Water Lilies....

at the RCTC S.M.A.R.T. garden pond!   Our local college has a Horticulture department which builds and maintains a series of gardens for students to learn in.  Just love the water lilies there and luckily I was there recently when there was still enough sun for them to be open!  I just could not resist capturing their beauty to share with you!

Garden touring time....

During June, July and August the Shades of Green Hosta Society of SE MN features a monthly Members only Garden Tour of Member's Gardens!  Each of the months three members host all our members as their guests to come and enjoy their gardens.  The June tour was simply awesome!  

I took quite a few pictures and will be sharing them with you.

A striking companion plant for hostas!

A unique hosta!

How is this for a special garden shed?

Gus, the end!

Finally, Gus's life has ended.  He gathered many followers on my blog this year!  But, sadly, everything seems to come to an end and this plant has completed it's life cycle.   He had to be cut down and required a saw to get thru his stalk!

Iris Time in SE Minnesota!

It's time for one of my favorite flowers to be in season!  There is something so majestic about this iris and I am so glad it is blooming during time when rain is not on the agenda! 

This is one of the later bloomers.  I don't have many varieties any more, but I did manage to keep a few favorites when I downsized my garden spaces!  The blossom measures 7 1/2 inches tall!

Fishing in a stream....

the moments of peace while fishing sitting beside a flowing stream!

At last, I have a Fairy Garden with running water gurgling in it!  Such fun!  I saw one of these a few years ago at a friend's house and it took me a year to find one!  It was my first Fairy Garden to put together this year!  Love it!

'Country Mouse'

A new addition to my "Mouse Nest" this year!  Now I have five huddling together enjoying each other and a special fairy swinging over them!

I was working at our 11th Annual Hosta Sale this weekend when I found this adorable mini hosta there waiting for me.  It's the all green one with the ruffled edges in the middle of my "Mouse Nest" container garden!

Last year I was able to find 'Mouse Capades", the more ruffled one that is green and yellow margins.

Great sale and a great time with gardening friends, one of my favorite events each year!  This year we received donations of over 240 varieties of hostas, of which 80 were ones we had not had before!  Awesome opportunity to purchase quality hostas at reasonable prices in our community!

Open Garden, continued..

Hosta High Noon!

Hosta Gloriosa