A sneak peek over the fence

One of these pictures was not on the tour. I peeked over the fence and couldn't resist taking a picture. You'll have to figure out which one.

Gates on the tour

Soon to be butterfly

Someone on the tour, who is far more knowledgeable than me, said this good looking fat and happy guy will turn into a beautiful monarch. Can you imagine a better yard to transform in than Katrina and Mark's?

Pictures of the Garden Tour

I didn't take a lot of pictures, having too good a time. Especially regret not getting pictures of my art before it sold, oh well. Cynthia had her camera, maybe she thought to use it.

We had the BEST homeowners. They bought us artists and the volunteers sandwiches, drinks and an air conditioned bathroom. Not to mention, they're just a delight to be with.

Special thanks to Katrina and Mark

Party of the year

The Garden Tour was a gigantic success! Cynthia, Andie and I were very luck to have the best homeowner's - Katrina and Mark - who fed us, kept us in drinks and of course an air conditioned bathroom. Not only that, where we set up in their yard we had a constant breeze - priceless!

Today's the TOUR

One last article for tour day. Thanks to all of you who read and enjoyed the articles. Hope to see you today. I'll be in the Moran garden, 8516 San Leandro.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner~y2010m5d22-White-Rock-East-Garden-and-Artisans-Tour-today

We salute Betsy Doan, Garden Tour Art Czar

Betsy has been herding the artists for the White Rock East Garden & Artisans' Tour. Here's a little article about her:

http://www.examiner.com/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner~y2010m5d21-White-Rock-East-Garden-and-Artisans-Tour-features-artist-Betsy-Doan

Go to my website for the map and list of gardens selling tickets.

www.lottieminick.com

Mariana Green's Dallas Morning News Article

Mariana Green wrote a wonderful article that will appear in the paper tomorrow. She's the rock star garden editor we all know will make this tour with her support. For those of you who can't wait for tomorrow's paper, read it on line.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/lifetravel/stories/DN-nhg_gilbertgarden_0520gd.ART.State.Edition1.71238e2.html

I know a special secret about her. I know her favorite artist on the tour is Andie Comini. Check out Andie's beautiful glass mosaic flowers here and in real life during that garden tour. She will be in the Moran Garden on 8516 San Leandro. Cynthia will be there. I'll be hanging out with them, riding their coat tails.

Remember to go to my website: wwww.lottieminick.com for the map and locations to buy your tickets.

Meet Mayor Max and Mini Max

Our modem shot craps this weekend so I've spent the last two days on the phone with my personal friends from AT&T asking them to repeat what they just said. Why you ask? Because I want to hear it the same way they said it the first time and I didn't understand. They are the makers of migraines. But we are up and running for a while and I was able to get an article on Examiner.com profiling two very important tour characters, Mayor Max and his odd sidekick, Mini Max. Scroll to the end to meet Mini-Max. Read all about them:

http://www.examiner.com/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner~y2010m5d17-Mayor-keyhead-Max-thanks-advertisers-and-sponsors

The Garden Tour is this Sunday, May 23 from 11:00 to 5:00 pm. I'll be in the 8516 San Leandro garden with Cynthia and Andie. Interrupt us, you know we will be talking and not paying attention, and say hi.

Go to my website for a map: www.lottieminick.com

A few teasers

A few teaser pictures of a garden you're going to love. Very unusual where twists, turns and secrets abound.

Artists' road trip

Juli picked up Andie and me around noon yesterday for our Road Trip. We loaded 4 of my little miniature chairs in the back of Juli's VW bug, "Daisy" so we could stop at the powder coat place in McKinney first. Love those guys and how they turn my rusty pieces unrusty, colorful and shiny. On to ArtPlace in Dennison before stopping for our favorite fast food - Sonic burgers - where Andie pointed out there's no bathroom. Thanks.

Rolling towards Dennison with me in the back seat playing with the map thing on my iphone. I managed to get us to Oklahoma, for goodness sakes. My response is why would two intelligent girlfriends let me navigate from the back seat on a phone I can barely make calls with?

Juli u-turned Daisy and put Andie in charge of navigation while I curled up in the back seat. We got to downtown Dennison (lovely) and found Art Place, a gallery and art supply store. Doug spent time with us explaining the glues and sculpt stuff we bought. Juli loves to use toxic glues where she has to wear masks that would scare aliens. The glue we bought is tough, but non toxic. Now what will I harass Juli about? I know, letting me take more pictures of her wonderful pieces. Especially the pieces she makes for Kittrell Riffkin. When she's in a show there, the pieces sell before the show opens. Juli sold her mermaid at Katrina's Exquisite Creatures The Mermaid Show opening reception last week. She's our star!

Juli will be showing and selling her art in the 1508 Bella Vista garden in Casa Linda during the White Rock East Garden & Artisans' tour. Don't miss her.

