I thought about how best to cover the fling, should we cover it chronologically, by location, type, by day, or even by colour? In the end we thought we would dip in and out of the various gardens, not having a plan as such but posting about the gardens and locations as the mood takes us. Perhaps something will remind us of a garden and so we will cover it. We are not going to set any goals, we may not end up covering them all, or perhaps it will take us up to the Fling in 2015 before we get to the end.
So without further ado the first garden to share is the garden of JJ De Sousa, garden designer and proprietor of Digs, an eclectic shop selling a wide range of interesting home and garden accessories. Sadly we didn't get to visit the shop too.
The garden wraps around the home, which is centred in the middle of a 77'x127' lot.
You enter the garden via an orange gate of carrots. Well why wouldn't the gate be carrots! Which gives the first clue as to the favourite colour of JJ!
The house itself is rather cute, making us think of a fairy story! The front garden is mostly shade planting, with several large old trees providing a canopy.
The steps to the front door, are guarded by a number of pots, and more orange... check out the little guard on the front door.
Is the gnome checking we don't approach... or making sure the cute kitty cat doesn't try to escape!
Looking back along the left hand side of the front garden is a seating area flanked by large unblemished pots of Hosta 'Sum and Substance'. Ours seem to attract too many slugs, but maybe the pots of gravel mulch on the ground is keeping them away.
Back along the garden path.
More seating and more orange!
Metal fencing bounced back the light and heat, more orange and more spikies!
Another seating area with a fantastic looking patio heater.... more orange!
We loved this garden, so much fun and full of personality (and orange!)
Gaz
So without further ado the first garden to share is the garden of JJ De Sousa, garden designer and proprietor of Digs, an eclectic shop selling a wide range of interesting home and garden accessories. Sadly we didn't get to visit the shop too.
The garden wraps around the home, which is centred in the middle of a 77'x127' lot.
You enter the garden via an orange gate of carrots. Well why wouldn't the gate be carrots! Which gives the first clue as to the favourite colour of JJ!
The house itself is rather cute, making us think of a fairy story! The front garden is mostly shade planting, with several large old trees providing a canopy.
 |
| Hostas, grasses, coleus, and splashes of orange! |
Is the gnome checking we don't approach... or making sure the cute kitty cat doesn't try to escape!
The garden is full of seating areas, we were told there was seating for 68. I could imagine us using chairs similar to these!
On entering the back garden the mood changes, instead of shade is bright hot sunshine, and the planting changes too. Olives, agaves, silver foliage and white blooms jostle for attention with the various decor items.
 |
| Bump! |
Bloggers, bloggers everywhere!
The garden shade had cooling water jets, much needed in a hot sunny day!
 |
| These two planters reminded me of two people holding hands. Intentional or just my mind? |
Gaz
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Great post on one of my favorite gardens which I didn't get to visit during the Fling. JJ is such a fun soul, who packs as much into a road trip as she does her garden (we went to the San Francisco Flower show one March and managed to see just about everything else worth seeing in the area too, all in just 3 days!). Glad you enjoyed visiting. Oh and random (fun fact)...those big black chairs in your 9th photo have been turquoise, orange and now black in just the last 4 years...why just stick with one color!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea changing the chairs every so often, variety brings spice and keeps the interest going. If only that's possible most of the time. Her garden is inspiring to say the least, and so much fun! You were busy yourself that day, hopefully we'll all get to visit her garden together some day, and no doubt see some new exciting things then!
DeleteI enjoyed seeing this garden. It is so full of personality and looks like a perfect place for a party. I love all the orange accents, especially that fantastic heater! I can't imagine a more enjoyable thing to do in Portland than to visit fabulous gardens. I am totally jealous!
ReplyDeleteIt was such an inspiring visit Debs, all the gardens we visited have something special to offer but this one in particular is so vibrant and full of the personal character of the owner :)
DeleteOne of my favorite gardens on the Fling! Thanks for sharing your pics.
ReplyDeleteOurs too Pam :)
DeleteI was so entertained by this garden! I loved all the little nooks and vignettes. Great photo tour I really wish I would have gone to her store. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWish we had time to check out her store too Laurin, could easily go home with one or two of her items for sale.
