All art images and photos are property of Jeri Landers
Jeri's Gardens
2006
I am an enthusiastic, dedicated ,amateur gardener.
I plan and plan. I compost and plant, fertilize, water , mulch and then I
cross my fingers and hope for the best. What is it about gardening that people love so much? It is hard dirty
work, what with all that sweating and
hoeing and digging and bending,,, and did I mention sweating? But there is
something soothing about turning the soil with a spade, the aroma of the rich
black earth , the texture of the loam and the discovery of the small
beginnings of last years perennial reemerging from the seemingly barren
earth... the firm, thick, single blade of a tulip poking its way above
ground...all satisfying little accomplishments to a gardner. Planting a
garden is like creating a painting. You start with an idea and a blank canvas.
Then you apply shapes, colors , designs... and many brushstrokes later you have
it. It is either a shriveled-up mess, or something completely glorious! And
there are always happy little surprises. Like those tiny "forget me not " seeds
you "forgot" you planted, and suddenly tiny blue flowers are everywhere! It is
worth the time and energy spent.
Everyone with a heart, loves a garden!
<The beginning of a small herb garden. '
Two little maidens in the side gardens
These girls are plotting to cross the fence and taste my flowers!
These girls just like to watch me work...
Pearl and Bernadette
Aretha and Peepers
Bees and Butterflies love to congregate in this garden
Many things look better as they age, especially garden statues... a dilapadated old wicker chair makes a nice garden prop.
Be sure to plant some catmint to make the felines happy.... and to preoccupy them while the birds enjoy the garden.
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Page 22 in "Hopalong Jack"
2007
Butterfly bushes
Illustration from "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom" Jeri Landers copyright 2007
I actually spent more time this year PAINTING flowers than planting them.
from "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom" Jeri Landers copyright 2007
"The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom"...title page
Jeri Landers Copyright 2007
A little shrew likes gardening too!
Bzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!
2008
Since moving my sheep and goats to a new area, I am left with a meadow full of nutrients and the promise of a wonderful new garden! This is a large area and I will create an English Cottage garden here. I really have my work cut out for me! It looks exceedingly dreary and desolate right now, but I envision something like a "Secret Garden" with rose covered arbors, pergolas, stone walls, wattle fences, brick walkways, and foxgloves galore! Although I do have a terrible time growing foxgloves. Here is what I have to work with.
January 2008
The weather has been chilly but I've been working up a sweat hauling sand from the creek bank to lay a walkway and steps. I will be using some 160 year old bricks which were provided for me from a friends home renovation. James is starting a 20' trellis screen to run along a border and my little ducks are assisting me in eliminating pesky grubs. .
Trudy Webbytoes eagerly anticipates the next fat, tasty grub.
Trudy is also a character in my book, "The Journey of Bushky Bushybottom"
February and March
The new steps and walkway. I attempt to make everything look like it has been here as long as the house, over a century. Using a lot of moss really helps create that look. I like the beat-up, rustic look .
I am always amused at those DIY shows..... where they have a crew of 3o, a landscaper, a stonemason, carpenters and gardeners.... Who do they think they are kidding??? Around here, we REALLY do "do it ourselves" With a crew of two: James and myself.
I cut these pickets with my trusty jigsaw..130 of them! I only need to cut 240 more, to finish the fence around the front of house.
March 3,2008
Things are coming right along.....
Someone is laying her eggs in the lavender.
I am an earth mover and a builder of stone walls and wattle fences. I can't tell you how many carts of sand, mulch, muck and earth I have hauled around this place over the years. And stones,,, let me tell you about stones. I collect them from everywhere: the hollow, the creek, the woods .the side of the road,,,,, heck, I have been know to dig them out of the earth if I see so much as the tip of a promising rock poking out of the soil. I do this because I LOVE stone walls and put them up everywhere! Who gets excited to see someone tearing out an old sidewalk? I do! Because old concrete chunks make great walls.... I just built a 20ft. wall using the broken concrete from a local church sidewalk. These walls have a look of antiquity and are a great way to recycle.
May 3, 2008
Bedding plants and seeds , just planted in this new Perrenial shade garden
bedding plants taking nicely
Bluebirds have moved into these little houses atop the gate posts.
Fiona Goosefeathers
Pitty Pat has hatched 5 Baby ducklings!
September 2008
Miss Mulberry and Henny Penny
I
I got so busy I never posted more photos of the garden!
But look in the background and you can see our "Quilt block" It is part of the Appalachian Quilt Trail. I used house paints to create the "WHIG ROSE" pattern, size is 8'x8'
There are 3 more of these quilt blocks on different studios up our road, each block is different.
February 2009
A new year in the garden and I am anticipating an incredible Spring showing. In the fall I planted literally thousands of bulbs. Muscari, daffodils, alium, bluebells, crocus, and of course, tulips. I am especially looking forward to the BLUE Tulips! I hope those darn chickens didn't decimate them.... if they did... they better beware!
April is here, and so are the blooms!
I do not see any BLUE tulips!
"Don't Look at me, I didn't eat them!"
Nor did I!
Hmmm, this guy looks suspicious......
Oh Well, It is lovely anyway.
Remember this from January 2008? It's starting to look much better, of course, nothing is blooming in this photo!
That wonderful mossy brick walkway
This front yard garden gets bigger every year, soon it will take over the entire front yard.
Fiona amidst the flowers....she is a lovely flower herself.
GARDENS OF 2010
It is June, and one of my gardens has finally taken over the front yard, wow!
No matter which garden you visit, you will always have some company. This is Sasha; she is 12 years old.
Attila, a goose who really lives up to his name. Hamish, is a loudmouth and a bit of a coward. Ivan is very noble and has a kind face with soft eyes.
Trudy Webbytoes and Winston are 2 of my very wonderful, happy and delightful little ducky's
Aren't Foxgloves one of the most beautiful old fashioned flowers you can think of? I am so thrilled with these!
This garden is next to my potting shed. All of my gardens are wild and crazy cottage gardens. I try to grow EVERYTHING, but have a lot of trials with lavender and roses. But never shall I give up!
The mossy garden path. This garden has come a long way since 2008, when it was a goat and sheep meadow.
Here, let me give you another view.
and here
and here.
Of course, when you visit my gardens here in Hopalong Hollow, you will probably run into Fiona Goosefeathers; she loves the gardens.
She may be wearing her favorite bonnet....
I can't wait to draw her in my new book!!!!
Or maybe you will run into the Peabody Boys, Leonardo and Raphael;
Unless they are hanging out on the porch;
or peeking into the parlor window.
