Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

Going for the Gold

I’ve reached a new level of garden craziness from which I may never return. This morning, before the sun completely broke the horizon into pink and blue hues, I was up and outside in my nightgown taking photos. The newly mowed grass stuck to my damp feet like green confetti , as I tried to capture my garden in the new dawn light.

Don’t worry, no one called the police; one advantage to living in the hinterlands. If you were here, you might ask me why I’m breaking my own vow of no writing or photography before a second cup of bracing black tea.

I’ve joined the Olympics from my own backyard.

Mary Ann, of Idaho Gardener and Idaho Gardening Examiner fame, created a challenge for all garden bloggers. In honor of the Olympics, she has pronounced today the Gardener Olympics. The rules as expressed by MA are:

1. You must link back to my website. Check, done that.
2. You must show me the best of the best of your garden. You decide what that is: single plant, single fabulous piece of produce, collection of tomatoes, collection of hoes, a garden vignette, whatever. Three entries per garden.
3. Deadline is Sunday night at midnight.

With number two being the hard part, I’ve searched a la bare feet for something exceptional. Something which shows that portion of my garden which is the essence of Red Dirtland.

Going for the gold. The pressure! The momentary glory contrasted with agony and defeat. Anyone else remember Jim McKay’s introduction to ABC’s “Wild World of Sports?”

First, I considered my roses, and how I should get a gold medal simply for keeping up with all 90 or so of them. But, they aren’t at their best right now, and it was my choice to plant so many. Is there an award for obessessive collecting?

Then, I thought about the daylilies, another obsession, but with the exception of ‘Autumn Minaret’, they aren’t blooming. Although Mary Ann didn’t specify that the photos needed to be from the here and now, I placed this limitation on myself.

After much consideration, I believe I found the one thing which makes my garden special: the views. Let me know if you think so too. If you’d like to see the other Olympians, check out Mary Ann’s blog.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa at Greenbow

    I just love that first picture Dee. I might try to paint it if you don’t mind. Your garden looks so colorful. Mine seems to be green now.

    Lisa, I would be honored if you painted it.~~Dee

  2. Meems

    I DO like the views. The fencing is always an eye-catcher and serves up great interest in a garden and is an absolute must for one in the hinterlands. Medal winner for certain (I think I’m way late on this but it would get my vote) … Lots of wonderful plants blending together in a picturesque scene.

    Have a great day, Dee.
    Meems @Hoe&Shovel

    Meemss last blog post..Is It Possible They Know?

    Meems, you’re never late here. I think I won the silver for my rose above. Thanks.~~Dee

  4. CurtissAnn

    Your photos are beautiful. Very worth of ‘the Olympics’. And with such beautiful photos, I know the real thing is even more so. Yes, the views are inspiring. You are talented, and blessed.
    Hugs,

    CurtissAnns last blog post..Monday’s Fair Light– The Second Blooming

    Thanks, Curtiss Ann.~~Dee

  5. Mr. McGregor's Daughter

    You have created truly beautiful views, and the split rail fence sets them off so well. It’s hard to make even a single collection into an attractive garden, and you’ve managed it with 2 types of collections. Wow.

    Mr. McGregor’s Daughters last blog post..The Olympics of Gardening

    Thanks, MMD, you’re so kind. I’m through being a collector now except for those five or six daylilies I need to find a place for this fall.~~Dee

  6. Annie in Austin

    Congratulations, Dee – Silver is nothing to sneeze at…unless you have “rose fever” from 90 roses….Ninety!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

    Annie, thank you for telling what I’d won. I didn’t know. 🙂 I’m over “rose fever.” Truly, I am.~~DEe

  8. Cinj

    90 roses really is medal worthy. WOW. I don’t know how you can keep up with that many, I had trouble keeping up with the 5 I had in MN.

    Cinjs last blog post..Land of Plenty

    Cinj, me neither, and sometimes I don’t.~~Dee

  9. rose

    Your garden certainly deserves a gold medal! The views indeed are awesome. I can’t imagine keeping up with 90 roses! I have to go now to pick the Japanese beetles off my two lonely little roses:)

    roses last blog post..Gardening Olympics Late Entry!

    Thank you and congrats on winning a gold medal. That tree was something.~~Dee

  10. dlyn

    Wow – 90 roses! I love the views of your garden and I am glad that I found your blog through the Olympics.

    dlyns last blog post..Sunday

    Yes, wow, is right, especially when I must feed them and give them the occasional spray of fungicide. I do mean occasional because I don’t have time to mess with it.~~Dee

  11. Anna

    Well, I like them all and think you have a grand garden for both the senses and soul. I agree your views are award winning. The crepes look so good. But you should really get a gold for all those roses. If we could just see the roots—I bet they would be the winners. Roots tell the real story!

    Annas last blog post..Don’t worry, I slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

    Thanks, Anna, and you’re right, roots do tell the true story.~~Dee

  12. Pam/Digging

    Having seen your views for myself, I can say they truly are worthy of gold. Dee, you’ve created some really lovely vistas to enhance the natural beauty of your site.

    Pam/Diggings last blog post..Fill up the tank!

    Thank you, Pam. I’m fortunate we live where we do.~~Dee