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.

A Tropical Oasis

This tropical zen garden located on Michigan Street was home #5 on the Lakes & Hills Garden Club Tour 2016.

This densely planted, tropical garden is a little oasis tucked into this small neighborhood. It might be a small garden space but this gardener was not afraid to go large with bold tropical plants. You enter the garden through a narrow pathway that is chock-full of wonderful foliage specimens. 

The pathway leads to the first of 3 secret garden rooms spread throughout this property. It is a cozy space in which to sit and relax in this gem of a garden.

Amazingly enough, this gardener was able to include two very large containers in to this space. One container held a super-sized dark-foliage plant, while the other was packed full of a bevy of tropical beauties. 

Dividing this first secret space and a second one is a wonderful glass conservatory. What a surprise it was to find this unique structure in the middle of this small backyard.

What a great space to view the garden from on a chilly night, while enjoying dinner. 

On the other side of the conservatory is the 2nd garden room. It is a meditation space in which to relax while listening to the sound of soothing water gurgling in the fountain.

It is a very calm space with less vegetation.

As we leave this space we pass by a selection of colorful crotons in containers,

 which leads us into the 3rd garden room located on the other side of the house. It, too, is a more peaceful and calming area in which to sit and contemplate life or the garden.

One of the beauties of this garden is that you have no idea, whatsoever, that these incredible spaces can be found behind and beside this home. As you can see, the walkway out of the 3rd room is disguised by a grouping of plants that hides what lies behind it. Very clever!

Sometimes front yards are quite different from backyards --- more contained and proper, as to fit into the neighborhood. Not this one! This gardener continues to display his unabashed love for the tropical jungle feel and its rain forest plant selection. 

It contains a bit more colorful foliage and is crafted together beautifully creating lots of interest.

A few of the plants packed into this area is snake plant, pentas, crotons and bromeliads.

Baskets of lush foliage hang beneath the windowsills, while ferns meander up the trunks of palm trees.

Another view of the plants contained in the front yard garden bed.

 This masterful gardener has maximized the use of a countless number of plant varieties into this small garden. It would be interesting to know how many different plants are planted in this garden.

Everywhere you look is another area to be studied and admired.

On the corner of his garden out by the road is a bed of drought resistant plants basking in the full sunlight. Great use of this, most likely, hot and dry area.

There are a ton of wonderful ideas to be borrowed from this garden for the gardener who leans toward the tropical jungle style of gardening.