In three days, the Texas Horticultural Society will be touring my humble little studio during their 2024 Conference. Needless to say, I have a lot of work to do. In fact, I am reminded about it every time someone hears about the distinguished guests coming for a visit. My family and friends all appear to have the same movie script.
”Do you understand what a big deal this is?? Keenan, you have A LOT OF WORK TO DO!”
It’s always the same facial expression as well. Eyes bugged out of their heads as they look at the overwhelming amount of poppies that need to be dried, wildflower herds that need to be thinned, weed seeds that need to be cut, hay and mulch needs to be spread, dried bulb foliage that looks scrappy and the half painted barn that I decided to repaint because I don’t have enough to do. But hey, I’ve got this! Gardens always rise to the occasion.
This past week, my Uncle-in-Law and his lovely wife Brenda brought the 150 year old picket fencing from the original Higginbothom mansion in Dublin, Texas. The house no longer exists, but the fencing had been salvaged yeas ago. When Brenda and Uncle Don heard about the special garden tour, they felt the fencing belonged at the studio. The fencing arrived on Tuesday, and gave them a quick tour of the gardens. Uncle Don’s facial expression was basically the same as all the others as he looked at me and said (in his matter-of-fact way) “Seven days? You’ve got a lot of work to do!”
Don’t worry everyone! I’ve got this!
Heres a little reminder of the past history of Agape Haus Studio and Garden, just to remember how far the little garden has come…
*Purchased for $25K in 2014. Holes in walls were no extra charge.
*Barn restored and chicken coop created.
*Ratty chain link fencing torn down around beautiful Live Oak Tree and first garden planted.
*Purchased the drug house next door for $15K and tore the thing down in between violin lessons. Found a falling down shed shell and had it moved by a neighbor and a bunch of football dudes. The wood used on the Potting shed was salvaged from the old tear down.
*Llano Flood in 2018. All bulbs were moved from our flooded house to the studio grounds. Dug bulbs every day for much needed soul therapy. Remember, never leave your bulb babies behind.
*Covid 2020. My Covid isolation project was eliminating the sticker-heaven in the back lot, while restoring the land. I pulled a large bucket of stickers every day, while digging out rock to create a path through the native garden, which was created in 2022.
*The last chickens to survive the predator attacks were given away to a dear friend, and the coops were turned into potting sheds in 2023. Land began to restore and wildflowers began to bloom.
*Two years back to back hard freezes, hard droughts and record-breaking temperatures. All Antique Roses were lost, and the gardens suffered. A dear friend stepped in a got Agape Haus a solar-paneled well storage tank. What a game changer!
*Finally, Five large Invasive trees were removed last year (thanks to my hubs and son), the Veggie Garden established, the Large back Live Oak garden established, the Cut flower Garden created, Luciano’s meadow was created, and finally….I followed a landscaping company that had an enormous truckload of good dirt, and had it dumped to create the Lavender Garden….all in the last 2 years.
*April 21-28….Do the Hustle! Fencing, snail-picking, Iris-planting, Weed-pulling, Prickly Poppy-cutting, Goldfish brought in, Lavender planting, and paint mishaps….all in a week.
Thanks to my amazing friends and family who have supported me in this adventure.
I’m truly excited to see what the little garden will look like in 3 more days. As always, it is only by the grace of the Lord and His guidance that any of this is made possible. It makes no sense. Honestly, how can a little violinist tear down a house? The Lord simply enables ordinary people to do extraordinary things. This garden is nothing without Him….I am nothing without Him. It is the Lord who whispers quietly “Just keep digging “, and so I do.
The Little Gardens that Could. And I am so humbled and proud to be a part of the Texas Horticultural Society garden tour. Happy Gardening, my friends! Love, Keenan @Heirloombulbgirl
Heirloombulbgirl 
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