whimsy

Wamboldtopia: whimsy in an Asheville garden

The first stop on the first day for the 5th Annual Garden Bloggers Fling, held in Asheville this year, was the whimsical garden, Wamboldtopia. (The garden is on Wambold Street, hence the name.)

Carved into the side of a mountain, surrounded by tall trees and a carpet of moss and earthy wet leaves, this stone mason’s dream is filled with delicate, funny and sometimes macabre creations. Natural stone steps and winding paths take you from room to room.

Eclectic treasures, tucked away into nooks and crannies, make wonderful conversation pieces as you meander about the garden.

With fellow bloggers clicking away around her, Pam of Digging, focuses on a garden subject.

This magical dog house would be a wonderful hideaway for any canine.

Special little touches adorn walls all around the property, like this miniature staircase, gargoyle and tiny fairy door.

Collections of woodland plants intermingle with art and stone throughout the garden.

This was my second favorite piece, after the dog house, of course!  I love the way the stones radiate out from the center, seeming to evoke beams of light around the angel.

The back chain link fence is covered in many areas by concrete, made into art.

A beautiful recirculating pond and stream look natural nestled among the rocks and moss.

A wall in progress gives a glimpse into how intricate the stone work can be.

The plants at the clearing on the top of the property are lush and green, thanks to recent rains.

Wamboldtopia was a delightful adventure and a magical start to our Asheville Fling.

Garden delights in sunny Seattle…

The private gardens we’ve seen at the Garden Bloggers Seattle fling are among some of the prettiest I’ve seen.

The garden of Suzette and Jim Birrell was filled with whimsy and color. It was delightful and filled with plenty of places to sit and enjoy the garden.

Garden-inspired art and decor surprised us around every turn.


Looking for lights for their garden and project shed, Jim decided to convert simple, galvanized buckets into whimsical lighting.

The brightly-colored shed provides contrast with other vibrant colors throughout the garden.

A small section of lawn provides a play area and a soothing companion to the bright and busy garden areas.

Years of work to create this lush and peaceful garden made for a wonderful morning tour for the garden bloggers.

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