Tuesday, July 20, 2010

How Do Their Gardens Grow? (part one)


The historic Victorian town of Ferndale, California has an abundance of colorful period homes with lovely gardens and picket fences. My father has told me for years and years that I would fall in love with this town – and I DID! Hubby and I, with dogs in tow, strolled around town on a bright & sunny afternoon and took several photos to share with you.


What is YOUR favorite style of gardens? Do you like the formal or the not-so-formal? There was a little of both on our walk. Come along for a little “walk by”, if you will.


This beauty has more of a formal garden with boxwood hedges defining the path to the front door. This is my favorite look – very structured and elegant, and a bit mysterious with the huge hedge that surrounds this grand Victorian home.


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Along our walk we discovered that you will have one “formal” garden next door to a rather “relaxed” style of garden. I like the juxtaposition of these two fences. The little white wire one is so quiant, simple and casual.

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Pink scented roses lined the front of this adorable home. One of my favorite things about old homes like this is they usually have the most charming window coverings. There is something sweet about a scalloped edge pull down shade with lace curtains.


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Isn’t this front door fantastic? Look at all of the details – AND the matching Victorian period light fixture that coordinates nicely.


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Soothing blue paint, blue lobelia and lavender all meld together to create a serene garden.


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The little details can really make the look all come together, such as the blue finials on the fence posts.


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This home is sweet and understated with a neat and pristine little yard.


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I had to take pictures of this home for you girls that have vintage bicycles and love pink homes.


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P1010069a A bright white picket fence and a lovely gate greet you as you walk up the front path. Fun and funky details, like the bike and the pink door, give you a glimpse into the homeowner’s sense style.


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I will share more of these inspiring gardens with you on the next post. Stay tuned…..


For those of you who were asking where the farmhouse is located, it is in Eureka, California. You can read more about it by clicking HERE. (now Laurie (estatez), if you buy it, let me know!!)

41 comments:

Rochelle said...

Hi sweet Becky
Thank you for taking us along on your stroll! I think Ferndale is one of my favorite places too! Those homes each in their own way are to die for gorgeous! My favorite is the white wire fence...so cute!
Can't wait for more....
-Rochelle

Pondside said...

I'd like to have a little of every one of these gardens!.....in the perfect world, that is!

jane and the happy crow said...

What lovely photos, I wish we had wooden houses like that over here, I have always hankered after a house with a veranda and made of wood, the nearest you find here is a cricket pavilion (which is my dream home!). All the gardens are lovely too, I dont have a favourite type, every time I see one I wish mine was like that! A beautiful post looking forward to part two. Jane xx

Anonymous said...

Oh Becky! I visited Ferndale a long time ago and i loved it. You are right describing every little detail. I loved the little plaques on each home dating how old it was. Did you see the neat old Church with the cemetery on the hill next to it? Very cool. If I remember right, Ferndale is really on an island. Right after we were there they had a strong earthquake....made me very sad.

Have you been to Eureka? Loved it there too but Ferndale is my all time favorite. Thanks for sharing....now I long to go back there and soon!

Debbi

FHCS said...

What beautiful homes and gardens. I love the two fences, I am more of a casual gardener with a little quirky kind of style...I have a screen door leading to my vegetable garden. I can't wait to see more. Catching up on your blog, I am in awe of your beautiful bedroom and that yellow farmhouse....so pretty! Have a great week!
Dee

Imagery by Kimberly said...

Oh how wonderful! Thank you so much Becky! What a mini vacation to walk along and see these beautiful gardens and glimpses of such charming homes. Loved this! Gorgeous photos!

Am home nursing hubby who had knee surgery on Monday so this is just what the doctor ordered for moi!

;-)

Love you,
Kim

clairz said...

What a beautiful town--thank you for this tour, and I'm looking forward to more.

One thing is for sure, looking at those roses made me realize what a long way my newly planted ones have to go!

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

I feel as if we just had a wonderful morning walk together. How about coffee?

xo
Lynn

Heather Lee said...

I can just picture Pollyanna skipping out that pink door and hopping on her bicycle. Thank you for the beautiful tour, and I can't wait to see more.

Blessings,
Heather

Connie said...

I love Ferndale. Especially their little drugstore/mercantile where they mix the soda pop with those old fountain things. Can't remember their names, but you know what I mean, sweetpea. Best Cokes around that part.
xoxo,
Connie

Tins and Treasures said...

Good Morning,
Thanks for taking us on that beautiful morning walk with you. I agree, the detailing on older homes is just fabulous.

Have a Worry-free Wednesday. ~Natalie

Rose said...

love a less formal garden. the flowersnear the picket fences are very inviting. we have a white picket fence no flowers

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Those gardens are all so lovely. I like the mixture of formal and relaxed....
Hugs,
Penny

Lisa said...

Becky,
I love the tour! Of course it makes me sadder that my house is such a suburban brick 80's home. But it's good to have dreams. Speaking of dreams, the farmhouse featured in your earlier post, the one for $499. DREAM HOUSE! Oh I can't believe how perfect it is. The setting, the outbuilding, the gardens, the porch. Every bit of it. All it's missing is my 3 kids swinging on a rope swing in the front yard.
And Duhgall & Fionna look so happy running on the beach. Walking on an empty foggy beach is in my all time top 5 favorite things to do. It looked dreamlike. Hope your having a great summer.
It's busy here. In fact we're on vacation in Colorado. Then the big 5 birthday & kindergarten. Did I mention busy?? LOL Lisa
PS I love the look of your blog banner, very cool with the categories.

