Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Garden

I wanted to share some pictures with you of my gardens past.
This is where I've been lately.
Besides, Aaron has taken over my computer with his blog, so I'm lucky to be here now!

There is a possibility that I will talk about my garden, and soil, and plants until we are both blue in the face.
You are warned.

I never planted anything before I moved here, and my first few years gardening were an epic failure.
Gardening is in my blood though. My mom gardened, my aunt's gardened, and from what I've been told, my paternal grandmother lived for her garden.
I wish I could have known her.

I bet she would have liked me.
I used to be able to spout off all the botanical Latin names of every plant in my garden.
Not so much anymore - I've been reduced to 'you know...that red flowering thing over by the chicken coop'. I need to brush up on my Latin again.

In 1995 I went through the Purdue University Master Gardener Course.
It's good to learn and study about gardening, but it doesn't compare to getting your hands dirty.
I lie awake at night dreaming of new areas to put in. In the wee hours of the night, lying in bed, I'm sure I can handle a few more perennial beds.
Then comes August, and I rue the day I planted them.

There may come a day when someone needs to cut me out of the house.
I may get grown in.
I want to smother in flowers.

The garden is a living entity to me.
It greets me every morning.
Tucks me in every night.
I imagine being old, wrinkly and crooked, out in my garden with my trusty fork, tending the same perennials I planted in my youth. Memories will flood my soul as I remember where I got them, and perhaps I will have a massive heart attack as I try to plant a bush, and I will die, right there, with fork in hand, and a smile on my face.
I've told Glen that I don't want to be buried, I want to be composted.


I'm happily enslaved to my garden.
Most of the time.
Sometimes I do have to threaten it with RoundUp and even stomp over to the shed shouting 'Don't make me get the RoundUp'!

I care more about what my garden looks like, than my own appearance.
I'm more embarrassed if someone comes and finds weeds in my flowers than I do if they come and find me in my pajamas with mascara on my cheeks - which is pretty much what I look like all the time.


I'd be happy to answer any gardening questions you may have!
(Kathy - please re-send your email-I didn't get it!)
PS - Has anyone had trouble with the blog background being completely black?

63 comments:

  1. Your Canadian FriendApril 28, 2010 at 7:42 AM

    And sitting in Jayme's garden eating a salad with chicken and candied and nuts, and fresh strawberries (that she made me go and pick MYSELF straight from that garden) with Jayme herself for company was one of the best ways to ever spend a summer day. I miss you Jaym.... xoxo Chris

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  2. Jayme your garden is fabulous! All the beautiful bloom, the tall grasses, the rock borders... How long have you been working on your garden? Please tell me it's been many years, otherwise I might just have to hang my head in shame and cry when I compare your garden to ours. I keep telling my hubby I want to be cremated and used as fertilizer for the tomatoes - he doesn't think this is nearly as funny as I do...
    Oh, your background looks normal, just your blog list is gone.

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  3. Your garden is gorgeous and your home is fantastic! I would live out there too, if this was mine! How old is the house? Plant question for you. Our house faces West and we have 2 window boxes and 2 big pots on the porch. What plants/flowers can we plant that like the West facing and don't get fried? Last year we had to plant twice because they burnt up! I would love any suggestions you have!

    Megan

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  4. Gorgeous garden! Where do you get all of your energy??? Such a beautiful place you have Jayme.

    Your background looks fine to me.

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  5. Your garden is breathtaking! Will you come to my house when you're finished with yours? I have great dreams, I just never seem to get to fruition. Working on it this year though. Roundup is my friend at the moment! LOL I laughed out loud when I read no burial, you want to be composted. That's perfection! Have a great day and happening gardening!

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  6. The blog starts black then goes normal, one of my fav memories was when you had me come for my birthday for a lunch in the yard to soak it all in, with a wonderful chicken/pecan/cranberry salad and iced tea, just us in the beautiful sun surrounded by your garden. It was one of my best birthdays. ahem, june is right around the corner.lol Got to go, enjoyed the blog as usual, love you, Me

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  7. Man alive, girl! No wonder you've been outside for ever...your gardens are absolutely GORGEOUS, Jayme. I see all of perennials that I so desire...and so do the deer...Thank you for the inspiration.

