The color changes in Quick Fire are beginning to happen.......

 This is Deb's Quick Fire Hydrangea tree....  isn't it lovely!

Taken about two weeks ago....

This is my Little Quick Fire shrub taken about a month ago....

This is my Quick Fire Shrub taken this week ....starting one of its color changes.....

Once upon a time Mary had an apple tree that gave her lots of delicious apples.....

Now Mary has a beautiful purple tree! 

So, next time life gives you a dead tree, paint it purple!

Or, whatever color makes you happy!

On the Hosta Club Garden Tour......

 A visit to Denny and Sherrie Bowe's is always such fun....

I love discovering beautiful garden sheds.......

I love discovering unique themed hosta beds....

I also love discovering  fun garden art that makes me smile.......

Garden Lunch Time

 Last year during the Pandemic a group of gals from the Hosta Club I belong to decided to start having Covid Garden Lunch Times!  

We'd show up with chairs and lunch in a bag and sit safe distanced to visit, it was a great way to stay in touch in the summer of 2020!

Well, such a fun thing has started again for 2021, but we are not so safe distancing now and it is easier to talk!  Recently, my friend Joan ended up with 16 of us to admire her hosta beds at lunch time!

It's thanks to Joan that I got involved as a charter member of this Shades of Green Hosta Society of SE MN!  Joan had heard about it forming and invited me to go with her to their second meeting to get this going!  And thus our hosta collections began and while we were doing this we have been collecting a fabulous bunch of friends and enjoying lots of fun!

I also have these two below pictured hostas but Joan's obviously like her farm country soil better than mine like my city clay soil!

Hosta Ivory Coast

Planter in Joan's garden bed!

A huge Hosta Praying Hands!

Once upon a time...Mary had an apple tree giving her abundent delicious apples......

 Now Mary has a purple tree!

So, when life leaves you a dead tree, paint it purple!

Or blue, or....whatever color seems to be what makes you happy!

When Rita went visiting...

 Love it when my "Rita" climatis went visiting to the fence art next to her trellis!

This is a climatis without a name that I call Rita after her previous owner many years ago.  It was one of those oldies whose name has long been lost but was prolific enough for my friend Rita to keep donating pieces of it to our annual Plant Sale!  I was having problems growing newer hybreds so decided to try one of these golden oldies!  I've had it now for about 10 years and she shows up every year to visit!  

Quick Fire is quick to boom in June!

 At last, blooms on my "Little Quick Fire"!  It is the first hydangea to bloom and I can hardly wait for it to happen!  Now to watch it's show of colors until late fall!  

A bit of minature magic!

 Our garden club has an annual event in August each year.  Primarily a social time, with some food, a plant swap and usually a theme that  sometimes encourages clothing accessories, etc.  We always have a good turn out.  Last year it was a Covid Garden Party at the home of the committee chair.  We all brought our own chairs and enjoyed socializing safe distances while touring her garden beds, eating packaged ice cream treats and a plant swap!  Everyone showed up early, so we were anxious to greet our gardening friends we had not been able to see all summer!

2021, after a year without meetings due to the Covid Pandemic, we are focusing on social time with a light meal, plant swap and something new!  There will be a silent auction for 9 different miniature or fairy gardens recently planted by some of the committee members!  It was a fun evening workshop and I was invited to share a few tips on design and planting tips, which was a wonderful experience with such a creative group of gals!  Now they get to take care of their gardens and come up with a fun creative name for each of their creations before mid August!  There are different themes such as  a succulent garden, a beach scene, etc.  

Denny's Pet from AZ

 Denny's pet from AZ keeps appearing on my park bench every year!

No wonder nobody ever sits on this bench!

Astilbe 'Straussenfeder' OSTRICH PLUME

Thanks to friend, Vickie, I am enjoying a new astilbe this year!  Something really different, the plumes arch over instead of standing up straight!   Vickie has a collection of unusual plants and was generous in sharing this one with me!   It is a sizeable plant so makes a nice statement in the garden bed!  

Before the plumes opened fully!

For more information on this plant CLICK HERE

Pond statue!

 Found this little lady perched in the shade on the recent garden Tour!

Lots of Koi in the pond but she caught my attention!