River runs through, almost!

It's a gorgeous morning here but will be very hot again later.

I look out over the freshly mown lawn - Bob cut it early evening yesterday. 

The sun was going down. . . .and the stunning 'Strawberry Moon' was

rising beyond the treeline.  It has been an awesome sight the past three nights.

Right now I'm awaiting an estimate visit from a landscape professional.

He will be the first of a few with whom I'm sharing my back yard

 'secret garden', which now, in all honesty, is an overgrown jungle in some areas. 

With an ever growing worrisome drainage problem needing attention,

 help is necessary. It's becoming unmanageable for us alone!

Functional garden pebble art by local stone mason/musician Graham Fry - amazing!

Of course I have my personal vision for the back garden. . . . . .

 . . . . . . but unfortunately not the budget!

Perfection would include a tree removal company, a bulldozer, ten tons of top

quality topsoil, and the best landscape designer with a vision matching my own, 

but with the ability to draw the plan on paper.  

 All that would be followed by a reliable, competent, speedy, affordable,

 landscape installation company. There would be elegant hardscaping such

 as stone walls, pebbled walkways such as above, a pond, a small waterfall, 
an outdoor fireplace with a pizza oven. All would be softened by new, smaller 
trees - some flowering, some just beautiful in their form - thousands of spring 
bulbs, boxwoods, lavender, more climbing roses on the back fence, 
more native rhododendrons.. . . . . and so forth.
Mary, do keep quiet and stop dreaming!!!

We face another weekend which we pray will be much 

better than the last one. Still under a night time curfew, at least
through Sunday, protestors continue each day but thankfully 
no further damage or looting.
Meanwhile, sadly, COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths continue
 to climb here in North Carolina. We are not going far from home
anytime soon.
Stay well, be strong, and take care wherever you are.

Along the winding way. . . . . . . .

Nearby, in my area of North Carolina, is an artist/musician/stonemason

 who will wow you with his amazing creations in garden landscapes using the 
most beautiful pebbles. 

His installations mimic wandering streams with floating flowers, gentle running

 brooks, even the look of textiles draped across larger stones and rocky

outcrops in a landscape.

Graham Fry had already worked a decade in landscaping featuring stonework

which included building massive walls, outdoor fireplaces, unusual steps and
 stairways, elegant paved walkways and patios etc., when he gravitated toward
 work using stone in its smallest form, pebbles.

Beside being beautiful art, his creations in the landscape are able to address
 problem areas such as poor drainage, or a lack of good soil for growing plants. 

Can you imagine the patience required to create these glorious installations?

Graham, also a working musician, plays guitar with well known rock

 (no pun intended!) bands. While laying rocks and pebbles he's always

 listening to music to help with the flow. It's not hard to hear a melody in
his work such as this one below. To me, these creations bring yet 
another aspect of Nature to surround a home and make a
very beautiful garden area which will last a long time.

I learned of Graham's company and outstanding work from a recent article
 in our local Raleigh newspaper. I was so excited that I went immediately to his
 website to learn more. You should do the same, go here to WINDING PATH 
to see more of his astounding body of work.

I have an area in my garden where I know Graham could work his magic -
it's now near the top of that ever expanding wish list!

All photos via Winding Path Custom Stone Masonry, Durham, NC

Permission to share here given by Graham Fry.