Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Vision of Versailles - Garden Tour

I never expected to see a French-inspired garden in a small suburban lot, but that's what greeted me on the Home Garden Tour put on by the Smith County Master Gardeners.  This was a typical small suburban lot, but it was decorated like a miniature Versailles. Which just proves, you can have any style of garden you want in any space!


The plantings were colorful, beautiful, and balanced.  This garden would look nice all year as it was a mix of mostly evergreen shrubs, with annuals used for color.  Using only shrubs and annuals would also make this garden easy to maintain.


Hidden behind the front plantings was a courtyard used for dining, relaxing, and entertaining.  This ornate fountain was the focal point.  And I couldn't keep my eyes off of it!





Water was coming from the top, the middle and the bottom.  Amazing!


The back yard was filled with a pool, complete with lions and plant-filled urns.


Another feature that had a French flair was this faux window.  In reality, it was a fountain.  Water cascaded down the shutters, into the pool below.


This table was a work of beauty.  These are the table legs!


Urns adorned simple plantings.  (Again, mostly evergreens and annuals.)  I can not imagine what these beautiful pieces cost, but it gave me the idea of finding an (much cheaper) urn at a flea market to use as a focal point in my garden.


In fact, this garden was filled with pearls of beauty.  This was definitely not a plopper's garden.  It was a designed landscape.  The statuary were the focal points in this garden, but the scale was perfect in each area, so it didn't seen overdone.  It seemed majestic.

If this is not your style of garden, stay tuned!  The next garden will be Artistically Amusing.

If you missed any of the tour so far, you can find Woodland Wonderland HERE, and Lakeside Living HERE.




46 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Aren't they? I can't say which one I loved the best. They were all fabulous.

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  2. I think they've done it tastefully and the garden looks quirky. It's all about proper adaptation I suppose and I think they've done well :)

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    1. I think they did very well. There were a lot of focal points, but it was not crowded in any way. Something sometimes hard to achieve.

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  3. Holley, the table with animals legs and head is stunning! I loved this French garden! I think the owners know Versailles well.

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    1. I loved that table, too. I would love to have some (or all) of these pieces in my own garden!

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  4. Love the art. Very unusual pieces and definitely worth having in a garden.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. You're right - they are very unique pieces. Makes me think about using some usual (although less expensive) pieces in my own garden.

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  5. I love it when people have an over the top vision and do it well in an unlikely place! What fun. I love the fountain, but I'm really impressed at the richness of planting just ("just") with greenery.

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    1. I would have never thought before seeing this garden that a suburban form of Versailles would be remotely possible. But I think they did well in implementing their dream garden.

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  6. Your title says it all, this garden is visionary. What a creative mind and good eye. I was struck by the sense of balance in the shape of the pieces and their placement. Inspiration for sure. Do you know anything about the owners?

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    1. I don't know these owners at all. Except they have very nice taste! :)

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  7. Wow, Holley, that is truly an amazing garden! And what I like most about it, is that it is done on a small scale and just shows what can be done in a relatively small space like a suburban garden. The fountain and also the urn with the game are simply amazing pieces. Just wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing your photos of this garden on your blog!
    Christina

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    1. I think you're right, Christina. The most amazing thing about this garden is that it was achieved in what was really a small area. Just goes to prove that dreams can fit in anywhere!

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  8. I just love the idea of miniature Versailles! This garden is so interesting with these decorations that we never see anywhere else. Thanks for sharing 8)

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    1. I would have never thought a little Versailles would be achievable in a small suburban lot. But I think they succeeded!

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    1. I think it works well because the theme was continuous throughout the entire garden. I was happy to see the back treated in the same fashion.

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  10. Oh my gosh, definitely my style.... just love the images... thanks for sharing this wonderful garden with us!

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    1. This would be my style, too - if I had more moolah! ;)

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  11. I think I'm a simple girl at heart. I think the woodland garden is my favorite so far.

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    1. I do love the way this tour is divided into different styles of gardens. It seems at least one garden speaks to everyone, and that is a very hard thing to achieve on a tour.

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  12. It's not to my taste, but then it's not my garden... I do love it, though, as an example of how we all design our gardens in different ways to create our very own vision of beauty.

    And I love the boy reclining on the bench; I'd probably hide him away in a shaded, overgrown corner as a surprise that you don't really notice at first. Mind you, I don't think I have the budget for bronzes for the garden... I'll have to find another small folly to add to my garden in a lower price range.

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    1. I agree with you that the way we create our very own vision of beauty of important. This shows it can be as simple - or as ornate - as you wish!

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  13. Some great garden tours you've posted recently. I like the lakeside one, and of course the European look in this post is really lovely. So many good ideas!

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    1. All different styles, but I seem to find a little bit of inspiration from them all!

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  14. I love the last sculpture the most. That is how I want to enjoy the day.

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    1. haha - me too! It was a fun sculpture to find - he was hidden away under some trees.

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  15. I am starting to like seeing statuary in the garden. You show some beautiful examples. Thanks so much for sharing.

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    1. I like statuary in the garden. And I liked seeing the boy sculpture and the urns hidden in the planting beds. I'm going to be looking for a blank spot to put some small pieces in my own garden.

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  16. Those statues and fountains and urns are gorgeous! I couldn't give up my perennials to have a garden like that, but how fun to get to enjoy it on a tour. I like that one the best out of the ones you've shared so far from the tour.
    And I'm so sorry to hear that you've had troubles with trees as well. Looking at your garden, which is so successful, I imagine you must think the same thing as me . . . obviously I can garden, so why can't I get these darn (expensive!) trees to grow! Though as my trees grow, I'll have fewer good spots for roses . . . so maybe you're glad that the garden doesn't have too much shade.

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    1. My husband is the one that is upset with the tree failures. Every one that lives (which isn't very many) makes me think I might have to change out the plantings in a few years when they mature and start shading out my roses! Guess we can't have everything!

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  17. I don't know that I would use this style in my own garden but I was absolutely enchanted by it anyway. The bronze? statue of the boy sleeping was utterly charming (and must have cost an arm and a leg).

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    1. Yes, it was bronze, and yes, it must have cost an arm and a leg. And the fountain, too. And probably the table and the urn, too! haha But it was nice to be able to see these amazing pieces, and for the owners to share them on a tour.

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  18. Not my taste, Holley but then I've never been to Versailles. Perhaps when I finally get there I'll change my mind. Impressive to get so much into a small plot and not make it too crammed or over the top. D

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    1. I would love to go to Versailles. I'm certain I'll never get there, but what a great place it would be to see just once.

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  19. Wow, what gorgeous statues! They definitely would look out of place in my more informal garden, but I do always keep my eye out for 'the one' statue that would be perfect in my garden - though it will probably be made out of something more like cement instead of bronze :) Those table legs are amazing. I love that statue of the boy sleeping on the bench!

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    1. Those "the one"s are hard to come by. These were fabulous, and I can't imagine how long it took for them to acquire them all. Each one was unique and incredible.

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  20. Wow! Beautiful! I love the statues, what a treat to have visited this beautiful garden!

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    1. It was wonderful. I would love to see what they could have done with a large plot of land!

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  21. another beautiful unique garden...I love it although not my style...can't wait for the next one

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    1. I am always impressed on these tours just how different each garden is. And how much of the owner's personality shines through.

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  22. Wow this is lovely. It reminds me of Toscano (a catalogue I would drool over as a child). I especially love the lounging lad. How perfect to snooze and dream in a place like that!

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    1. The lounging lad was made me want to sit down and relax! :)

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