Outdoor Wednesday: Backyard Garden Walk

Well, with a sigh of relief, and a thoughtful smile everytime I think of the people toting umbrellas while pointing at flowers the day of the walk: it's come and it's gone. The day brought rain, certainly a small kink in the major plan ... but it didn't deter more than 350 weather warriors as they donned their cap and boots and ventured into downtown to view the more than 50 inner-city gardens.

You can take a mini-tour of photos taken the day of the walk, during the rain, by a wonderful neighbor.

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Our backyard from the reclaimed brick patio at the very back of the narrow city lot.

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A view of the front fountain and youthful dwarf burning bush. Notice the lazy Russian Sage, I think that the spring and summer rain we've been getting a healthy dose of has kept it from it's more natural upright position. No matter, still lovely - don't you think?

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Maybe the best photo of the entire lot. An addition to the garden for the day of Garden Walk that will live there happily until Fall arrives. This faceted mirror is hung from the porch railing, and reflects almost every corner of the garden in its central, and 16 surrounding mirrors. If you spy for a while, you'll notice Earl in the reflection.


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And speaking of Earl, the greedy camera hog he is looks mighty cozy here, don't you think? Wrapped in a stole of baby's breath, dahlia, garden flox, and oriental star gazer lilies that have yet to bloom, he's almost cracked a smile.

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Here, in the center of the garden we planted last year, the False Sunflower have really taken a front row seat to the display. The Rose Campion (silvery grey stem with bright fushia flower) is holding steady, and the apricot dahlias, butterfly bush, and stella d'oro lilies are still waiting for their big display.

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Here, in the newer part of the garden (added this spring) my white liatris is about to bloom, nestled near Tiny Tim Spurge, Salmon Geranium, Guillardia (Oranges and Lemons), giant anice hyssop and purple coneflower, the colors should really work nicely together once everything is in full bloom.

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I told you he was a camera hog! He even made it into the local paper.

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The reclaimed brick patio and new Smith & Hawkens dining room set. Thank goodness we bought two tables and twelve chairs after notice of their closing. So sad. Once the pergola is installed (coming weeks), this area should be ready for a post all on its own.

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The first circle looking into the second from the back porch. The yard is not large, but the creation of separate spaces has really made it look much bigger. I was excited to hear so many people say the yard was "such a nice size". My tricks worked!

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More salmon geraniums, this time peaking from under the lazy Russian Sage, here by the fountain under the dining room windows.

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The all weather wicker patio set under the herbs hanging on the back porch. This set up has proven to provide such great views of the yard, and is quite comfy.

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Another view of the curves of the Garden and the outer edge of the first circle. The japanese variegated ribbon grass has really perked up this year, and is now at just about 4', touching a few of the bottom branches of our 2-year old River Clump Birch trees. Yes, 2-years old. I can hardly believe how fast they've grown!

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Calla lilies next to Blackeyed Susans, (still not open) Salvia, (snowhill and purple) weigela bush and other reblooming daylilies were among the most asked about. In our zone (5) we have to treat several "perennials" as annuals. Calla lilies, dahlias, and canna to name a few from my garden.

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And finally, a view from the second circle into the first and the front porch.

I hope you all had a fun time, a wonderful tour, and plenty of beauty in this mini-tour of my backyard. It's come so far, and there is still so much left to bloom. Stay tuned for more updates. Make sure to check out even more gardens and outdoor beauty at A Southern Daydreamer!

Thanks for stopping by!

Garden Walk 2009

Up at 6:00am after getting to bed only 4 hours earlier, I was determined but tired. Plans were set in motion the day before to have teams of people putting up the tent, setting out the table, chairs, and complimentary water; hammering in the signs, and checking off the gardens that would be open for public view. Coffee in tow, we all did our part with overcast skies, and crossed fingers ... hoping that the rain would hold off until 3:05, the very minute we'd finish the self-guided tour.

