Poinsettia Time!

Yesterday I picked up my 2016 Poinsettia!  I have such a difficult time decided on size and color each year!  This year the white one with a sprinkling of silver dust on it caught my eye and I just could not resist! 

I usually end up getting several different colors for gifts, I just cannot resist them! 

This white will be enjoyable thru January and February with snow outside the windows!

Iris blooming in MN Nov. 26th!

Those Iris must be hardy plants!   Got this picture today from gardening buddy, Betty, who lives out in the Tundra by Rochester! 

"Thought I would add my two cents to the winter flower season.  We bought this Iris on the SOGHS bus trip two years ago.  It had huge blossoms in the spring.  Last week we arrived home just as the cold weather hit and cut the buds that had popped up.  This photo is from today as I am putting my decorations up."

Crazy mixed up plants this fall!

Joan, my gardening friend, sent me pictures of her mixed up Primroses!  The normal season for them to bloom is May/June  up here in Minnesota!

These are greeting her again this year in November!  Pictures were taken Nov. 20th!

I usually buy them and enjoy their spring beauty in February/March in while I am in AZ!

Wondering if they will greet us in the spring again?

I am hearing of Magnolia trees in Southern MN blooming in Nov. this year!  Yikes!

Meet 'Gus'!

Canadian friends, who are AZ friends in the winter, .... do a bit of gardening while in their AZ location.  I just received pictures of this Agave, they have in front of their mobile home, asking me if I knew what this plant might be!

Wow, here is what they said about it: "We can almost see the stalk grow. Alan figured 3 inches in one day.   We've named it "Gus"! 

I did a bit of research via internet and think I found some information which could clarify it's identity.  Looks like it will be interesting watching this plant! 

Nov. 12th

Nov. 20th

Nov. 16th

Check this website out for some information! CLICK HERE

Asian Theme Fairy Garden

I created an Asian Theme Fairy Garden using desert succulents in January 2015.  It has experienced some transitions but has retained the original plants.  It went with me to AZ January 2016 and back home for this summer.  I brought it inside again this October. Am thinking it will travel once again to AZ this winter to enjoy the warm outdoors there again! 

The first update was to the white rock mulch to accent the Asian Theme.  Substituting small pastel colored plants for the black stones was another update.  I did a major pruning on the Aloe (tallest plant) a year ago as it had become a bit too tall for the scene and relationship to the other plants. 

It will be interesting to see how old this Fairy Garden gets before I dismantle it and replace it with a different Asian Theme.  I'm seeing some nice new Asian theme accessories I'd like! 

January 2015

July 2015

June 2016

August 2016

Fairy Garden for a Gardener

Inspiration comes from various sources.

This was a fun Fairy Garden Scene I created to use the adorable garden shed I found while plant shopping in the spring.  I also wanted to use the wooden plant container I had found, that was designed for a floral arrangement originally.  

I can hardly wait until Spring now!

Last year I found a friend Fairy Gardener had a water feature set up in one of her Fairy Gardens and I was sooooo  jealous!   

Well, I found one for sale at Houston's Garden Center in Kasson, MN!   I got one!   I can hardly wait until spring to make a special Fairy Garden for it!

It has an electric pump that circulates the water from pool to pool!  Neato!  It gurgles along so nicely!

Ivy, Trellis, Stone exteriors...

This humble trellis caught my eye this fall at the Plummer House in Rochester! 

I so enjoy an occasional stop at the Plummer House grounds to enjoy the peaceful quiet of this grand old place of former luxury from another place in time!  I remember when I was a wee youngster that people were still living here!  Yea, my age is showing!  Of course, I was just a tiny babe at that time but had an awesome memory!

We had guests visiting from Canada who enjoy gardening so this was one of the sight seeing stops around our fair city.  Our bonus was a garage sale being held by the volunteers there and a lovely glass table piece was snagged as a souvenir to take back to Canada! 

For more information about the Plummer House CLICK HERE!

A new record for high temperature was set yesterday!

71 degrees November 5th for Rochester, MN!  Quite a different November than we are used to!

Wow, the forecast appears to be continuing 50 degree days ahead for two more weeks! 

Iris are reblooming, fall gardening chores are easier, lawn mowing is continuing, perennials that were cut down are growing, and holiday outdoor lighting displays are appearing on houses!

Mother Nature is still decorating with trees in full color here and there!  And some annuals still looking fabulous here and there! 

Will these be here for Thanksgiving?

Music, music, music....

Recently we were driving towards home returning from a visit to Northern MN.  As we approached Inver Grove Heights, I let my favorite driver, Denny, know I'd appreciate stopping at Gerten's, my very favorite garden center (because it is loaded with fairy garden elements)! 

Yep, he stopped and we discovered they are full of holiday decorations and seasonal gardening items!  Yep, their Fairy Garden Dept. was fully stocked with lots of new items!  Yep, I found some new items to take home!  One little fairy just jumped right into my hand begging me to take her home as she needed a new forever home where her piano would also be welcome! 

Well, I just happened to have a friend who collects pianos of every kind and shape so I just knew where she would be welcome!  So, I created a Fairy Garden environment featuring desert succulents for her and delivered her to my friend, Cindy!

Yep, she and her piano were welcomed with enthusiasm!  Once again, I can sleep well knowing I rescued another fairy and gave her a new forever home!  The end!

SE MN Fall Color Still Showing Off!

Most of our fall color has peaked!  But. I noticed on my walk today, we still have some beautiful color hanging in there!

Tiny House Fairy Garden

When designing and assembling my Fairy Garden Collection this year, I decided to create some in smaller containers for a change.  Just the right size to park on an end table by my favorite porch chair!

My philosophy for fairy gardens is to create a miniature garden scene that a fairy might be attracted to visit or live in.  This does not mean it must contain a fairy or a big collection of fairy garden accessories! 

Here is an example of one of my favorites this summer season!  The container is about 6-7 inches tall and 6-7 inches in diameter and the little house is only about 1 1/2 inches tall.  The tallest plant is a bit of Dwarf Goatsbeard to represent a tree.    Pictures taken early Oct.