A shady trio for you!

How's this for a punch of color in a shade garden!

Yep, once again, I found this scene on a garden tour this summer.

Gardening friends, Sherrie and Denny, had their gardens on our local garden tour.  A bit of everything in their large piece of heaven, sun, shade, part shade, fairy gardens and even a live peacock!

It's always a treat to visit their gardening paradise!  She has a spectacular new tall lily I didn't get to see so that gives me an excuse to get back there next August to get a picture for you!

A spectacular centerpiece!

Yep, spotted this on a garden tour this summer! 

Black-eyed Susans....

It just isn't late summer or fall without seeing the clumps of this favorite flower all over!

Whatever you call them, Black-eyed Susans, Rudbeckias or any of the other common names,  they are spectacular!  They always make me smile when I see them!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PLANT CLICK HERE!

These are pictures I took this fall at gardening friend Nancy's gardens!

How's this for an unusual planter?

Well, not only does this catch your eye quickly!  You need a large garden to display it in!

Absolutely delightful!

  It was on the Rochester Garden Club Annual Garden Tour this year!

Cooler temps are coming.....

Time to start thinking about what to do with the container plantings and fairy gardens that use desert succulents in them!  30 degrees outside is about the maximum temperature they will survive in!

I am including a link to a website that has some good information on what to do to move your desert succulents into the house for the winter.  Or, you can do what I occasionally do, consider them annuals like I do other plants that won't survive our MN temperatures lower than 32 degrees.  In the past found I've found new homes for them and even have composted them with other annuals. 

I do have a neighbor that is willing to come in and water them for me while we are gone south for three months this winter!  So I am considering bringing them all inside this year.  I do have a fairy garden I brought in last year and took with me to and from AZ and enjoyed it again this summer. 

Needless to say, my husband thought I was crazy!  But I just considered it's like his golf clubs, they go to AZ and come back to MN with us! 

This is a new fairy garden this year!

This is a hanging planter I brought to MN from AZ this year!

This is a new container I planted this year!

 The below link is to a website that has lots of information on wintering over desert succulents.  It advertises books but  I follow this website because there are often lots of good information in it!
For information in bringing succulents indoors for MN winters.. CLICK HERE

I just gotta have one of these..

Recently I visited Denny and Sherry Bowe's gardens and she had a fairy garden with a stream and pond with real running water in it!  I don't have one of those!  So, now I'm on a fairy garden accessory hunt for one for me!   I found one on display in Lancaster, PA last week but it was not for sale and they were out of stock!  Dang it! 

You can even hear the water running in the stream!

Sweet Potato Vine suprise....

Find the surprise in this planter! 

Found this attractive display tucked in a corner at Cindy's last month.  This blossom was a surprise treat to both of us!

Lovely surprise blossom on the Sweet Potato Vine!

There are lots of varieties of Sweet Potato Vine to add some drama to your planters and garden beds!   To explore the different varieties CLICK HERE!

Ivory Coast, an exotic place to go....

Or, I just visit my hosta bed at home and admire my own H. Ivory Coast!  It is a beautiful view indeed!

It is a "biggie" usually 24" High and vase shaped so it really stands up to be seen!

It is an eye-catcher for sure!   I planted mine in 2009, so it has been a fast grower for me!  Outstanding substance!

Taken in June this year, the margin has already changed from a yellow/cream to white!

For more information about H. Ivory Coast, CLICK HERE!

Perfect accent in a shady spot!

Yep, another scene found on a July Garden Tour that caught my eye!

A not so little fairy garden

A nice change of pace, a full size Fairy Garden!

Full size plants and full size accessories for full size fairies!

How delightful!  Found this on a garden tour in July! 

Favorite Fern....

Maidenhair Fern in Bill and Luann's garden!

Most often you will find this fern as a companion plant for hostas in gardens!  I have a few tucked in among my hostas at the lake.  They seem to grow slowly but are pretty hardy once they are established.  They are so delicate looking and offer such a nice contrast in texture to other plants such as hostas.  Be careful to allow them enough room so they don't get hidden by large hostas!

For more information about this awesome fern, CLICK HERE!

How to light up the shade under trees!

Grass may be difficult to grow under trees, but hostas often thrive in that environment!  This massive planting of these bright hostas sure are eye catching! 

Found this at Dean and Deborah's garden in July in Apple Valley, MN!  Actually I don't recall seeing much grass in their yard, which is huge and full of flowers and hostas!  He doesn't spend much time mowing, that's for sure!  It is a delightful treat to visit there!