Piggy's Select European Garden Tour:

Precis: In which Piggy (a small and good natured flying pig and Cottage Garden Mascot of Tacky Yard Art fame) travels afar to visit several Capitals of Europe and literally becomes enshrined as an absolute treasure in the Musee Pompidou in Paris. Along the way, Piggy views Garden Marvels large and small, sees some Sights and discovers a Very Old Tree. And let us not forget to mention the botanical magic of the rare Alpine Meadow. This is a True Story told in installments due to heavy graphics load caused by the plethora of (copyrighted) photos.

Part One: The Adventure Begins

We last saw a stolid and solitary Piggy en route to a destination unknown, climbing with quite possibly gritty determination across a forbidding expanse of lichen- and moss-encrusted boulder on a hot summer day in rural Pennsylvania. Last September, was Piggy dreaming perhaps of a far and distant journey, perchance a mountain trek? Pig minds are inscrutable, but dreams are always a good thing.

When the Wanderlust attacked in earnest nearly a year later, Piggy abandoned that Pennsylvania granite but stuck tight with the big dream: larger is always better. To the Alps!

Onward and Upward. With some auxiliary wing power and proper safety precautions, Piggy soared through the clouds in grand style. All was comfy in the cabin, although truth be told Piggy is quite small for a pig and fit neatly in the seat pocket, wings included.

Piggy especially enjoyed the delicious en flight meals and found the complimentary eye mask very useful as well as terribly chic. Sadly, Piggy slept right through the movies.

Piggy tried to practice a wee bit en francais in preparation for the eventual visit to that irrepressible halcyon of style, Paris. Can you say "Oui oui!"? Piggy can say "Oooh la la" very well, too. But when the plane landed, the geographically challenged Piggy had a welcome surprise.