Tower in the garden
And you probably thought I was kidding, didn’t you? … So this is the story of friends getting together to enjoy each other’s company, share gardening stories, and have a walk about our gardens. “Tour” is such a formal word. We were among friends and there was laughter, a relaxed atmosphere, and it was a very enjoyable day! Oh, and yes, that tower is in a fabulous garden.
Susan and her egg painting
The organizer of everything wonderful is my dear friend Susan. She has such a wealth of knowledge, and knows tons about plants too! I couldn’t ask for a better friend. We laughed when I took this picture because I love the painting above her head. It was a very sly way of me capturing both. 🙂
Beautiful Irish pottery
I love pottery. Isn’t this purple design lovely? We enjoyed coffee (or tea) and homemade scones at the start of our visit.
Cup of tea to start our morning
Susan’s garden is amazing. There is a great deal of beautiful stone work in addition to the tower! It has a very welcoming feel all around. I found it difficult to capture it in pictures, try as I may. Even though you might not get the entire feel of the garden, I think you will enjoy seeing bits and pieces as captured through my lens.
Stone entryway to an open garden (perfect for gatherings)
Stone hideaway that is very much like Newgrange in County Meath!
View of the lake from lower garden
Not so much a gardening picture as a picture to remind us to sit and enjoy the view…
The sound of the water on the shore is so relaxing
Leaving the lower gardens through the large stone entryway
Blue hydrangea
I especially love the boxwood lining the path/garden.
I don’t think I was completely successful in capturing all of the front garden. There was was too much for my lens!
lacecap hydrangea
hydrangea which is supposed to be green (but is quite pretty the color it is)
Flowering dogwood tree (definitely not the official name…)
Stachys byzantina (lamb’s ear flower)
One of my favorite flowers. Lychnis Coronaria (dusty miller)
Filipendula purpurea (Japanese Meadowsweet)
Debbie loved the color contrast here, and I have to agree it is so pretty!
Annabelle hydrangea underneath a cherry tree with boxwood lining the front
I’ve called this picture “Susan’s Lamp” as I need to come back and fill in the names of plant/shrub/tree. Stay tuned…
Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy your morning coffee here?
These wonderful ladies are mentoring me in my gardening adventures!
It was a full morning just at Susan’s house! I will save the pictures from Debbie’s and Gio’s garden for another post. I’m grateful for my friends, and that they share their love of gardening with me.
Happy gardening (even better with a friend)!
Dana
Mom in the Garden 
Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing!
Tammy
Thank you Tammy. I’m so glad you liked it! 🙂
Utterly jealous of the tower, hideaway and the lamp-post in the garden! Wondering if Susan also has a ‘spare ‘oom?’ and perhaps a wardrobe?
Hi Sportsgrl, It is definitely a place of awe, wonder, and endless fun for her children and their many friends (my kids included)! I haven’t found the wardrobe yet, but I’m sure it is there somewhere 🙂 Thanks so much for writing and visiting! Dana