No, not those creatures. Creatures of myth, magic and whimsy. As we enter the garden, notice the sign warning of the dangers lurking ahead.Do not be fooled by the placid appearance of this perilous beast, the Toadus cementus.
We're in luck! The very rare Hippopotamus steppingstonus has just surfaced for a breath of air.
Here we have a very special species of Witch's Ball or Gazing Globe, the Christmas ornamentus 'Plasticus.'
It may appear harmless, but the unwary may become mesmerized by the images within and become trapped. But the ball has its uses, such as allowing the visitor to see the danger of the Gorgona mythica 'Medusa,'
whose gaze will turn viewers to stone. Let's get away from here quickly.Move quietly now, so as not to startle the shy Putto sundialensis.
Danger lurks around every corner, and no creature in the garden is more stealthy than the elusive Gargoyle halloweenus 'Decoratio.'
It can most often be found hiding amid the foliage of Hostas and Hemerocallis.Before we end our visit to the Squirrelhaven Woodland, there is one more creature we must see. This is the oldest creature in the garden, the Angelica cementa.
This small creature is neither rare, nor particularly dangerous. It occasionally has the effect of causing melancholy in particularly susceptible viewers.I hope you've enjoyed the expedition, which was sponsored by Gardening Gone Wild's Garden Bloggers' Design Workshop.
41 comments:
One never knows what lurks in the heart of the garden. ;)
Great post, I had a good chuckle - just what I needed. Thank you. I do like the Hippopotamus steppingstonus shame he is so rare!
Best wishes Sylvia (England)
I very much enjoyed getting a peek at your creatures.
Carpe rutila--I've learned some Latin today:)
Marnie
Squirrelhaven is indeed a most wondrous place ... I had no idea such magic and mystery lurked at every turn!
While carefully making my way through your enchanted garden I came upon the Gorgona Medusa and in my haste to get away I accidently stumbled on hippotamus steppingstonus as he was rising from the ground and I therefore came too close to Tortuga teenyweeny who promptly bit me on the arm. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Thank you.
I'll have to bring my garden watch critter with me when I visit. I like to hide stuff in the garden too. Thanks for letting us peak at them!
I enjoyed the tour so much, MMD! And I am so glad you gave their botanical names in case I might want to find one to add to my garden:)
Somehow missed your Tuesday post of all your daylilies. You have so many beautiful ones! I'm glad to know it's possible to grow them in shade. While your infatuation with them may be waning, mine is just beginning.
A truly whimsical garden and a charming one.
I have enjoyed visiting your garden of whimsy. I am sure the creatures look more fierce than they really are. What a delightful post-brought a smile to brighten this dreay day.
That's what is missing in my garden...whimsy!
Thank you for sharing your whimsical creatures with us. I loved your post, it made me smile. And thanks for the latin lesson today too. lol
I was thinking that I must go out and take pictures of all the 'stuff'. I am some of the same 'stuff' that you have! That little gargoyle looks familiar. Gazing globes...you either love'em or hate'em! I love'em depending on placement and yours is subtly hidden.
This was both fun and surprising, MMD - who knew so much whimsy was allowed to lurk in your gardens? I was expecting something like a bootscraper in the shape of Peter Rabbit rather than sweet angels and wacky hippos!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
MrMcD, I am happy to see the whimsical side of your garden. I fully expected to see Rabbitus Cementus therein. It just goes to show how interesting an unexpected whimsy can be.
mmd,
What a fun and clever post! I do like Toadus cementus but the Tortuga teenyweeny is really funny!
gail
What fun! I would assume your children enjoy the whimsical items in your gardens! (Do they help to pick them out?) I've been working at a "Garden Whimsy" post, hopefully to be finished soon! Thanks for the fun tour. ;-)
Wow, I was kinda scared there for awhile, all those fierce creatures. Then I saw Gorgona mythica 'Medusa,' and I nearly dropped my hoe in fright. Your garden has some real surprises lurking out there. Remind me to only see it in bright daylight!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Nancy - I always like going into a garden for the 1st time & trying to find all the ornaments scattered about. It's kind of like a treasure hunt.
Sylvia - the Hippo was a long-time fixture in my mom's garden. Then this spring she decided she didn't want them anymore, so I took them. I can't remember where she got them.
Marnie - I'm taking it on faith that "rutila" is Latin for spade. Even if it isn't, I just really like puns.
Cindy - mystery & magic sometimes are in the (warped) mind of the gardener. I've never really thought of either of my toads as "attack toads."
Flydragon - LOL, that's excellent! Usually I just stumble over my son's stick collection.
Anna - it's just more fun if the critters aren't sitting out in the middle of lawn. Do you like moving them around the garden, finding new places to nestle them?
Rose - I think you're headed for serious Daylily infatuation. You could end up a collector, it's so easy to do.
Welcome, Plantwoman & thanks for visiting!
Beckie - I bet your grandkids would love to help you add some whimsy to your garden. Kids' handmade stuff is such a treasure.
Perennial Gardener - I'm glad you liked it.
Layanee - the gargoyle is a Halloween item from Target a few years ago. It gets moved every October to be part of the display.
