journal beginnings

Time For Beginnings

June 21, 2006

Dear Garden Friends,

It’s time for beginnings.

A few days ago, as I turned the corner and headed for the faucet on the side of our house, a cardinal flew out of our holly. She was quite flustered. I wondered why she might be so disturbed, but the event wasn’t unusual enough to delay me from watering the thirsty gardenias on our porch. However, the same thing happened a couple days later on my next trip to the faucet. Now my curiosity was aroused. I peeked into the holly bush, trying to be as gentle as I could. Behold! There was her nest. The cycle of life was beginning again.

Memorial Day has kicked off the summer activities. Like many others, we have fired up our barbeque again (and after tasting how good food tastes when cooked on the grill, have sworn to keep using it year round). We’re busy making the many arrangements that are involved with opening our family’s summer cabin at the lake up in northern Wisconsin. And we’ve begun switching to our summer schedule of getting out to garden early in the morning before the heat from the sun sets in.

Visitors to My Ideal Garden often ask where they could purchase some of the garden products that we talk about on our site and use for our clients’ gardens. So this month we’ve opened our Store, an online source for the plants and décor that we’ve come to rely on.

We believe that everyone can have a garden that they love and that expresses who they are. This can be achieved by choosing a garden style that has meaning to you, and plants that make you smile. To make it easier for you, our Store offers plants that are tried and true, as well as items of home garden décor that we’ve chosen because they are in good taste.

Classic beauties such as the “Chelsea Arbor” and the “Chippendale Bench” can be depended on to make a garden say, “Welcome” to all who visit. A unique addition to a garden like the “Coolaro Triangle Shade” can show off your personality; and the funky “Woodman’s Bird House” can speak to those who want to add a touch of whimsy. Our Store includes all of these plus many other favorites.

We hope you’ll browse through the Store even if you’re not planning to buy. It’s filled with inspiring photos, personal hints and plant information to help you create an ideal garden of your very own.

Warm regards,

Gay and Peter