Gardener’s Supply Company scouts my garden
While transforming a workbench into an outdoor martini bar for a party last November (think burlap and a staple gun), I welcomed a scouting party from Gardener’s Supply Company into my garden. They were in Austin looking for photo shoot locations for their Fall 2008 catalog, and the fabulous Linda Lehmusvirta—producer of “Central Texas Gardener,” who taped my garden in October (tentatively scheduled to air on April 19)—had given them my name.
Fun, right? So Martha Burns and her crew from Vermont arrived one early November afternoon while I was setting up the outdoor bar. We chatted about the balmy weather while a photographer snapped photos of things like the stone patio, a flaking gate in need of a new paint job, and decomposed-granite paths. They mentioned that they’d just come from garden designer and author Lucinda Hutson’s festive garden, which I’ve not yet seen in person but have admired in magazine and newspaper articles, so I was immediately sure that my own garden, with the trampoline in back, sagging net and all, could not possibly be of interest.
However, it turns out that my garden is still in the running for a photo shoot of a large, wooden-sided cistern. Martha called last week to say they were flying to Austin on Sunday and to ask if they could drop by for one more scouting look. Of course I said yes, and so on Sunday afternoon she arrived with an associate I’d met in the fall and who is also very nice, but whose name escapes me. We chatted about the balmy weather again (they’d left minus 20 degrees in Vermont that morning, they said; wide-eyed, I could only croak, “Fahrenheit?!”), and I insisted they smell the grape Kool-Aid scent of the Texas mountain laurel blossoms.
Then I just trailed along behind them to watch them studying the flat, open portions of my garden, like the decomposed-granite pathway near the back porch. All the things you worry about when someone visits your garden—new weeds coming up in the mulch, roses cut back to bare stems—don’t even matter when that person whips out her camera to shoot your pathway or the side of your house. It turns out that gardening-catalog photo shoots are more about the hardscaping than the plants. In fact, because they’ll be shooting for their fall catalog, they don’t want a lush flower garden in the photos. That’s why they come to Austin in early March: the weather is good, but the gardens aren’t in full flower or leaf yet.
All very interesting, this. We said our goodbyes. They said they’d call if they needed to bring that cistern in for a shoot. I hope they will. And you can be sure I’ll blog all about it if they do.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Those of us who have been to your garden know that its structure and beauty would be an asset to any publication – sounds like fun to see how the process works, too. Very cool, Pam!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Oh, Honey, how thrilling. I hope they pick yours.~~Dee
I can’t wait to see your garden in April, you use all my favorite colors and your philosophy of using natives and special exotics just warms my heart! Visiting your site and seeing the hot colors you choose is a good way to spend a chilly day.
Gail
OH! That would be so exciting! Wouldn’t it be nice if they left the cistern in place as payment?
I’m with Nancy, ask for the cistern! What is a cistern, by the way, a water holder of some sort? Your garden in a catalog, it will have to framed if it happens, hope it does.
Frances at Faire Garden
Yep, a cistern is a big water-caching tank, for storing rainfall off the roof. —Pam
How exciting to think your garden might be included in a catalog Pam! The mild Austin weather must’ve been a real treat for those Northerners. I know I’d enjoy it right now!
The Carolina Jessamine is doing a wonderful decorating job on the fence. I love the crossvine in your previous post too.
Too fun! I hope your garden gets selected.
How exciting! I vote for your garden, and then when the catalog comes out, I want an autographed copy from you! I’ve never met anyone whose garden was ‘scouted’ like that. Very exciting.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Beautiful photos on this post!
How exciting! I just placed an order with them last week. Good luck!
Gosh a model garden. I wish I could have been there with you listening to their converasaion about sites for the cistern.
I bet it is a doozey too. Did they give you any ideas? It is intersting to hear what people say about ones garden. I can’t wait to see it in a catalog. I wonder if you will recognize it?
That is so exciting, Pam! All of hard work is paying off.
I used to live in your neck of the woods (on Hancock) and I used to admire the “festive garden” almost every day on walks. I’m bummed that I never stumbled across your garden. I must’ve been walking the wrong way! Your garden blog inspires me pretty much daily and I’m so thankful that you take the time and effort to share it with all of us. An update on us: this is our second spring in our new home and I’m pleased to report that my little garden that I started in an existing bed is thriving. The lantana, salvia, germander, mexican oregano and trailing rosemary are doing the best and we have daily visits from butterflies. The sage bushes look really pathetic and I’m not sure what on earth is wrong with them, but I’m giving them a few months to get in shape! My plumbago always looked a little “off” last year, but I’ll see how it shapes up this year. I still feel like the biggest gardening amateur/poser on the face of the earth, but I’m still excited and motivated to learn and do more. Our big projects for this year are to cut out paths and beds from the existing st. augustine. Again, thanks so much for all that you do to inspire the fledgling gardeners among us.
That’s very exciting. You have certainly given me lots of plant combo inspiration. Good luck!
Way cool! Hope they decide to ask you to the dance.
Thanks, everyone, for all your good wishes. I hope to get a “call-back,” but even if I don’t it was a fun experience to be scouted.
Chandra, thanks in particular for your comment. I’m thrilled to know that your new garden is thriving and you’re having fun with it. And don’t worry—we’re all amateurs when it comes to playing with Mother Nature. It’s the journey, not the destination, so happy digging! —Pam
Pam–Love those blues and reds in the hardscape. I like seeing colors like those that will hold up even high summer’s glare. Seems like a great backdrop to photograph just about anything. And if you get the cistern maybe you’ll have water handy to give your container plants a drink. Best of luck!
Thanks, Steve. I do like bright colors.
I already have two smaller rain barrels in my garden that I use for watering containers and topping off my container pond. But, yeah, a cistern…now we’re talking! —Pam
Lucky you! I hope I’ll be something from your yard in a coming Gardener’s Supply catalog! Love their stuff. I’ve been planning to ask my two grown daughters to get me a couple of those colorful birdhouses on poles they have in there for Mother’s Day.
Brenda
They do have a very tempting catalog, don’t they? Good luck with your Mother’s Day hints. —Pam
Inside the house and out, you do have a good eye. I’m glad to see others are recognizing it.
Why, thanks, Kathy. I’m looking forward to seeing you again at the Spring Fling in just four weeks. —Pam
How fabulous! And we can say “we knew her before her garden was famous!”
Well, it’s been a week and they haven’t called back, so my 15 minutes probably won’t happen this time. It’s OK though. I had a great time just meeting the scouting party. —Pam
Too funny – I just saw a picture of your bottle tree on shelterrific and had to click over to your blog to see if you were in austin because I recognized it right away! Guess those blue bottles left an impression on me. If I remember correctly you’re in the Holly area?
Hi, Laura. Thanks for your comment. But no, you must have seen another bottle tree. I’m not in the Holly neighborhood, and my bottle tree isn’t visible from the street anyway. —Pam