The Way to a Friend's House is Never Long; The Garden of Alison Conliffe

From across the street, it's obvious that a gardener lives here!

Alison's enjoyment of her greenhouse inspired my own recent project.  Although I'd wanted a better place to store my plants for the winter, the many other things that Alison does with her space like starting seeds, growing tomatoes, and simply enjoying a bit of gardening inside when the weather outside is not conducive to such activity pushed me over the edge!

One of my favorite echiverias and I can't remember its name.  I love the brown gravel mulch!

Glasswork by our friend, Barbara Sanderson graces a pot.  Alison made the flower on the right herself!

 There are treasures and surprises at every turn.

Alison created this miniature garden from a broken pot given to her by Loree.

Alison's Folly with and without resident life-sized statue.

Alison's latest creation.  I kept trying to tell her that a plastic bag is not the best place to put a baby but would she listen?

Tropaeolum tuberosum scrambling over the fence.

Bees were also enjoying the eighty degree day.

Beautiful aloe in bloom.

You are being watched!

Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) bearing so much seed they had to be tied up.

The waterfall and stream.

Autumn finery on display.

Concrete sphere water garden.

There was no lonely little petunia in this onion patch.  

I don't know which I like best about Cyclamen hederifolium, the sweet autumn flowers or the gorgeous foliage which emerges after the flowers and remains green and cheerful all winter long.

Fuchsia.

Should I get busy planting some of those plants in the pot ghetto?  Nah, I'll just sit here and enjoy the sun.

Tricyrtis (toad lily)  looking all exotic and delicate but is a tough as nails perennial.  

Tillandsias behind the kitchen sink. 

Caged like a wild beast.

Magellan, the owner of the house and garden in which Alison and Nigel are allowed to live.

 Bromeliads enjoying the last of their summer vacation outside.  

 Also by Barbara Sanderson.

I'm gonna bust out of this awful prison if it's the last thing I do!

Alison's folly and greenhouse behind the newly designed front lawn. 

The biggest laugh of the day was this lawn flamingo skeleton. 

Thank you again, Alison for opening your beautiful and whimsical garden.  I hope you had as much fun as we all did!