We weren't so lucky. At 10:05 a thunderstorm bringing about 3" of rain came rumbling in with lightening as it's warm-up act. Still, it didn't deter garden enthusiasts from all over Western New York and even Canada, and with umbrellas and rain jackets they walked from garden to garden, smiles on their faces, with nothing but beautiful things to say. You can pick your guide up at the tent above, and let's get going.

Just across from where the tent was placed this year, a neighbor put together this wonderful "Welcome" Garden. A mix of plants that she purchased, and plants that neighbors split, bought, or gifted, this mall garden in the median of our parkway is a great first glance at the riot of color and myriad of beauty the rest of the street beholds.

This graciously curved bed is whimsical, and you've seen it before. Yes, this belongs to my very good friend Melisa, who is a fantastic gardener. We'll do a Share a Garden Sunday on her yard in the coming weeks, but if you open this photo up for a larger view and look to your right, you'll see the Labrador topiary Melisa got for her birthday, sporting all sorts of interesting ferns and succulents.

This two-family home is owned by a floral designer, and the profusion of pink is one that I've witnessed a few years in a row now. It's a great compliment to the greens in the rest of their yard, and one of the favorites among architecture and garden lovers that toured Saturday.

This backyard garden is the work of a Master Gardener and Landscape Designer who lives on our very block! A wonderful resource for garden and landscaping advice, she's the person who so graciously took all of the photos I've posted today! Her garden, if she'll allow - will be a SAGS feature as well.

Here, a taste of what lies beyond in this shaded front yard garden. This homeowner was the creator of our Welcome Garden at the front of the street, and hosted our prayer service the morning of the Walk. A great friend and neighbor, we'll explore more of her garden with SAGS, too.

The entrance to the backyard of my "almost" next door neighbor. So whimsical, with a great cottage feel. Love the white picket fence.

And of course - who could resist taking a picture of Earl?

My backyard garden.

The mayor of Niagara Falls lives on our very street, but believe it or not, this is NOT his house. Those flags sure would make you think differently, though! This garden was beautifully orchestrated last year, and the rooftop planter rounded with the same flow of the porch was an addition this year.

The porch where it all started! This is the beautiful home of our very own "Margaret" who we talk about sometimes here on Color Outside the Lines. Her children, along with neighborhood kids sold Lemonade to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand to cure childhood cancer. I believe they raised about $130 this year, a wonderful contribution to a great cause. Of course "Margaret's" garden will be a SAGS feature, too.

This year we had another street play along, and this backyard garden is the work of a true artist. The homeowner (a High School Art Teacher, and artist) and his mother, a Master Gardener have been working so hard on this garden, and their artistic touch and hard work shows, doesn't it?

Here the house next door, known as "Higgin's House" has a beautiful backyard we'll get in a SAGS feature soon.

And the front yard and porch of my very good friend Dorothy who did so much work with her husband to get ready for the Garden Walk and make their already beautiful home a stand out on the street. The pathway to the right was a new addition, along with some backyard gardening we'll get to see this coming Sunday!

And finally, the home of another great pair of friends. This garden was made to order, and delivered just 2 days before the walk - just in time, and very beautiful, don't you think?

So there you have it, a pseudo tour of a few of the houses on this years walk. A full link of the houses on the walk will be posted on our Block Club website soon, and as soon as they're up, I'll link over. Hope you enjoyed the short walk ... I'll have a tour of our garden up on Wednesday, and Thursday.

Tablescape Thursday: Red White Blue Patio

For Susan's Tablescape Thursday I decided to post the photos from the photographer of the Buffalo News article that came out last Friday. The patio was set for dinner for 4 with our old "patio" set and burlap covered table. (In the picture above: LEFT TO RIGHT; Chris, Allison, Artie, Scott).

Blue spode china with textured leather placemats, bamboo flatware (I'm telling you this is a favorite of mine this year!!!!) and crystal stemware made for a pretty nice little spot for Scott's tequilla lime turkey tenderloin over spanish rice, black beans, and blue corn tortilla chips. The editor had asked me to put together something that would fit in with the 4th of July coverage were were going to have. So, I paired the red napkin and burlap strapping material over the charger for that red/white/blue patriotic look.

