My very good friend invited me to go on a garden tour of Modesto and Manny decided to tag along as he just couldn't believe humble Modesto would host a garden tour, I mean really ... Modesto!
So off we went, hoping we could slip in some "Manny posing with the flowers" photo ops while the lovely Di was looking the other way. She seemed to be embarrassed to been seen by the refined Garden Ladies of Modesto with a doll wielding, crazy photo taking person. (but I didn't care, cue the crazy person laughter, bwa ha ha).
Manny contemplated taking a dip in the pool, I had to remind him that Di would not look kindly upon our frolicking in the fancy Garden Lady's pool.
the next place was quite a showcase of modern architecture, minimalist gardening and spectacular concrete designs, like this fireplace mantel, all made by the homeowner's company, Flying Turtle Cast Concrete:
The next place on the tour was a little more my speed, a modest size home with a small, but wonderful, colorful yard filled with plant and decoration eye candy. They had a lot of simple concrete planter beds painted purple and lime green, filled with very interesting succulent plants of every size, shape and texture.
and then Manny snuck up into this cool, succulent wall planter so he could see the clever watering feature built into the top of this thing. Luckily, this was in the side yard, so no-one caught on.
we went to several other places and saw other fabulous gardens.
Manny didn't just stop to smell the roses, he climbed right on up into them.
good thing this hard working girl was busy elsewhere at the time
Lastly, a word of caution, should you choose to go on the tour next year. The path DOES NOT go all the way around the lake, it only goes 95% of the way around the lake to leave you looking with longing at the last 50 uncrossable yards with your sad, sunburned foreheads and blistered feet, thinking damn it, why didn't we stop at the picnic table an hour ago?? now we have to walk ALL THE WAY BACK!! with no water, no sunscreen and no other shoes.