Barbara's garden
Barbara Fruehe and her husband, Tim, live and garden in the Central California mountains near Yosemite National Park. Recently, they renovated their garden, Tim handling the hardscape and irrigation as well as the planting and Barbara in charge of the placement and planting of containers, and the Flea Market Gardening!
Both she and Tim love to prowl around the flea markets held in this former ranch and logging area of California. It’s prime for finding rusty tools and quaint found objects. Many of the materials like flagstone and rock were also found at low cost from Craigslist or for the cost of hauling it away.
As an artist, Barbara has an eye for arranging and decorating the garden as in placing the bee and butterflies on this old rusting bed frame.
Barbara says, “Here’s another old rusty thing made lovely by pansies!” See Barb’s shadow?
Unique wooden ‘watering cans’ were found at a twice yearly community sale and were a perfect fit as ‘shutters.’
Tim built this potting bench for Barbara as her command center,…made from reclaimed lumber, and many vintage treasures found at antique stores and the local Peddler’s Fair. Each object has a story and the sparkle comes from some antique glass bottles. Birdhouses sit on top, many with tiny occupants.
Barbara says, “Here is our new old potting bench Tim built with wood found or donated. We found the old window in town and other treasures from yard sales. It’s on the shady side of the house but can be seen outside our office door window or from the kitchen. Love it! We will add some side windows on hinges and maybe an old door for a roof in the winter!”
Tim built a fence to screen the utilities to the side of the garden and Barbara arranged planters and wall hangings and signs for it. Everything about the garden was and is a joint project.
Tim and Barbara’s carefree artist garden Barbara and Tim’s garden redo
Tim and Barbara in their 1 year old garden One year later
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