When I need fresh ideas for my garden, I look through my photo file, starting with garden tour pictures. They are inspiring!
Among the pictures, I especially love those with not only great plants and plant combinations, but gorgeous views. 
Location, location, location...
Except for the above two, all pictures are from this summer's local tour.Our local garden tour supports an Adult Basic Education program.This program has provided literacy ans basic skills education to local residents since 1989. The program offers one-on-one, small group and classroom tutoring. All tutors are trained volunteers. More than 300 students per year are served by this program. Many students who needs basic skills or ESL education cannot afford to pay for private tutoring. This progam is a link which they need to advance toward their personal, family and work-related goals.
The garden tour has more than 150 volunteers.
The owners of this garden chose plants which are able to deal with sun, shade,wind and salt. Among their favorites are hebes, grasses, srurge, antique and tea roses, flax and bamboo.
Whimsical art by local artists gives this garden an extra charm.
I am so grateful to the gardeners allowing us to browse their gardens and take pictures.
It's such a great event!
Look at these plant markers made from old knives! What a beautiful second life for used cutlery.
Local artists painted Adirondack chairs for the tour drawing. Laura Jacobson did a wonderful job with this one, didn't she?
I didn't win it, but can enjoy its picture any time I want!
Some other photographs from our local garden tours can be seen here Fanciful Fences and here Dress Up That Wall!
Now all of these are breathtaking!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely series of wonderful photos !!I loved the location.Full of Love,peace and fun !! Great post..Unseen Rajasthan
ReplyDeleteOooohhh my! There are A LOOT of insperation!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLinda
Gorgeous ...
ReplyDeleteTatyana, what great pictures, love that garden chair too. Do you think you could post a closer shot of the painted old knives? They are too cute! The whimsical garden art is adorable too, I want one. lol
ReplyDeleteThese are the most lovely views - yes, you are right ... location, location, location!
ReplyDeletethanks for your comment...our youngest, the caterpillar freak. She is doing her science experiment on pansies being affected by gospel, country or no music at all. Can't wait to post her results in November...she's only 11!
ReplyDeleteLots of inspiration. Some of the scenes are really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat great Vistas! I would copy a couple of those garden beds plant for plant! Very nicely done.
ReplyDeleteI really really like that Adirondack chair...what whimsy.
How can anyone not be inspired by those photos. Wonderful gardens all. The scenic views are being upstaged.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a view! Such a neat place with so much beauty. A great variety of plants and flowers. I especially like the adironback chair. So creative.
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiration! I love to peruse people's gardens and pictures and magazines and books for inspiration. You definitely are surrounded by wonderful and beautiful terrain and gardens. Loved the photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLovely views of the sea and lovely planting what a combination my two favourite things water and plants.
ReplyDeleteInspirational.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs as well
Таня, какую красоту ты представила - лично мне на радость и восторг! Благодарю!
ReplyDeleteRosey Pollen said...
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of inspiration! I have found amazing amounts of inspiration since I started blogging and "touring" gardens like yours. I always love visiting your blog, so fresh and full of great ideas. I like the plant markers and chair. It must have taken forever to paint that chair.
Rosey
Tatiana said...
ReplyDeleteThat's a great chair! What a way to add color to a plain deck. And the pictures of the garden tour remind me for some reason of a golf course we toured on the coast of Oregon - same windswept views of the coast, and the native plants adding life to the rockier coastline. You really do live in a beautiful spot!
September 23, 2009 8:17 AM
It looks like you are looking out on the beautiful San Juan Islands.....so lovely. I love the whimsy in the Adirondack chair!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad we can enjoy beautiful gardens and views by browsing each other's blogs. Also, hooray to digital photography! I agree with you all withregard to that chair. Eight chairs were nice, but pretty simple, but this one... How much time she spent decorating it?!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely lots of inspiration in these gardens. I love seeing what ideas other gardeners come up with.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, fabulous! Is this in Washington state?
ReplyDeleteAnd what lovely inspiration your photos are! I love the background scenery as much as the garden shots. I also think I need an Adirondack chair like that on my patio!
ReplyDeleteTatyana~~ I'm getting fat from your gluttonous serving of eye candy. Yum!! What a fabulous tour it must have been, and perfect weather to seal the deal.
ReplyDeleteTotally amazing...got a lot of ideas...thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, Tatyana. If only inspiration could get me an ocean, or I'd even settle for a closer view of Lake Ontario. Perfect backdrop for those lush garden borders. Your first shot with the lavender and roses -- oh!
ReplyDeleteVery inspirational indeed. Do you get to see those kind of views all the time in the northwest? Whew, that would be heaven. Lovely photographs too.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I love the knives used as plant markers, what an awesome idea! Garden Tours are delightful!
ReplyDeleteThose would inspire anyone - wonderful photos and scenes.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have a view like one of those / gittan
ReplyDeleteThese garden pictures are lovely. What a feast for my eyes.
ReplyDeleteOMG! The views from these homes are breathtaking! Thanks for the eye candy, Tatyana...I'm drooling! Cool plant markers, did you get some?
ReplyDeleteGreat Photos of fabulous views and what a lovely day for it all. Sounds like a great cause and event. I love the shot of the bench ( I could enjoy sitting there too)... and the owl over the chairs! That would keep the birds from perching on the furniture and leaving their marks! Thanks for the inspiration Tatyana! Carol
ReplyDeleteThank you friends! Answering the questions: Yes, this is Washington state. No, not everywhere, but in many places we have such views. Knives? No, I didn't buy them. I spent all money on plants.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! I wish they were my beds.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the knife plant markers.What a cute idea.
There is plenty to be inspired by in your wonderful photos, Tatyana! The water as background makes them all sing and the air looks so clean and crisp. Each shot is a gem, and I love the idea of being able to enjoy the chair even if you didn't win it. So true. Lucky us with digital cameras and computers in this age of techololgy. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
These photos are breath taking, what lovely gardens folks have created.
ReplyDeleteThe handpainted chair is so fun, and the knives painted as plant markers.
This arm chair tour is an easy way to garden tour.
Those first few gardens are the kinds I simply love! Such beauty no wonder you look to inspiration. I am grateful for gardeners who open their gardens too-even for the bloggers who share.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing pictures. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDelete