Heaven.

Chris.

So well achieved Dan, no way could I dream of creating your garden.

Dan your gardens are breathtaking and are a paradise. I could sit out on that bench all day. I love the full look. I started changing mine a few years ago to mostly flowering shrubs and pulled perennials and still have some years for maturity but it's getting there. Unfortunately I can't have all the big conifers. I can manage to squeeze in a few more conifers - dwarfs and standards and maybe a few very dwarf Japanese Maples now. It's so nice to see you back and posting your inspirational gardens.
Cher

That's a garden. Seriously, that is just beautiful. I could drink coffee there in the mornings and listen to Mozart, or come home from work and sneak away to watch and listen to the bugs and birds & quite possibly, frogs. That to me, is a man den. (chuckle)

Dax

You have a beautiful garden. Very special place.
Richard

Dan,

I don't know what I can add to what has already been said.

Your work exemplifies a God given natural ability to create.

One of the best gardens on the forum.

Did you expand or have you decided against it?

Dave

Truly amazing Dan. Your garden is an inspiration and it gives something to strive for. Then again, if my garden looked like that, it would be a challenge every day to leave and go to work.

Couple of questions if you don't mind...How old is your garden? How large is the property size? What are your favorite plants? Sorry if you've addressed these before and I missed it.

Thanks for posting.

Alex

I love looking at your garden Dan. It's really grown over the years. I like your attention to detail and color contrasts.
Keep the pictures coming!
Mike

Just love this setting. I need to make my way down to the Botanic Gardens soon. Perhaps I can stop by if you're not too far from there?

Dorothy said it best "Theres no place like home"! Dan, you have blend,texture,color,flow and you are a wiz with rocks! What a first class display!!!

man.. your talent is wasted on that small suburban lot ...

or do you think that might be a part of the success ...

obviously you have no qualms about getting rid of things.. once your toes uncurl .. as mentioned in some other post

ken

Thanks for the great comments everyone! I'll repond more thoroughly tonight. We've got a big family party today. I'm excited the family will finally see the garden in its prime.

Have a great day,

Dan

Dan, Wow! Your family should be stunned. Learn to take time to sit on that bench. Jay

The most wonderful part of creating in a garden is that we mostly do it for ourselves. People don't understand when I say "its not work to me" and I'm sure you've heard it often too. Life is short but the trees will live on.

You've certainly inspired me today. Thanks for sharing Dan!

Robyn

You're both very lucky and very talented Dan, it's a place of great beauty and tranquility. If more people knew and had such a place, there would be much less conflict in the world today. Gardening at this level surpasses most forms of art, it's simply breathtaking. Sip your lemonade this Summer and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

-Will

As all have said beautiful tranquil garden

I can get lost in there just looking at the pix. It must be a slice of heaven to actually sit there. Beautiful.

tj

Wow, thanks again for all of the encouraging feedback! I think ultimately, we all garden for ourselves, but have to admit it's really nice when others have an appreciation for your aesthetic. Your nice comments really made my day!

Dax, I liked the man cave comment. I suppose I have two unusual mancaves. My indoor cave is my hosta seed growing room and this is my outdoor one :)

Hi Dave, the only addition I did this year was extending a hosta seedling bed with another stone wall. The triplets are 8 now, so I figure the swingset has another three or four years or so and then the koi pond can go in, in that spot, which of course will feature conifers relocated from other parts of the yard.

Whaas, PM me.

Alex, My lot is 91' x 131'
This area of the garden was started late summer 2004.
Hard to pick a fovorite, if I could, I might not have so many plants :)

Ken, I'd like to think I'd be dangerous with a few acres, a pole barn, a Bobcat and a water source. (Can you tell I've dreamed about it?) But you're right working in a small space does tend to make you more selective and makes pruning and removing plants more necessary and has contributed to how the garden looks. Whenever I get discouraged about my lack of space I prune something or move/remove something and the garden morphs into its next phase and I'm happy again.

Thanks again,

Dan

Wow, that's an incredible setting. And it sounds like you've been busy over the past 8 years!

Oh Dan, your gardens are breath taking. Your plants all look so healthy and really maturing nicely. It does look like you are sitting in a corner of heaven.

Thanks for sharing your photos.