An English Cottage Garden

The first garden we visited on The Lakes & Hills 2016 Garden Tour was a quaint English-style cottage garden. At first glance, everything was so cute and inviting about this garden.

Including this adorable little girl and pair of birds surrounded by the Whirling Butterfly bush.

This was a unique find - miniature periwinkles. I have lived in Florida my entire life, and I have never seen 'miniature' periwinkles. 

The gardener, whom we spoke to, was a very pleasant lady who willingly answered our questions  about this display of hanging baskets. What a unique idea!

Here's a close up view of the wire baskets that she purchased at a local big box store.

So, come with us as we enter the English-style garden and have a look around. 

It's divided into multiple garden beds encircled with boxwood hedges and walkways.

A lot of loving attention goes into maintaining these little hedges.

As with any English garden - statuary abounds.

Both flowers and colorful foliage intermingle.

Here's a view from the backside of the formal garden.

And, a close-up view as you enter the garden from the rear.

 There are pretty vignettes everywhere you look. 

Whimsical ones, too!

Places to sit and enjoy the garden from are scattered throughout it.

 These two photos (top and bottom) are a great idea. She took 2 metal baskets, connected them together, placed soil between a fiber liner and planted a variety of plants and succulents. Then hung them from a tree branch.

 An adorable white iron table and chairs was in the center of the garden beneath a large Live Oak tree. 

Another pretty birdbath adorned with birds and a statue of a little girl in the garden.

Pretty vignettes are scattered throughout the garden.

Pretty ceramic pots filled with orchids grabbed our eye.

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One last look as we, reluctantly, leave and move on to the next garden. 

A Garden of Art

The 2nd garden we toured on the Lakes & Hills Garden Club 2016 tour belonged to an artist. A very unique artist! We were greeted by this handsome gentleman, in his green bow tie, as we walked up the driveway.

And, then there was this happy lady with her pretty necklace.

 Everywhere we looked there were people staring at us. Cute and adorable people, all with a wild tangle of 'green' hair cascading from their heads.

 They were all over - hiding in the bushes - hanging from the trees.  

Serious looking faces . . .

Stern looking faces . . .

And, wild looking faces. It was easy to tell the women from the men . . . if you know what I mean! LOL!

No, seriously it was FUN! Each statue was unique and, I believe, handmade by the resident artist who loves concrete art. It made for a very interesting and entertaining walk through the garden.

This artist/gardener was expressing herself in many ways around her home. I loved the crystal chandelier hanging from the top of the pool cage. One of the garden club ladies told us that it is operated by solar power. I've never seen a chandelier hanging over a pool, but I love the idea!

Another great idea!
 If you have an old tree stump why not use it as a plant stand. Even the tree trunks are unique in this artist's garden.

 As we rounded the bend to head out of the garden, I spied this dressed up rain barrel. Nothing is ordinary in this garden. 

There was one last garden creature to bid us adieu as we left this garden with smiles on our faces.

The Contemporary Garden

Located on Overlook Drive is a sophisticated, contemporary garden that was on display in The Lakes & Hills 2016 Garden tour. 

It's sleek design has a lot of beautiful spaces in which to relax and enjoy the garden.

Soft, gurgling water flowing from a fountain in the private backyard is conducive to the relaxed nature of this garden.

Simple plantings of foliage mostly dominate this garden and complement the serene feel.

Unheard of in this area of central Florida is a banyan tree. The size of this banyan makes it obvious that it has survived many a winter with freezes - some severe. It must have the perfect micro-climate to survive for so long in our zone 9B region.

Beneath this Banyan tree is a meditation area. And, what a perfect place to establish a serenity garden. It's as if this old soul of a tree, along with the Buddha will speak to your heart.

One of the Banyan roots has grown right through the center of this Staghorn fern, adding an anchor that will ensure its stability. 

 Plantings of bromeliads are a perfect addition to this contemporary and serene garden.

Every area is designed with the idea that 'less is more.' Simple, peaceful and relaxing.

The Collector's Garden

The 4th  home on the Lakes & Hills 2016 Garden Tour is a 'collector's garden.' The well manicured from yard does not give any hint of this gardener's passion.

The mature landscape is impeccably neat with layers of lush green plants and groundcovers.

It's easy to see that this gentleman gardener is a perfectionist. 

 Touches of autumn have been added to the garden, and this friendly scarecrow welcomes all visitors. 

This yard has a formal feel, but it still has an inviting relaxed appeal. 

But, the backyard is where the gardener's passion becomes very apparent. Hanging beneath this beautiful shade house, that he built himself, is a collection of orchid cactus.

Quite a large collection of healthy orchid cactus' that bloom in a multitude of colors. You can see that they have been pampered, and I'm sure they reward the gardener with tons of beautiful blossoms.

 Similar to the front yard, the pool area in the backyard is neat and orderly. A display of statuary surrounds the inviting pool along with some pretty pink mandevilla vines.

Lush, healthy roses are in bloom in front of a smaller shade house that contains a different variety of cacti.

A drought-resistant Pony Tail palm is on display on the other side of the pool, as well as his collection of desert rose plants in the background. 

More favorite cacti can be found on display. This particular variety has very pretty red flowers on it.

And, one more cactus plant is basking in the sun. 

He obviously has a passion for cactus and drought-resistant plants; and a very green thumb for growing them into large, lush plants, as well as a talent for displaying them in the garden.