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 favorite color 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!
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.
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.
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!
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?
We loved this garden, so much fun and full of personality (and orange!)
Gaz