Julie said...

Loved the walking garden tour. Thanks so much for taking us along. The photos were so good it was "almost" as good as being there. Makes me want to LIVE there...
Nostalgic...
Thanks so much Becky. Dreaming.....

Dawn said...

I would love any of those gardens! Arbors at the front gate are so welcoming. Much nicer than our chain link fence and padlock! When we bought the gates to keep the kids out of the road, someone acutally stold them before we could hang them!

Simply Shelley said...

Thanks for taking me along on this beautiful path...I loved seeing all the beauty....had fun seeing your sweet dogs having a ball on the beach as well in your previous post...blessings

stefanie said...

oh, I love all those old charming houses!!!

Lallee said...

So much charm! What I love about blogging--you get to see so many wonderful things you otherwise wouldn't. This neighborhood is so very different from the 'stucco village' I live in.

I love a loose garden where the plants look like they happened all on their own. All of these cottages and gardens were just wonderful. Can't wait to see more!
Hugs,
Lallee

Kathie Truitt said...

Do you mind if I 'steal' the picture of the cottage with the bike in front of it for my blog. Of course I'll credit you, and your name is on the picture, too. It's my dream home, with my dream bike. Just my dream life in general. Please let me know and of course if you'd rather not you are not going to hurt my feelings at all and I will STILL be in love with 'Sweet Cottage Dreams.'


Kathie

Couture Carrie said...

Such gorgeous gardens!
Beautiful pics!

xoxox,
CC

Anonymous said...

Hi Becky,
Gosh, we enjoy so many of the same things! We are leaving this Sat for Garberville and Ferndale. I have always said when we retire I would love to live in Ferndale and buy a Victorian home!!! I can't wait to go. Staying at Benbows and then to Ferndale. So glad you had such a wonderful time. Thanks for the gorgeous pictures! I am hoping the same charming antique shops are still there.
Hugs, Jan

Miss Jean said...

We love Ferndale and have visited a couple of times. It's a Hollywood destination for filming movies. They made The Majestic there with Jim Carrey and Outbreak with Dustin Hoffman among others. It's fun to drive around and spot the things you see in the movie. Great town!!!

Anonymous said...

I don't think I would ever choose to live in California, but I do think they have tons of charm in some of their older neighborhoods. My sister once lived in a charming little neighborhood in Mountain View California with small historic homes. White fences and neato front porches. Thanks for sharing these lovely photos with us today!

Di

ROSE VINE COTTAGE said...

What beautiful homes and gardens!! Does this mean you have moved into the neighborhood? I'm just teasing but I did love that little farmhouse (;

dogwood designs said...

Hi, These are great old homes and gardens

Unknown said...

AHHHHH! I nice cool respite from the heat here in Phx. Our gardens are now brown and growing brown things....:)

~Liz

Elsie said...

Oh my goodness, that was a beautiful walk. Love the pink door,the bike,the gate and all
the fences. All of it!!!Thanks!!
Now that I have walked again
today I can eat a dessert..right.":O)

Elsie said...

Becky I forgot to tell you, the white wire fence we used to have
in front of out house when I was
growing up. We had big white wire
gates daddy had made and we would
get in trouble if he caught us riding on them, swinging on the
gates. Fun, I still have a part
of a roll of our fence, couldn't
bare to throw it out.":O)

Anonymous said...

Oh how pretty,someday I would love to just have a bit of that beauty in my yard.

Molly the Airedale said...

What beautiful pictures! Mom loves all gardens - formal or informal! They're all pretty!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Rhondi said...

I was in Eureka years ago and visited Ferndale. WHat a charming town!

Elyse said...

so pretty, becky.

i love a real beach-cottagey garden. the white picket fence, rosebushes and hydrangeas.

although any garden is a pretty garden.

glad you brought your camera along!

xo
elyse

Lemon Lane Studio said...

Such a romantic town. I love all gardens but find myself drawn to informal cottage style. Looks like you had a wonderful time.

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

Thanks so much for sharing your tour of town. I enjoyed it so much, all those little cottages are so sweet. I also loved the one for sale on the 25 acres, what a dream.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Stacey said...

What a sweet little tour you took us on today! I just love to see homes in different areas. Love the gardens too. I like gardens that are neat but full. That's what you were showing us today. :)

Thank you very much for writing me about the store that has Cath Kidston items. You know, I always admire and wish for some of it...but since we don't have any stores around here I wouldn't even know what to ask for! If I spot something I will definitely let you know.

You are a sweetheart. :)

black eyed susans kitchen said...

This little area of the world is just wonderful. The houses are so pretty and the gardens are gorgeous! I can see why you would be inspired to take pictures. I love the fences and the gates!

the wild raspberry said...

that was a beautiful walk.
i like my gardens to be wild and carefree.
it takes a lot less work that way!
:)

hugs~
chas

Mimi Sue said...

Beautiful! Every single one of them. Reminds me of where I grew up in San Luis Obispo. Mimi

"Create Beauty" said...

WOW wow WOW!!! What amazing gardens and homes.

Please come over and enter my give-away, a couple of the items have to do with flowers and cottages : )

Hugs,
Violet

FairfieldHouse said...

Becky,

I enjoyed your tour of these beautiful homes and gardens in Ferndale. Great photography! I am on the opposite side of the country and just posted about the Painted Ladies on my shore.

Deborah
http://fairfieldhousenj.com/2010/07/19/time-traveler/