Strolling Down Memory Lane....

75 of us went "strolling down memory lane" last week as we celebrated Rochester Garden & Flower Club's 90th anniversary at our annual Garden Party Event!

It was a lovely stroll listening to one of our longest term members sharing with us her memories of the earlier years when she first joined this group after moving into Rochester!  We could all relate to her sharing the fun events and gaining special friendships along with the gardening knowledge she has experienced!

We are 150 members strong, growing with Rochester since 1929!  The fun events, special friendships gained has not changed thru the years, but the gardening knowledge is a bit expanded now!

A lovely meal and fun plant swap was on the agenda for the evening after recognizing some of our longer term members and their memories of the earlier years!

Greenhouse for home gardening?

Are you considering a greenhouse for your gardening hobby?  

I stopped at gardening friend, Linda B., recently to deliver something to her.  I had not seen the nice greenhouse she has added!  Wishing I had room, I would sure be seriously considering this one!  If you would like more information, let me know....and I'll give you her name and contact information!

Notice the nice outdoor potting bench on the side with parking space under it for plants!

The plant that got the most questions on my garden tour!

"What is this plant?"  was the frequent question from people visiting my garden during the recent Garden Tour!  I was so surprised to find they wanted to know what "Verbena Bonariensis" is!   I have six plants in one area!

I simply love this plant, which is an annual in this zone!  I saw it first at the Mayowood Mansion Gardens years ago and just had to learn more about it!  Monarch butterflies love it, I love it and find it in a six pack at Sargeant's Garden Center in Rochester in  the spring!  I also found it at Donahue's in Faribault in gallon pots this year!

Easy to start from seed and reseeds easily if you don't heavily mulch the area.  (You can relocate the seedlings!) 

Usually I plant a few in the back of a bed as the flowers just dance above the rest of the plants!  Full sun!  Clay soil is no problem!  They were very happy this year and are reaching close to 5 ft in height!  Beautiful in bouquets!  

For more information click on this: Verbena Bonariensis

Another version of Raised Vegetable Bed!

What a surprise on one garden tour, when we walked down a few steps beyond a fence across the back yard  to arrive at a lower level where a garage and alley was located....to find a terraced vegetable bed hiding!   What a creative use of space and full of a nice selection of veggies!  There were three levels of healthy abundant plants! 

This was midst a large city neighborhood area in the metro area with usual city lot sizes!

Raised Veggie Beds for home gardens!

Fresh veggies in the summer?  I figure that's what Farmers Market are for! 

But, if I was going to raise a few veggies to enjoy the experience, I'd definitely invest in creating some raised beds!  Such an attractive and low work way to garden!   I sat in on a program this spring during our "Gardening for the Health of it!" event to listen to a gardening friend who really knows how to do this successfully and I've seen her beds!  If I even had a larger yard I'd be tempted to get into it for some tomatoes, English cucumbers and green beans!  

Here is an example I saw on one of the garden tours this summer:  

A herb garden placed near the kitchen door!

Resting spot!

A cool spot in the shade to rest and enjoy the shade plantings!

We revisted one of my favorite shade gardeners on one of the tours recently.  I so like the peaceful seating this weathered bench provides to take the time to  enjoy the calm of the shade loving plants along the pathway!  It also is a beautiful piece of treasured garden art!

Daylily Season

We are still enjoying daylilies during August in MN!

Their bloom season can extend quite long with the early, mid season and late bloomers and then consider adding some rebloomers!  If you plant a variety of flowering  times you can easily extend their beautiful colors to 8+ weeks of the prime flowering season in MN!

I had a brief visit to Cindy's this last week, which has loads of daylilies showing off on her full sun lakeshore garden!  Here are a few that were smiling so nicely the day I was there!  Note their yellow ruffled edges!

Rose Lily Thalita has joined my lily family!

Last year during my visit to my daughter in Northern MN... I discovered a super nice plant nursery hidden away in a small town in lake country!  It has  awesome hostas, which I am out of room for more...but I can always tuck in a new lily here and there!  Just could not pass this one up with buds almost ready to open!  The picture was interesting!

 This is it in August this year!

I think I made a great purchase!  It is Oriental Lily 'Rose Lily Thaliata' and she is most welcome in my garden bed next to my deck!

Veggies among the flowers?

So, how do you mix a few veggies into the flower beds to add some favorite veggies into your life without a specific veggie garden?

Here are a few ideas we saw on a recent garden tour!  Maybe just the idea for you!

(I figure the Farmers Markets are there for a reason...for me!) 

First Step.....

I am so excited.... (doesn't take much some times)…
Look what I found while visiting my daughter this weekend!   We were in a special little shop that specializes in reuse of decorative items, or creative old items that are now decorative items, with super reasonable prices and "neat" ideas!   This was sitting outside their entrance with a very attractive price tag!  Actually, if it was not an attractive price I'd still have grabbed it up quick!

A  few blogs ago I shared with you a succulent planter that LuAnn had hanging in her hosta bed!

Yep, this is perfect for me to be able to create one next year!  I have started a spring list of plants I need next year...and now have this project listed on it also!



Meanwhile, I've decided to use it this winter for a hanging outdoor winter arrangement that I can enjoy from my front window (being I will be here all winter this year)!

And then..... more lilies....

These were all in one garden!
 And, I made a special  visit to see these! And,  they are huge! And, fragrant!
Thanks Sherrie!

Lillies, lillies, lillies and more lillies!

Lillies abundant out there right now!  Almost every garden on the tour had at least one in bloom!

What a fabulous container planting!

I just can't wait any longer to share this fabulous planter we saw on  a recent garden tour!

Makes me consider I just might paint a container to match/accent a color in some plants!

This was simply stunning to look at!  

I need it!

There is "I want it"..."I like it"...THIS IS "I NEED IT!"

All I have to do is find it where I can buy it!  Yep, the bird not the plants!