A Lovely Day for Sharing Our Garden

Yesterday was chilly and cloudy all day long, so I was especially pleased to awake this morning, too early because my back was being bothersome, to see clear blue sky in the early morning light.

It was a gorgeous day, a high of 78 here in SeaTac, perfect in every way, just what I had ordered for our Open Garden.  After getting set up, and before any guests arrived, I went out with my camera for a lens-eye look.

I used my vintage flower pots and old berry carrier as serving pieces for snacks for the guests.  Fill a paper cup with your choices: Jelly Bellies, dark chocolate M&M's, dark chocolate covered pomegranate seeds, Spanish peanuts, dried cranberries, shelled pistachios.  Ice water and coffee were also available.

The first to arrive were Corey, who is here for the weekend, and the kids, Isaac and Irene.  Let the action begin.

The kids checked out the flower shop, and Irene approved.  Isaac was ready for business right now!  When customers failed to arrive very quickly, Corey and Isaac left to go golfing, as planned.  Irene worried that no one would come.  I assured her they they would. Irene was nervous because Isaac was supposed to be the cashier, so we did a practice sale, and she was good to go.  Their little cash register does all the math for her. Math is not her strength.

The first guest to arrive was my long ago roommate, Kay.  We have not seen each other for thirty-some years, but we hooked up on Facebook, and I put out the invitation to my Facebook Friends, and she came!  We had lots of time to catch up before others began to arrive.

 Jill checked in and spent time with Irene as she waited for visitors to come to her shop.

 She is officially ready!

 Garden club members began to arrive and came in a steady trickle all day.

 Customers for Irene!

 My friend DeeDee and her daughter helped the cause.

 Tom and I both enjoyed meeting and visiting with our garden guests.  We had a lot of questions about specific plants, how do you do it questions,  watering system inquiries, and lots of questions about our glass flowers.  We shared all of our gardening secrets.

 Aunt Jan and Cousin April shopped for plants.

 We sat on the patio and visited and waited for club members to work their way through the garden.

 These two NPA members were also photographers and bloggers. We shared blog information, and they have already looked me up on line and commented on my last post.  When I get time I'll link them up, and add them to my blog roll.  I think they plan to post pics of our garden.  It will be fun to see it through their lenses.

 We have had Northwest Perennial Alliance Open Gardens before, but this time we were part of a little area tour of four gardens, and with the weather and some contacts we have made visiting other gardens, we had the best turn out ever - 23 members and various other guests.  We had so many lovely compliments it made us feel very good and very pleased to have this place to share.  It makes all the work even more worthwhile.

With everyone gone by about 5:00, I took my camera around to capture a bit more and just soak up the pleasure of this day.

I collected all the signs as I visited the front of the house.

 Irene's Shop is closed.  She sold out of almost everything!  She and Isaac counted the money and collected their profits.  

Before they left, I interviewed Miss Irene:  
Tell me about your shop: "My manager is my brother.  This was our Grand Opening.  Everything went well and we sold a whole bunch of stuff.
What was the best thing?: I had fun!  A lot of people were interested in my great idea!
I want to have another sale. I can't believe that's it for this year."

I think Irene had a day to remember.  I know I did.