Thursday, January 22, 2009

Decisions, Decisions!

Is what we all have to make from time to time and sometimes it is difficult to decide what to do or which one to choose. Today I'll have 2 things to decide about. I've joined my friend Shirl'sand I'll have to make a decision about something else as well, more about that later.

My 3 choices of plants are:
1) Rosa Fisherman's Friend, a David Austen rose with a most wonderful scent and with big (really big) and fleshy flowers of the deepest darkest burgundy imaginable.
2) drifts of daffodils as nothing spells Spring so much to me as they do. Don't underestimate the importance of Spring for those of us who suffer from SAD.
For my third choice I was going to go for this, a gorgeous wild flower meadow but that would be cheating as it consists of many different plants, not just the one. So I have chosen the next best thing
3) the humble Daisy. Why? Because they cheer up this desert of endlessly dull blades of grass, are great for making posies and daisy-chains and, as Dolly Daisy demonstrates so very well, you can roll in them with gay abandon.

Time for my next decision:

This year a pond will be made in the Bliss garden. I know, I know, I've said the same thing last year and the year before but this year it will finally happen.Honest! And with that pond I'd like a water feature or ornament but which one?
This one, although nice, has been done to death so I'll give it a miss.
At Drummond Castle, while I was touring Scotland 6 months ago, I found this water feature. It's fine but a tad too formal for me.
At the Gardens of Life in the Netherlands I spotted this one, totally OTT, great fun but not exactly what I had in mind. And then, in Scotland, I was so bowled over that almost fell into this one at beautiful Biggar Park
Excalibur rising out of the water. This one is right up my pond as I'm an Arthurian buff and have been since the ripe old age of 12. I didn't think that as far as water features or ornaments were concerned, this could be topped but .............. while surfing the net, as you do, I stumbled upon an even better one than Excalibur and have decided that this is what I want to rise up out of my pond:








Wait for it!











Very decorative, wouldn't you say? And I'm taking my new water feature with me to that desert island because although the Desert Island Plant Challenge states that there will be food plants available, IMO a chap or two won't come amiss. I mean, I'm taking a rose so that means a great big hole has to be dug and I'm not the one who's going to do the digging. Pu-leeeeze, I might break out in a sweat errr glow or, even worse, break a nail (shock, horror!). Just look at him, see those bulging muscles? Those would make him eminently suitable for digging great big holes and, of course, to perform that all important task that men were put upon this green earth for ............................







putting out the garbage.

copyright 2009: Y.E.W. Heuzen

43 comments:

Cat with a Garden said...

Great choices, honestly!!! LOL! Of course, we would take the other Daisy, with the Dolly in her name, wih us on that island. I mean, if chaps are allowed, the occasional floofy cat won't do no harm...
Purrs, Siena & Chilli

Carol Michel said...

You don't have to do any begging, that's a great, and useful, water feature!

And your plant choices are pretty good, too.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Anonymous said...

This post made me smile on this cold, wet morning!
I will have a think about what three plants I'd choose and may even do an entry of my own on them, with a reference back to here of course. xx

Anonymous said...

Hi YE, did you hear the loud cackle coming from the other side of the pond? HA what a great mind you have, my dear. As if the delightful plants, great choices by the way, weren't cheering enough, you have taken it a step further! Brilliant, bravo, well done!
Frances

Libby said...

Well done Yolanda, another cracking post.
I would stick with Excalaber I think, cos as much as I Daniel Craig, I'm not sure he will age as well!!
LOL!!!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Oh my gosh. What a hoot. I nearly ROFLOL. I think you have thought of everything necessary to survive on that island. Of course you won't go without sun screen on your back either.

Unknown said...

OOOOh, Daniel Craig. Awesome choice for a dessert island. You say it was a DESERT island, not a DESSERT island? Well, we can manipulate the rules a little, can't we? I'm sure Shirl won't mind.
I learned something new-not surprising to me--reading this post. I did not know there is an Austin rose called Fisherman's Friend. Now, of course the first thought was the cough lozenges by the same name, but I must find this rose and plant it for my Long Suffering Spouse, who is a retired commercial fisherman. And I love all your choices (i'd have to put all the kitties in my bag to go to the island too, because life would not be complete without the cats.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Yolanda .. I am so lucky I wasn't drinking my coffee at the moment I saw Danny Boy .. I would have sprayed it all over the computer with laughter ! .. you naughty girl you ! LOL
I know how ever you construct your pond it is going to be awesome girl .. you have such a touch with plants , pets, people and objects to decorate with .. other than Danny ? haha
I'm with Jodie on dessert island and the cats of course .. Emma and Sophie both give their regards to all your wildlife .. yes .. even those insufferable so called cute dogs ! wink wink haha
Great post girl ! : )

Anonymous said...

Yolanda - toooooo funny I love your new "water feature" but seriously though - you are so right about digging the big holes for all these plants - so, erm - can we borrow him?
K
PS Great plant choices too

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Very funny and excellent,great choices Yolanda!
I hope we are not going to the same island....can you imagine the fight over the garbage man :-)

Thank you for the laugh/ Tyra

Shirley said...

