Warning, Pictures of Garden doodads

14 years ago

I'm inside because of the smoke from the local fires. It's really bad and seems to be getting worse every day. In areas closer to them there is not as much smoke. It all seems to be blowing in this direction. Meanwhile....I thought I'd post some pictures.

These are from the early summer local garden tour. It's always fun to see what other people do with their gardens and get some ideas. I found when reviewing the pictures I had a lot of the "objects" that people had chosen. There are some that are beautiful in themselves or uniquely placed (like the three faces under the chair). The first one is from one of my friends' garden. The group of friends went to her house for lunch mid way through the day. She was not on the tour this year. Her garden is AMAZING. I could do a whole thread on that. The first picture is by her front door. I'm not sure exactly what it is? - a cream separator or grain scale?? It's planted every year with beautiful annuals.

Here are some of the Garden Art that I really liked.

This one was on the second floor balcony of a single lady. She told us that someone suggested that she needed a knight in shining armour - so - she got one.

These last three pictures are from a garden that was very inspiring. The couple that created it were so inventive. This is a unique looking structure with a fountain on one side and plants on another. I am already thinking of how I can copy it.

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Comments (11)

cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
14 years ago
Gosh, McT-thanks for thinking of all of us when you are still having to deal with all that smoke. From the previous pics, the fires looked to be across the water. Hope that is true and it stays that way. Now, if you could just get the winds to blow the opposite direction.

Especially love the knight and the fountain/planter-very cool!
Pat z6 MI
14 years ago
so nice, McT, that you think to share these pretty pictures when you are so near negative forces. you are probably a world-famous photo-journalist and we only know you as McTavish.
Stay well.
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Janice
14 years ago
How fun!! I love seeing what folks do with their gardens, plants and 'doodads'! Thank you for sharing
your pix!!

Is it just smoke getting closer to you, due to wind shifts or are the fires encroaching anywhere near to
being a threat to your home?
mctavish6
Original Author
14 years ago
Since Sunday the wind has died down after sending the smoke into the bowl formed by the mountains around here. It seems to be sitting over the whole Salmon Arm area like a dense, choking fog. The sun is a red ball at night and in the morning. We have not even been able to see a glimmer of Canoe which is a mile away. At about nine at night just when we feel like we're suffocating from the closed up house and the heat, the smoke seems to rise up a bit and we see the lights from Canoe. I've been able to open the house and get some air over the evening. Today it looks like it might have improved some but I haven't been outside for the sniff test yet.

Here is a map. I love maps! You can see we are not threatened and are across water from the actual fire. The town of Sorento is about 5 miles from the Notch Hill Fire. If we were going to drive there (Sorento) it would be south through Salmon Arm (just off the map) and then north and then west. It would take about 1/2 hour. The scary thing is that the lightening started this fire during a drenching rain. There is nothing but undeveloped land up behind us with many trees, brush etc. I am looking out my window and the field on the other side of the driveway is fairly green so maybe we are not as dry here? I don't know. I just hope the firefighters are able to keep making progress and it doesn't take out any homes. The fires in Calif. are sure awful. I was glad to see this morning that Griffith Park - the Zoo is a distance away.
Janice
14 years ago
Oh my--I had figured out that your lake would be a protection from the advancement of the fires,
eventually! But, gee--the smoke--that's awful, too, but far less destructive---long term!!

Thank you for the map!! That does make it much more easy to understand your situation.

How awful for those in the path of the fires and for the fire-fighters! I know--it's actually, oftentimes,
an act of "nature" to have the purging fires, which does allow for new growth to rejuvenate an area but,
with so many of us 'persons' inhabiting the once dense forest areas, it does make it too bad for us and the
wildlife in those areas!
mctavish6
Original Author
14 years ago
You're right about that. Mother Nature has a mind of her own. It seems not too bad outside today and I plan on doing some weeding or something.

Meanwhile I checked the weather forecast. This is what is in store for us.

Severe thunderstorm watch: Shuswap Issued at 10.02 AM PDT TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2009
RISK OF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS IS AN ALERT TO THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES TAKE IMMEDIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

A SOUTHERLY FLOW IN THE ATMOSPHERE WILL STREAM MOISTURE OVER THE SOUTHERN INTERIOR TODAY. THIS MOISTURE WILL COMBINE WITH STRONG DAYTIME HEATING TO PRODUCE THUNDERSTORMS. THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR SOME OF THESE STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE PRODUCING STRONG WIND GUSTS, HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND HAIL. ENVIRONMENT CANADA WILL MONITOR THE SITUATION AND UPDATE FORECASTS OR ISSUE WARNINGS AS REQUIRED
Janice
14 years ago
OH DEAR!!! Well, hopefully (prayerfully) the hail and winds will pass, but the downpour will help abate the fires!! Yikes!!
florabundance
14 years ago
mctavish6 Love all these pics, it gives ideas and motivation to tackle some concepts. Keep em coming!

I hope the fires are stopped. I heard on the news this am that 3 died due to not leaving when told. So very sad.

Picture lover

flora; jean
alyciaadamo
14 years ago
Awesome pictures I am so using that fountain idea!
jodikay
14 years ago
I love these garden objects. I would put these in my garden anytime. Of course, I have to show my husband the water feature. Thanks for posting them.

Jodi
hostasformez4
14 years ago
I had hoped that the fires had burned themselves out by now.

Keep us posted on what developes.

Connie

Warning, Pictures of Garden doodads

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