GARDEN TOOLS**GARDEN ART

Nationally acclaimed landscape architect, Norman Kent Johnson's tool bouquet had me rethink mine. What to use, how to get it on the wall, and knowing it's floral design not landscape design. My late friend/mentor/client/artist/rancher Mary Kistner instilled her mantra well, It's what we do with what we have.

Junk, glorious garden junk. Can you believe I do get rid of things...occasionally?

Unexpectedly, delightfully, the garden bells clap in the wind. Do you think this looks like a pile of junk on the wall? That's fine. Each piece of junk has a backstory making me smile. One piece involves a police chopper, ooh-la-la. Another was found in England at Great Dixter.

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An odd thing about this assemblage? I read it like a story book of my gardening life.

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Creeping fig on the wall, above, Hydrangea 'Penny Mac' in top pic.

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Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

GARDEN WALKABOUT IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

My hosts in Birmingham produced a proper custom garden walkabout. It began in the English Village area on Cahaba Road at Continental Bakery. Of course I had a scone, orange cranberry. We lolled about in conversation & laughter before heading out on foot in search of enticing gardens. Less than a mile away we found our quarry.

This little garden, literally, 2' wide, and about 45' long.

Crunchy gravel, lovely understated pots, lots of serene green, touches of chaos, touches of order. Big dose of tasty aged architecture. Can you believe this is Birmingham, ALABAMA and not Birmingham, ENGLAND?

THE Norman Kent Johnson, landscape architect, bought a falling down shed 2 decades ago and created this Norman delight. Notice thru the window, above, the house is 1 room deep. It has only 1 bedroom (upstairs).

Yesterday I forgot to mention, rub tools with boiled linseed oil if you want to copy Norman's idea. Don't worry it comes boiled. You don't need to do it.

To the left of the front door a most civilized welcome. Don't you want to go inside?

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Garden & Be Well, XO Tara