real life inspirations. The kitties romp around the garden and love laying in the pine straw.


Here are a few more wide shots of the tiered garden from different angles.




One of the whimsical elements that really caught my eye were these hypertufa mushrooms.


I will end the tour with a few closer shots of the beautiful blooms.




Thank you Becky for sharing your gorgeous garden with us as well as your knowledge of design, color combinations and foliage colors and textures. I feel inspired to take my garden to the next level!

Comments

  1. I love going to artist gardens because they have such a good eye for design and color. Becky has a wonderfully big garden too with beautiful stonework. The walled hill garden is so well done. The little fairy house is adorable, look forward to more!

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    1. When Becky bought her home 6 years ago the wall was made from landscape ties. She immediately had it redone with stacked stone. I love stone walls. The foundational elements in a garden make such a difference. Becky has an adorable children's garden for her grandkids. One day I will do a post on that area. It is such a fun place!

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  2. Fabulous photos and journaling!!! I hope Becky sees this! I love being able to watch you in action! This really should be published in a magazine or newspaper feature!

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  3. What a wonderful garden. Thank you and thanks to your friend for sharing it with us.

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    1. Your welcome! Becky is such an inspiration and fascinating person.

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  4. Wonderful garden. I like the coyote, does it work?

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    1. She says it does! She has two in her garden and it seems to be working.

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  5. WANT!!! All of it! Wowza! Love every bit! That rebar house is killer! :o)

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    1. Isn't it! When I saw it I thought it was the coolest thing ever! And I just love how it provides a structural element but doesn't block views.

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  6. They have lovely gardens. Love the long shots.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Thanks Cher! The entire garden flows so nicely and is so well thought out from color to textures and size.

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  7. Becky's garden is wonderful, full of colour and the rebar house is amazing. Thanks, Karin, for the tour.

    -Karen

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  8. The tiered garden is fabulous. But I just adore that rebar greenhouse! What a great idea!

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    1. Isn't it! Leave it to an artistic mind to come up with such a spectacular structure!

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  9. Karin what a fabulous garden...I also love the tiered garden but I also love the house....very clever gardener.

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    1. This is my style garden...love all the elements that make up the bones and the colors & textures!

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  10. Wow, that is one of the most beautiful gardens I've seen in a long time! Or maybe it's because that type of garden in my fave--kind of an organized cottage-style garden. Absolutely gorgeous! Coyote statues! Maybe that's what I need!

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    1. It is gorgeous! I hoped my photos would do it justice. I could sit and spend hours in this garden absorbing all the elements!

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  11. What a gorgeous garden! Sadly, I can't grow hydrangeas here, the deer devour them. I do love that rebar house though. So much more interesting to look at than just a plain 7ft deer fence!

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  12. It is indeed a lovely place to enjoy the magic of gardening and arts intertwined. I love visting such a inspiring gardens. Thanks

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  13. Wonderful photos of a beautiful garden! I have a problem with deer, so maybe I'll sew up a few coyote decoys! Love the structure in the garden also :)

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  14. Awesome! This is a lovely garden full of so many amazing things. The rebar house is perfect. Should I ever need something like that to keep all the critters out, I will build it. Thank you for sharing this tour with us.

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  15. Karin, Thank you! I needed inspiration for my back garden and your photos of this beautious garden helped!

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  16. What a lovely garden! I like the rebar house and the views of the terraced hillside.

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One of my favorite things about blogging is the conversation with readers. Leave a comment and let's get talking. ~Karin

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