Of Rain Chains

and such...

 Last week I finally got around to 

hanging my rain chain I bought months ago.

I decided I must have one after viewing them

hung from the gutters of a bungalow not far from me.

I'll show that bungalow below.

I got this rain chain at ROSS for $9.99!

I was thrilled at the price till I went to hang it and realized it

was about half the length it needed to be.

I didn't have a spot for it from my gutters anyway.

Now it hangs from a tree in my front yard. 

I think it makes a nice feature.

I've struggled with bare spots under my yaupon holly 

tree in the front flower bed for years.

The roots are so thick...I can't plant anything there.

I finally got smart and realized I could put containers

on top of the root filled soil.

It's a shady spot so hostas and ferns are happy 

in their pots under the tree.

 This little dragonfly I bought at a local art festival.

He's made of vintage silverware.

 Ok, so here is why I needed a rain chain. 

I happened upon this bungalow one day last spring.

It was just before Easter. These photos show large Easter Eggs

here and there. The trees were just starting to bud out in these

photos.

A few weeks later I was driving buy and 

saw the owners out working in the yard.

I pulled over so fast - they thought I was a crazy person.

I just had to tell them how beautiful their yard is 

and how lovely their bungalow is painted.

 They hadn't taken the covers off their patio furniture yet.

Isn't that the cutest rain chain?

I told them how much I admire their bungalow and 

they said they tried to make it look like a bungalow that you 

would find in Oregon or northern California.

They added the stacked stone.

All the bungalows here have brick rather than stone.

I told them I loved the color combination they'd done for 

the exterior paint.

They said several of the neighbors complained about 

their paint choice when they first did it.

They thought too wild. 

I think it's just right.

The day I stopped the owner had just planted her container

a top the pedestal.
 

A sweet path.

I could have spent all afternoon on this porch.

 The owner planted purple irises in honor of the

previous owner who'd lived there many years.

Her name was Iris.

This house and yard is such an inspiration for me.

The owners have done all of this themselves.

And were full of gardening knowledge.

I was so glad I stopped on the spur of the moment to chat 

and take photos.