Giveaway Winner!

  Giving away a gift to a commenter was so much fun for me as I kept wondering who would it be? Well, the answer was decided last night by a random number generator found here. 

But first let me show you how I numbered the comments (it's not fancy at all). Since the giveaway was limited to commenters with a mailing address in the United States only, some commenters were eliminated. This meant that just because you were the 15th commenter does not mean your number is 15. Here are the numbers in chronological order of qualifying commenters. 

1. Dave

2. Judie

3. LNL

4. Tamera

5. Linda (Meadowview Thymes)

6. Gardener on Sherlock Street

7. Jean

8. Carolyn

9. Darla

10. Donna @GWGT

11. Skeeter

12. Michaela

13. Terrie

14. Lola

15. W2W

16. Pearl

17. Kathleen

18. Rose

19. DarleneS

20. Janet

21. Rebecca 

I wish I could include overseas commenters but logistically it just wouldn't be fair to the small company and its marketer that kindly offered the give away to a commenter/reader of this blog. 

So, without further ado....


 

The number drawn was 6! That means Gardener on Sherlock Street won the giveaway. Congrats GonSS! Please send me your address so I can forward it to the company and your owls will be in the mail post haste....


in the garden....


I thought you all might like to see we are eating fresh tomatoes here in Tiger Gardens. These are not just any tomatoes though. They are the variety 'Silver Fir Tree' which is an heirloom variety. I received these seeds along with many other older open pollinated varieties in a packet last summer from Seeds of Change. Silver fir tree is a determinate type tomato plant. I surmise this is why they are so early as I think eating fresh tomatoes on June 19th is early. 

Do you know the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes? And if so, traditionally what type of tomatoes do American grow....

in the garden....?

 Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Dave and the Plant Swap

From In the Garden

Plant swaps on a grand scale are always fun. Not only do you get to meet other gardeners but you get some interesting plants too. Plant swaps on the state level-okay-middle of the state level are even more fun when a fellow blogger invites you not only to the plant swap but to his home. Do you all know who I am talking about?

From In the Garden

Sure you do, there he is in the above picture in the white shirt making a plant swap deal at the Middle Tennessee Plant Swap. Do you recognize him? It is our very own Dave from Growing the Home Garden. This plant swap was held in Henry Horton State Park in Colombia Tennessee on May 22, 2010. I had a great time at the swap. All the members were very nice and it did not take me or my gardening friend Naomi to get the hang of the swap. We both came home with many nice plants and had a ball. But the real highlight of the day was visiting with Dave and his family not only at the plant swap but at his home. Naomi and I both agree we could've left all the plants behind and would've been satisfied visiting with Dave and his family in his lovely garden. Now that is saying something!

From In the Garden

Here we are in Dave's very own home garden. You know I don't think Dave gets his picture on his blog enough so I thought I'd highlight him here on my blog. I tell you I was a bit shocked at how many folks at the plant swap knew Dave. I was pretty honored to know Dave too. The people who participated in the plant swap were mainly Garden Web forum members and they all knew each other by their screen names. This forum is actually the reason the plant swap came about. Not only did they know Dave from the forum but also from his participation in the plant swap for a number of years and there were many members of his gardening club there as well. While I was talking with Dave another person overheard my name and asked me if I was Tina of In the Garden. I said yes and then she introduced herself to me. I so wish I had gotten a picture of Jennifer from Confessions of a Serial Tiller; another Tennessee Garden blogger. Go visit her cool blog when you have a chance. She and I talked for a bit and she told me how she had been able to visit Phillip's garden of Dirt Therapy not too long ago during his open garden days. Lucky girl! But I was pretty lucky too because I was heading to Dave's. Let's look at his garden now.

From In the Garden

Dave's blog was the first garden blog I found when I began blogging a few years ago (coming up on three years). I blogged through an FTP site and never even knew there were such things as garden blogs. Duh me. When I found his garden blog I read through every single old post of his and found our style of blogging seemed to be similar. I marveled at his designs and innovative ideas and enjoyed following along as he worked on his garden. You see, I guess the year I found his blog was the year he and his wife purchased their home. To say his garden was brand new was a very true statement-at the time.