Hi there Yolanda, mm… I’m wondering if you’ve been on a desert island before ;-)

I would have guessed a rose from you but didn’t see the daffodils coming but I can understand your choice. Yes, we are together on the possible cheat. I also then considered many daisies including your choice and then settled on my lewisia – just a little fancier ;-)

I love the humour that has gone with this and you never disappoint on that score. What are you like!! Now, I am wondering… if Daniel might get a little practise digging your pond before you head of to the Island ;-)

Cindy, MCOK said...

Yolanda, your choice of water feature almost made me fall off my chair, I was laughing so hard. Let us know how that works out ...

tina said...

Very funny! And don't forget, he can pick the roses for you and present them to on one knee prior to taking out the garbage:)

Gail said...

I am laughing so hard my dear Mr I is wondering what has happened! Fantastic choices all around. YE I love how you enter into life with such energy and fun...gail

Unknown said...

You are a hoot! Great choices all the way through.........

Anonymous said...

Lovely plant choices Yolanda, especially the daisy.
I can see we will all be clamouring to borrow your water feature (lol)

Cheryl said...

Yolanda....I love your choices, especially the daisy....I could not agree more, such a pretty wild flower.....

As for the water feature, do you not think it may be a distraction.....would anything be planted?? No hold on a moment gardening or water feature....hhmmmmm it's definately gardening for me.....

Great post and I love the twist.....

Robin's Nesting Place said...

Great flower choices. I'm still thinking about mine. I can't wait to see your pond addition.

Anonymous said...

Truly brilliant post, Yolanda! Your plant picks were terrific (hooray for daffodils), but that photo of Dolly Daisy stole my heart. The Excalibur was fantastic too. Thanks for the smiles!

Curmudgeon said...

A water feature that's attractive AND takes out the garbage--what more can one ask of a water feature? The daffs are a great choice!
--Curmudgeon

Arabella Sock said...

Well he can come and pose in my pondlet any time! I think the excalibur would be less distracting though. Don't forget that you must be careful not to have a little tinkly water fountain because the noise will make you want to pee everytime you are out in the garden! (Or is that just me?)

OldRoses said...

Oooooh, I'm starting to save up right now so that I can afford the plane ticket to visit your water feature. He's so yummy!! I hope that he's not allergic to cats.

A wildlife gardener said...

Hahahaha! I had a good laugh at your water feature, Yolanda! I do love Excalibur, though..as I have seen it many times as I am a frequent visitor to Biggar park :)

I find it easy to agree with your choices...I love David Austin's roses, and that one in particular...I love daisies too...but I couldn't live without poppies :)

My Mother's Garden said...

Oh my! I think my favorite is your third choice...he's yummy!
Great choices!

Anonymous said...

I can picture him with a rose between his teeth. I am coming over to visit!

Anna said...

Thanks for visiting my blog Yolanda and for your comment. I do like your choices. Roses came into my top three too but which one to choose was a dilemma. I planted 'Magenta' this spring inspired by one of your postings a while ago. I was delighted when it flowered so I must say a big thank you. If you have already nabbed Daniel Craig can I have George Clooney ?

Q said...

The daisy is a darling. A must.
Does that man cook?
I really am tired of cooking.
I do like making tea and meeting new friends.
Fun post!
Sherry

Juliet said...

I'm with you on the daffodils - they'd be one of my choices too. I'll have to think about some others. My wv is dicide, which is obviously going to be diffecult ...

I'm not sure about the water feature though - I'd rather have more room for plants - or, alternatively, David Boreanaz ;)

You might like my kittens

Anonymous said...

A multi-tasking water feature. Just think of things he could do!

Karin said...

Hehe, would definitely choose the last one! :D Have a wonderful weekend Yolanda! Kram Karin

Miranda Bell said...

Thankyou for visiting my blog yesterday - Had to pop over and check out everyone's choices... I think we certainly have the same taste in plants as well as men!!! I'm sure he could be smuggled in, in the form of a water feature!! No one mentioned garden structures - maybe a treehouse would have been good??! Will visit again soon Miranda

VP said...

That's set the cat (or Daniel) amongst the pigeons Yolanda! There might be a bit of a fight over him though ;)

Great plant choices - my raft's just arrived with some delicious fare...

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

I like your plant choices, but I don't think I'd go with that water feature - my husband wouldn't approve. ;^)

Anonymous said...

I love all your choices. I wish I would have thought of the last one :).

Jan
Always Growing

Anonymous said...

I've always wondered if those plant catalogs sell you the bulbs/tubers/plants also send a man to do the digging/watering/deadheading.... He doesn't even have to be Daniel Craig! And as for flowers on a remote island? I don't think I could choose -- and am glad not to have to!

I've emailed you - did you receive it? If this doesn't work, leave your address in my comment section and I'll delete it after I copy it out :-)

Barbara said...

Great, great, great! You DID a good choice :-), (it was indeed a very hard decision)!!! And with regard to your water element...I am curious to see the final result this year, hm!