    The blog background is fine, but your blog list isn't up...or perhaps you just took that part down.

    You truly are an inspiration to me, Jayme, in so many ways!

    HUGS

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  8. Oh and I love the hair! I told you alittle hairspray and poofin it alittle and your set. I so love hair and yours is adorable, kinda sporty and sassy. Like the bees! smooches....

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  9. Oh My Goodness!!! Beautiful Gardens! I am standing in awe of you right now. Homeschooling and that much gardening- You are Superwoman!

    Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy,
    Joyce

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  10. Beautiful Gardens. Think maybe we are sisters secretly separated at birth!

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  11. Jayme,
    I have a million questions! I live in Florida and our flowering season is very short before the real summer kicks in (May!) and everything withers and dies. So, the first question is, How long does your garden flourish? I do not recognize some of your flowers, so imagine they are specific to your area and last longer. My second question is, How do you begin? Did you map out an area and plow it up? Give it to us step by step! I have always wanted a garden, but don't know where to begin. All details on your blog are appreciated. Wonderful home and garden you have!

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  12. Beautiful gardens..your screen is black when I use my iPad but not on my pc. Maybe it's an Apple thing?

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  13. hi jayme,

    thanx soo much for the garden pictures. i've been waiting to see them with knowing how much time you spend in your gardens. they are beautiful! incredible! i am a gardening girl also. i live to be in my garden. it is the very best place in the world to be! i was there yesterday and my heart and soul sang with delight! i also took the master gardener class and met some great people. experience is by far my best teacher! i learned to love about flowers from someone who has gardened for years! i want to be the little (?-not) old lady young gardeners come to for advice. we'll go thru my gardens, have coffee and a tasty treat and wile away the afternoon. this saturday some friends and i are going flower shopping. there is a little old lady near here that sells perennials for $1 and $2. i go every year. her garden is out of this world! i wanna grow up to be her some day! and her name is violet! blah, blah, blah... i could go on forever! enjoy your gardens!

    love ya,

    peggy

    p.s. i love your haircut and i'm soo excited for you to get your bees! i still have my bee dreams!and aaron's blog is the bomb! so is yours!!!

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  14. hi jayme,

    thanx soo much for the garden pictures. i've been waiting to see them with knowing how much time you spend in your gardens. they are beautiful! incredible! i am a gardening girl also. i live to be in my garden. it is the very best place in the world to be! i was there yesterday and my heart and soul sang with delight! i also took the master gardener class and met some great people. experience is by far my best teacher! i learned to love about flowers from someone who has gardened for years! i want to be the little (?-not) old lady young gardeners come to for advice. we'll go thru my gardens, have coffee and a tasty treat and wile away the afternoon. this saturday some friends and i are going flower shopping. there is a little old lady near here that sells perennials for $1 and $2. i go every year. her garden is out of this world! i wanna grow up to be her some day! and her name is violet! blah, blah, blah... i could go on forever! enjoy your gardens!

    love ya,

    peggy

    p.s. i love your haircut and i'm soo excited for you to get your bees! i still have my bee dreams!and aaron's blog is the bomb! so is yours!!!

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  15. Jayme,

    We are alike, both more at home with flowers and animals than people. Beautiful blooms; your efforts and time invested show. I'm sure you will be a favorite on the walking garden tour this year!

    Your Friend,
    Deborah

    PS Your background is black for me.

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  16. Love your gardens - Love your gardens - Love your gardens.....
    woot! You make me laugh out loud!
    You telling Glenco you want to be
    composted......hahahahahahaha...
    I have so many weeds this year it sometimes almost catches up close to getting me depressed!!! And I hate to use the chemicals cause I have the doggies running around out there all the time...sigh. One day at a time. one shovel load at a time...Gardens are constant work. always keeping watch...weeds can pop up any moment... a little sleep and slumber ...a little feeling lazy today...and WOAH...those monster weeds are gargantuans after ONE rain storm..
    ACK. You are a hard worker, woman!
    One can only enjoy such beauty in their life, after they have put in hours of work and sweat.
    OOO-RAH! Thanks for sharing your Gardens of what you cherish! It's very obvious what you love to do.
    :-) composted.....LOL....
    Thanks for the amazing inspiration! HUGS!!!

