The Mistress has enlisted me, Fionna Goosefeathers, garden guide and top manure spreader, to lead you through a few of her gardens in the sultry month of August. She would guide you herself, but is weary-worn from all the back-breaking chores she did this season, and is taking a long nap.
I hope you don't mind if my little charges tag along.. I adopted 6 of them, me being a motherly type.
P.S. That pesky peacock is NOT one of my charges! Only the little ducks are MY charges.
Let's start with the garden re-do a month after the new plantings... this has been christened Kizzy's garden. We will tell you all about THAT in an other post.
The bedding plants have grown quite nicely, but still are not as tall as my head.
Even without my bonnet on.
The Mistress spent a good deal of energy cursing the pesky little weeds that kept springing up between the walkways...even though we WEEDER Geese TRIED to keep them at bay.
The ducks? not so much...
Finally, she got fed up and pulled up ALL the bricks one by one, put down a weed barrier and laid the paths all over again! She did this on 4 pathways, no wonder her back always hurts. Silly Mistress... what's so bad about weeds? Weeder geese find them quite delicious.
It's a darn good thing there are plenty more weeds around here for us WEEDER Geese to tend!
Below is the Front yard garden, it started out as a puny little triangle section in the corner surrounded by lawn, but each year, the garden part grew larger and larger, till there was no more grass at all!
I guess the mistress forgot, that we WEEDER Geese ALSO like to eat grass... good thing she left a little for us....along with extra weeds.
The Potagerie
The Potagerie off the side porch is full of Herbs, roses, and the all time favorite of those stuck-up Peabody boys and girls: TOMATOES.
They have NO shame and snatch those tomatoes straight off the vine, EVEN when the Mistress is LOOKING!
But the Mistress grew SO many heirloom tomatoes she could not use
them all and did not mind the Peabody boy thievery. After all, says the
Mistress, how many Fried Green tomatoes can one lady eat?
That was installed because of those trouble making chicken-folk, who think nothing of digging craters around her lavender plants just for the sake of a dust bath. Have you ever heard of such a thing??! A DUST BATH! We WEEDER Geese know that the ONLY way to take a bath is in the creek... or the pond. or occasionally in a mud puddle. And once in a while, the tiny frog pond...er, never mind... I didn't mean that... and I know nothing about the missing frogs!
(Nor do my charges)
Ah, My favorite side of the house... the Pergola.
On this side of the house the flowers DO grow taller than my head... it makes for a nice shady spot to nap. These are Cardinal flowers... they grow along a DRY CREEK. My charges and I prefer it when it becomes a WET CREEK, and that happens every time it rains.
When it rains and rains and rains, the plants grow taller and taller.... (yes, much taller than the top of my head); Sages, Chaste Bush, Butterfly bush, Wisteria, Penstemon and Phlox, Sedum, Beauty-Berry, Black-eyed Susan, Daisy and Coneflowers.
As official garden guide, I know ALL the names of the flowers.
Not the scientific names, mind you, the Mistress thinks the common names are much more charming and has no use for hoity-toity names like "Paracyathus sternsii"( besides, neither of us can pronounce that).
This unusual Coneflower has babies that grow up and out of the center! The Mistress had to order this from a plant catalog and always makes a big fuss whenever she sees it. It doesn't take much to make HER happy.
.
Well, it doesn't take much to make my little charges happy either, and right about now they are all clamoring and quacking for a nice wet bath.... in the creek.... not the tiny fish pond... I SWEAR!
I'm afraid my little charges are not very patient when it comes to garden tours.
Thank you for joining me on this Garden tour, Next time, I will leave my charges with Mathilda and Alice.
The Mistress sends you her best wishes..
signing off for now,
Yours Truly,
Fionna Goosefeathers
Fionna, thank you so much for the tour around Hopalong Hollow gardens. Everything looks just smashing. How lucky to live where the Mistress takes such good care of you and all your friends. ♥
ReplyDeleteWell Martha Ellen, I must admit that we are very lucky to have our Mistress, who has a forgiving nature even when we trample her Pentstemons Yours truly, Fionna G.
DeleteDear Fiona,
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed your tour. In fact, I forgot for a moment that it wasn't the Mistress giving the tour so I was quite shocked that she/you said the bedding plants weren't as tall as you/her yet! I hope not! That is, if it were her speaking. You are welcomed to come to my house to pick weeds if you are having trouble finding weeds there. Even though I did what your mistress did a few years ago (in my case it was pea gravel I had to remove and put back down), I still get weeds from the dirt that seems to have settled into the pea gravel from the dust in the air! In fact, I have all sorts of plants self-seeding in my pea gravel and some grow better there than they do in the flower bed! I'm glad you told me that was not a normal coneflower. I was going to suggest that you see a plant doctor about those growths. One last thing by way of a word of advice. . . .I'd stay out of the fish pond if I were you. You never know when your Mistress may say she's had enough and banish you from the garden! That goes for your charges, also.
Cathy, Oh goodness, I best not tell the Mistress about those weeds of yours growing in the pea-gravel....she will become very anxious and have the Round-up at the ready! As for the fish pond..... as I stated in my previous remarks, we would NEVER gulp froggies from the tiny pond... Never! Innocent until proven guilty is my motto.. SIN-CERELY, Fionna Goosefeathers
DeleteOh dear Fiona ~ That was such a wonderful tour! It is no wonder that your poor Mistress is taking a rest. She's been quite busy. I think it is wonderful that you know all the names of the plants and you take such good care of your charges too.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week ~ FlowerLady
Yes indeedy Miss Lorraine, I can name all of those flowers and even more! In alphabetical order! Love, Fionna G.