I've followed along with Dave on his progress in his Home Garden all these months and years (I am betting over one thousand posts!) and really thought I had an idea of how his garden looked. But I was wrong. Sometimes blogs truly show a garden how it is and sometimes not. This was one of the cases and I think the fault was totally all mine. I had expected a not so mature garden but was pleasantly surprised to find a mature garden with tons of color, beautiful lawn grass, trees and shrubs planted, a large well kept vegetable area and lots of plans still in the making! Wow! Naomi and I were both impressed by all you've done in the three years you've lived there Dave. You should be most proud!

I particularly enjoyed the layout and how the garden flowed. There were many small vignettes that worked well together (think a ring of mums surrounding a planting of irises) and there was also a start of a great backbone to the garden. The trees and shrubs are growing well. I finally saw the little Corner Garden in person, visited the famous shed and enjoyed the arbor immensely. Walking through the arbor was especially pleasing because the walkway was bordered on one side by a beautiful mixed border and on the other side by the house and more plantings. The area was large and comfortable to meander along the path. The arbor is really quite big and maybe it is me again?? that could not fully grasp the scale of the arbor from the pictures Dave posted. Is it like that for other bloggers? Are the gardens you visit of fellow bloggers different from how you envision them from the blogs? I have visited five other bloggers' gardens including Dave's. I personally found two of the five to be reflected perfectly in the blogs, only three were totally different than I had anticipated. I think perhaps we get a picture of a garden in our mind and build around the pictures the bloggers' post? Sometimes we hit it just right, sometimes not? I was just wondering if other bloggers who have visited fellow bloggers gardens are finding the same to be true?

From In the Garden

Here is a long shot looking toward Dave's garden shed/greenhouse. It was so cute! I liked it the yellow but both Jenny and Dave assure me it will be painted soon. A color has yet to be chosen.

Thanks Dave and Jenny for having us over to The Home Garden! This post would not be complete without me thanking my gardening friend and neighbor Naomi for traveling with me. She is an ardent gardener and I have had the pleasure of touring her garden as well. Here is a link to tour her garden if you desire. If you are a plant swapper and received one of her lovely St. John's Worts at the plant swap you may wish to check out this post because I posted a picture of it last year. Without Naomi's help on the plant swap and her expert navigation service and us talking all the way home and there I am sure the two hour trip each way would have been much less enjoyable.

in the garden....

P.S. I don't always post on blogger visits or when I visit others. Dave and I have met a few times before; some I posted and some I have not. I know it is exciting to have visitors come to your garden and wanted to share this visit with you readers. Also, I have another very special visit to post about as well. I am saving it for a special day. It is for my special group of commenters....

in the garden....


