Here is a mystery: Why does this post get several hits a day? Do comment and tell me why, if you know. P.S. I have figured it out; it’s traffic stemming from a fairy door pin on pinterest.
July 21, 2012
We’ve walked through the front garden and the back garden on Peninsula garden tour day Now we have worked our way to the very back of our large double city lot: the bogsy woods that back up on to the Port of Ilwaco meander line and parking lots. Here was the site of a cathartic clean up in September of 2011. Much grooming and decorating had followed.
The southernmost fence had a couple of would-be tour guests outside on tour day morning.
I have deliberately left groves of salmonberry in the bogsy wood but cut paths through and between and cut some halfway down to make sightlines through, and in the center cleared a view corridor that lets us see out to the port year round. The tour guests seemed to greatly enjoy walking through the paths and over the bridge to the area outside the fence where a big seasonal water ditch separates us from the parking lots.
Even though I have never been a lawn fan, I left a large lawn space between the flower beds and the woods with the idea that comfortable gathering spaces are necessary for a garden party.
On the east fence along the woods I had more quotations painted on old boards, an ephemeral and last minute idea. “A massive dose of inspiration should result in drastic action. Be bold and never question inspiration-driven ideas. Timidity results in inactivity and a stagnant or non-existent garden.” (Thomas Hobbs)
and “Some people spend their time dreaming of a paradise in heaven. I would rather create it here on earth.” (Jenny Ferguson)
Next comes one of my favourite gardening quotations, by Helen Dillon: ” are always told that the first thing we must do on getting a garden is to make a plan…But, in fact, the last thing I ever want to do is make a plan–I feel weak just thinking about it. My idea of heaven was (and still is) to indulge in a lavish buying spree. And the consequences? Too bad. Bugger plans!” It is something I always want to tell a potential client who asks me to drawn a plan. Because I just can’t. (Or, er, won’t. Or am really simply artistically incapable of it.)
At the end of the east side grass path one turns left to a path leading by the bogsy wood swale than in winter is full of water. Past the bridge the swale jogs over a bit to the north and curves around to the west fence….all full of water in winter.
In the center we had a big plant table of moss and ferns, inspired by George Schenk, that Allan had built for me from an old door. We had fairy doors that Allan had found at Home and Garden Art (that shop on 85th in Seattle) and embellished with stairs (although a friend of ours pointed out the fairies don’t need stairs because they can fly. So we say the stairs are for their pet frogs.)
When garden writer Jolly Butler came through on tour day (exciting!) she told me I simply must watch this video of the song “There are Fairies at the Bottom of My Garden.”
A plant table inspired by George Schenk sits to the right of the center path to bridge.
Down the center clearing, the view corridor to the port, one comes to the bridge to the southern gate.
And then, if one turns and looks back to the garden, one might be drawn back to the three large sunny borders.
On your way back, look to the right of the fire circle, back against the salmonberry, for another of my favourite garden quotations (and my big excuse for the rather huge amount of money I have spent on this garden).
[…] area corresponds with our “bogsy woods”. My neighbour to the west has lived here all her life and tells me she and her friends used to […]
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[…] expanded the beds along the front of the bogsy woods. My main idea was to make for less mowing. My old garden had no lawn, and while I love the […]
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[…] Creek was a favourite destination. Here I believe came the initial inspiration for what is now my bogsy woods: Water, with clumps of shrubs, and river rocks strewn […]
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This is my most read post of any, and I am wondering why, and where out there people are finding a link that leads them to this particular one.
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[…] at Crank’s Roost. He bought the door at Home and Garden Art in Seattle (same place we got the fairy doors in our bogsy woods), but he built the steps and added the paint to match the Roost’s […]
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[…] am just completely mystified as to why this post about the bogsy woods gets at least five hits every day, and sometimes, today, 29 hits so far. Where are they coming […]
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About your bogsy woods garden. I happened onto your blog site one day while Googleing fairy doors. I joined your blog immediately and have been intrigued ever since. I live in East Texas and have a large oak tree where the moss covers the ground all year round. I decided what I needed was a fairy habitat that would maybe entice my grand daughters to garden. I have a fairy door and some little furniture. I really enjoy your blog.
Mary
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Perhaps fairy doors are the answer to the popularity of that post! Thank you for your kind words! You would very much enjoy the Tootlepedal blog if you are a birder.
http://tootlepedal.wordpress.com/
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That is a rather grand fairy door, deserving of many visitors! I hope the fairies aren’t frightened away by all the people knocking at it.
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I found this post through a link on The Empress of Dirt. She said it was on Facebook & shared it on her blog. It was the pic of the fairy door she shared.
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Thanks!
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Is it possible to get instructions/plans for the stairs to the fairy door?
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Allan purchased the door from a shop in Seattle (whose name I forget right now; near 85th and Greenwood) and he just completely winged it re building the stairs.
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Shop: Home and Garden Art 1111 NW 85th St, Seattle, WA 98117
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