Artists and Fairy Tales on the tour

Let's start talking about artists on the White Rock East Garden & ARTISANS' Tour. Here's one of my absolute favorites, Cynthia Daniel. Cynthia and I joined the Texas Sculpture Association board almost 3 years ago. With no experience or preparation we started curating shows for the TSA. Talk about learn through doing. But we put on some pretty good shows with some great artists. When she's not curating shows; she's welding, fusing glass and mosaicing with her incredible talent. She's on the tour. We're in the same garden. When she's busy talking to someone I tell everyone her art is mine to make me look good. Come see us. And remember, the art is for sale.

And a shameless plug. Double click on http://www.examiner.com/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner~y2010m5d12-White-Rock-East-Garden--Artisans-Tour to read my article about Jessica and her Magic Dragonfly. You'll meet both on the tour.

Jessica and her Dragonfly

Here's a little behind the scenes look at The White Rock East Garden & Artisans' Tour with one of the premier hostesses, Jessica The Fairy Princess:

Double click below

http://www.examiner.com/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner~y2010m5d12-White-Rock-East-Garden--Artisans-Tour

for a good size map, go to www.lottieminick.com

Special preview tour for a special guest

Andie and I took a special guest on a preview tour of a few gardens on the White Rock East Garden & Artisans' Tour this afternoon. She's capable of making homeowner's stars like she did last year. Remember the Donna and Jeff article? Look for something exciting in the Dallas Morning News a few days before the tour. Here's a few pictures I took.

Our Fabulous Sponsors

I'm sitting here with the White Rock East Garden & Artisans' Tour brochure. I'm sure I mentioned Brad did an incredible job. As I thumb through it I can't help but notice our wonderful advertisers & sponsors who are friends and businesses we all depend on in our every day lives. They are here for us, let's be there for them:

Arborilogical Services, Inc.
Aristocrat Computer Services
Bella Vista Company
Clark and Associates
David Bush Realtors
DLS Landscape
East Lake Pet Orphanage
Foster Exteriors Window Company
Just Let Lynn Do It!
Kim Gromatzky - Ellen Terry Realtors
Harry Morgan - Ellen Terry Realtors
Landscape Systems of Texas
Paper Arts
Personal Touch Tree Service
Spinazzola + Co
Thomas Scapes
Times Ten Cellars
Walton's Garden Center
White Rock Lake Real Estate

All of these are listed with phone number and websites in the brochure. What better reason for us to support them than their support of us, their neighbors.

Another teaser picture

Another little teaser picture. Don't miss this fabulous tour brought to you by the incredible garden owners, artists and those wonderful tour coordinators and volunteers. All of you living in Casa Linda Plaza, Little Forest Hills and Forest Hills will get a brochure delivered on your doorstep, again by volunteers who encourage you to participate. The brochure is outstanding this year thanks to Brad and his crew. If you're out of the 3 neighborhoods or in the neighborhoods and want a quick look at the map today, got to www.lottieminick.com.

And go to http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/54376 to read about the White Rock East Garden & Artisans' Tour's Czar of all artists, Betsy Doan.

White Rock East Garden & Artisans' Tour

Join us Sunday, May 23th, from 11:00 to 5:00 pm for the 9th annual White Rock East Garden & Artisans Tour. The tour encompasses Forest Hills, Little Forest Hills and Casa Linda Estates. Each neighborhood features three gardens with local artists showcasing their art and a plant sale next to one of the gardens. The White Rock East Garden & Artisans Tour charges a minimal $5.00 admission fee. Children under 12 free. Proceeds from admission, raffle sales, plant sales and donations are divided between the three neighborhoods and designated for beautification. Brochures with maps will be provided at each garden location.

Go to www.lottieminick.com for list of gardens and map.

Betsy Doan, Art Czar for White Rock East Garden and Artisans' Tour

Betsy's on the NeighborsGo website telling us all about her and her duties as in charge Art Czar of the White Rock East Garden & Artisans' Tour. Click and read:

http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=5&post_id=54359

Garden Tour sneak peaks

Stay tuned right here for daily sneak peaks of the gardens.

White Rock Lake Garden & Artisans' Tour, SUNDAY, May 23, from 11:00 to 5:00

For a big map go to www.lottieminick.com

Garden Tour and State Fair artists

Today the Discovery Garden's administrator at Fair Park, Melissa, gave me a tour of the Butterfly House and offered the facility for more places for sculptures during the State Fair of Texas. Several of our Garden Tour artists are also my State Fair artists. What a great time for you to get a preview of their work.

Look for sisters Elizabeth Bingham and Lynn Reagan, Cynthia Daniel, Andie Comini and our tour art czar Betsy Doan in the gardens during the tour. Me, too, if I can inspire my welder to get moving. I'll post which garden each artist will be showing in when we get closer to tour time.

Visit the White Rock Lake Garden & Artisans' Tour Sunday, May 23, from 11:00 to 5:00.

Check my web site: www.lottieminick.com for a big map of the gardens in the 3 neighborhoods.

url link for Friends of Lottie Sculpture Garden

Jay Silber, my Facebook and forge teacher, just showed me how to give you the Friends of Lottie Sculpture Garden url link. So just click.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Friends-of-Lottie-Sculpture-Garden/331434591287?ref=ts

Go click and join!