A classic twist, but still red, white and blue. Thanks for visiting, make sure to visit the other tablescapes this week, and if you're able, could someone loan me a few hours? There simply aren't enough in my day! (I'm sure I'm not the only one who has this problem!)

Garden Walk is steadily approaching, and as the hours race forward to Saturday morning, the projects and tasks that have to be completed in a mere 47 hours are mounting. This morning, my "Garden King" was up at the crack of dawn, planting the 6 arborvitae behind the concrete retaining wall at the edge of the patio, last night we spent hours putting together our new Smith & Hawkens Ash dining room furniture for the patio, and tonight (alone) I'll have to finish up assembly of the set.

Then ... planting, moving, planting, mulching, weeding, mowing, edging and cleaning - then maybe - just maybe, we'll be ready for the walk. Now, if you're reading this, and you're in the area ... please feel free to stop by and take a tour of the gardens! I promise it won't disappoint. For those of you who are not in the area - I'll have a pseudo tour posted for you here on Monday!

Pictures of our yard to come soon! Happy Thursday!

More, More, More

With the Garden Walk happening in just 5 short days, there is so much to be done around Casa de la Vanderdogan and not nearly enough time to finish it. Planting, weeding, mowing, trimming, cutting ... you get the idea, it all needs to be done, along with finding those cobwebs that hide until someone pops out with a camera and then * POOF! * there they are!

With so much to do I feel as I've neglected the blog, and all of my wonderful readers and friends. I promise that once I get through this hurdle, I'll be back with some more fantastic news and a whole slew of projects! For now, just a quick thank you to everyone who left such beautiful compliments to my article with the Buffalo News. I'll get back to each of you individually very soon!

And for even more more more press, check out the Niagara-Gazette feature on our upcoming Garden Walk, Saturday, July 11.

Look at Scott, proudly announcing his self-proclaimed status as "GARDEN KING" ... hahaha! Yeah Right! I mean, of course you are dear!

And if you didn't link over to the entire article and series of pictures from the Buffalo News, my dear friend and editor of Chic Galleria has posted the full article and pictures not on my blog last Saturday on the Chic Galleria website:

Please, don't mind the awful pictures of me. After a long day at work - I threw on whatever I could find, and did the best I could to keep my sanity while people roamed the house with cameras and notepads ... it was the best day and the most stressful day I've ever had. Thank you Beth for this and other fabulous press!

And off I go to do work related tasks, finish up and finalize Garden Walk details, and anticipate getting home to hours and hours of more yard work. Thanks again to the lot of you who had so many positive compliments to the article - I am so thankful to have you all behind me. Stay tuned for our next journey. Details soon!

Look Ma, I Made the Paper!

Picture this: me, wide awake, 4:30am. A restless night - most of it spent tossing and turning, running back and forth from the bedroom to the office waiting for updates to the Buffalo News website. Finally - 6:00am, still no updates, still no newspaper - I run out, hair a mess, t-shirt, underwear ... I know ... and jump into the car and race up the street to check the machine ... when


there it sat; in black & white and color too, the copy of the newspaper I'd looked forward to for the past 2-weeks, lifetime - really. The editor decided to title it: Niagara Gorge-eous, and I knew immediately it was going to be perfect!

"Their eclectic collection of furniture and accessories is well-suited to the home’s interior –the main living space being three rooms adjoined by French doors off the foyer."

"A common thread is that nothing looks new, says Vanderpool, who describes the look as “rustic elegance.” The “rustic” comes from a ladder and other items from old farms and elsewhere. The “elegance” comes from beautiful rugs, great upholstery and silks, Vanderpool says. "

" This is a home where leather living room chairs from a designer showroom mix with an old dining table, chairs, hutch and sideboard purchased from a neighbor for $200. A section from a Victorian garage door — found at an antique store in Ellicottville — leans against a wall. An old wooden luggage cart from Cincinnati Railroad serves as a coffee table in the sunroom. "