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

In Nina's Garden

By Skeeter

I left my Georgia Garden for another week long visit with my family in Tennessee. This go round Tina and I were able to squeeze in a visit with Nina. Upon Meeting Nina on previous TN visits, I found out that Nina grew up in a house next to some of my mothers relatives! Amazing what a small world it is out there. My mother has been wanting to meet Nina ever since. It was my Mothers Birthday and I decided it would be a perfect day to take her on a Mother Daughter Day out in the country to visit with Nina and Tina.
Nina and her husband Gene, live on the most serene spot one can imagine! I could sure wake up to this view in my front yard every morning. So peaceful and relaxing.
As you drive up the driveway, you are greeted by this beautiful patch of color.
At first glance, I knew this would be my favorite garden within Nina's paradise.
So much color, full and lush just calling out to butterflies and bees to drop in.
Our eyes were captured by this Red and Gold beauty. Nina tells us this is one plant. Or is it two plants? Hum, this beauty is Helen's Flower or Helenium Autumnale, red-gold. You tell me, is it one plant or two plants? Quite impressive and all coming from the same root!
Nina has one of the Tipsy Pots that Lola inspired me to make this past summer. They are such a fun touch of whimsy in the Garden.
This Cypress Vine caught my eye with lots of activity from the Hummingbirds. Nina says this plant is very invasive but I must have one in my garden! I was enjoying all the Hummingbirds and it would go great close to the Saints Bald Cypress Tree! The camera focused on the foliage instead of the blooms but you can still see the star shape of the red blooms. Nina, I will be looking for those seeds as this is a must in my garden. :-)
Then I spotted my new favorite garden in Nina's yard. The gold fish pond! I have always wanted a pond but the Saint has not taken that bait as of yet. "Too much trouble to fight off the wildlife" and he is probably right. So for now I enjoy other ponds such as this one at Nina's house.
The goldfish are so happy swimming around and I was about ready to jump in the water with them as it had started to heat up by this time. Gotta love those Dog Days of Summer...
A blink of the eye and I had another favorite spot! Nina is not happy with this area of her yard. She says it needs work but I found it very inviting with being such a natural type spot to view.
Little touches such as the fallen pot spilling greenery make this a very interesting place in the garden. Nina, we are usually our own worse critic so don't fret about this spot. I found it wonderful.
The Cosmos were blooming to beat the band! Yet, another Southern Term out of my mouth.
See the tiny bee having a sip of nectar?
I then spotted this special planter in the garden. This lunch box belongs to Nina's father who carried this to work for many years. At this point of the Garden Tour, I stopped looking for a favorite spot. How could I chose just one with so much beauty surrounding me? Instead, a favorite memory of Nina's Gardens, found in the love and care with these little touches throughout.
What would normally be a blank wall on my house has become a cute work of art in Nina's Garden. I found this to be a great way to display a window and pan from the old house Nina once called home.
I forgot to ask if this wagon once belonged to Nina's children but for now, it holds plants and makes for another great focal point.
I don't have this plant but I think Tina and Nina called it Joe Pye Weed. It was in full bloom and the butterflies were having a feeding frenzy.
Here you see three of the flutterbugs busy at work.
My mom does not know too much about flowers but she enjoys viewing them. She says the flower bug skipped a generation with her. Her mother was an avid gardener and belonged to the Clarksville Garden Club. But one thing is for sure, my mom knows her Air Conditioners! She retired from Marketing at Trane Company and she was most impressed to see the newer model in Nina's Garden. Okay mom, that is not a flower so on with the Garden tour now....
I was in awe of the ivy growing up the tree trunk along with the ferns below. More little touches of whimsy with old candle holders used for color amongst the ferns.
I like the way Nina used old dishware to create a nice little statue to brighten up a spot. If only I had known of this while working 3 days at the Cats Are Us yard sale in June! They had lots of things for me to use to make one of these. Note to self: Keep Nina's dishware creations in the mind...
Ah, one of my favorite statues of all times. The little Savannah Girl made famous with the Book and Movie "Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil" I did not care too much for the movie but the statue is adorable.
Hosta looking healthy and with so many woods around. I know there must be deer in those woods. How do you keep the deer away?
I was baffled by this bloom. Does anyone recognise it? I have seen Rose of Sharon before but never have I seen a Double Rose of Sharon.
The bushy tree looks like a Rose of Sharon for sure but the blooms are so not Rose of Sharon as I know them. I learn something new in every Garden I visit!
The silhouette of the bird was familiar to me. That is because Tina has posted on this spot before with a previous visit to Nina's Garden. This little bridge has been painted white since Tina's posting. It makes me want one ever so more now. Saint, are you listening here? Ah, Magnolia trees make a perfect front drop to the woodsy backdrop. I spotted signs of the Yellow Belly Sap Sucker (woodpeckers) on the trees. I hope they leave them alone as they can do massive damage.
A shady spot but still hot day as the humidity was starting to take its toll on us by now.
Beautiful planters on the walkway to the front door where air conditioning awaited us.
Nina was a great hostess and had us a wonderful lunch prepared. We sat and ate lunch (a simple Sandwich my foot) while gabbing up a storm. As usual, the time flew by and it was time for us to head on down the road. Thank you Nina for a wonderful time and we must get back out your way again some time when the weather is cooler for a longer visit outside in the garden.
And Thanks to Gene for letting us ladies take over the house for a few hours. We don't bite and with the next visit, I expect you to join in on the fun. We do talk about more then just flowers you know. Gene gets credit for the beautiful trim job of this evergreen! Gene, I have a hedge you can clip if you ever get to our neck of the woods...

We said our goodbyes and Tina took off to greet the Jimster from school. Nina gave us some backroad directions to the old homeplace so we took off in that direction.

A beautiful curvy drive through the woods and we were at the old Church where my grandmother and her family gathered for events and worship.

Mom and I spent a little time walking around visiting with the family members buried on the chuch grounds. I learned more family history and here you see my mothers Grandparents stone.

We drove up to the old homeplace spot and also past the creek that I would wade in as a child.

It is nice to slow down the fast pace of life and go down memory lane at times. We must never forget where we came from and to occasionally go back, stop and smell the wildflowers growing along the creek or roadside.

We sure enjoyed our stroll IN NINA'S GARDEN...