Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Hippley Gardens

68°f/19°C, humid, overcast. 

So last Thursday was a very full day! First the Nelson Ledges State Park, then the Hambledon Mill and Fellowes Gardens, and next, the Hippley Gardens. It was hot too, but the Hippley Gardens were a total delight.

There were many water features, characters from a variety of games and movies, stone sculptures and little buildings, flowers everywhere...so much to see. My photos dont capture even half of this quirky, happy place.

There is a waterfall coming out of the back of the truck but I missed getting a photo of it somehow. 

A succulent roof!

A children's lending library, with "books' for steps!

My camera was full again, so I missed getting a photo of the brick sculptures of people, made by the only man in the US to do such work. They were simply incredible.

We were lucky enough to meet the creator of Hippley Gardens, Mr. John Hippley, who was there working on one of the water features. He zis a retired high school landscaping instructor (who knew they had such classes in high school!), and owns a landscaping business in nearby Salem, Ohio. His electric bill for the gardens is $2500 a month! Fortunately there is now a nonprofit foundation for the gardens, but Mr. Hippley told us he puts all the money from his landscaping business into these gardens. His love and dedication is apparent everywhere. What a man. 

Hippley Gardens is free to tour, and open to the public. The internet advised calling to schedule a tour but when I called, Mr. Hippley was amazed that I was coming all the way from West Virginia to see his gardens, and told me to come anytime. It seems that calling ahead is really not necessary unless you want a formal tour, or are bringing a group, as there are no gates that I could see.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.