Tag Archives: Gardening

To a plant lover, tender new plants are just like babies.  We are excited when we see new signs of life. We nurture and care for them, watching them closely as they grow.

A Thanksgiving cactus and one that looks like a tail.

The one on the right is a jade plant.

These are hens and chicks.

These are bluish gray succulents of various types.

My handyman brought me some plant seedlings yesterday. His wife grows succulent plants of every imaginable variety. We have a common love of plants and have begun sharing starters with one another. I shared an aloe plant with her a few weeks ago.  She sent back to me several plants in a bag.  I have identified a Thanksgiving cactus starter, hens and chicks as well as a jade plant baby in the collection.

I love cacti and all types of succulents because they require little care, infrequent watering and do really well in the hot South Carolina climate.

I recently viewed the episode on Salvage Dawgs when they delivered this rocket from an old abandoned amusement park to the parking lot of the store. It is visible from a long distance so makes a great advertising sign and landmark for the area.

There are many different statues among the shop’s selection.

A garden bench made from an old truck hatch sits next to a fountain.

Recently my husband and I went to Roanoke, Virginia for a business/anniversary trip all rolled into one.  Yes, that’s right, he got a business deduction while I got to share a hotel room and meals out at a beautiful vacation spot. Roanoke has special attractions for me.

The Blue Ridge Mountains surround this city that sits in a bowl-shaped valley. My grandparents’ former home rests on a hill where  the mountains are visible from every vantage point.  I went by the old house while I was in town.  A neighbor was sitting out on her front porch when I drove by. I stopped to speak to her.  She remembered my grandfather as she bought her house 30 years ago when he was still living.  She called the current owner to see if I could get inside to look around. I was thrilled, of course.

Upon entry, I couldn’t get over how much smaller the house seemed than in my memory. Everything must seem bigger than life in the eyes of a child. The kitchen had been remodelled with dark cabinets and black granite countertops.  The dining and living areas have switched places from where my grandparents had them. The walls have been painted dark modern colors and the hardwood floors have been exposed and refinished. The screened porch has been enclosed and the stoop over the back door has been removed. A quaint courtyard area surrounded by black wrought iron fencing is now located in front of the back door.  The old chain link fence, many old trees, shrubs and roses that my grandparents planted are gone. It is strangely different but I was comforted knowing that the old house has been maintained and cared for.

Roanoke has become a tourist attraction because of a popular salvage store located near the downtown historic district.  The Black Dog Salvage store is hugely popular because of a modern trend to recycle, reuse and reinvent items for home and garden decor. They have a television program called Salvage Dawgs which is in its fourth season on the DIY network. The show airs many of the shop owners’ adventures in finding architectural pieces in old homes or industrial sites that are being demolished.

While we were in town, I had to visit the famous salvage store.  There is an amazing selection of wrought iron pieces, garden art, fountains and statuary for gardeners outside the store.  Inside, there are old  doors, mantels and windows to suit any taste.  Another part of the store is set up with  booths which are consigned to vendors who sell antique or home decorating items. One could easily spend an entire day and not see everything at this amazing store.

There is a restaurant in York, South Carolina called The Garden Cafe.  Those who live in the area know it well.  The food is outstanding.  There are delicious salads and sandwiches for lunch and wonderful entrees at dinnertime.  However, one must never visit The Cafe without sampling one of the mouth-watering desserts on the menu. The most popular choice is the buttermilk pie.  The creme brulee is fabulous too.

Though I enjoy dining at The Cafe, I also love the gardening atmosphere.  There are various junk-tique items scattered about the property that have been fashioned into gardening art.  There are turtles perched upon pedestals in an old tub which was turned into a fountain.  Bottles are used to create borders and to decorate a metal bottle tree. Plants grow in interesting planters which have been fashioned out of items destined for the junk heap. It is all very creative and beautiful.  Inside, old doors, windows and salvaged architectural items decorate a dining area that was once an old warehouse.  An enclosed porch was added on the side where one can dine during good weather.  There is also a gift shop with wares for sale from local artisans and crafters. Beside the restaurant, a covered pavilion can be rented for outdoor weddings.  I have never attended a wedding there, but I am sure that it would be  a memorable and romantic site for such an occasion.