How To Live A Fairytale Adventure In Utah!

Two and a half years ago I had a magical trip with my son visiting the five Utah National parks in five days! Now I can add another magical adventure in Utah to my memory bank. After seeing an Instagram post on how to spend three full days in and around Provo, my twin and I embarked on a journey to do most of the itinerary. Granted they were twenty-somethings and we are 65! But we did hiking, river rafting, cuddled with cows, petted llamas, explored downtown Provo, and visited the Mormon Temple. Our adventures took us to Lindon, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Provo, SpanishFork, Springville and Salt Lake City. 

We had a fabulous location to use as home base at Wadley Farms in Lindon, Utah. The farm dates back to 1869 and has stayed in the family ever since. Today Alan Colledge and his family keep the farm and event center running in top-notch condition. As a grandchild working the farm Alan says, “the land became one of us. It became who we are!” In 1988 Alan purchased the farm and remodeled the original home. He started with some hay, a few cows, and a desire to use reclaimed materials. He took a barn from Orem and began renovating it. He moved an abandoned building from Topliff and turned it into a railroad house for events. Originally the farm had a Victorian feel but after a visit to Napa Valley in California he got inspired to make the farm into a more old world medieval estate. He chose to build a castle because as he puts it, “ nobody will tear down a castle!” He wanted an aboretum so he found an old building that he cut off the roof and added more glass panels underneath. In the hay barn he cut open the second floor, put in large beams and ballisters with belly rolls. He uses Douglass Fir for all the floors, doors, and furniture.  What he achieved is magical! Today the castle, barn and railroad building all hold events. Future plans are to have restaurants built on the property.

I’ve always loved gates and doors so I fell in love with this property.  It blows my mind that they are all engineered and crafted on site.  One door was even done by a fifteen year old.  Alan believes in giving chances to those who haven’t been dealt the best hand.  He wants to teach them a trade.

Alan builds turrets by using steel tanks and surrounding it with rock. Then he makes the roof from slate. To achieve his vision for the farm he incorporates four key elements: lots of real stone, iron, beams, and greenery. 

 

Some other repurposed items include outside seating made from capstones from the Salt Lake City Cathedral of the Madeline, Geneva steel from the Hill Airforce base, a chandelier from Normandy, France, drill pipe and gas pipe that turned into a grand chandelier and sconces, a fireplace salvaged from a pioneer home, and pcp pipe to create soft curves for arches. As Alan says there are no straight lines in nature.

 

Over 2,000 grape vines were planted to add to the ambiance. 

Seven double doors were cut into the railroad building so now it feels like an extension of the garden. Alan shared this quote by William Morris that he holds dear:

Along with hosting weddings and special events the farm also has three separate spaces for rental. We stayed in the charming Rustic Loft perfect for two. There is also a Chateau which sleeps up to eight and the Hermitage Suite which is great for couples and small families.  

We could have just stayed on the farm and been perfectly content.  I loved sitting on the sofa looking at a gorgeous tree, the castle and snow-covered mountains while the birds loudly chirped. But we also had a blast getting out and being active. Here is our itinerary:

Day one: Arrive and walk around the beautiful grounds.

Day two: Spend time at Dreamwalk in Orem. This is an interactive art exhibit. Enjoy a strawberry shake at Taco Amigo and then explore the murals and Gumbug in downtown Provo.

Day three: Cow cuddles at Fold of Liberty Farms in Spanish Fork, llamas and peacocks at Shri Shri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, and then a hike at Fifth Water Hot Springs in Springville. 

 

Day four: River rafting at High Country Adventure in Provo.  Short hike to Battle Creek Falls Trail in Pleasant Grove.

Day five: Breakfast at Little American Hotel Coffee Shop.  Mormon temple in Salt Lake City.

I will forever cherish this special trip with my twin and our own fantasy stay at Wadley Farms. 

One last note about this trip is that just as the buildings were magnificent so too were the people we met in Utah.  

Forever grateful,

Sylvia 

Poem I wrote about Wadley Farms 

Doors, turrets, sconces, more
Built by hand with family love. 
Wadley Farms I simply adore. 
First Victorian then Tuscan behove.

The castle is a fairytale. 
The grounds truly perfect. 
Multiple generations of male
Built it to last and to protect. 

Salvaged materials all around. 
Alan an Orthopedic surgeon past. 
Now with new bones from ground. 
New generations will make it last.

From belly rolls  to beams
You simply can’t just walk by. 
This place engulfs you in dreams
Of another time, oh my! 

My twin and I spent 4 days

Hiking and river rafting.
Watching llamas and cows graze. 

Learned of 2,000 vines grafting. 

Wadley Farms can’t be beat 
For ambiance and location. 
Stay put or move your feet. 
You’ll have a lovely vacation.

DID SHELTERING IN PLACE LEAD TO A SECRET GARDEN?

 I don't know if it was the year anniversary since COVID hit, or just me needing a creative outlet, but I decided to create a secret garden.  Of course, I've posted on FB so it's not really a secret.  I call it that because you can't see it from the house.  You need to walk thru a narrow path by our lemon tree to get to it. As an added bonus, you can see it from inside the Casita if you open the blinds.  That's something I need to do more.  I don't know why, but I live with lots of blinds down! 

