Themed Gardens and Beyond…

Vickie Randolph lives and gardens in Huntington, Indiana and when we saw her Wizard of Oz theme garden, we had to know more about her entire garden.  What a treasure we found at the end of her Yellow Brick Road!

Vickie’s known around town as the “Plant Lady” because she holds an annual plant and garden decor sale on the Saturday before Mother’s Day each year. She says, “There are people in and out of my yard all day long that day, taking pictures and even making videos.”

A snapshot of my Flea Market garden

“A snapshot of my garden. The rocks are from a farmer friends field and we also bring many back from all the states we travel in. Our trunk becomes heavy with rocks on most trips.”

Mr. Grayson my garden helper

“My Garden”

Birdhouses that my husband Pat makes

“My husband Pat and I have been married for 16 years and he helps with the heavy lifting and also finding old wood to build wooden garden items. One year for our anniversary, he surprised me with my own outhouse-style tool shed. We live in town but you wouldn’t know it from our backyard. It is full of rustic fences, rocks, paths and lots of plants. The only way in is through on of three gates.”

One of the totems that I made

My little glass art in the Hosta The little blue flowers are Forget-me-nots,.. they pop up everywhere!

The glass creek

The garden path

The back work area

Hostas are a favorite

The Hosta Garden

The pathway is made of old field tiles. I believe the variegated Hosta is ‘Liberty.’  They are actually a very light yellow edge. My husband and I love hosta and have over 150 of them.

Drainage tile path in the side garden

I like my birdbaths made out of old bowls

Can you see the dragonfly?

This is just a perfect fence background for your flowers! An FMG cottage garden.  Vickie says, “I have lot of rooms in my garden ,,,,,several things get ready to bust out on bloom!”

To read all our Hosta growing tips, see How to grow happy hosta 

A delightful theme!

Vickie says “I try to add a new themed area each year and this year it was the “Wizard Of Oz” which even included Emerald City!”  Vickie’s door with the Oz quote, her Yellow Brick Road and the green glass totems as the Emerald City was what really attracted our attention to her very imaginative garden areas.

The Yellow Brick Road garden

 

My Wizard of Oz Garden

Notice the Ruby Slippers?  Vickie says, “The collection of green totems there… really cute idea to group them for best impact! It’s my Emerald City!”

Other themes to come…

Vickie says, “One past theme was “Florida” complete with cement flamingos , alligator and pampas grass beside my water feature!  I’ve already dismantled the Oz theme and now its a “Farm” theme .  The yellow stepping stones were just too dramatic for me!”

China in my garden

“My mom loved flowers and garden “junk”. She was using it in her flower gardens long before it was chic! My Dad’s contribution was fruit trees and vegetable gardens.  Simply put, grass is great for some folks, but we just prefer flowers and junk!”

View into the side garden

Do you have a side garden that needs help?  Follow Vickie’s example above and pack it with flowers and lush low growers all planted around a meandering path. Slender trees and vertical elements break up the length and her garden art give you lots to look at. “I actually use this as a path it in my side garden .It is wider than it looks in the picture!” Vickie tells us.

A small section on the side of my garage..a rainbow of color in the garden

My rose garden Queen

My rose garden Queen. I found her at a garage sale in Kentucky ,,,,,I already had the little crown, it just fit her.

Old Fashion red roses and shabby pink birdhouse

“Honestly, gardening and collecting junk are what I enjoy doing most and it brings me so much happiness and peace!  I have a dragonfly stepping stone that says “Vickie’s Sanctuary.” I am quite sure that it is ingrained in my DNA as my parents and ancestors before them were planters and growers.”

My garden helper…….my granddaughter Hannah

“My favorite garden helper is our 9 year old grand-daughter Hannah. She has been gardening with me and getting her hands dirty since her first step. When helping out at home, she constantly tells her mom, “This is how Nana does it!”

Grandma power!  It’s so pleasurable that Vickie’s granddaughter will have the gardening DNA.  Passing on lifelong enjoyment of the garden and Nature to a young one,…feels wonderful!

 “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again,
I won’t look any further than my own back yard.
Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.”

― L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz