Dreaming of gardens

I've been doing a better job than I expected of watering and tending my gardens this year. The tomatoes I've planted in the containers in the back patio are thriving, and quite a lot of fruit is set. I'm even managing to remember to fertilize them once a week.

I've been thinking about doing a boulevard garden, so I've been paying attention to other people's gardens as I drive around my neighborhood. Today, I was driving back from an errand and saw a man outside watering a perfectly gorgeous one, and impulsively, I stopped the car and got out and asked him about it.

He called his wife in from the backyard, and she was pleased to answer my questions. In fact, hearing my admiration, she offered to show me her back yard and the plantings there, and she spent about a half hour answering my questions.

I was awestruck by the haven they'd created back there. They didn't have a speck of grass; it was all flowers and vegetables. They had created a pergola which they had covered with wisteria, and it was the most charming little seating area imaginable. There was a fountain and bird feeders and a patio with a table and chairs, under a magnolia tree.

She gave me her phone number, and she said she'd be happy to split some of her perennials once I figured out what I might want. I came away with my brain teeming with ideas and plans. Don't know if I'll put them into action. But it was lovely to see the possibilities.

Bee balm. Echinecea. Coreopsis. Daisies. Cornflowers. Roses. Lavender. Delphiniums. Lupine. Phlox.

Beauty.