Mulling Inspiration and Cider

With winter upon my garden, it's time to retreat indoors with a mug of something warm to drink and recall a few garden views that made my heart skip a beat. Not scenes from my young garden of course, but views from established gardens and parks. The photo above shows the stone path at Spokane's Liberty Park. Oooh, this is why I want a path in my garden eventually (though without the stone walls bordering it, unfortunately, that would be too expensive).


I have posted this photo from Northland Rosarium before, but it's worth repeating. I love the fat, lush hostas under the dappled sun and the elegant old bench. Appropriate seating is important to one's enjoyment of the garden. If I ever stop pulling weeds and deadheading, I'll need someplace to sit. I plan to put a couple of benches and a swinging seat within my garden.


Vine-covered pergolas are so romantic. This shot is from the Santa Barbara zoo, and it looks like the vine shown is star jasmine. Too bad I didn't visit in May to see it in bloom. Jasmines don't survive in my climate, but sweet autumn clematis would provide a similar effect with fragrant white blooms in the fall.


Here is another picture from Liberty Park. Of course I have a number of baby lilac shrubs planted in my backyard, since Spokane is 'The Lilac City' and has a lilac festival and parade each spring. I like the way these large shrubs have been pruned to show their interesting trunks and frame a view. I'd like to do that when my babies finally grow tall enough.


I'm hestitant about the maintenance needed to keep up a pond, and I have little children that might fall in, so I'll probably go for a small fountain or two instead. This fountain at La Purissima mission in California is so classic. I love classic.
Looking over these pictures makes me excited to keep working toward my dream garden. What inspires you to continue shaping your garden?