Thursday, November 28, 2013

I’m thankful for…

Pinterest! Every once and awhile I notice there’s a pin on Pinterest sending a lot of traffic to my blog. Of course I have to go see what image is creating the stir, a couple weeks ago it was this one…

Oh the horror! That was our house and garden in March of 2011. The post the photo came from was a "before and after" when we removed the inherited camellia (it's already gone in that image). I am thankful that someone thought it worth their time to pin that photo and tag it “pieres tree” (Pieris japonica I presume, there was a pair), after all its reminded me just how far we’ve come and how different everything looks now compared to just a couple of years ago. I am thankful for dark brown paint and time for plants to grow! Here's a photo taken this week, to illustrate the difference…

Looking through the original post I also cringed at this one (there's the camellia with pink blooms - just right of center)…

Here's the "now" - oh and I should also mention when the above photo was taken I was starting on a front yard overhaul, having lost a lot of plants in the previous cold winters and deciding to go an entirely different direction.

Besides being thankful for Pinterest I am also thankful for the important things; my health, my family and friends (both my in-person friends and my online friends) and this wonderful life I am able to live. I am fortunate. Thank you for reading and I wish you all a most wonderful Thanksgiving holiday if you are celebrating.

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

25 comments:

  1. OMG...I know I've seen the "before" shots before...but it still amazes me how much you've accomplished...Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. This "before" is particularly ugly. I think because of the time of year, and the fact that what plants I had put in the front garden the summer before were still so small! Hope you guys had a great holiday!

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  2. It's looking so good! I love the way the Fatsia japonica is making a real statement now. Happy Thanksgiving, Loree!

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  3. The paint color along made a huge difference! I love your house and your miniature botanical garden, and I haven't even seen it person.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you, Andrew and Lila!

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    1. Thanks Gerhard, here's hoping the weather next week doesn't do a number on my mini-botanical garden!

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  4. I think I need to go back and review prior year posts of your blog. Huge difference. The house now looks settled into the lot and the garden. I love that lime green door too! Happy Thanksgiving Loree!

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    1. There was an earlier iteration of the front garden full of phormium, cordylines and canna...it was gorgeous! Then along came a couple of bad winters and everything was dead. These pictures were taken after that and before the rebuilding.

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  5. I seriously love the new color of your home. It's so inspiring! I can't wait to tackle our old 'white' house. You have made such a fantastic new front yard, it's really beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. Thanks Jenn! While I know white houses have a lot of fans I've never been one of them. It looks so bare and unfinished. Hope your family had a wonderful holiday!

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  6. Wow, how far you have come, L. Danger. Everyone raves about my old crib's Damianita / cactus pre-drought, but few have re-pinned anything from my old garden, so good job. Thankful for your appreciation that exceeds anyone's here for spiky things...maybe even mine?

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    1. That surprises me, your cholla in black planters against the purple wall seem very "pinnable"...

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  7. I'm thankful for my blogging friends like you, for introducing me to a whole new and unusual set of plants. One of the things I love about gardening is that I am always learning, and you're one of the bloggers that I've learned a lot from. Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. Ah, thanks Alison! I hope you had a nice holiday - despite your not looking forward to it.

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  8. We think your house and home is really lovely Loree, and the changes you guys have made over the years look wonderful. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Andrew, and Lila!

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    1. Thank you guys! That means a lot coming from the best/most productive DIY'ers I know!

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  9. What a great job you have done, it is always interesting to see the after and before. By the way, there are plenty of beautiful pictures in this blog worth pining before that one.

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    1. Thanks Lisa! I really do enjoy seeing what others pin.

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  10. That's only three years... well done, Loree! And Happy T-day!

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    1. Thanks Anna, I hope you guys had a great holiday.

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  11. Great post. There is definitely much to be thankful for. I too am thankful for your front garden overhaul. And most importantly, thankful for the blogging friend and kindred spiky plant spirit I have found in you!

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    1. That's so nice Louis, thank you! I hope 2014 is the year we finally get to meet "in real life"...

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  12. You know how the people you see every day never seem to age until you see a photo from 20 years ago? This is the reverse of that. Kudos to your vision...and your happy life.

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  13. I'm thankful to have gotten to know you over the last couple of years and for the influence you've had on me as a gardener. Well, I don't know if I'm horribly thankful when dragging dangerous plants inside for the winter but most of the time...

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