A Visit to Faire Garden to Meet Frances

On a recent trip to visit the in-laws in North Carolina, the Ramsey family stopped and visited Frances at Faire Garden (pronounced Fair). I saw the trip as a perfect opportunity to stop by Frances' neck of Tennessee; which was not so far away. I felt as though I already knew Frances, due to her blog and us talking on the blog. Don't you all feel like you can get to know someone through talking on the Internet too? This cyberworld is amazing.

It was a shock when she first called and I heard her voice. It was not at all what I had expected. This is probably the weirdest part of meeting people from the Internet. We all have a vision and idea of what others sound like, even what they look like if we have never seen them, and maybe even a bit of how they act if we know a little something about them or their background. In our case, Frances and I have seen each other, but not talked. I was quite relieved when she told me my voice did not sound anything like she imagined either. I also experienced this shock when I first heard Nina on the phone. Nina, was my voice a shock to you too?

Mr. Fix-it and the Jimster were along for the ride. Fortunately they indulge my great passion for gardening. The Jimster could not believe the garden when he walked around to the backyard. I won't tell you his exact comment, but he and Mr. Fix-it were quite amazed and impressed. And to think, Jimmy thought he would stay in the truck! That was funny. He and his Dad had a great time enjoying the food and shade while Frances showed me around her astonishing garden. All I can say is there truly is not an inch of ground left! All is covered with plants of all kinds. Some I had never even heard of, but Frances knew all the names and had stories with many. Isn't this how we all are? If not, then I guess we wouldn't blog.

The first picture is a macro picture of a gazania in Frances' garden. It was actually taken by her while she was showing me the macro feature. What a help! I have always admired her beautiful photos and maybe now I can get some good close ups too. Thanks for showing me this feature Frances! The second picture is of her lillies in bud. I took this picture not so much for the lillies, but to remind me how she massed them in groups all along the hill. The last picture is a favorite part of the garden (there were many). This part is a steep hill covered with what I think is 'Acre' sedum, some ornamental grass and a lovely Japanese maple. I thought the use of the sedum on the steep hill was ingenious. (It is purely coincidence Frances posted nearly the same picture yesterday)

As much as I enjoyed seeing the garden, it came in second to meeting a fellow gardener and blogger. The real highpoint was talking and getting to know one another in another realm not in the cyberworld. I was honored I got to meet Gardoctor as well. He is the offspring who built the arbor and compost bin. I thank Frances for inviting us all to her lovely garden and look forward to more sit down time in the future.

I really enjoyed Frances' garden and could not believe the amount of work she has put into it in such a short time. The garden is mature, full and well organized. Her pond itself has gone through five incarnations! Who can't relate to that? I enjoyed that there was so much interest, no matter the season. We have all seen her posts and I think Frances has done a great job of reflecting the garden and its true spirit in her pictures. At first though I must admit, I nearly had Mr. Fix-it stop at Mae and Mickey's garden just up the road from her. That is quite the garden and you all have heard Frances talk of these two Gardeners Extraordinaire on many occasions. Frances is also a 'Gardener Extraordinaire' in her Faire Garden. Frances kind of sums it all up by saying she is a gardener, who happens to have a digital camera and a blog. Yes, but so much more too! Thanks for sharing.

I have met two of the Tennessee bloggers, Frances and Gail, and I am looking forward to meeting not only Dave, but many more bloggers as time goes by.

in the garden....