Tuesday, September 9, 2008

The Whole Picture



My Florida sister, Betsy, reads Cultivating Paradise every now and then. She's so sweet and tells me how much she learns from it - how beautiful the pictures are - yadda, yadda, yadda. Well, today she's coming for a visit. I know she expects to see a lush and well maintained garden. A picture may be worth a thousand words - but it doesn't always tell the whole story.



I shot this Cardboard Palm, Zamia furfuracea, yesterday. (Don't you just love the seed stems - and just wait until they open up and expose the bright red seeds! - but that's another post) Back to my "disclosure" - I would expect this plant is located in a beautiful, well-kept bed - but zoom out, and here, is where she is really residing. . . . .



One of the "staging areas" for our house remodeling . . . Isn't it lovely? - complete with an above ground line to the contractor's toilet. I hope "strolling in the garden" is not on her to-do list.
Sitting on the patio won't be too relaxing either . . .

And, finally my favorite item - our newest garden accessory - the outdoor potty. We had a hurricane in July and it was one of the few items left standing . . .


Pictures don't lie - but what you see may not be what you get . . .




6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is indeed funny what a different story a wide shot will tell, compared to a macro. But your remodeling is exciting, and I'm sure the garden will be port-a-potty-free again very soon.

Anonymous said...

lol so true Mary Beth! I bet your sister will still enjoy your garden and visit regardless of those few "small" glitches. :-)

Jane O' said...

Isn't it funny that the port-a-potty remained upright. Actually it's a good thing, you wouldn't to clean that up!
The remodeling looks exciting. It will all be worth it in the end.

Annie in Austin said...

Oh what a good laugh you gave me Mary Beth! What would we do without the ability to frame our photo-ops properly.
That portapotty needs a makeover!

Have fun with your sister!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Mary Beth said...

ANNIE - That portapottie DOES need a makeover - but the first week or two it was here, there was no door - only a plastic sheet over the doorway.

PAM - Remodeling is exciting - and I think the best part is being able to design some new beds.

KATHLEEN - My sister has had a good laugh at the state of my garden - I'll have to make sure it has improved vastly before she comes again.

JANE MARIE - I was awfully happy not to have to clean up that portapotty after Hurricane Dolly - a couple of large branches just barely missed it.

Muddy Mary said...

I do understand. My garden is hanging onto the edges of our construction site. I am sort of blind to the mess, but it becomes visable again in photos. I seem to be cropping the contractor outhouse out of every photo I post.