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Category: Zuzu's Bloomin' Blog | Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:47 pm

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Welcome to the zuzu-zone,
my serene refuge from all the pressures of the world,
a place where I can always feel perfectly at ease.

I'm so glad you've come, let's take a little walk around together.


This is the courtyard and fountain at the front.
I think the wooden grid and gravel has a sort of zen calm about it.

(Although, I was noticing recently that some of the wooden grid
which we laid nearly 20 years ago is deteriorating
and should really be replaced.
Hmmmm, that's gonna be a big job . . .

. . . well, I'll think about that later
. . . let's move on, shall we?)



Here, at the top of the drive, we built a screen from some old
iron patio railing sections and a couple of lattice panels.
It's meant to look something like the old iron gates one might
find at the entry of an old southern garden, but mostly, it's
intended to give ourselves a spot to relax, without having to look
into the grilles of our automobiles, it's holding up quite well.

(Of course, the table and chairs really do need to be sanded and repainted,
and I should make some comfortable new cushions for all of the seating . . .

. . . but, nevermind, I won't dwell on that right now, either
. . . come right this way.)



There's my little lean-to potting shed, it's so very handy.

(Yeah, it's very, very handy, always right there, staring me in the face,
any time I try to sit down and relax, reminding me that there's
an endless list of projects that I'm running behind on . . .

Oh, I'm sorry, did I say that out loud . . . here, let's look at this.)



This is the entry into a little corner that I still call my "secret garden",
'though sadly, now it's quite exposed, since hurricane Charlie knocked down
the wonderful, huge Hickory tree that once made it so private.
It used to be such a peaceful spot to sit with a book and a glass
of "lemonade", but now there's no place to hide,
and my old chair has been made into a planter.

(This part of the garden changed from deep shade to bright and sunny
as fast as you can say "timm-berr", and I still haven't caught up,
I need to transplant and replace some things which are now ill-placed . . .

. . . Cripes! I CANNOT keep up with this stinking place
. . . and we're moving on.)



From the secret garden, we can just see the glasshouse

(Which hulks there, reminding me of all that needs doing in there, too . . .

. . . Crap, crap, crap
. . . C'mon, let's go, let's go, move it already!)



I grow lots of plants that are not hardy in my zone,
so I end up with a plethora of potted plants.

(I expect these will all need to be freshly potted when they
emerge from the glasshouse . . .
stupid, stupid plants, always outgrowing their damned pots . . .

. . . Why are you dragging your feet? I said let's MOVE!)



Here is a long view down the back garden, the pond is at the far end.

(Watch your step, the walkway has become somewhat treacherous in spots,
due to the stones being heaved up by roots, I should really take them up,
level the foundation and then re-lay them all . . .

. . . It's too much, I swear this @*##^@ place is going to kill me)



And here is the pond.

(. . . in a few weeks, I've got to climb into that hideous cesspool and try to get out
all of the muck and the fallen leaves and twigs that have accumulated in the bottom,
and, no doubt, the Waterlilies and Irises need repotting . . .

. . . Okay, I'm just going to stop
and take a few deep, calming breaths now.)



Here we are, on the back porch, looking out,
you can see the shady path to our studio/garage in the "woods".

(. . . my side of which, not surprisingly, is chock-full
of projects in various stages of incompletion . . .

. . . Is it getting dark?
I think I may be hyperventilating)



And there is a view back up toward the house and back porch.

(yes, yes . . . the house is full of stuff I should be doing, too . . .

. . . Will you STOP looking at me that way? I see that accusitory expression!)

Well, that's not everything, but it's probably best we stop here,
you look a little jumpy, and I'm slightly tense, too, just thinking
of everything that's falling farther behind by the moment . . .
. . . did I say "serene refuge"?

Nevermind . . . would you care to join me for a little drinkie-poo?
I'm having Tequila shooters, what's yours??



Last edited: Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:53 pm

This blog entry has been viewed 1463 times

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toni wrote on Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:00 am:

Whoa, after that tour and the fact that you kept reminding me of things I need to do in my yard before things come back to life in the spring, yes I will join you in a drink. Tequila shooters, why not.

Your garden is fabulous and I love the commentary.

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dooley wrote on Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:00 am:

I think I would trade my yard for your yard anytime. Dooley

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eileen wrote on Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:10 am:

OK OK so once we've had our drink I'll give you a hand to get some of those jobs done before we both end up as bald and gibbering wrecks. LOL Hey go easy on that tequila or you'll be too drunk to see where you're going.
..................
Zuzu your garden is absolutely fantastic. I really, really love it. I only wish I could grow half the plants you do. Oh btw your potting shed is waaayyy tidier than mine, in fact your whole garden is!!! I would thoroughly enjoy sitting chatting to you on your patio and looking at all that lush planting.

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pondlady wrote on Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:18 am:

I love your garden. I love that you are taking care of it and not me. Let's add a shot, a beer and a cigarette to the tequila shooters.

It really is beautiful and I really do adore it.

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glendann wrote on Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:07 am:

Oh my Lord I only wish I had all those beauties to worry about and that yard oh my what a yard you have it is just all fantastic.I'll have a drink and a cigerette just chat and sit a spell.

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cajunbelle wrote on Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:14 am:

Wow, I'm impressed ZuZu. That is lovely. We'll all pitch in and help you get caught up, as soon as we get ours done.

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englishrose wrote on Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:33 am:

Thanks soooo very much for the tour ZuZu it looks like heaven to me as it is 1 degree here and not a growing thing in sight. ER

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reggaefan wrote on Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:57 pm:

ZUZU I mean this in the best possible way your yard is ridiculous and I am am green with envy. Can't have Tequila tho do you have something herbal? Bad Richard Bad. Your yard is absoluterly gorgeous

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zuzu's petals wrote on Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:38 pm:

Thanks everyone. :^)
Don't worry, I'm not really as crazy as I sounded ;-)
although, there is a grain of truth in it.

These photos were all taken late last spring,
and as I sorted through them, I really did find myself
distracted by all of the issues that I mentioned

BUT, I hardly ever actually shout at anyone when I show them around :*D

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Netty wrote on Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:44 pm:

Zuzu, thanks for taking us for a stroll thru your little piece of heaven. Makes me realize how much work I have to do on my own gardens. Sure, I'll have a tequilla, better make mine a double...

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aloes wrote on Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:15 am:

I enjoyed every step of the way. The mind boggles with so much to look at. I do hope you do not do all the work alone! yipes, that will either kill me or make me fit and pretty.

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aloes wrote on Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:16 am:

I was back for another look. You rushed me a bit last time. Really lovely.

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saladbowl wrote on Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:37 pm:

It's beautiful really. There will always be projects at hand, but I sure do appreciate what you have already. <3

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