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  17. Beautiful Jayme, absolutely beautiful. Your gardens a great inspiration for me. This will only be our second summer in the country and we still need to paint our house and have a lot of other things to get out of the way but it's nice to see that eventually it will all work out.

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  18. Are you kiddin' me??? THIS is your house??? THIS is your gardens??? You oughta' be chargin' folks to get to come thru there! YES! Post anything you want about your gardens! I will be all ears/eyes.

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  19. Could you come to GrannyMountain and do your magic? Your gardens are beautiful, magazine perfect! You amaze me, is their anything on your bucket list left? "I want to be composted..." lol

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  20. That is one thing I remember about Indiana...the gorgeous summer gardens and colors of the flowers. So very pretty...and your house looks awesome. If I had the money, I'd be flying you down here to make my home and gardens look so beautiful. Nice job, Jayme. Love it.
    xoxo

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  21. Beautiful. I am speechless. What a showplace you have!! I love it. Share anything you want - you have a captive audience :) -Tammy p.s. re the black background - keep in mind we have wireless here *but* we live pretty far in the sticks so it's slooow at times. black background will "hang" for a bit on some of my visits, then the print background & text eventually appear.

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  22. What a neat house and gardens! I'm totally jealous!!!

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  23. Amazing..how close are you to western Wa.?!
    I love the photo with the picket fence and scarecrow, looking towards the field...breathtaking.
    I'd like to frame that and hang it in my garden. Maybe my plants would be inspired and the weeds would be embarassed to show up??
    Can't wait to hear more!!

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  24. So, so beautiful, just amazing. My gardens are way more helter-skelter than yours, very disorganized, which makes sense since that's how they were put in. I fantasize about rototilling the whole place and starting over, this time with a PLAN. Sigh. When I first open your blog, the background is completely black, and it stays that way for anywhere from 5 seconds to 60 seconds, it varies, before it goes to white. It's been that way for awhile, maybe a month?

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  25. Breathtaking, Jayme! Oh, I love your house and gardens! I could move in tomorrow.

    One time I sadly and wistfully lamented to my husband (who is a pastor) that I wish there would be flowers in heaven. He turned to me and said, "Just what exactly do you think heaven is? A white cloud? Of course there will be flowers in heaven!" Oh happy day!!!

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  26. Um, I want a garden like that, I just don't want to take care of it. I want a gardener. A hired man. A cute hired gardener man. Oh wait! That would be my husband for heaven sakes.

    Your garden is truly a paradise on earth. Awesome work my dear.

    Di
    The Blue Ridge Gal

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  27. Jayme~Your garden is over the top beautiful. I am drooling all over the desk. Please come out to California and teach a class!!! I love every little corner of your garden. I can tell by your blog post that gardening is one of your many passions. And, you house is so sweet. I sure wish I lived close to you so I could drop in for a stroll! Hugs, Cory/Dogwood
    PS~Mocha is now on the sidebar of my blog.

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  28. I hear that! Agree with you 100%, gardening is more important than makeup!
    Machelle

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  29. What a beautiful garden! I long for a garden like that....hopefully I can build one like that if I start little by little. And the bees...I'd love to do that, but I'm so scared!!! You are very brave. Cute haircut!
    Great and very interesting postings!! :)

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  30. Jealous, jealous, jealous.

    I'm heading your way again end of May. Up for a visit (just for a day)?

    Maybe you could 'splain about planting gardens to me. I kill everything even though my mother had veggie, herb, and heirloom rose gardens all while I grew up. Sad.

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  31. Wow… this is simply gorgeous. Time well spent. :)

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  32. I love this post. Your garden is beautiful. Envious. And you are not the only one who could be caught mid-day, still in her pajamas! When the creative motivation strikes, you have to go with it!

    kim

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  33. I dream that one day I will have a garden like yours. I love how it looks so natural, i hate matchy, matchy. Your garden looks as if the flower fairy sprinkled lovely blossoms all over your yard!