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

Hi all and welcome to desert island Bliss!

* Cat with a garden: a desert island wouldn't be much fun without the kittycats, I quite agree. ;-)

* Carol: you've got your priorities straight, I'll give you that. ;-)

* Flighty: glad it made you smile, we need that on cold wet days, don't we?

* Frances: so that's what it was? Please don't do it again as you startled all of the Bliss team. ;-)
Glad you enjoyed it so very much!

* Libby: well if that's the case then we could always dump this one and go for, let's say, a Richard Armitage shaped water feature. ;-)
So many water features, so little time!

* Lisa: glad it made you laugh! You are right, my water feature is great for many things, including putting sun screen on my back. ;-)

* Jodi: dessert? I was more thinking of starters. ;-) The rose's scent will bring tears to your eyes, just as those cough lozenges do, but in a nice way. ;-)

* GardenJoy4Me: that was indeed a lucky escape. Glad it made you laugh!

* Karen: sure, you can borrow him but for digging purposes only. ;-)

* Tyra: there's no need to go to a seperate island or fight, he's strong enough to put the garbage out for everybody on our desert island. ;-)

* Shirl: yes, I have, why do you suppose I'm bringing my water feature along? ;-)
BTW thanks for your suggestion, I hadn't thought of letting Daniel dig my pond, what a wonderful idea!

* Cindy: I'm so glad this post made you laugh!

* Tina: what a wonderful idea! And he can make some daisy-chains for me too, and I could perhaps make one for him. Do you think he will look fetching wearing a daisy-chain?

* Gail: I think I heard you and Frances laughing all the way up here. ;-)

* Darla: thanks!

* Easygardener: yes, my water feature seems to be very popular. ;-)

* Cheryl: having a water feature and doing a spot of gardening are not mutually exclusive. ;-)

* Robin: I'm looking forward to having a pond once again too.

* Nan: that pic of Dolly is one of my favourites of her as it is so my darling happy-go-lucky Dolly.
Excalibur is fantastic, I agree, I was quite smitten when I first laid eyes on it. Wish it was mine!

* Curmudgeon: a multi-tasking water feature, whatever will they think of next? ;-)

* Arabella: don't jump the queue! BTW aren't you confusing my new water feature with this famous one in Brussels? ;-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis

* Oldroses: bother, I hadn't thought of cat allergies! Well if he is allergic, he simply has got to go and I'll find myself another fetching water feature.

* WG: glad it made you laugh. And I'm quite envious that you live so close to Biggar Park. It was one of my favourite Scottish gardens.

* My mother's garden: glad that you approve of my choice in water features. ;-)


* Layanee: now there's a thought! ;-)

* Anna: you are very welcome, magenta is such a wonderful rose, isn't she? And of course you can have George. ;-)

* Sherry : does my water feature cook? Hmmm, hadn't thought of that yet for some strange reason. Must look into that. ;-) And yes, my Daisy is an absolute darling.

* Juliet: daffs are great, no doubt about it! A water feature shaped as DB woud look great too. ;-)

* Grace: I am, I am!
;-)

* Karin: we seem to agree on many things, don't we? ;-)

* Miranda: a treehouse sounds great. Perhaps we can let my water feature built one for us? ;-)

* VP: your raft came just in time as I was getting rather peckish. Water features are fine of course, but no match for delicious food. ;-)

* MMD: but why? Just think of all that hard work in the garden he will save your hubby from doing. Not to mention the odious task of putting out the garbage. ;-)

* Jan: well, you can't think of everything. ;-)

* Nikkipolani: you're right, it doesn't have to be Daniel Craig but it does help, doesn't it? ;-)
Yes, I received your e-mail and have send a reply.

* Barbara: glad that you approve of my choice of plants. And re: your second remark: you and me both! ;-)

Thanks all for visiting, laughing your heads off and commenting! Who would have thought that going to a desert island could be that much fun? :-D

Merlotti said...

I'd agree to him rising out of my pond any day!
Loving your blog - thanks!
merlotti x

Hannele på Hisingen said...

Hihi, he is nice and sexy :)
Kram.

Rose said...

This was such a fun post, Yolanda! I was going to comment that I hoped you would take Daisy along to the island--some companionship would really be nice--and then I came to the end with an even better companion:)
Assuming Daniel Craig is not free for your garden feature, I do like Excalibur.

Tracy said...

Hi, Yolanda! So many great posts to catch up on--including this one! I'm sorry to be behind on visiting. I've been so busy with knitting and knitwear orders...But better late then never, eh? ;o) Thanks so much for joining in on my giveaway--fun to see you! This is a terrific post...What a challenge. I would have to pick a rose of somekind, as I dont' think I could live without those...My hunk of choice would have to be Colin Firth though. ;o) Happy Day, my friend ((HUGS))

Arabella Sock said...

Humph! That isn't fair Yolanda. You get Daniel Craig and I get a peeing mannequin.. something has gone wrong somewhere.

Katarina said...

Excalibur is a good choice, but the last one is even better. Can very well understand why you would choose him! Enjoy!
Katarina