Wednesday, July 20, 2011

That Which Is Impossible

Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said: "one can't believe impossible things." 
"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." 
~Through the Looking Glass


That, my friends, is the story of my life!  I have had so much practice believing in impossible things that it has become impossible to tell the difference between that which is possible and impossible!
Five hundred boxwood bushes have been patiently waiting for me in my driveway.  Every night for a month I gave them a bath while I hummed quietly.  
I purchased them when they went on sale at Home Depot but the garden wasn't ready for them yet...so they waited.
The hardpan soil in my yard made its best attempt at being impossible but I didn't fall for it!   The soil is long gone,  to be replaced by beautiful topsoil and compost.  
The pattern I had painstakingly drawn as the template for the garden had been washed away several times by the rain.  Not to be dissuaded, I painted them over three times.  If I ever do this again I will use neon paint, not the brown and black I chose.  All the digging and activity wore the template completely off and, in the end there was no sign of it.  Neon paint. Orange. Definitely.
After digging literally tons of soil I relented and put an ad on Craigslist. I paid a contractor, gave him a receipt and he disappeared...never to be seen or heard from again.
Undeterred, I placed another Craigslist ad...
Three hours later a crew showed up.  One giant man (boy), one medium sized man and two girls (quite small).  Sigh. 
The work began...
The soil disappeared faster than the first landscaper!
Those kids were the hardest, most dedicated workers I I have ever seen!  Dave, the owner, is a real Renaissance man at the age of 22.  He can do anything!  Not only did they do precisely what I wanted them to, they were so much fun to have around! I actually miss them! *sniffle*
The heat is unbearable to work in these last few days so I am indoors.  It's time for a break, I think.  This morning I was so tired I put dog food in the cat's dishes.  The cats were not amused.  I am hanging out with them today.  I have missed them!
In the next few weeks I will tend to my other gardens.  We have a new  red rose garden around the pavillion that is blooming profusely.  We also planted a lovely white rose garden close to the house, near where the formal reflecting pond will be.


View of the left side from guest room window.  There are over 200 red tulips planted in the center diamond shape.  I am trying to figure out what to plant after the Spring bulbs have faded?

View of the right side from guest room window.

Another view of the left, showing my fledgeling lavender garden in the six foot circle...one of two.  There is more to the design but I cannot place the boxwood until the remainder of the compost soil is delivered!  There are four triangles that will be planted with white hydrangeas.  I wanted white pea gravel but there is absolutely none available in Illinois!

From a side angle on the ground before the outer section was dug...

We will be extending the concrete at the front entry to under the window,  replacing the dull column with a Corinthian style and putting a demilune patio surrounded by concrete balustrades under the Library window...
David can even replace the silly little windows abover the door with a single, large oval!

Like this!


The next project is our pond...

Can you picture it with my dolphin cherub spitter?

This photograph was not taken during the 100 degree farenheit heatwave!



Any advice would be greatly appreciated, my friends!  It doesn't matter how much research I do...I still have no idea what I am doing!



21 comments:

  1. Hi Divine Theatre happy to see you in blog land, it is nice to hear from you.
    Your Garden is coming along! Your place is looking more like a Home in the French country! If you have persistence you can get what you want. You keep it up my friend.

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  2. That goes to show that for every dishonest man there are four honest and hard working people in this world. Oh, the promise your garden shows - imagine it next spring. It will all be worth it!

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  3. Looks to me you know exactly what you are doing! This looks fantastic! Can't wait for the after pictures next year!

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  4. You never stop amazing me. I just can no even imagine such a project. And water, water, water. It is 100 here in middle Missouri and I almost faint just to walk Ms. Sissy Dog around the block to do her business. I am running away Friday to Missouri Wine Country to visit a new wonderful antique and gift shop complex I just heard about. A day off, FUN! Love and Sissy Dog Kisses. Richard at My Old Historic House

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  5. Jeez Andie your yard is amazing! It's really going to be something when it fills out. So you live in a cold area in the winter and need something to come up on top of the tulips...if you want to keep things red try "sneezeweed". It's way prettier then it sounds, look it up, the colors go from reds to burnt orange and it's reliable. Nice to see you about!

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  6. Oh my! It is so nice to see your plans taking shape, I am thrilled for you. Too bad about the contractor with no character, but sounds like you found some winners the next time. Good for you! It is looking so beautiful and I know the end result will be fabulous. I love your idea of the round window and the pond. Looking forward to seeing it.
    Hugs, Cindy

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  7. We are in love with the boxwood pattern you created. Beautiful!

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  8. Hey Andie Welcome Back! I have missed you and have been hoping things were getting better. Your gardens are spectacular. So much toil but so worth it. I love the idea of white hydrangeas...I hope to plant several in late summer. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. A Woman after my own Heart you are my Friend... you, me and Jimi Hendrix. *winks* I loved being put in the same Boheme' category to my man Jimi, a Boheme' Genius... BTW I've tried to send you an e-mail of the source of all things Nag Champa, lemme know if you receive it.

    Loving your vision for the Garden, grandoise and very Alice In Wonderland... which is just how I roll too! *LOL* You go girl...

    Dawn... The Bohemian

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  10. Wow I am most impressed and welcome back! I had left you a message quite some time ago when you were taking some time off.......this garden is coming out amazingly what vision you had! Cannot wait to see more!

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  11. this is stunning andie, a bona fide english garden done to perfection!

    but......we can get pea gravel in illinois, i use it all the time, contact me, i can help
    with the tulips i would add giant allium purpurea, will start blooming while red is fading. then a choice is a heavy mass of gaura siskiyou, their pick wand on purple foliage will create a wispy bit of color and purple foliage will help conceal tulip foliage

    cannot wait to see the rest!
    debra

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  12. I was so happy to see your comment yesterday!! I am not a gardener I still call it yard work. :) What I see so far I think you are doing a fab job!! xo

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  13. Hi Andie--glad to see you back. I'm sure everything will turn out beautifully. I know you have impeccable taste ;).

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  14. It's going to be lovley Andi...hang in there! So glad you found such great helpers! Versailles...watch out!!
    xo J~

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  15. what a wonderful garden.....and terrific music for ALICE! :-) Thanks for that.
    I came here because of your comment at SilverFiddle's....absolutely fantastic.
    Blessings to you. Z

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  16. Oh i love your plans Andie!!! Gorgeous!
    I love boxwood. What a lot of work too.
    Funny about the dog food in the cat dish...my cat would love that !!! They are constantly eating each others food.
    Your home is beautiful!

    Pamela ox

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  17. No one in suburbia has a royal garden like this! Do your neighbors just stare at you?? I mean really, your talents are amazing! The Queen is pleased...

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  18. So glad you came over to visit... I am following you now so I can keep up with what this yard is going to look like. would love to see the fig tree you planted.... nice to meet you Andie,have a great day

    Pattie

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  19. Andie I would love to plant some boxwood, I am in Kansas City. Is is impossible now with our torrid weather?

    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

    Do come and enter my Giveaway from Dr Perricone!! It is very exciting!

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  20. I am IMPRESSED! It's inspiring to see all that you are doing. I need to get off my butt and do the same.

    Thank you Andie!

    Trinidad

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  21. Andie - It looks wonderful. You'll be amazed at how quickly your boxwood grows. Plus, you'll enjoy the ribbons of green no matter the season. No flowers? No problem. Boxwood is forever.

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