Mary Mary Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Saturday I went on the annual Garden Tour.  I haven't been able to go for the last several years for one reason or another so I was excited that it worked out this year!  I scrounged up the change in my couch cushions (ok, not really but close!), managed to cough up the $5 fee and away we went!

I am shocked and amazed my friend actually showed up on time!  She's easily distracted by shiny things so she's not always the most punctual.  I was so proud of her too, she stayed on track for almost the whole day!  Last time we went on the tour, she wanted to stop at all of the yard sales along the way.  This time, she just drove right by them!

There were a total of 9 gardens this year.  It seems like there were more this time than in the past, I think there's usually an average of about 6.  The first place we went to even gave away potted plants!  I took one called a "cone flower."  I had no clue what they'd look like once they bloomed so I checked online and came up with these images.  They appear to come in a variety of different colors but most of the ones pictured were pink and purple.

Source:  bing

My favorite garden was one I could've spent literally hours and hours in!  There was so much to look at and if you looked one way, you'd miss everything on the other side.  There were 13 fountains, a pond with fish, waterfalls, grottos, cottages, statues, plants and flowers of every kind imaginable - all under a canopy of large shade trees!  I've been to this home a few times before on the tour and each time they seem to add more and more to it.  It's absolutely beautiful and so easy to get lost in.  Not lost physically but lost in your thoughts.  I imagine they spend many peaceful summer nights out there!  It's beautiful but I just can't even begin to fathom all the hard work and long hours that must go into it.  They used to have a hot tub too but I don't remember seeing it this time around. 

Afterwards, we went to the social to celebrate the fun day.  They had a silent auction and raffled off a few prizes.  Normally I don't have much luck winning giveaways but I won a plant!  My number was called almost at the very end.  I wasn't even really listening anymore and my friend had to tell me what I'd won.  I don't know what kind of plant it is, I only know that some kids planted it.  My friend won a 10 day pass for the local swimming pool.  She didn't seem very excited by it so I'm wondering if maybe she doesn't swim.

The very best part of the day has to be that my hip didn't bother me at all until the very end!  My hip was never fully formed in utero apparently and I was supposed to go back for an MRI for further studies but the insurance at my last job wouldn't pay for it.  (Shitty insurance from a shitty job.  Reason #1,379 that I'm glad I don't work there anymore!)  It didn't really bother me at all and I wasn't even aware of it until about the last 5 years or so and since then, I have to be careful how far and how long I walk.  Some days it's worse than others but Saturday it was feeling great and I didn't have to take any pain pills!

I brought my camera with me and tried to take pictures at several of the gardens to share with you. I feel like such an idiot though! I couldn't figure out why in the heck it wasn't taking any pictures and cussed at it several times. I got home and realized that I never cleared the old pictures out so there was no room for new ones. Grrrrrr!!! It didn't occur to me until I got home and changed the battery, thinking maybe that was the problem. That's when it finally hit me!  My friend got some though and said she'd send them to me, hopefully she'll remember.

I can't share any of the beautiful gardens with you that I saw on Saturday but I found some that are every bit as pretty and of similar styles.

Source:  bing

My little town really surprises me.  There's some gorgeous homes and then there's the slums!  And they aren't all that far apart from each other either.  The street I live on starts out with the el cheapo, welfare type houses and waaaaaay down at the other end are the gorgeous homes where people who make the BIG money live. 

The rest of the weekend was relatively quiet.  Well, except for Sunshine!  She likes to sing along to the radio.  Sometimes I hear her chirping early in the morning too, before I've gotten up.  My chi's are awfully curious about her.  They can't reach her cage but they like to stand on their hind legs, get as close as they can to her (which isn't very close at all!) and sniff 'til their noses about fall off.  She just ignores them and goes about her business.  My little boys get so jealous anytime they see her getting any extra attention, even if it's just  to change her water!

I hope everyone had as nice of a weekend as I did!