I got my inspiration from my friend, Arlene.  She lives in Fallbrook and has a farm at her house. Yes, donkeys, goats, chickens, pigs, and she used to have bunnies too.  She took me to her side yard that used to be a dog run.  She's turning it into a lovely garden.

I came home and took stock of the land where I would lay claim.  There already were stepping stones in place where a plum and peach tree used to be. Both died, so it's been pretty barren back there.  We did replace the old sprinkler valves, so that was the only upgrade to the area. 

Little did I know that this would be only the first upgrade to the area!

dead plum tree

I decorated it to bring life back to it!

Poor peach tree. Only one branch looked alive

Our one and only peach

After I pulled out the peach tree, we planted a Sweet Lime tree, but it looked sad and wasn't getting enough sun.  So we transplanted it to a sunnier spot. So, now I was done with trees. It was time to rethink the area.  A garden it would be! I decided I would make my garden by using both old and new items. 

I saw this cute wagon and just had to have it!

I knew this bench would be perfect for the garden. A hummingbird theme it would be!

 We had an old bedroom blind leaning up against a fence by our trash bins, and also a pallet that had been used to deliver our patio dining table.  I started the transformation by taking apart old party bags. That's right. Who knew that party bags belonged in a garden. I had taken an old mirror frame from Arlene's house and didn't know what I was going to do with it.  Then it hit me!  Use party bags to hang flowers and herbs and make a drying station. I had the bags apart and lying in the frame, but when I tried to move it, the frame broke apart. Oh well, I still used the bags. I just hung them on the side of the casita for some color and distraction from the sprinkler valves.

Next it was time to haul the pallet across my backyard and into the secret space.  I also moved a raccoon and an owl from my backyard to keep watch over the new territory.

Pallet down with the raccoon and owl keeping watch

Then I went shopping in my garage.  I found containers and fake flowers to help me visualize what the garden could become. 

I need to put things in front of me to visualize. I just can't do it in my head!

Then it was off in the rain to Lowes to go flower shopping. I knew the area was primarily in the shade, so a lot of flowers I like wouldn't be appropriate.  I ended up with a Fuchsia plant, Cyclamen and Impatiens. The best part was a hummingbird stake that I found.  I then proceeded to put everything in my car and came home.  After getting home I realized I didn't have the Hummingbird so I drove 20 minutes in the rain to go retrieve it. Some things are just worth it, even if they don't cost much!

I got you my lovely!

The finished pallet. I love it!

After I finished the pallet I waited a few days for my hummingbird bench to arrive.  In the meantime, I put my hummingbird stake in the ground around newly transplanted ice plant that some animal was eating. My hope was that it would act like a scarecrow and make them go away.

Garden awaiting my bench, wagon, and other purchases

I needed to create a powerpoint jpeg to help me visualize where everything would go

The bench arrived and was simple enough to put together, or so I thought.  I had it almost done when I realized it did matter which side leg went where.  So I undid the whole thing and started over.  The entire time spent was 39 minutes. But, it was worth it because I love the bench!

I moved a rusty table with a glass top and updated it with stone piece from another part of the yard

I love the hummingbird bench, but was super disappointed  in the blue wagon.  I don't know how they took the photo, but they made it seem quite large.  Reality was a different story! 

For my piece de resistance, I commissioned a painting from Arlene to do on the old blinds. What a transformation!

 Blinds before and after!

I sent Arlene some inspirational shots.

I absolutely love the finished piece!

To complete my hummingbird themed garden, I purchased a solar lantern and a solar bird bath. I was pleased with both of them.  They actually do light up at night!

Next it was time to plant some seed mats.  Time will tell if they produce gorgeous flowers!

Area where I planted the seed mats. I also added three glass hummingbirds above the drying stations.

After planting the mats, I wanted to try and cover up the sprinkler valves.  I took some old product I found in the garage and constructed a box. However, that didn't hold up. So, I settled for painting a piece of plywood. I can't draw so it's a good thing it isn't too big. Could you imagine if I had tried to paint the blinds?  They wouldn't have been worthy of being hung!

before and after

Now, I told myself I was done. That was until I saw cute colored flowerpots on a FB ad.

So, I ordered them and some fake sunflowers to finally complete my secret garden!

View of the secret garden from the other side of the fence

I haven't spent too much time yet in the garden, but I know I will.  I was lucky enough to catch a hummingbird feeding outside our kitchen window, and it only reinforced why I wanted to make the secret garden a hummingbird theme.  You can't have too many hummingbirds.

When fantasy becomes reality!

I love the sunflowers and colored baskets with the blind painting!

The finished garden

View from inside the casita

I could sit here all day!

Of course I needed a bird and flower mug to take to the garden!

Overall, I'm quite pleased with how my "March Madness" went!  I got inspired, got creative, spent some bucks, and now have a place to call my own!  The 15 hummingbirds and I welcome visitors.