Annie & Lisa - I have this belief that a rabbit ornament in my garden would be wrong. First, it would be hypocritical, because I don't want any real ones. Second, I'm afraid if I had a rabbit ornament, the real rabbits would see it & think that it is ok for rabbits to be in my garden. Besides, I don't think I'd enjoy a rabbit ornament. I'd probably growl every time I saw it.
Gail - surprisingly, it didn't take me long to come up with the silly names. "Teenyweeny" came from a slight morphing of the name of one of the girl's toy Chihuahuas, "Tinywhiny."
Shady - what's interesting is that I didn't buy most of these things. I bought the fake gazing globe, the gargoyle & the Medusa. The rest were gifts or sort of inherited. The kids like the gargoyle the best.
Carol - I know you don't like faces in the garden, & what a face that is. It's actually probably less scary in the dark because I don't have any lights in the garden, so you wouldn't notice anything but the light colored flowers.
YES!!! This is just .... what I love! Thank you!!!
Linda
What fun, MMD! Carpe rutila is my favorite - made me laugh out loud!
Very much in the spirit of whimsy - loved it! :)
I really like your Medusa! Say, I hear there is a blogger's fling planned for Chicago...any dates yet?
Hi MMD,
What a fun post, and a nice primer on whimsyfying the garden. We're practically whimsy free, except for a lion's head (base for the birdbath) that once graced a now demolished building downtown.
My faves here are Toadus cementus and the Medusa. That Medusa made me think of a Dr. Who episode last year ('Blink'), and that might spook me, lol. Very cool though. BTW, the Daleks were back in extra-nasty force on tonight's next to last episode.... oooh. LOL
You know what they were saying ... :-)
Great post, loved the latin names!
"Tortuga teenyweeny" LOL
Heh... how funny! I particularly love the hippopotamus. I'm thinking that most gardens could do with a good hippo emerging within every now and then. :)
Linda Lunda - glad you enjoyed it!
Garden Girl - the sign was an impulse purchase that I saw & had to have. It was so perfect as I frequently garden in my "Carpe Diem" shirt.
VP - I'm fairly pleased with it, all it needs is one of those kitshy teacups.
Lisa - no dates currently, other than "not September." That's when next years Garden Writers' convention is.
IVG - "Ex-ter-min-ate!" I love old building fragments in a garden. It reminds me of ancient ruins.
Gintonio - I guess I've watched "Pirates of the Carribean" too many times & had "Tortuga" on the brain.
Blackswamp Girl - a hippo or a sea serpent, but not both.
I like the names of your rare creatures. Did Medusa turn them all to stone? Scary! Thanks for the garden tour.
I am so jealous of your hippo. That is so clever. I had other things I wanted to say but with my old brain, by the time I got down here, I forgot. But I loved your post.
I don't acutally buy things either but they come by other people. I have a huge frog someone gave me, that had a battery in it and everytime you got close, it would go ripit. It also lit up. Billy got so agravated one day, he took the battery out. LOL I still have his remans though.
Carpe rutila--how clever!
MMD, Now that I know you've been involved in the American Hemerocallis Society, I'm considering you my "local expert!" (Sorry) However, I do have a nice little daylily that I can't identify. Perhaps it will have to stay that way. Or perhaps I'll do a little digging around the plant this Fall to see what I can find. Anyway, I've posted a photo (poor quality) today. Care to give it a look? :-) (You don't have to.)
Cinj - so that's what happened to my toads! I hope no more look at Medusa.
Hi, Heirloom Gardener - I wish I had thought of it.
Shady - I'm not a Daylily expert! I will admit that I've been to several Daylily shows & have seen a lot of Daylilies. I'm always happy to look at plant photos.
Hi MMD, it's me again. I just added a close-up of that daylily to my latest post. :-) Thanks for looking at it. (There's no pressure. Really!)
Shady - good, I'll check it out. No promises on my being able to ID it though.
This was so much fun! i loved it. you are a magical garden.
Regards,
philip
Brilliant, MMD, though I must admit I'm shocked at all those dangerous creatures lurking in your garden. Here I had this image of Squirrelhaven being charming and peaceful - and ok, maybe a bit gaudy too, in spots. But whew, who knew all the perils you face each time you step out there? You're a brave soul. (I must also tell you that I love the cultivar name 'Decoratio'!)
Phillip - thanks! Sometimes I feel the magic of the garden, but not today, when it's hot, humid & buggy out there.
Nan Ondra - the fiercest creature in the garden is the one behind the camera. You should see me chasing the squirrels with a yardstick.
Chasing the squirrels with a yardstick must be a sight to see! Brought a smile to my face. I love your face-the one that turns onlookers to stone. That is too cool!
Tina - it gets even better, sometimes I'm chasing the squirrels in my pjs & robe. Medusa came from the Design Toscano warehouse sale a long time ago. It's one of the few ornaments I bought myself.
Oh no! Banish the thought! Just kidding. Those pesky squirrels are-well-downright pesky!
Tina - I've got the kids giving me squirrel alerts when they see them in my patio containers. They'll dig the plants out if I don't stop them.
Heehee! Great post! And I especially like that shot of the Medusa head surrounded by evergreens.
Hi, Lori - I considered hanging Medusa on the fence, but she seemed more intriging partially hidden.
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