DeleteI love this garden - the quirks, the colors, and the plants. I especially love the octopus wall pot with the cactus - a perfect pairing. The gardener does a great job of using color to integrate different sections of the garden. Thanks for sharing your photos. I hope you've conquered your jet lag.
ReplyDeleteThe use of orange all over helped unify the garden Kris. Every angle you turn there's something fab to see.
DeleteI saw JJ's garden last year at around this time of year, it's fabulous and so much fun! Thanks for sharing your pictures of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alison! We'd love to see her garden again in the future, no doubt she'll make creative changes again.
DeleteThe word "quirky" could have been invented for that garden, and what a social space, too, though I imagine one could quickly loose track of people, so many nooks and crannies, all with seating. The hostas in those huge pots are enough to tempt me back to the dark side. A glance out the window at the tattered mess should be sufficient cure, though I do need to get hold of a couple of large pots to place on drain covers...
ReplyDeleteA very quirky and delightful garden Janet. And those hostas in the pots look immaculate too!
DeleteSo much fun, just as gardening should be. I think they've created something really wild with surprises at every turn, I love it.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Paul :) a garden that reminds us all to have fun and be creative in the garden.
DeleteThose are some really lovely gardens. They tied everything together well. The cat is adorable in that photo.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Glad we spotted the cat when she was peaking through the door, she didn't stay there long Cher.
DeleteOh those carrot orange gates would look brilliant on my allotment plot :)
ReplyDeleteIt will be a cheerful thing to have in the allotment Anna :)
DeleteHorray for Orange!!!!! Love, love, love this eclectic garden. Really like the S&S Hostas in the containers. I might just have to try that, maybe the voles wouldn't be able to get at them that way.
ReplyDeleteThose s&s hostas were immaculate too Deanne :)
DeleteI was quietly swearing with amazement as I took picture after picture of this garden. A great way to begin! Lovely meeting you both. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteAnd you too Helen :) every turn in this garden there is something to photograph.
DeleteExuberant personality abounds! Love it! But my favorite part was the ingenious use of space - as in using those gabions and plantings to create a variety of levels, or garden rooms. That hornbeam hedge was great too... Such a fun, inspiring space - now I'm just waiting for a party invite!
ReplyDeleteIt's not a relatively big space but she has used it to its full potential and so creatively too!
DeleteAmazing how pristine the hostas were --- and everything else. Incredibly styled. You got some great framing shots, something I neglected to do. The "holding hands" planters are lovely, all the silver ponyfoot and the ozothamnus. The back garden would be amazing to see at twilight.
ReplyDeleteQuite a contrast the front and the back garden isn't it Denise? Shady and calm at the front, sunny and exuberant at the back but unified all the same.
DeleteSpectacular tour and helps me figure out how the back garden was put together (because I did not get up on the deck). Your photos are as vibrant as the garden.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how well she has used the space available, every turn there's something to photograph!
DeleteAnd after hosting 80 flingers during the day, they were having 70 to dinner that evening...now that's what I call hospitality on steroids. JJ is as fun-loving as her garden would suggest.
ReplyDeleteWow, she sure loves company Ricki! I can just imagine how the fun the parties must be in her garden:)
DeleteThis garden was beautiful. I like how it had shade loving plants and sun loving plants. It is nice when one can have some of both. You got great pictures of it...and even without bloggers!!
ReplyDeleteShe had the best of both worlds Lisa, shady at the front, sunny at the back which she managed to tie in together so well especially with her orange colour scheme :)
DeleteHey guys,
ReplyDeleteBeing that I'm now a quadriplegic since 12 years ago and my gardening tour days are a distant memory for me, I can't thank you enough for your Fling reports.
Can honestly say the carrot gate just maybe the most engaging piece of garden ornament I've ever seen. Would you mind if I used it in a post featuring the best of garden art? Will credit, of course.
Please visit me to see my first GBBD presentation which has one heck of a back story to it.
Best, Patrick
Hi Patrick, thank you for the comment and glad to hear that you're finding our fling report useful. Yes, feel free to use the photo of the carrot gate. Looking forward to hearing more of your gardening exploits :)
Delete