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Reader's Paradise

A book lover's garden find

20 years ago

Today my DH and I were exploring a garden ornament shop and I came across one of those had-to-have luxuries that just calls your name. It was a garden bench in the shape of an old leatherbound book, supported by two stacks of smaller books. Totally frivolous and totally charming. Somehow it ended up in the back of our truck and it is awaiting being set up under the redwood trees in my back yard.

They don't call me RoseFOLLY for nothin'.

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Comments (20)

litlbit
20 years ago
Ohhhh, that's sounds lovely, Rosefolly - hey, we all need to indulge ourselves occasionally, right? May I ask what gardening store you were perusing?? (Since I'm in the East Bay, maybe I'll have to do a "field trip", hee, hee....)Now that our rain has abated, I'm getting sooo itchy to tear into the garden....just have to be patient while the soil dries a little more...

take care,
litlbit
martin_z
20 years ago
Once it's in place, post a photo...!
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rosefolly
Original Author
20 years ago
Litlbit, it is Grass Farm's Garden Accents in Gilroy off 101. You can see it from the freeway. We bought the only one they had at the time, but I asked, and they do stock it regularly. I was told that it comes from a Canadian company and they are the only people in the area who carry it.

Martin, of course. I will be happy to oblige.

Paula
sherwood38
20 years ago
Great find Paula! Our garden is full of all kinds of statuary & stuff that have been "finds" & gifts! We have lots of various rabbits-frogs little fairies and a statue of some Saint or monk that a friend gave us that is supposed to be the Saint of gardeners-can't recall his name though....and bird feeders we have all sorts of bird feeders-love to watch them all coming to feed, bath and play!

Would love to see a photo of your find!

Pat
deep___roots
20 years ago
Sounds so nice, Paula.

Yes, I've gotten into some statues or figurines for the garden myself over the past year. Only 2! I swear!

Did that place have any gargoyle statues or the like? I can find these online, but Gilroy is well within my area and I'd prefer to see what I'm buying in person. Recall seeing any of those at that shop? thanks.....deep
Chris_in_the_Valley
20 years ago
What a find! Sounds fabulous.
veronicae
20 years ago
I've seen that in catalogs...and dreamed and plotted!
sherwood38
20 years ago
For those within driving distance of Galt in N. California I have been told by friends that have been - that on Tuesdays there is a market selling all things garden related, especially statuary & benches of kinds at really great prices. I have never been myself although I keep intending to go..but friends that have bought items there say they are the same brands like Lomeli at much reduced prices.

Pat
rosefolly
Original Author
20 years ago
deep roots, they had everything. Gargoyles and dinosaurs, fountains and benches and tables and urns and pedestals and pots and gazing globes, every kind of garden ornament you can imagine. Some are amusing, some beautiful, and some are simply bizarre. They can suit all tastes. There are a couple of places like this outside Half Moon Bay, but this place had stuff I've never seen over by the coast. This is not to say that I didn't see interesting things there, too. I just didn't buy any of them!

I don't have it set up yet. It's going to take two strong men and my son is out today. Picture to come later once it is in place.
rouan
20 years ago
Paula,

I can't wait to see the picture when you post it. It sounds quite interesting! I've been looking for a toad house (actually 2 of them, one for me and one for my friend's birthday). I don't want cutesy or silly, but I do want something practical and charming. I've been looking all over the place and haven't found anything I like yet. The place where you found your bench sounds like the kind of place that would have what I want. I wish we had a center like that around here.
martin_z
20 years ago
Rouan...

OK, why do you want a house for your toads??
rosefolly
Original Author
20 years ago
Okay, here it is.

{{gwi:2117348}}
sherwood38
20 years ago
Ooooh! I love it!

Pat
frances_md
20 years ago
I love it, too. It's perfect!
sheriz6
20 years ago
That is wonderful, I want one! It would go so well with that book house Netla posted a while back ...

Here is a link that might be useful: Every Book Lover's Dream
rosefolly
Original Author
20 years ago
SheriZ6, I thought of Netla and her post the moment I saw that bench in the store! Amazing how we remember people we have never met in real life.

Netla, the book I am reading has a chapter on Iceland and one of Greenland, and discusses why one original settlement succeeded while the other eventually did not. I thought of you while reading those, too, wondering what you would say about the conclusion reached by the author Jared Diamond.

Some of my antique rose forum people get together in real life. Well, gardening is such a hands-on thing. It would be great if more of us RP members could meet some time. I know some of us have met Jankin, Martin, and several other UK members when travelling. It would be fun to arrange regional get-togethers from time to time.
litlbit
20 years ago
That's wonderful - even better than what I'd pictured in my mind! I'm going to have to show that to some other like-minded individuals I know...(local gardening-booklovers who haven't yet joined RP)

litlbit
rosefolly
Original Author
20 years ago
litlbit - take a look at the thread on the book expedition. I'd have sent you email but there's no link. Let me know if you might be interested.

Paula
rouan
20 years ago
Paula, I love the bench! I want one!

Martin,

Toads are great for gardens. They eat a lot of insects, slugs etc. A toad house gives them shelter. Of course, you don't need a special house, but I would like to have an ornamental one, to add more interest to the garden. (and just because I like some of the ones I've seen)
biwako_of_abi
20 years ago
It's delightful!

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