Well, we'd have to start the day at Stonecrop Gardens and the entrance, a wonderful Conservatory (my idea of a fantastic porch!):

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The terrific succulent display:

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Then, into a wonderful perennial, enclosed area:

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At the Climbery-every pole you see in this photo has a clem planted at its base, and this is only a drop in the bucket I might add. The height of the bloom was over , but there were many still in bloom. This garden is not usually open on fri but the owner graciously agreed to have us, and she proved to be a very charming woman who is passionate about clems.

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She has recently started to plant lily bubs between the posts.

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Heres one that was still blooming (I failed to note the name )

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Here's my take on Stonecrop, via the camera lens :)

"C'mon Chelone, the others are already inside!!!"
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Here's the entrance:
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All Smiles:
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Beautiful Borders:
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....and sweeping views:
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The perfect spot for a group shot:
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I saw Blackie the Snake who lives at Stonecrop....as well as lots of other creatures! This place was a highlight for me.

Almost ready for the Climbery....great pictures everyone!

Saucy

And here's some of my shots of The Climbery:

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The hike to the top of the hill was worth it: Wisteria frames Clematis
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A peek down the hill to find everyone scattered about:
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Saucy

Go Saucy ! Have you read the directions yet? The pics look really good !

K in Napa

Beautiful!!!! It's like being there over again. Great photos Cindy, Saucy and Kathy.
Deanne

Gee...I have a fanny pack just like Chelone's and a hat that looks just like the one in Saucy's third pic but with a blue ribbon instead of beige. :-) Love that group photo, great idea to take it there! Beautiful sweeping view...ahhh!

I'll start with some photos from The Climbery. Even though it was past peak season, there were some lovely clematis blooms to be found.

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This was was quite unusual.

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But it was the lilies that stole my heart.

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My notes from the day say that I need to order some oreinpet lilies - "any and all!"

There was quite an interesting collection of garden statuary here. One of her most recent additions was a wooden carving of Adam and Eve. It just wouldn't be an Idyllunion thread without a bum shot.

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And there was this enormous, um, uh, ROOSTER in the garden.

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V.

That sure IS a large um,uh,...rooster,V!
With so many lilies in one area, was the air filled with their scent?
I especially like that pom pom type clem!and I can never resist a good bum; )

Saucy I like that scene of the adirondack chairs,spilling forth plants and the willow in the distance-very serene.

Great pics from you all! I can see what a great time that must have been.

~Babs

Well done V! Great pics, I completely missed that bum shot I must have been smelling the lilies.

Deanne

What a wonderful place! I suddenly want to spend money on lilies. I already have 6 or 7 clems in pots on the porch, so DH would seriously doubt my sanity if any more show up. But lilies...
ROFLOL @ V! I always love a bum shot, but that's too much rooster for me ;)
Thanks for sharing everyone, it's so much fun to see you all out and about!
Brenda

I have to remark on how idyllers view photo ops -- there's always a bum shot somewhere around - who'd have thought, LOL???? V, that shot of Adam and Eve is so - restrained, LOL!!!
I love seeing all the different perspectives folks saw...

Cindy

Nice photos V. Somehow think I am missing some inside 'rooster' joke. [g] The lilies are calling my name too. Since mine are getting destroyed by Red Lily Leaf Beetle, and deciding not to keep growing them, I am craving them. My fav is that first yellow one. That first clematis is very pretty. love the shading.

The cockerel, well, okay. But what about the matronly giantess in Cindy's third photo? What's that about?
Beware of menopausal gardener?

Denise, that's the kind of scarecrow that no one messes with :)

Unless you're Chelone, of course:

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Saucy, you saw Blacky?! I looked all over for him, did you get a picture? That's so cool! :)

I love reviewing all the photos. I have yet to get mine uploaded and posted. Sounds like a good weekend project.

Jerri

That pic is hilarious,Saucy! I have a distinct feeling that hanging with Chelone is a riot: )

~B

We had a Mystery Guest along for our tour of Stonecrop:

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One of my favorite things at Stonecrop was the water:

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Stonecrop had a wonderful collection of cacti and succulents - Cindy posted a wide shot above - here is a close-up. Some fascinating specimens here:

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I loved this fence detail:

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This pot is so simple, yet so elegant:

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Wendy, I must say there were numerous times when jumping into to all that water seemed very attactive ! I took a close up of a different section of the succulent display.

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Kathy in Napa

STONECROP:
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The hot color beds
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Hubby and Gardenweb member Shadylady who met us for the Stonecrop portion of our trip
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Humble abode of Cholmondeley, head of ÂRodent ControlÂ
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Here he is wandering in search of vermin
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Kissing a frog
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Better than kissing this one
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Sort of a bum shot photo?
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THE CLIMBERY:
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ÂPurpurea Plena ElegansÂ, it came out a bit too red-should be more gray mauve in color
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PPE
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PPE again
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A place to relax along the water, however it was too sunny
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So here is a spot in the shade for the hot and sweaty
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ÂAbundance maybe?

LOOMIS CREEK NURSERY to finish off the garden crawl

Wow, wow, wow, Monique! I love it!

And you're right....I don't think I would've kissed the second frog :) I'm still waiting for my prince.....

Saucy

Sorry I missed Stonecrop and that nursery will be on my list for a trip next spring. For those of you in the area, Shadylady was told that Stonecrop would be ramping up the tropical plantings for a member party and to come back in September for a completely different look.

Hmmm...

Sue

Wow, it looks like a great place with lots of interesting things to see.

Here are a few more from the Climbery...

Mr. Turtle :)

Potting Shed

Saucy

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Gone Fishing

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The End! The Idyll's cooling off

Aw shucks Jerri, I thought that was the 'POTTY' shed ????

Nice photos !

Kathy in Napa

Wow, oh wow, what a wonderful collection of terrific photos. I've not popped on this thread for a couple days and there are scads more pics than there were the last time I checked in. I loved them all!

Monique I don't remember your staying behind and taking that photograph at Stonecrop. It is actually a multiple bum shot. Bravo! Probably more Idyll bums than have ever been featured in one photograph before.

Jerri, Marvelous pics also. Love them all, I find it so interesting how I just took flower pics and you really got to the essence of the place with all the wonderful photos of the sculptures. I especially love the photo with the bird houses. A great image with her clematis poles.

Deanne