Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

A Secret Garden Full Of Treasures

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

What color is your thumb? Is it green?

Mine isn't, yet whenever I have to fill out one of those forms that ask for a list of my hobbies, I'm tempted to put down "gardening." I'm interested in it, yes.  I just don't have a knack for it. 

I am determined to change this.

My friend, B. has one of the greenest thumbs I've ever seen. For a "last hurrah" of summer, I'm going to show you around her beautiful garden...

…which has inspired me to create a little secret garden of my own.

If you've been following me, you know that we did some landscaping in our backyard this summer. 

There is one spot that's kind of empty, and I'm going to make that my gardening project for next spring. It's right behind this hammock. 


A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Here are two shots of the space I'm talking about. 


A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I'm envisioning it as a little garden nook. I'd like to have a chair or bench, some plants, rocks, and some interesting garden decor. I'm going to be pinning away on my "Garden Nook Inspiration" board between now and next spring. 

My inspiration to transform this space comes from my friend, B. She has the most amazing "secret" garden in her backyard.

Although, after today, I'm not so sure how much of a secret it will be.


A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Over the past ten years, she and her husband have transformed the steep slope in their backyard in Westchester County, NY, into a terraced garden oasis


A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

And it is constantly evolving, as she finds more garden art to add to her collection. 

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

B. calls it her Secret Garden. 

I call it a Garden Full of Treasures. 

A Secret Garden Full of Treasures seems to cover it nicely. 

OK, that's settled.


A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

B. and I met through our husbands, who, along with two other guys, have been friends since they were kids back in Brooklyn. Our families get together several times a year to hear them laugh and reminisce about the same stuff over and over again. All of those Brooklyn accents in one room is entertainment enough, if you ask me.

OK, about that garden…

My friend B. has always been enamored by the book, A Secret Garden, and has this dream/hope/fantasy that someday, as she's wandering around, she will happen upon a rusty garden gate, that leads her down old, stone steps, and through an arbor. With every step she takes, hidden treasures will be revealed to her...an old bench, a garden tool, maybe an old gardening glove left behind, and of course, flowers overflowing…weaving them all together to tell the story of this special secret garden.

But until that happens, she has her own lovely garden to enjoy.

Looking down from the upper deck of the house, this is what you see. It's a "secret" garden because the treasures below are not revealed until you get up close and personal. 

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

In winter, when the trees are bare, I swear you can see clear across the Hudson River to my house in NJ. Well, not really, but the vistas from that high up are pretty spectacular all year round.

Unless you can fly, the best path down to the garden is around the side of the house, and through the arbor.


A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Head down the steps…


A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

…and pass by the dry creek bed, which was necessary because this spot was prone to flooding. The soil kept washing away.  Now, B. says, after heavy rains, the water rushes down the rocks, like a mini waterfall. Can't you just imagine water flowing over those stones? 

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Most of the things in B.'s garden were found at estate or barn sales, or by chance. This pretty wheelbarrow waiting at the bottom of the steps, was from a house down the street, that had left it out for trash.  

Notice the little garden gate behind it…and the pitchfork on the left, which came from an old horse farm. 

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Walk too quickly, and you'll miss all the details.

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Everywhere you look, a treasure is waiting to be discovered…

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

…which to me, is the reason why this garden is so enchanting. You can't possibly take in everything at first glance. 

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

It begs you to visit again and again.

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

B.'s first garden ornament purchase was this lovely lady, which she found in an old shop. She mounted her on a base from a birdfeeder, and put flowers in her hair.

"Flowers in her hair, Flowers everywhere…
I love the Flower Girl…"

Remember that song?

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I like how she watches over everything in the garden.

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

B. says most times, she is drawn to things that no one else wants. What looks like "junk" often makes for the best garden accents.

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Take, for instance, this kettle. As she and her husband were leaving an estate sale at a crumbling old mansion on the Hudson River, she tripped over it in the driveway, near the garbage cans. It was filthy, but she was already envisioning it as a planter.

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

This thing that looks like forceps? It's an antique tool that may have been used to grab blocks of ice from the ice truck, or to pick up bales of hay. Or maybe to extract a tooth from Gulliver…heh, heh.

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I'd like to find something like this for my little secret garden space. I think it's called an armillary sphere. The rustier it is, the more at home it looks. 

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The scooter came from a farm sale, and B.'s brother made the flower box out of old barn wood. Would you ever have thought to turn a scooter into a planter? 

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I love the saying on this sundial: 

"Grow old along with me; The best is yet to be."

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

What bird wouldn't want to live in this neighborhood?

A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

B.'s goal was to make the garden look old…like it's been here for years and years.


A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I really do think she succeeded, don't you? 


A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
A Secret Garden of Treasures by Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

And until B.'s dream of stumbling upon some secret garden comes to pass, she can take pride in the fact that her own garden provides that kind of magical feeling to everyone  who walks through her arbor. 


Linking with:  
                                                   Wow Us Wednesdays
Until next time,

Ms. Toody


46 comments:

  1. Gorgeous garden!
    Each and every picture says a lot.
    Those flowers are beautiful.
    Thanks for this lovely sharing.
    Hope to see you on my blog:

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    1. Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I will defintely stop by your blog!

