Meeting Jeanne Sammons
Regularly, I profile one of the very involved and talented members of Flea Market Gardening. These folks are inspirational, talented gardeners and bargain shoppers! You may already recognize their names and photos and the next time you do you can say hello!
Meet Jean Sammons
Jeanne Sammons, “Sitting in my swing in my Secret Garden in the Pines, early evening.”
Jeanne and her hubby, Larry are retired and have lived on the same acreage for over 40 yrs now where they raised their children and animals in Northeast Iowa. She loves gardening!
Jeanne says, “I love anything “rustic”… especially using old barn wood, metal and pottery in the gardens. I love feeding the birds,…Larry takes care of filling the feeders, and I can spend hours watching them from inside the house and photographing their antics, especially during the long Winter months!”
“A beautiful day in Iowa and I enjoyed using some of my ‘harvest’ today and decorated up the Baker’s Rack on my porch/patio…cut boughs from pine trees and gourds and curly willow, too. A good day!”
“This is a door arbor, built last year, made from a couple old doors and 2×6′s that my hubby and I did together…Mandevilla vine hangs in the middle … white Cleome around it and a Knock-out Rose is new, too.”
This scene stunned us all when we first saw it.How did Jeanne know how effective the white cleome and chair would look combined with the fabulous idea of a door arbor. Many are ‘stealing’ this idea, but don’t forget the cleome!
“No fresh paint, just sunshine on the weathered fence…plus yellow day lilies to brighten it! I have several Asiatic & Day lily colors planted here, too. The plant growing that you see is actually a ‘Prairiefire Crab Apple’ off to the side & you are seeing a branch.”
“This is what I call ‘Live Art’ … made by an artist at Farmer’s Market for me a couple yrs ago…here it is in my gardens…I move it around and love it!”
“I like flower gardens, prairies and pine trees. I have a ‘secret garden’ out in the pines with a log swing where I relax, meditate and feel close to God…I refer to it as my outdoor church. I am continually adding, moving and creating new gardens…love being outdoors!,” says Jeanne.
Jeanne loves birds and loves to photograph them.
“Another passion of mine is photography which goes hand-in-hand with gardening for me! I’ve taken photos for many years, just ask my kids! I also enjoy trying to capture the beauty of nature. In the early 90s, I went back to college and graduated, receiving an art degree with a photography emphasis, and an English minor.”
“Never pass up those ‘blue insulators’ at flea markets!…3 blocks of wood, strand of mini-lights, 3 metal label thingy’s and some faux greenery behind it all…’Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!’”
“Here’s an old barn wood door that we rescued … I painted it white, added a board frame and grapevine wreath, an old freezer basket, a branch of Curly Willow and took it to daughter’s house with Fall Mum…… barn wood is fun to recycle!”
Last January, if you remember, I tried duplicating Jeanne’s old barn door, with a Dutch door of my own. What an inspiration! It was a fun project and everyone followed along to give me suggestions. ~~ Sue
“Finished up another original ‘Barnwood Bloom’ today …” says Jeanne.
“Retirement has been good for us! We joined our local Farmer’s Market about 5 years ago where we bring our old ‘barn wood’ creations: bird houses, feeders and my newest barn wood art, “Barnwood Blooms.” I really like how the stovetop grate frames the stained glass candle holder flower and I used patio umbrella spoke for the stem…My husband cut the metal leaf thingy’s from a pair of brackets I had…and course, the old barn wood board with a coat of Poly…everything from Flea Marketing!”
And this is the garden where a wren hangs out on the Bell. There are some weeds here, too…but it still is lookin’ good!
Jeanne says, “Creating photo cards has been a hobby for as long as I can remember, so I am always pleased to share my gardens, the birds, garden walks through photography.”
Jeanne is another ‘Queen of the Vignette’ as you can see, and her photos are distinctive by the soft focus edges she likes to use. I’m so glad to have Jeanne with us to add her creative contributions and joy of gardening! ~~ Sue
See MORE of Jeanne’s photos
Flea Market Gardening-A Facebook page to a garden blog is now a website! Cool.
Very nice my fellow Iowan!!! Love the gardens and hope to see them in person some day. Another great profile, Sue. Keep up the good work.
Wonderful story, Jeanne you are such an inspiration and truly an artist in so many ways! I could spend hours looking at all of your beautiful photo’s!
That was a real treat visiting your gardens Jeanne~ you are truly gifted with your Eye and Hands….Thanks for sharing <3
such pretty pines! i like her way of using them with the galvanized tin.
Jeanne’s blog is very inspirational. Everything goes together so nicely. Well done!
Love all the great ideas.
Love Everything!
Jeanne,I love your gardens and ideas,you truly are an inspiration to me ! I could look at your pictures over and over. You know how to catch the moment for sure ! Thanks for letting us see the gardens. Sue,another great blog !
Now I know who to thank for the arbor door idea!! I have it hanging on my refrigerator waiting for hubby to make it. I already have two doors ready for the project.
Love Jeanne’s garden and all her wonderful accessories.
Thank you, Sue …your blog is wonderful! Love reading the ‘how-to’s!’ FMG Facebook page is just so much fun! Such inspiration from so many pics & creative flea market ideas! Thanks, FMGers’ for looking & commenting! Spring is just around the corner!
The pictures and garden ideas are just as wonderful as the lady. Proven to be an inspiration with her photographs and garden art.I enjoy so much looking at your pictures and taking virtual walks though your gardens!Thank you Jeanne
What a BEAUTIFUL, INSPIRING page and lady! Jeanne could create a coffee table book with all of her creative ideas and photos!
Jeanne, you are so creative and I love your pictures. Everything is so lovely. Thanks for sharing Sue.
Thank you, FMGing’ers!
love all the pictures Jeanne you are so talented!!
Karen
Jeanne…since we’ve been on other forums together, I feel like we’re “real” friends! Your creations are always inspiring and beautiful. I’ve borrowed some of them already! Your photography is amazing as well…keep up the great work! It’s great being inspired by someone like you.
So happy to see a few of Jeanne’s creations here. Her yard is always amazing and it’s so fun to see what her next creation will be. A lady with alot of talent and it shows. The door arbor is one of my all time favorites.
Hope to see more in time.
Everything looks wonderful, Jeanne. I am so glad you posted this blog.
Marylee
I love your Barnwood Blooms.
I love my Grandma, and her yard! I googled you Grandma Jeanne, and this came up! I have told many people that admire my pond that yours is the inspiration for what I have done. Now if i can just convince you to come help me make the rest of my yard as nice looking as the pond area, i’ll be set
Ahhhhh…you took me by surprise, Adam…to see you on this blog! I LOVE your pond …& your b’day present (which I haven’t got to you yet!) is for your pond. Hugs!
Hey,
I simply wanted to say that I love the creativity and love that you’ve out into every aspect of your garden. I must admit I’m tempted to copy the way you hang the looked bottles upside down. Would you mind sharing what kind of wire you use and where it might be found?
I aspire to have a garden such as yours one day.
Johna … The wire used for the blue bottle fence was just some left over ‘spool wire’ from fencing that my hubby had in his shop. I think if you go to a Farm Fleet store of some kind (here we have Blains & Tractor Supply) & take a blue bottle with you …they would be able to show you a good ‘gauge’ wire for your project. Thanks for your comments!
Breath taking…I would never want to leave home with a yard like this!
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