DeleteIt's all so beautiful, Jeri. A little piece of paradise. You can see all the love you have put into this. Love the little herb garden. Hugs, Deb
ReplyDeleteWell Deb, The mistress would never have accomplished all this without the help of ALL THAT GOOSE MANURE, indeed! fondly, Fionna
DeleteOh Jeri, the garden has certainly grown. It us very lovely. Wish I could run over for a visit, it's so inviting! Mark and I both loved Fionna's narrative. Please come visit us , I need ideas on what to do with our gardens,
ReplyDeleteLvu, Deborah
Dear Deborah, The Mistress is full of ideas,in fact, she is working on a special project to help spread those ideas around. And I, Fionna Goosefeathers will be part of the project! Now, dearest Deborah and Mark, please come by and don't forget to bring those special crackers that my charges and I love to munch? Your friend, Fionna Goosefeathers
DeleteMy dear Fiona,
ReplyDeleteI must say that you are quite the garden tour guide, and you look lovely. The plantings look so beautiful, and the Mistress did a smashing job on the brick paths... I don't know which way I would go.. To the left, right, or on and forward.. The front yard garden is breathtaking!
I certainly hope that Peabody is cleaning up after himself, and not leaving all that tomato mess for you to clean up..
Please tell the Mistress that she has done a magnificent job this summer... All her hard work has paid off.. Looks simply beautiful!
Sincerely,
Penny
Dearest Penny, Are you kidding me? Peabody boys NEVER clean up their messes, not a bit. But that is why we have roosters and hens. They are quite adept at janitor work. I will convey your compliments to the Mistress, just remember, without Fionna Goosefeathers giving garden tours, no one would EVER see all her hard work. With a lotta honking love, Fionna
ReplyDeleteFiona, my dear, May I come and live in your garden? it's so special, so loved, so charming... it's irresistible. Please thank your dear mistress for letting us wander down its lovely pathways.
ReplyDeleteDear Gwen, There is plenty of room in our garden for another, come one, come all! Tell me, do you like to weed?? fondly, Fionna
DeleteExcellent post. I kept wondering where the little ones are in each photo. The weird cone flowers are fantastic. I'm off to look in a catalog online myself. Thank you for a post that's a great way to start a week
ReplyDeleteOh dear, that funny coneflower is the ONLY one that I cannot remember the name of! I DO hope you find one, it certainly makes the Mistress smile. Love Fionna
DeleteThis is from Sam and Titus, resident geese at Sparrowgrass Garden in New York State, for Miss Fionna-"You didn't mention taking baths in cat boxes! They fit a goose body perfectly, and you can soak your feet and put a little mud in the water and even take a nap. But we would LOVE to visit the frog-less pond...heehee."
ReplyDeleteSam and Titus...SHHHHHH!!! We mustn't speak out loud about the fish pond.. but if you do come to visit, perhaps we can take a midnight dip. As for a cat box, I do recall having access to one when I was just a little gosling, ah, the memories!
DeleteDear Fiona - what a grand tour of the gardens in spite of your impatient charges and of course Mr. Peabody. Everything looks soo! lovely. Would just love to come visit and sit in the shady border by the pergola. I certainly hope your mistress gets some rest and will join us again soon...waiting to hear about the garden being christened Kizzy's - bet there is a good story coming soon. Well thank you Ms Fionna - I sure enjoyed my tour.
ReplyDeleteDear Debbie, The Mistress has rested up and is drawing Kizzy even as I type! Thankyou for walking along side us, I hope my charges did not trip you up, they have a way of waddling between one's legs. yours sincerly, FIONNA
DeleteWell you geese are worth your weight in GOLD (or manure...)
ReplyDeleteFrom spreading healthy manure to keeping the weeds at bay AND adopting orphaned chicks, I say you are some fabulous farm animals to keep around!
HAPPY AUGUST everyone! And guess where I am? Today is the first day of school with the students. I go "on" in about 20 minutes! Thanks for the diversion, all 'a y'all! Much love, Anita
Yes Anita my dear, The Mistress always praises me for my huge contributions to her compost pile, I certainly am worth gold... and silver too.
DeleteOh, I feel for you... as I only have my 6 little charges and YOU have an entire classroom full of little charges!
All looking GORGEOUS! (just like YOU Fiona!) I agree that Hoity-Toity plant names are FAR too hard to try pronounce!! Thanks so much for the tour! Tell your Mistress to get some aspirin and nice cup of tea and sit back (and rest her back) for a moment and enjoy the view! :)))))
ReplyDeleteDEAR DEAR MELODY! GORGEOUS??! MOI?? Well, if I do say so myself, I look rather stunning in my pastel outfit and straw bonnet. Of course you know, when I am not giving garden tours, I work as a super-model.
DeleteJeri it all looks so dreamy, buy I know the hard work that went into it. What would we do without our gardens and animals?
ReplyDeleteDonna, All the work makes me almost grateful that summer only lasts 3 months, else I would always be outside digging and weeding> Jeri
DeleteWell, well now Miss Fionna Goosefeathers!! You have done fine job, a fine job indeed as a most informative garden guide!! I hope your Mistress has been resting well for the accomplishments that she has made in her ever demanding and beauteous garden of ever changing delight are proof of her loving, devoted and loyal workmanship!!! Everything looks so charming and fresh! The walkway paths are amazing!
ReplyDeleteAnd Fiona dear, what a wonderful job you have done in raising your little charges!! They look so happy and healthy and confident!! Thank you for a most delightful tour!!!
Blessings Hugs and Love, Linnie
Dear Miss Fiona, you are a splendid host and guide. Thank you so much for the lovely tour. You must thank your fair mistress and treat her well for working so hard to provide such a beautiful home for you and all of your friends. And thank you for sharing it with us! Sending you a hug and a kiss on your gorgeous orange beak!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! Great job sweet Fiona!
ReplyDelete