My entry in the Garden Olympics.
August 17th, 2008 by Kathy Purdy · 15 Comments
Here is my entry in Idaho Gardener’s Garden Olympics. I have to say, there didn’t seem much time to mull things over and pick my three entries. Here’s what I came up with under pressure.
The Secret Garden Path
The path to the Secret Garden fulfills its job of luring you in by looking attractive throughout the year.
My Mosaic Birdbath
Acquiring this birdbath was a triumph of aesthetic appreciation over miserly practicality. It was an agonizing decision, but the right one. It’s beautiful, and it inspires me.
No one entering these Olympics has more kinds of Colchicums
And then there is my colchicum collection. I have over two dozen kinds. How many kinds do you have?
Have fun judging, Mary Ann. You’ve got some tough choices ahead of you.
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Categories: Miscellaneous
Tags: contest
About Kathy Purdy
Kathy Purdy discovered the joys of writing in fourth grade, when she started corresponding with a former classmate. She's been writing letters ever since, first on looseleaf, then electronically, and now as weblog entries. That makes you, the blog reader, her pen pal. Her first independent (though frustrating) attempts at gardening were made in high school, though the gardening bug didn't bite hard until her mid-thirties, when she found herself mistress of a rural home on 15 acres. •
USDA Hardiness Zone:4 • AHS Heat Zone: 3 • Location: rural;
Southern Tier of NY • Geographic type: foothills of Appalachian
Mountains • Soil Type: acid clay • Experience level:
intermediate
• Particular interests: colchicums, narcissus, cottage gardening, NY
native plants, gardening with/for children
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The path to the Secret Garden fulfills its job of luring you in by looking attractive throughout the year.
And then there is my colchicum collection. I have over two dozen kinds. How many kinds do you have?
15 responses so far ↓
1
Anna
// Aug 18, 2008 at 2:38 am
I just heard a report tonight on the olympics and they said—-most of the glory is in the unseen and uncrowded moments of preparation. It shows and you you deserve a medal by my book.
2
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
// Aug 18, 2008 at 6:13 am
I have as many colchicums as you sent me last fall, so fortuantely I didn’t enter that competition. I still think I have a shot at the gold medal for hoeing!
3
Rose
// Aug 18, 2008 at 8:34 am
Stunning entries; I’m getting worried about the competition now, though we’ve entered different categories. Your colchicums are beautiful, but I must admit I’ve never heard of them before.
4
Cinj
// Aug 18, 2008 at 10:02 am
I love the garden path and mosaic bird bath. WOW. Of course the flowers are beautiful too, but everyone seems to have told you that already anyway.
5
Lynn
// Aug 18, 2008 at 11:08 am
Hi Kathy,
Good luck in the comp!
I saw autumn crocuses blooming on campus last year and they stopped me dead in my tracks! Bam! Wow! Your place must be amazing with them throughout the year. Maybe I can start now for next year at our house. Where do you recommend I find them? p.s. I’ve wanted to make a mosaic-something for years. maybe now I’ll try
6
Kathy Purdy
// Aug 18, 2008 at 11:20 am
Lynn, the colchicums do not bloom throughout the year. They only bloom in autumn. You can get them from any reputable bulb company, but Odyssey Bulbs has a much greater selection.
Good luck with your mosaic making. My birdbath was purchased and I’ve never done mosaics myself.
7
Nancy
// Aug 18, 2008 at 11:25 am
I’d say you hold up under pressure very well indeed!
8
Gail
// Aug 18, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Love colchicums ! Yours are medal worthy….there is certainly no one in your category that comes close to this lavender bloom!
9
Daisy
// Aug 18, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I’ve never heard of colchicums before. They’re so uniquely beautiful! Everytime I see a bloom on someone’s blog, I hate having to ask myself, can I grow that here with our colder climate and short season? The title of your blog answers that for me. I really like checking things out here. Thanks!
10
Annie in Austin
// Aug 18, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Congratulations, Kath - looks like being the Queen of Colchicums got you the silver.
You’ve already got Colchicum autumnale Alboplenum which looks pretty silvery in photos.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
11
CurtissAnn
// Aug 19, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Kathy– I enjoyed very much seeing the pics of your garden. The path to the secret garden does invite– so natural, warm, and pleasant.
12
Mr. McGregor's Daughter
// Aug 19, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Every fall, when it’s too late, I see all the places where I could use more Colchicums. I have only 1 type. (Lame!) Your mosaic birdbath is really beautiful, even if impractical.
13
TC
// Aug 19, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I love the old secret “path.” I bet there’s a tractor or two that’s worn it down a bit. Do you happen to know what kind of tree the stump is from?
I can barely see the birdbath but I detect a hint of its beauty.
I’m afraid to have naked ladies, for obvious reasons. ;~)
14
Philip
// Aug 30, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I love that you have a path to the secret garden!The mosaic birdbath is wonderful. The plants which surround it must give the birds a place to perch and hop around when they drink. I have enjoyed your blog.
Best regards,
Philip
15
Kathy Purdy
// Aug 31, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Thank you, Philip, for stopping by with your kind comments.
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