Comments on Greenish Thumb: My father's house: pond, vegetable garden, ducks, ...

I enjoyed the adventure through your Dad's garden!...

2010-01-26T11:56:58.261-05:00

I enjoyed the adventure through your Dad's garden! It's so huge! And it includes a pond too! Wow! I wish I have that big a garden...however, I doubt I could cope with managing it. Please tell your dad that I love the pier that he built over the pond. And the willow trees look so good!

Coulda swore I just saw Sigmund the Seamonster in ...

2009-09-23T15:57:46.794-04:00

Coulda swore I just saw Sigmund the Seamonster in one of those pictures. LOL.

Thank you for the tour!

2009-09-21T16:59:40.890-04:00

Thank you for the tour!

A very tidy garden your father keeps. Love those ...

2009-09-18T08:09:46.220-04:00

A very tidy garden your father keeps. Love those ducks, very photogenic they are!
Rosey

Wendy, I can see where you get your love for natur...

2009-09-17T22:54:50.099-04:00

Wendy, I can see where you get your love for nature from. Amazing property! And it's wonderful to see your kids embrace and learn from obviously wonderful grandparents/teachers. Beautiful post!

Wow! I LOVED this post - the garden, the ducks, an...

2009-09-17T20:10:54.040-04:00

Wow! I LOVED this post - the garden, the ducks, and the beautiful, sort of dreamy photos you took of them. Very impressive. It's so cool the way the geese file into their enclosure.

Hey Wendy, Thanks for the post on your parents pla...

2009-09-17T19:51:58.321-04:00

Hey Wendy, Thanks for the post on your parents place. What a nice garden they have and I love the insight into geese caretaking -very cool!

I have seen ducks walking in a neat single file cr...

2009-09-17T13:38:37.489-04:00

I have seen ducks walking in a neat single file crossing the road. Motorists stopped their cars and waited patiently. Everybody just smiled! ... Such a neat place, Wendy! ~bangchik

Oh my goodness, no wonder you love to garden. Wha...

2009-09-16T23:27:37.851-04:00

Oh my goodness, no wonder you love to garden. What a place your parents have. The land is gorgeous. It is so nice your daughter has him to spend time with. And really nice he takes the time to spend with her. They could charge admission! Don't forget to get your address to me so I can ship out your Waistie Pouch. I sent you an email. Thanks for your great ideas! That was fun. Have a great day!

Ricki, you're right. When I first started playing...

2009-09-16T17:53:18.843-04:00

Ricki, you're right. When I first started playing with perennials a couple years ago, I remember being really discouraged one night when someone pointed out that the best gardens are kept by very old folks - takes a lifetime of experience to be able to create something really great.

Deborah - My parents actaully moved here the year I left for college, so I never really felt this was MY home. Though my dad has always gardened. I remember my garden at thehouse I grew up in very...sort of neat and nice of course, but definitely with more of an 80's feel. Lots of azaleas as foundation plants, etc. Not the texture, variety, and naturalness that is in his garden today. Give me a few weeks - wait till you see the rest of his chrysanthemums!!!

Wendy, no wonder you are a gardener. You were rais...

2009-09-16T17:05:29.401-04:00

Wendy, no wonder you are a gardener. You were raised in an extraordinary garden. So well maintained. A true labour of love.
I love the big chrysanthemums, we use these in bouquets this time of year at the flower shop. Clients really love them.

Have you noticed how gardeners tend to die with th...

2009-09-16T15:45:15.006-04:00

Have you noticed how gardeners tend to die with their wellies on...at advanced ages? Also, from your post, I get such a feeling of continuity and love in your family. Please tell us that your father has decided not to sell.

wowwwww! I go there once a week, and it has never ...

2009-09-15T21:02:11.913-04:00

wowwwww! I go there once a week, and it has never looked so beautiful! The potograhy was amazing!!! I wish I was aloud to even touch her camra. :( (No I will not drop it, thank you very much!) ;)

Yes, it's definitely beautiful and could be an ope...

2009-09-15T11:42:16.142-04:00

Yes, it's definitely beautiful and could be an open garden! It's gorgeous all year round actually - in the winter, the pond freezes and is very pretty as well.

There is a lot of upkeep. A few years ago, they thought about selling it and got a few interested people, but I think it'd be difficult to find the right person. The property is nice - and tucked into a rural but developing community (i.e. - wealthy people live around here). The house is very nice as well, so the whole thing costs some money. Then again, many homebuyers with this kind of money don't always have the desire to do their own upkeep - which involves a LOT. Either they need to do some serious work, or need some serious cash to just keep the yard up. My dad is now retired, but used to get up at the crack of dawn, work outside for 2 hours or so, go to work, come home around 5-6pm, and work again till dark. At night, he's out with his shotgun trying to shoot the muscrat that's trying to compromise the pump system in the pond. He does really enjoy all the work though, so it fits his needs.

The bamboo has definitley expanded, and that requires a good deal of his attention to keep in order, but it's cool. Especially the endless mulch available!

I could do without the turtle soup. My mom always has a pot of something yummy that I check as soon as I get there. One day I lifted the lid and found some turtle parts floating around and almost had a heart attack. My parents like it though. My mom is an amazing cook though, so I'm sure if you liked to eat turtles, you'd enjoy it. I however, prefer my turtles swimming in the pond.

How absolutely beautiful, and inspirational! You a...

2009-09-15T09:32:00.257-04:00

How absolutely beautiful, and inspirational! You all are lucky you get to spend so much time there. Your father has created a work of art.

What wonderful garden! No wonder you like visiting...

2009-09-14T20:30:43.088-04:00

What wonderful garden! No wonder you like visiting.

Wendy, this is really a lovely place. It is a lake...

2009-09-14T11:03:14.035-04:00

Wendy, this is really a lovely place. It is a lake garden, farm and nature's retreat all combined together. The willows are so lush and beautiful, it reminds me of those Chinese landscape paintings. This is a dream garden. Your father is certainly one great gardener and master of many trades. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour.

Wow what a beautiful place. That must take a lot o...

2009-09-14T07:43:46.871-04:00

Wow what a beautiful place. That must take a lot of work to keep up. I really envy the stand of bamboo. I've always been afraid to plant it and have it take over my yard, but it is one of the most useful plants in existence.

Wow Wendy this an amazing garden! Can be a public ...

2009-09-14T03:57:32.240-04:00

Wow Wendy this an amazing garden! Can be a public garden - so big and serene, so so beautiful and planted with so many good plants. Your father is really a garden genius. Now I know why you are so into gardening. Oh, you take turtle soup? I have taken it before but right now I am not so sure if I would take it again.

I have really enjoyed reading this post very much. Well done!