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  2. Congratulations on the tour. I just love this garden. I grew up in Westchester Country and miss the beautiful gardens and yards. I love all the garden ornaments.

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    1. Thanks, Katie! I'm excited about the home tour opportunity! I had no idea you were a New Yorker! I assumed you were a southern lass through and through!

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  3. Wow! What a beautiful garden, I couldn't decide which pictures to pin. So I pinned several, love a beautiful garden. (I don't have a green thumb either)
    Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile

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  4. That is one amazing garden! Mine right now is overgrown and in desperate need of weeding. But my mother in law has a garden kind of like this...one you can just sit in and enjoy, and relax amongst the flowers and the lovely details.

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    1. That sounds wonderful…just sitting and relaxing in a beautiful garden. Someday…sigh...

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  5. What a delightful tour of your friend's garden!! Thanks for sharing :)
    Susan

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  6. That is really a fabulous garden area she has created! So much to see! I love the little pea gravel paths she used throughout. I'm sure she will be a good person to get advice from when you begin working on your garden area. Looks like she has a lot of experience.

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    1. Thanks for taking a look, Kelly! Yes, she definitely will be a good resource!

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  7. This is truly an amazing garden! Every square incn is filled with beauty! I'll be there next Friday for the tour.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the garden, Magali, and thanks for heading over to the house tour!

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  8. Oh my Gosh - it just kept getting better and better with every photo - this is one spectacular garden!!!!!!!!
    Would give anything to see in person - ( although your photos are magical )
    Loved this post - and now I'll be busy for a while pinning!
    Have a great one
    Hugs,
    Suzan

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  9. P.S. your newest GFC follower!!!
    Hugs from Montreal,
    Suzan

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  10. That hammock looks like a wonderful place to take a nap! Especially with a breeze wafting through. Love all the rusted pieces of old metal. So fun!

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  11. Fabulous garden...very impressive!

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  12. Ah, another Jersey girl!! I don't have a green thumb but my husband is incredible at gardening. He made our yard look like a wonderland. It's funky and eclectic, but your friend's garden could be in a movie or magazine.

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  13. Hi Tamara, always good to meet another Jersey blogger! Thanks for stopping by. The garden truly is amazing!

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  14. Love it! We just started our garden this year and have the goal to have at least 100 hidden treasures here and there. So far we are about 1/4 of the way there but, in time, we will get there. It's so fun keeping an eye out for just the right items!

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    1. That's going to be one amazing garden. It will surely be one that improves with age!

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  15. This garden is beautiful... I am so loving the hostas everywhere and how all the rustic pieces blend in... I think that I could just wile away the hours there as it truly feels like a secret garden... Love the post, thanks for sharing it.....

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    1. Thanks, Cathy. I do envy my friend, who can sit and take it all in any time she wants.

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  16. What a spectacular space, a person could definitely relax and loose themselves in that backyard ~ Lisa

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    1. Iced tea and a good book...I could easily spend the afternoon there!

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  17. Hi Amy!

    What a gorgeous yard you have and there is something wonderful to see around every corner - we just love that!

    Sooooo... we certainly had to FEATURE it at BeBetsy on the BRAG ABOUT IT No. 20 http://bebetsy.com.

    Thanks so much for linking back to BeBetsy and for sharing with us. Our next party starts at midnight tonight so find something cool to BRAG ABOUT and link up.

    Sharon and Denise ♥

    Follow us:
    Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Bloglovin ~ Pinterest

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    1. Thank you so much, Sharon and Denise! I really appreciate the feature, and so did my friend, B!

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  18. Oh, my Amy. This is an amazing garden! Love all the details, the plants and the whimsy! I am delighted to share that your post will be featured in this week's Home and Garden Thursday - I appreciate you sharing,
    Kathy

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    1. Kathy, thank you so much for the feature (my friend thanks you, too). I appreciate it!

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  19. Oh wow! What a beautiful secret garden! I have one too and you are inspiring me to clean it up...Christine

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    1. We aim to inspire! Now if only my own garden could look like that:)

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  20. Beautiful garden images! I love that dry creek bed.
    Sherry

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    1. Isn't that dry creek something? It solved a flooding problem, and looks amazing, too!

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  21. What an amazing garden! Just beautiful! I'm green with envy!

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  22. I cannot relay just how happy I am that I opened this post!
    What a Lovely, lovely stroll so full of surprises.

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    1. Thank you! I'm glad you opened the post, and enjoyed the stroll!

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  23. I wonder how I missed this post? I'm glad you linked it to Mosaic Monday and I had a chance to read it. Your friend has a beautiful garden - lots of inspiration there!

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  24. Wow this is so beautiful! I'm so glad you shared this oldie but goodie at the garden party. Have you created your own secret garden? I know I love seeing your yard and your deck but don't remember a secret garden. :)

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  25. What a sweet and serene scene! Your post was like a lovely rose. Thank you for joining the garden party.

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  26. Oh that is so pretty. Good luck with making your own version and I love the hammock

    Mollyxxx

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