" “Coming to dinner here is an event. You don’t just come to eat. You come to look,” said Allison Pasquantino, a neighbor, friend and fellow organizer of Orchard Parkway Garden Walk, which takes place from 9 a. m. to 3 p. m. July 11. "

" Not that anything at the house — inside or out — actually is “done.” “It still is a work in progress. It will always be a work in progress,” Vanderpool says. "

Really, an honor and a pleasure to have worked with Susan Martin on this beautifully written article, and Bill Wippert the photographer who I have emailed for copy of the photos he took. Both those used, and those that weren't. I'll share whatever I can get from him when they come through. Thanks to all of you who sent along emails and comments wishing us success in this shoot, and calming words for the anticipation anxiety I suffered when this all started. I appreciate you all - and hope you all enjoy the full article, and collection of photos.

In other news - Share a Garden Sunday will be skipped this Sunday, and will resume next Sunday to feature the Garden Walk. I've got a lot of prepping to do! Happy 4th!

Share a Garden Sunday - Almost Garden Walk

Well, I finally found my camera ... on the count of three, lets have a collective YAY! 1--2--3, YAY!!! And because I found it, I was able to get a few photos of the garden today for the fourth Share a Garden Sunday! I want to thank everyone who has spent their time taking pictures of their gardens, and those gardens that inspire them to keep Share a Garden Sunday a weekly event. It's been a lot of fun! So, you know the drill! If you're playing along - leave me a note, and I'll link you up as soon as possible.

I'm still patiently awaiting bulbs and blooms in my backyard, though things are filling in quite nicely, and it all seems to be right on schedule now that the weather has started to cooperate a little more. As you all remember, I complained about the 7.5" of rain we got in just a matter of days last week, but, in light of all the set backs the rain had on the patio completion, it really did a fabulous thing for the stage of the garden. Things are happy, healthy, and on the road to being really beautiful!

Again, you can see that the color is still a bit lacking, but that again is due to the the true seasons here in WNY, zone 5. My flowers are mostly summer - fall blooming, so most have yet to get started. Give me a few weeks - and I promise, it'll be more impressive.

Please excuse my neighbors satellite dish ... no other way around it, really. That and their down spot, and their meter box, and their kitchen window. How lucky we are. ;) The banana is taking it's sweet time, but the dear friend who shared it with me says that I will see some serious growth on this thing in the next few weeks, and if I take the proper precautions, it will come back next year. Yes, a perennial banana here in NY. Now that's going to be something worth talking about!

And Earl looks happy as a clam, no? Now, for some close-ups of the favorites that just opened up or will in the next few days:

Raspberry beebalm. (I'm so happy I found my camera!) I love this stuff, and apart from the wait time, this glorious plant has been a super star performer in my garden. I can't wait for it to explode here in the coming weeks.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea) - these I was a little worried about. It seemed like I had the lazy flowers on the street. When everyone else had beautiful purple coneflowers on their plants, mine were just lanky and green. But now look at them. Gorgeous!

The liatris (gayfeather) blooms in my garden til' fall in purple and white. This purple batch is about ready to open up. I can't wait to see the blazing purple with that white delphinium.

And speaking of, isn't it great? That white really helps the garden pop, don't you think? And the height of them really make a great impact. Next weekend I'll buy my annuals to fill in the barespots for the garden walk - and I'm thinking of white petunias, inspired by these beauties.

And finally, one of Scott's favorite, and one of the many contributions to the new garden - calla lilies. They're such a rare and unusual flower. ;) Thanks for taking a peak at the garden, now off you go to enjoy the others:

Traci @ A Thousand Blooms

"E" Street Garden

Deborah @ Midlife Poet

Martha @ Lines from Linderhof

bj @ Sweet Nothings

Jo @ Jo's 2nd Act

Carrie @ Oak Rise Cottage

ChrisC & JohnJ @ The Great Wall of Lutz

Bonnie @ Love Your Place

Sue @ Sullivan & Murphy

D @ D's DayDreams

The Good Ole' Days

If you found yourself part of the HGTV sensation RatemySpace, you might now be finding yourself a little upset at what it has become. Not only is the server so slow you have to wait hours to see the amount of rooms you used to peruse in mere minutes, but in an attempt to safeguard against the false voting habits of those at-home-designers who so desperately wanted to be on the front page, it has (in my opinion) lost its focus = inspiration.

