2008 White Rock East Garden & Artisans Tour, continued

The plant sale was a popular place, but not just for plants.  Becky Poling and friends came with pets from Dallas Animal Services and Companions For Life.  I haven't talked to Becky to see how many furry sweethearts were adopted, but I'm hoping they all have new people parents to take care of.

Melody, from the Arboretum, was ever ready to sign up new members for the Arboretum.  I saw her yesterday when I went over for an Artscape meeting.  I created havoc in the office building by being too loud bragging on the tour.

Smiles on the Tour

A great picture of Barb and John, don't you think?

more photos

JoAnn, John and Judi in the garden right before the tour started.  JoAnn was so good to come over and volunteer.  Time is such a premium for everyone.   I tend to mis-speak a bit and I guess I  said something to someone I shouldn't.  JoAnn, eating a sandwich, calmly said to everyone, "You have to understand my role as Lottie's friend the last 15 years has been to say to people - What Lottie meant to say - when she blurts out something like she just did."  Whoops!  Well, she's right, she has done that for me for the last 15 years.  I never tell her thank you, so Thank you, JoAnn.

Speaking of time, I'm sure even John doesn't want to figure out how much time he puts in his garden to create such a spectacular place.  And Judi?  She's one of my garden club buddies.   Later I'll have a nice posting on the Garden Club Girls and you'll realize how special they are.  Judi is also a Lakewood Nitwit and someday I intend to visit.  They will have the patience to teach me to knit.

JoAnn, John and Judi with their tour outfits and sign just scream, "Great Garden Tour Here"  don't you think?  

Then Debra came for the afternoon shift to so JoAnn could go on tour.  She had a big time.  She's buying a book on plants so she can disperse correct information next year.  Who cares?  They love her personality and who would guess she doesn't know one plant from another?  Until I see pictures of Debra and me together, I truly believe we look like sisters and I'm as tall as she is.  I hate the reality of pictures.

2008 White Rock East Garden & Artisans Tour -photos

Here's four Barbaree Babes.   Cynthia, the newest Babe who is moving to Barbaree Street, me, Marty and Cathy.  We will always call Cynthia the new Babe, because I'm not giving up my special title of  "Babette".   Cynthia understands.

The filming Randall, Logan and Mitch worked on during the preview garden tour with Babe Lola as "Star of the Show" is all about the Babes and their adventures.  Mitch had a great idea for the show's name - Barbaree Beat.  Lola's already given me the go ahead for the name and she is the Star after all.  I'm hoping to post pieces of that film soon.  

Next picture, the lady in the orange outfit and orange hat.  She was "send central casting"  as the perfect garden tour attendee.  The hat and blouse matched perfectly and even in the heat her makeup was flawless and she was very pretty.  She should be the person called when you need to show guests in the garden.  Of course I didn't get her name or phone, so we will just have to hope she always attends and I have my camera ready.

ONCE AGAIN, A SUCCESSFUL TOUR

The tour was simply terrific yesterday.  I only visited the other two Forest Hills gardens to check on my darling artists and then didn't get out except to pop into Vince's garden.  Friends were there with cameras and I'm sure will be sending me pictures.  If anyone out there has pictures please send them and I'll post them.  

It seemed to Cynthia and me we had a steady stream of attendees all day.  John and Abbie were wonderful hosts.  John answered questions all day long with out a break.  Every time I walked through the garden I saw something I hadn't noticed before; unusual plants, sculpture or just a restful area.  I think under "secret gardens" in the dictionary there's a picture of John's garden.

Our volunteers were great.  JoAnn was first shift and with Debra the second shift.  They admitted to people they were not plant experts, but the visitors loved them.  Judi and Carol were away from us selling raffles and donations in the front garden, which is beautiful.  They sat under giant trees in a cool oasis.  

I'm going to post this and try to download some pictures.  Look for more great pictures and reminiscent ings as the days go by.

Preview Night

Our son, Randall and his two college roommates, Logan and Mitch, came to film preview night for us.  We'd been talking about a  Barbaree Babe show of some kind forever and decided tonight was the night to make Babe Lola a star along with the gardens.  Bob took still pictures while Mitch filmed and Randall and Logan set the scenes.  

First picture is Lola's first interview, always gracious Barb.  She whispered to me Randall would really like her dear husband because of his tattoos.  I agreed and told her that's why we will keep John and Randall apart.  Randall doesn't need John's encouragement.  

Second picture is Donna telling Lola about the beginnings of the tour since Donna.  Amazing how everyone just stepped right up to Lola and they all chatted like old friends for the camera even though Lola was meeting everyone for the first time.

Third picture - I wore my guitar glasses in John/Elvis' honor.  His and Mary's garden was an amazing transformation since I saw it weeks ago during a garden club meeting.  I'm hugging BlackJack's godmother, Lynn, another from the beginning tour organizer along with Bob and Sam checking Mary's hard work.

Fourth - Logan in the mosaic arbor at the peaceful Glenn Garden.  

Fifth picture - the terra cotta cat I've admired for years in the Canter Garden when driving by or walking Eustis.   You won't believe you're in Dallas when you walk through this amazing back yard.  If there is reincarnation, may I please come back as one of her kitties.

Sixth picture.   Like the Advocate photo, even Bob can't take a picture that shows the wonders of this garden.  The boys had to stop filming at Vince's garden because the camera battery died on them.  We went back after the tour because this garden had to be filmed.  I hope Mitch captured some of it's magic.

That's all for now.  I have metal to paint, earrings to pack, teacups to wrap for the tour tomorrow.  Come by and see me in the 8407 San Pedro garden.  Cynthia and I will be there surrounded by art.  Plus, the plant sale is right across the street from us.

I'll get pictures of the rest of the beautiful gardens we visited tonight posted in a day or so along with actual tour pictures.  

Barbaree Beat - First Filming