Decor: Garden getaway

Jane and Matt Thompson love escaping into their backyard and relaxing with a glass of wine. But they owe the credit for their luscious retreat on Bonita Lane to friend and former owner, Aina Segal.

“It felt like a house one could find in southern France or a small town in Italy,” Segal said. “It had the European flavor of the places I knew as a child. Although it did not have a garden, I could visualize it using the existing old fountain as a starting place.”

And, so, with the help of her gardener, Segal planted Confederate jasmine and any plants local farmers told her would coax butterflies into the garden. She delineated flower beds, creating pathways for meandering, and, ultimately, she created a goldfish pond.

“The road sign reminded me of the many places I have lived.”




 

“The man in the tree is just that — a tree man. When one wants to talk to the trees, he is it.”




 

A single climbing rose blooms in the garden.

This gazing ball is just one of the many unique elements in the Thompson garden.

















In addition to a bird bath, three bird feeders hang in the garden.
























“I bought five little goldfish for $1 and watched them thrive after placing the netting over them to prevent the herons coming from the trees to fish for them for lunch.”

IF YOU GO
Simply Sarasota Kitchen and Garden Festival
When: Kick-off party takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday April 13, at G.WIZ; Kitchen Tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 14 and April 15; Garden Tea Party with Sybil Sylvester of Wildflower Designs takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Sarasota Garden Club.
Tickets: Kick-off party tickets $25; tour tickets are $20; Garden Tea Party $75.
Info: Call 953-5600 or visit JLSarasota.org.