Fred’s Garden

Warning - photo-rich post.

I’m glad a picture’s worth a thousand words, because there’s very little I can say. The Knight spent his whole weekend on this project, and I spent several hours trying to find the right flowers too. Mugsy stuck right with us, and even went to the local nursery with me on Saturday.

Yes, we know Fred’s not centered. Fred and Mugsy were constant companions and “brothers” in life, and one sad day, it will become a two-dog garden. Just as Fred always hung out on the front porch until Mugsy came out with him, he’s saved a forever space for Mugsy too. (Yes, our front walk was torn up for this project, but it needed to be replaced anyway.)

Would that it was a better photo, but it’s a beautiful stone, with a picture many of you might recognize.

‘Nuff said. Sniff…

Mums have a special place in our hearts; they were EVERYWHERE at our wedding ten years ago. We drove all over Charlottesville and Waynesboro looking for the perfect mums, and the Knight’s mother was gifted four we settled for from Waynesboro Nursery. On the way home, the Knight recalled a farm-style nursery, off the beaten path just outside of Afton. I don’t even know the name, but they had the most beautiful, monster mums I’ve ever seen. She also gave us a very generous discount. I don’t know whether that came from buying in bulk, or because the Knight had on a fire department tee shirt. At any rate, if you’re in the Charlottesville area and need a great spot for pumpkins or mums, leave a comment with an email address and I’ll get directions from the Knight.

He selected this one. I guess my mother inlaw’s love for purple rubbed off on her son, because a few of the bulbs he planted are also purple. I think there are four or five varieties of tulips, freesia, and crocus. The little grassy looking shoots are the day lilies that used to live about where the garden is, all divided up. One clump was lost in the Knight’s grave-digging, so we’re curious to see if it manages to push its way to the surface.

I don’t know why we selected two large and two extra large plants, but that’s the way it worked out.

Likewise, the Knight selected this yellow one too, but it’s nice and cheerful, and I like that.

Winter pansies are another favorite, and are special because my mother and I also planted them on my paternal grandmother’s grave when I was about five. I’ll have to look up my flower lore meanings and see what our selections have to say…

The whole front of the house will now get a make-over, as the Knight and a couple of friends are going to add a large deck-style patio and replace the wooden front porch with some of the new, synthetic decking materials. The Knight and my uncle will be shopping for that this Saturday while my aunt and I do our thing. They just replaced the decks and porches around their home two winters ago (or was it last year?) so my uncle will be a great resource, because I know he did his homework before he made the final selection.

So, there’s your tour of the garden. The squirrels and deer had better stay away.