Butterstream Gardens

Good Morning!  Welcome to our garden.

The skies are clear, so it is a great day to spend outside.

This is our pool garden.
Our little dinner will be in the loggia tonight.

I still have a few things to do like filling the pond, and planting some annuals.

You're most welcome to help me.

This leafy plant is the Fake-us Benjamina , and that there is Magnus Magnifera Fictitious.

 

Both indiginous to China.

 

This here is a Nymphaea Nondorata Crepeus... and that there is ...

 

You're not much interested to learn the names of all the plants, are you?

Well, perhaps the names of the fish then...

This here is a Tancho, that one is an Asagi.

My favourite is the Tancho Sanke....

Not very interesting, huh?

I'll put our hose away while you feed our little fish.

Hey, you still staring at our fish?

 I know, you're puzzled why they are not moving....

Took years, but I trained them that way.

Now come help me with the flower beds. Our perennials  are forever spilling over onto the gravel.

We had better get a move on, it'll soon be midday.

Like I said, sun's HOT today!

Our job is done.  What do you think?

Now we can set the table in the loggia, ready for our little dinner tonight.

You move all the little things like the little stone bench and the iron table,

while I get our two kitchen chairs.

Everything set?

I think we are done.

All that remains for us to do is...

 Light the candles,
and then we can...

Leave.

YOU thought dinner was for US!

Whatever gave you THAT idea?

I'm just the gardener...

Now make sure you close our little gate properly.

We do not want any unwanted visitors here!

On a more serious note:

This little diorama is (loosely) based on the Pool Garden, also sometimes referred to the Temple Garden of the real Butterstream Garden, ONE of my favourite gardens.  It is generally considered to be the most beautiful garden on the Emerald Isle.

Set in County Meath, it has been a long time in the making and the life work of Jim Reynolds.

Unfortunately, the extensive gardens has not been open to the public since 2004.

Changing the world into miniature...
One thing at a time.

Tea for Alice

Here is an invitation... 

Just in case you didn't get one yet...

If you arrive on your broom... does this mean it is going to be a flying visit?

I do hope not!
I would like for you to linger, at least for a little while...

Come closer and make yourself at home.

... Just not THAT chair...

That one is for the HATTER!

No sorry, can't sit there either!

That one is for ALICE!

Well actually, this one is for...

Oh, Never mind...

Don't be shy, do have a good helping of everything!

And make sure to save plenty of space for the cake!

The afternoons are VERY pleasant now for sitting in the garden. 

Don't you agree?

I see you keep looking at the woods...

If you'd like to, we can go for a little walk...

Just don't shut the gate...
Strange things happen there and perhaps we may need to make a quick escape...

Did you see the size of the mushrooms?
They are VERY poisonous!

Can you imagine how big the Elves and the Fairies are!

Not to mention the Trolls!

I think we should turn back.

Dusk is a STRANGE time to be caught in the WOODS.

See how quickly night is falling...

The light is already changing.

Unfortunately, that means our TEA party is over...

BUT...

And I hope to see you again soon!

(Shall I pack some leftover chocolate cake for your journey back?)

This post is dedicated to the REAL ALICE, who was dealing with the usual, difficult job

Of growing up, and hormones,

When she was tossed into a HOLE of new experiences.

A LAND of tests, doctors, hospitals and MORE tests.

Chemotherapy

Despair

Anger

You lost your hair Alice, but you found your VOICE.

A BEAUTIFUL, CLEAR voice.

Keep singing Alice,

And LIVE STRONG.

Join Susan at BNOTP for some WONDERFUL Tablescapes by clicking HERE!


Changing the world into miniature...
One thing at a time!

Minis

Time to trim the topiaries which have become quite unrecognizable after spring showers.
The bulbs need planting as some of them are showing green leaves already. The seed packets are waiting to be planted too.

Unfortunately, after a storm, the tiny robin's nest was discovered on the lawn, with the eggs miraculously intact and unscathed , but the branch was snapped off clear.

The children carried it to the nursery, where they all painted the nest with the eggs in aquarelle.
Changing the world into miniature...

One thing at a time