Friend: A person you know well and regard with affection and trust.

I've met the nicest people & made the best friends through gardening. Each garden friend is special to me. Every garden grows the spirit of the beholder. Each garden reflects the personality / creativity of the one that gardens there.

My best garden friend, Connie has enduring energy reflected in her fun garden decor. I love her gardens. She has transformed her entire yard into an adventure-land with fun things to discover at every glance. She's always busy doing thoughtful things for others & giving fun gifts to friends & family.

Sadly, I lost most of my pictures in a computer crash recently. Hopefully I will have many pictures to share on this subject next season. I have learned my lesson to do "back-up" discs.

I am able to share pictures of Jackie's Garden. Jackie's fun loving nature & artistic flair display her hillside garden at Holiday Lake near Brooklyn, IA. I met Jackie through Hallson's Hosta Forum: www.perennialnursery.com/forums/index.php. She & Connie & I have become great garden friends. We email each other all the time & get together for garden visits & day trips whenever schedules allow.

See: Plant Places / Spring Fling / Master Gardener which include other "Garden Friends"

I was out enjoying fall chores in the gardens when a sudden loud commotion interrupted my peacefulness. A nearby tree was loaded with black starlings all squawking and twittering excitedly. I wondered what the heck was causing so much commotion. Two or three birds would flutter down towards the ground then hurriedly flap their wings jumping up again. It was like they were taking turns dive bombing prey but got scared off in the last moment of attack. I couldn't figure it out. I decided to investigate even though it was in the neighbor's yard.

Here's who I found defiantly holding its ground. I had never been up-close & personal with a praying mantis before. I just knew enough to figure out what it was. It didn't fly away like the birds had. I thought that was odd but upon researching I learned that females of the species can not fly when their bellies are full of heavy eggs.

Since it was not attempting to escape I ran home and grabbed my camera. I took pictures to show my grandkids. They knew all about Praying Mantis all ready. They told me the stories of the ones they'd been associated with. It was fun.

If you'd like to learn more click on the link below. I've included Praying Mantis with 'Garden Friends' because of all the harmful bugs they devour in the foliage garden.

http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/mantisfax.html

Millie's Garden

An invitation came in the mail announcing Millie Van Dyke opening her gardens for tours - July 7th - 14th. Day Lily - Prime Time. Ron & I visited in the evening the very first day. The gardens were very lovely. I was impressed. There were a lot of creative ideas for fun things in the garden.

Friend: "A person you know well and regard with affection and trust."

My daughter, Robin, is also my best friend. She brings joy into my life and into my heart. Robin shares my love of gardening. It's a good thing. And what makes it even better is she lives within walking distance of my home. We love walking & talking in the gardens. It's fun!