Well, we made history today @ CopperTop Gardens. Thanks to my sister & brother-in-law (Claudia & Charlie) we were able to cast some of the most awesome leaves ever. They shipped to us from Florida these (3)massive elephant ear and (2)bananna tree leaves. There were also (2) smaller leaves which compared to any leaves around here were still huge. We used 720 lbs of cement and (2) 22lb bags of buckwheat hull mulch. We worked on these leaves from 11:30am when they arrived via FedEx till 6:00pm. The various reinforcements that were used was chicken wire, plastic bottoms of the plant flats from the greenhouse along with 1 full roll of fiberglass drywall tape. My arms hurt and my back is board like. But I can’t wait till that 7th day when we do the flip and get to see what they look like. My hope for the big bananna leaf is to have Travis build a table frame and lay upholstery straps and creat a hammock like design for the leaf to lay on and use it for a table top. My plans for the giant elephant ear is to have 2 huge wrought iron easel like holders made and display them upright as “Welcome” signs for the gardens. I think this is the longest we have ever worked in cement but hopefully the rewards will be great. Thanks, Claudia & Charlie we appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness. Here is a pic. WOW —— These are AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The elephant ears come out to be about 45″ wide x 51″ long.
The bananna leaf was 49″ long x 24″ wide.
AMAZING
It is obvious that change is in the air. The evenings are getting cooler and the warming air of the day is slow to descend. There is a crispness in the air that only fall can give us. But with that comes work for the gardener. There is clean up, cutting down of perennials, burning off the ornamental grasses, and putting garden art to bed for the winter. We were planning on getting a jump on cleanup this year however, the weather has not been our friend. It is difficult to put things away soaking wet. But hopefully things will progress. We have many fountains to clean up and get into storage and the fish must go south to their condo in the basement very soon prior to the leaves falling off the trees and polluting their water. So many pieces of furniture to pick up and store. It is at this time we say to ourselves enough already. Then you see that cute little table and chair set and say “we could put that in such and such a place.” But really enough is enough. So I will repeat that mantra on my next craiglist adventure, do you think it will work ?????
We will be trimming some bushes and trees here soon just for the sake of containment. But once we decide that the cleanup will take place it will be about a 3 day event. We have had great success with the installation of the new street lamps. They look absolutely beautiful, looking out the back windows at night remind me of central park. It is one of those moments that you realize that your life is special and your blessings are bountiful. There have been many moments when meandering around the yard I have to stop and say to myself, “This is your yard” almost like a affirmation because it is hard to believe that through hard work and perseverance that we have accomplished all of this. The acorn globes on the lamps have worked out wonderfully. Thanks to our best friend “A” the Christmas ornaments have done nicely as a standin for the brass balls. Innovation should be “A” middle name. But the lights have been a wonderful addition that will enjoyed and loved for many years to come.
New ideas are bouncing around for a new component/area to the gardens. We are thinking about the new direction that the gardens are taking us in and trying to get the most benefit and bang out of the gardens. We keep saying “no moe projects but truthfully I don’t think either of us know what exactly that means.” So stay tuned for updates and pending plans.
We have successfully changed the arrangement for the Christmas village this year and will be placing the North Pole display in the bay window removing it from the main village layout. But we all know what that means MORE HOUSES for the main village which will consist of Christmas in the City & New England village. We have a trial run of the bay window display utilizing it for the Halloween village. It looks outstanding and we are giddy with delight to think that Christmas is around the corner and that villaging is about to begin. Yippie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, let the clean-up begin and Happy Fall to all. TTFN