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  34. Your garden is breathtaking. We have such a short growing season here. Two months if we are lucky.
    I am going to do an entry on my first try ever planting potatoes. First I have to wait until the snow stops falling, yes it is snowing as I write....
    I love your new hair cut. Yes, your blog is black for a minute and then comes in.

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  35. Your garden is breathtaking. We have such a short growing season here. Two months if we are lucky.
    I am going to do an entry on my first try ever planting potatoes. First I have to wait until the snow stops falling, yes it is snowing as I write....
    I love your new hair cut. Yes, your blog is black for a minute and then comes in.

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  36. I do have a question!!! In one of your photos, there is what appears to be a shovel handle sticking up… is that a shovel in use, or is it decorative? If so, I'd like to see more of it. :)
    Thanks!

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  37. "It greets me every morning, tucks me in every night."

    Line of the week!!! (Although your last "line" has not been forgotten...)

    Jaym - I am in awe. I need to see this in perrrrrrsonnnnn! (Said like Oprah)

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  38. OH MY OH MY!!!!!!!!! WOW! Absolutely beautiful. My dream gardens, the ones I am working to have. How long have you been working on these? We are just into year two. Some day they will grow up to look like yours! I Pray they will anyway!

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  39. Beautiful flowers. I love your blog. I hope to see even more pictures of your garden.

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  40. How beautiful! I don't think a person could ever get tired of a great gardening post. Wow! Thanks for sharing!!!

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  41. My word girl you certainly have a little bit of everything planted on that little patch of heaven. I enjoyed the tour and am looking forward to seeing what new plants and ideas you have in store for this growing season.

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  42. Beautiful garden and home! I would love to learn how you get that gorgeous of a garden - please keep posting!

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  43. The Squirrel looks so inviting sitting there. You may go out one day to find I have made myself at home!
    Seriously. It's gorgeous. Absolutely to die for. You will be the star of the garden walk.
    Your pictures just bring it to life. I can feel the sun, hear the drops from the sprinkler, smell all the lovely growing things.
    I can't wait to see pics from this year too!

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  44. After i get home from Phoenix...we ARE getting together! K? K!

    And I think we need to share "starts" with each other. I've gotta few things too!!

    I've got pics on my blog, click on my garden...and we'll do some separatin' when I get home...or after they bloom, or whenever you are supposed to do that.

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  45. Your garden is just amazing! I love gardening too. I actually majored in Horticulture in college! It's something you can't explain, you have to experience it.

    P.S. Still just seeing a black background...Have you tried going into your settings were you can change the fonts and colors and setting your background to white, even though you have a layout from somewhere other than blogger?

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  46. Oh Jayme, I wish we lived closer (I live in southern Indiana)! I think we are kindred spirits. Have been thinking about getting chickens and a couple of bee hives, reading about your adventures has been encouraging. I love this time of year when everything is fresh and vibrant. I love, love going to the nursery, our farmer's market and heck, even relatives homes to see what I can bring home to plant. I just transplanted some lilly of the valley and bluebells from my mom's house last weekend - lilly of the valley and lilacs are two of my favorite fragrances. We live on 8 acres and I overwhelm my husband most of the time with my ideas and plans - he's a good sport though and works like a crazy person in our yard right beside me. One quick question I have for you - what is your secret to keeping deer out of your gorgeous flower beds? I have gotten to the point now, after many, many ridiculous attempts, to plant only what they don't seem to like. This is very limiting......any thoughts?

    Your place is amazing and all your hard work shows!

    Happy Spring,
    Lora

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  47. Hi Jayme
    Your garden is absolutely wonderful, I was on the Batavia garden walk a few years ago but you would never know that by the looks of my yard now... shop takes all my time now. I used to love walking through it with coffe cup in hand every morning! Now I try not to look :(
    Blessings
    Rebecca

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  48. Oh my, what a magical garden! I hope someday to have my little farm look like that! I don't know though, my ambitions far outweigh my energy and time.

