Treva's garden

This has been quite a strange year for my annual spring fever. Usually around this time I get caught up in the cultivated nature hoopla for only a couple of weeks. But this time it seems to be lasting a whole lot longer. I suspect it's all this wide, blank suburban lawn staring up at me through the mullioned windows. Or maybe it's just that I finally have the time, space, and energy to create some magic. Funnily enough though I haven't taken many pictures of the developments. Sorry about that! I can't even promise I will be better. All I can think when I head out into the yard is about looking and doing. All thoughts of my beloved camera slip from my mind. But I did manage to capture a delightful set of photographs of a private garden I can only dream of aspiring to. My sweet mother in law kindly arranged a private tour of her friend and neighbor's garden. Treva's garden was an inspirational private suburban wonderland!

Now how about this for a front yard? Not too much grass to mow, eh? Apparently this is the only grass on the entire property!

But I assure you that there was all sorts of flora and fauna!

Treva has been gardening in this spot for quite a few decades so most of the plants and trees have reached mature size. And what I truly loved was how she wasn't afraid to pack them all in! Could you even guess that this photo is standing in a typically sized suburban backyard?

Treva is still adding new plants and flowers and this Knock Out Rose is a stunner in our horribly hot south.

How sweet is this pretty lady taking a reading break? That's my mom in law, Mary. You may have seen her garden before.

There were still a few camellia blooms hanging on but the big show for them was in February.

Ah, finally we meet the gardener! Treva was so full of absolutely fantastic garden knowledge that I felt like I should throw my camera down and take out a pen and paper. I learned so much that day and enjoyed seeing such a well loved garden.

Oh, here is some of that fauna I promised you. Mighty cute, eh?

Years ago Treva decided that she needed more gardening room but moving wasn't an option. She was trapped on a small in town lot. Did she give up her need for more space? No way! She and husband Bruce bought the house next door. They promptly redrew the property line and rented the second house out. Now she has twice the gardening space, isn't that fabulous?! Perfectly at home in the second lot garden is this bird girl statue replica from the cover of the infamous book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (later made into a movie with the amazing Kevin Spacey and adorable John Cusack).

An old fashioned favorite and the state flower of Georgia, Confederate Rose. Treva tells me that this wild, thorny beast may be dying out in the wild.

I adore the garden rooms that Treva has created within this space. This rustic archway is an awesome divider that actually makes the space feel bigger than it is. I really like to see these types of photographs that give you some sort of idea of the layout of the garden. But there is no way I could capture all the nuance of this delightful garden.

But I certainly did try! Here is one of the amazing irises that my mom in law oos and ahs over.

Getting back to the garden rooms idea for a moment, look at the photo above. Notice how the boxwood is grown in a horseshoe U shape and the angel statue is tucked away inside. There are several of these surprising discoveries along the paths in this garden.

Very pretty nearly blooming spiderwort. Treva assures me they will take over if not cut back. But she also assured me that oak trees would take over the world if we let them!

Hey, here's some more of that super cute fauna for you. We ran across him sleeping under one of those horseshoe boxwoods then he decided to come along with us.

This courtyard is actually one of the first parts of the garden that you see when you enter into Treva's garden. But it is was so lovely that I thought it would be a beautiful way to end our tour.

Doesn't this serene space make you want to sit down with a nice ice cold drink and relax a while?

I'm hoping Treva will have us back at the change of season to see her beautiful garden again. But for now it's back out the garden gate we go.

Comments

[teresa]

WOW!!!! Awesome! I can't imagine it in person. The photos are incredible.

[Debra]

How very lovely. What a wonderful journey to share with your Mom in law.

[tina]

It is a beautiful garden. One I hope mine will become when it is all grown up. Treva has done fabulously and how innovative to redraw the property line. That iris is splendid. Perhaps you and your mother got a small sprig-a piece of Treva's garden. You can tell it is a much loved garden as it is so well maintained.

[georgiapeachez]

Treva's beautiful garden IS an inspiration. I'm doing my big spring porch clean today and we have lovely weather so I'll be in the garden too. xo, suzy

[pam]

gorgeous garden! I have one of those bird girl statues in my yard too. ;)