It appears so perfect it almost seems unreal.

This post was edited by desertgarden561 on Sat, Aug 17, 13 at 9:06

You know, it is not a rose garden, and it is not a garden I would choose, but it is clearly a garden he and his wife love. If it brings him joy, as it obviously does, it is a good thing.

This post was edited by rosefolly on Sat, Aug 17, 13 at 2:36

Rose folly,

I agree with you. If I did not have a garden I would still grow roses. I would have a porch, patio or balcony pot ghetto.

Lynn

I'm with Folly.

It's spectacular, but the sheer perfection of it somehow puts me off. I'm glad it makes them happy, but I'd rather have my messy hillside.

Jeri

I really like the fourth photo, where he's pictured with just the plants, and it all looks natural and lovely. For me that artificial looking lawn ruins the whole thing. Frankly, to me it looks rather creepy. Without that lawn he'd have lots of time to volunteer at the local animal shelter or other causes that can always use help.

Ingrid

I don't see anything creepy about it - just looks like a well groomed park. An incredibly beautiful, well groomed park, lol. I love the pond and the coneflowers. And who are we to judge how he spends his time?

It's beautiful to look at but not to live in. It's a show piece not a home garden. I'd be afraid to step on that lawn.

Wow, I really think it's great. Does it look just like my garden, lol no. But it's obvious that they put a lot of love into that space and take pride in it. I like the water feature, bid bird house and paths, not to mention all of the plants. What a beautiful place to spend your day! My grass looks like crap because I care more about my garden, so I appreciate a good lawn. I just want to roll around like a dog in that one. lol

Not my kind of garden, not the garden I'd have if I could realize my dreams, but the garden that makes its creator happy, and that's what counts.

I guess he doesn't have roses because the foliage doesn't always behave and bloom is inconstant? I'd be afraid I'd get his grass dirty if I went to visit in my gardening clothes ... and it is certainly an immaculate, colorful garden.

Why does he mow the grass twice in one day? Once one direction and once another direction so the blades stand up straight?

It's certainly not my thing, but clearly it makes him (and his wife) so happy,and that's what matters...

It's a magnificent achievement. There is real knowledge, planning and hard work there. The health, varieties, and layouts, the visual flow and flow of traffic are beautifully done. The formality of the lawn, the edging and gravel paths--is the easiest part to maintain and takes the least amount of thought. It is getting all those plants arranged to harmoniously, getting heights, breadths, foliage, bloom times, etures, colors to all work together, meeting the needs of that huge variety. Just the dead-heading would overwhelm me. I'm in awe!

OCD.

I agree with catsrose, really. I was up watering early this morning and thinking about that garden. The thing that gives me hope is that it's taken decades for him to get it the way that he wants it. Realizing the dream of what you want your garden to look like - that's what I really admire. There is a lot of planning, thinking and hard work in that yard. But I would feel as if I needed to wipe my feet before I went in to it; I am not that kind of immaculate gardener.

I noticed he was a joiner before he retired. I'll bet his carpentry work was immaculate too. I hope I'm in good enough physical shape when I'm 70 to garden 30 hours a week, too! Kudos to him. I still don't understand the twice daily grass mowing, but I'm sure he has his reasons. Gean

It's a garden I'd like to visit, even if it wouldn't be one I'd chose.

I would love to walk on that grass barefoot (heck, I'd like to roll around nekkid on it :-P ) I'd lie down on the cool turf & just listen to the water babbling, smell the flowers & drink in the colors.

Bet they have lots of songbirds to listen to, also.

I think this garden and yard are totally gorgeous! I know I could never achieve this perfection, so wouldn't even try.

The only part that struck me as sad was he wouldnt allow his son to play in the back yard (football)..To me, the yard is for family- an extension of the house.

Never-the-less, gorgeous!
-Marleah

AWWWWWW. I love this garden! I can appreciate the formality of it. I too used to live in the UK. I think a garden should express the style and taste of it's owner and not meet some pre- supposed standard. He loves it then that is just cool. I wish I could garden like this in North Texas. This is just wonderful and lush. Just like jolly olde England.

I think this is a wonderful garden, and obviously it gives its owner a lot of pleasure. If he comes when his wife calls and manages to play golf twice a week, more power to him. He's doing what pleases him most after spending years going to work.

Yes, the pics do look touched up because it's hard to believe everything could be so perfect. I wish they'd taken a pic of him in his work clothes with his tools. It would seem more real. Lou

He's having a great time doing it as we wishes to. It is lovely. He would probably have a heart attack in my garden as i would be driven crazy by mowing the lawn twice a day. I'm sure there aren't any roses because they can be messy. it's OK.

What a testimony to our oft repeated reminder about the need for patience.

However, most of the plants are not 30 years old. I take this to mean that, as in my 30 years of gardening, 30 years includes the time required to hone wise selection and the gardening process itself.

Also, for those critical comments about the use of his time which by the way is one of the ultimate benefits of living in the free world IMHO, I did not miss the caption on the last photo which reads:
"Mr. Grindle transformed the former vegetable plot into a floral paradise and threw open his garden gates to raise money for charity."

To my knowledge, RRD has not yet made it into my neck of the woods. But I know it's only a matter of time. I've already decided (FIRMLY) that I'm NOT going to contend with it. Consequently, I expect that I will eventually have "a garden that lacks roses".

Were I 20 yrs younger, perhaps I'd dig my heels in and attempt to ride-out the plague, but that's not the case. Anticipating the inevitable, I've already begun sending budwood and rooted cuttings of some of my obscure roses to friends and to a couple of nurseries.

Whatever my roseless garden shall be, it will not remotely resemble Mr. Grindle's approximation of those fantasies one encounters at the Philadelphia (and, no doubt, the Chelsea) Flower Show. I confess to being compulsive, but I can assure you I'm not quite THAT compulsive, unowaddameen?

But cheers to Mr. Grindle. I hope he rakes-in a boatload of coin for the charities his occasional open garden events support. I keep thinking, though, of the Grindle son and all those childhood years he was denied the pleasure of playing amid his family and on his own turf. Charity does, afterall, begin at home -- or so we used to say.