    As far as the background on your blog, when I first click on yours to read, it is black and it takes a while for it to load (slower than other blogs I read). Eventually it switches over to the tan-ish background but it takes a while to switch off of the black. Just some input. :)

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  49. Ah, just gorgeous! I've warned my husband this is what our yard will turn into when our daughter gets a little older and I have the time to spend on it. Have already begun the research!
    Oh the questions I have...would love to take some courses.

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  50. Beautiful! Your are blessed with talent. I'm taking notes and hope my gardens look even a little bit like yours someday.

    Thanks for the tour!

    Jackie

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  51. That is definately a beautiful garden! Your grandma would be so proud. For goodness sakes, I'm proud of you and I don't even know you!

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  52. Jayme-

    More!!!!
    I need more!!!
    Please tell us how to approach putting in perennial beds .
    Help us!

    Do I sound frantic?

    What perennials do you buy?
    When do you plant?

    help!

    Laura

    White Spray Paint

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  53. I loooove your garden - all your hard work and long hours and tons of love shine right through!

    Ah, someday... I will have that too.

    A gift to myself.

    Thank you for the inspiration!

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  54. Your gardens are beautiful. I would love for mine to look that full and beautiful. I told hubs earlier this spring that I think we need to widen the boarder that it just did not have enough depth to it for that full look. Chicks came Tuesday. It has been busy I love holding them. Unfortunately one was not very sturdy when they came and it looks as thought she will not make it. I have separated her because the others had started picking on her but she just is not eating or drinking now. Carried her around for quite a while because I feel bad about her being by herself but I think she just wants to lay quietly. Sad. I did put some pics on my last 2 posts.

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  55. Oh my, we do have things in common! I've been wanting to keep bees for the longest time, but haven't yet worked up the nerve. I've been reading about top-bar hives in Mother Earth News and they sound like the simplest way to start. I'll have to do some more research.

    Your gardens are to die for! I used to be that enthusiastic, but I lost a bit of it somewhere along the way. My biggest problems begin with figuring out what to put where. I have forty-leven gardening magazines and books and still can't seem to get it right!

    I simply love your house, the fencing...gorgeous! And your new do is tres chic! I just got mine cut and it was supposed to look something like that....and it doesn't. I'm bummed.

    It's almost bedtime and I must do some reading, but I'll be back to visit and read up on some older posts and find out who Jayme is! :}

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  56. Wow, lovely garden...and I'm so jealous of your 'beekeeping'. I am gonna get me a hive one of these days!
    If you get a minute, pop over to my blog..as I've just posted a few gardening hints, do's and don'ts, entitled Poop and Pea....t!
    Blessings,
    Susie

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  57. Jayme, FIFTY-FIVE fuh-reaking comments? So...I'm not the only one who loves you? Your gardens are to die for! Wanna come down to Bloomington and help me? I've been out in the yard for the past two nights when I've gotten home, weeding, pruning, raking, pulling. Doug says "wear your gloves." I say "gloves are for sissies!" (Until I get poison ivy.)...Did you write this:The garden is a living entity to me.
    It greets me every morning.
    Tucks me in every night. So lovely. Beautiful pics! xo, Cheryl

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  58. Love your house and gardens. I can't wait to get to mine. I ripped up my front garden with a tractor and bucket because it was out of control!!!

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  59. Jayme, your gardens take my breath away. This year, I've just started a little serious gardening. I dream of the day when my yards around The Yellow House look half as good as those in your photos. You're an inspiration. Thanks.

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  60. Jayme-
    It's frantic Laura gain.

    I gave you a shout out on my blog today.

    Laura

    White Spray Paint

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  61. Love your garden! Can I come to your house! It makes me want to get on my overalls and gloves even though the wind is blowing 40 mph and it is about 36* and snowing! I am in Idaho and by the looks of your plants you are in a far higher zone than I am, so I probably won't be able to come over and play. Your flowers are wonderful, I have loved looking at them. Thank you so much for sharing these on your blog.
    Paula in Idaho
    http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/

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  62. Your garden is one of the most beautiful garden I've ever seen.

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  63. How i wish i have this huge space for gardening purposes. Mine is just a teeny-tiny space with my small but lovely wooden shed.

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