In the midst of looking for my camera, which I have still yet to find, I found myself browsing for bedroom inspiration images online. Something about digging through piles of laundry and under beds will do that to you. RatemySpace, or RMS as the group affectionately referred it, used to be a stop in that search, and more often than not would provide me with a plethora of images that inspired, taught, gave thought to new ideas, and wowed. Take for instance these pictures I had saved in my file of RMS Inspiration pictures nearly 2-years ago:

This room, posted by chgosouthpaw is one of many rooms the RMS'er contributed to the (at the time) fantastic RMS site. Not only was this room inspirational beyond compare, but all of the rooms in this homeowners set were knock-out! I particularly loved the painting in this room. The thought of hanging something with such large scale, eating the entire space between headboard and crown moulding was, at the time, such an exciting and inspiring practice. This room, to date, is still one of, if not the most inspirational bedroom photo I've ever "clipped".

In another bedroom in the chgosouthpaw home, we again find the use of rich paint with great depth. Colors like this look one way in the morning, another mid afternoon, and a complete different color at night. They open up such a wealth of ability in the design and decorating process. Here again, like the room above, and in so many of the rooms in the chgosouthpaw home, they've used the valance/curtain combo that might feel a little dated if not in the contemporary way seen here. The neutral solids, the simple pleat, the banding to pull in the separation of color ... this is gorgeous. And, and there are a lot of ands to this room, the persimmon accents: the banding on the jute rug, the ottoman, the toss pillows - heaven.

Now these rooms are large - and the camera person here is not a novice with a canon point and click, nor is the designer just learning to style impeccably, it's the work of a professional. And that was one of the questionable aspects of RMS. Was it really the person's home? Was it really their work? This started a sparring of the "curious detectives" against the "protective poster": "I see a open house flag ... this is a showhouse!" Reply: NO! That's an AMERICAN flag! SHUT UP! You're just jealous! Quickly, posts came up, and went down. Different posters would have the same images, as if the two exact rooms could exist in different houses, worlds apart. And you could always tell the curious detectives of the bunch, with their no-fail question: "What color is the paint?" I was always curious, would you really know if I told you? And how many different paint colors can you collect in a day? How many walls do you have to paint, really? No matter - chgosouthpaw in particular was one of those questionable posters. Was it the homeowner? The designer? Was it from a local magazine, like Houston House and Home, or Washington Spaces? And no matter how many questions, compliments, or critiques chgosouthpaw received, they stayed very quiet. The tale-tell sign of a false-poster, so they say. But whether this room was "fake" to the poster had no real consequence to its beauty. It was and is inspirational, so I clipped it.

Here in the hallway to the master bedroom, you get a better sense of the truly designer touches in this home. The perfect juxtapose of the frames, the hanging, the art. It's magazine worthy ...

And the bathroom; well, lets just say - gorgeous and be done with it. Now, back to the RMS of today. Rooms like this one aren't so easy to come by, and if you can, they're at the bottom of the list, ranked 3.3/5.0 because someone with a room decorated ala (insert cliche store here) voted them a 1.0/5.0 with their many many screen names all beginning with the number 9, because they were so consumed with being ranked #1.

And as I sit here, still a little stirred from the week of distress, I look fondly to these pictures of the RMS of the "Good Ole' Days" and thank my lucky stars that I was led to the blogging world by RMS poster Gollum of Designs by Gollum, so that I could find truly inspirational images in the pages of all the blogs I visit daily. As far as I know, chgosouthpaw doesn't have a blog - and these images (so far) haven't surfaced as a "fake", and I hope they don't. I'm content to believe that inspirational rooms like this do exist in homes across the world - homes that haven't been manipulated by design magazines, or fame hungry designers; just simply beautiful rooms with inspiration on every wall. I hope you all have an inspiring weekend.