There were over 600 garden writers at the GWA conference this past weekend in Portland and on Garden Tour Day, getting them around to see seven gardens and one nursery in under three hours proved to be an impossible feat. Nine buses took us in a round robin formation to each of the gardens as fast as their little wheels could take them. We tried to see them all…but it was just not meant to be. Although it was disappointing to not see everything, we were NOT disappointed in the gardens! They were great! It was very gracious of these gardeners to open their yards to us.
As promised, I will show the photos of each stop I visited (five in all) in their own post. One post per day.
My first stop on the tour (see below the jump) was Nancyland!
This is the garden of Nancy Goldman and to say it was whimsical is an understatement!
(All of these photos are from her garden including the “grow up” above.)
You are first greeted by a charming pebble mosaic “welcome mat” on the front sidewalk. As you enter the backyard, you see why it is described as a place where “plants and art mingle”.
Nancy has tucked surprises everywhere you look. You will find everything from old bicycles and typewriters to ladies shoes planted with succulents and sedums.
There are several hidden seating areas where nothing is off limits including curtains, windows and doorways.
Walkways were lined with trowels, flowerpots…even watering cans as edging.
I saw that only a few of the visitors did not “get it”. Too bad. One look around at the smiles and you could see what the essence of this garden was. FUN! SMILES! and GIGGLES! Nancy provided all by sharing her garden with us that day. It was unexpected and fabulous.
If you have any posts or photos on YOUR blog about the GWA garden tours, please put a link to them in the comments below. We would all love to see them!
About the Author
Theresa Loe blogs here about taking the garden full circle while striving for a more local, fresh-from-the-garden lifestyle. She is a TV producer, video host, freelance garden writer and a wrangler of chickens and children. (Not necessarily in that order.) For more information on these topics, you can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter.
Theresa Loe is the award- winning Co-Executive Producer & Canning Expert on Growing A Greener World TV. She blogs here about Living Homegrown®, local and fresh-from-the-garden. 
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
hi Theresa, you gotta love a garden blogger who gets her posts up in “real time.” You published some of my very favorite aspects of Nancy Goldman’s garden and I can’t wait to see what else captured your imagination in those Portland gardens. I’ll try to catch up w/you and post some of my favorites soon. Good to meet you again at GWA, cheers, Debra (back in LA)
I loved Nancyland too — who wouldn’t? Come visit citygardeningonline.com where I’ve posted pix and written about Nancy’s personality-filled garden.
Hi Lorraine-
Loved your website citygardeningonline.com. Especially the chicken post with links! Thanks for that! The wordpress layout is very nice as well.
But I can’t find the Nancyland post. What is the title of your post?
I’d love to see your photos.
-Theresa
Hi Theresa,
I loved Nancyland – so creative and fun! And now I know what to do with all those out of style shoes cluttering up my closet…
I love your site. This is my first visit-I’ll keep coming back to read more.
–Robin
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