Feeding butterflies....

is fun, adds beauty to your garden beds, and benefits those lovely fluttering summer visitors!

I spotted this feeder while on one of those garden tours this summer:

So, I hopped on the internet to get details of how to do this because I have one of those pretty flowery plate type bird feeders available at the lake!   The recommendation is to be sure to redo it and clean the plate/dish/etc. every 3-4 days!  That works for me....   I can't wait to shop for a sponge to add the necter to my creation.  I'll share my creation with you soon!

Send me pictures of yours!   gramakj@charter.net

Information on feeding butterflies CLICK HERE NOW

Trellis Time

Clematis time calls attention to the wide variety of trellis arrangements!  Time to share some of the scene's I've found this year so far!

July in SE Minnesota

They brighten up our ride along country roads with their bright gay message "It's Summer Time"!  Tis the season of the "ditch lily"!  

This awesome scene is found along Country Club NW as you travel from Rochester to Byron!  You can't miss it!  These lilies have been growing and expanding this bed for 25 years!  It's indeed a tradition on that property! (If you are looking for Leisure Aquadic Products, Inc., you've found it!)

CLICK HERE FOR INTERESTING INFORMATION ON THIS LILY!

Touring Gardens

Summer brings the joy of touring gardens, private and public, to enjoy beauty created with plants and flowers!

This year I organized a bus tour to the Mankato area in Minnesota for the Shades of Green Hosta Society of SE MN, which I am a charter member of!  It is such a joy to share with others some of the special gardens I have discovered!  In June we visited four unique private gardens and two unique garden centers that I have enjoyed while spending time at our cabin near Mankato, MN.  I'll be sharing pictures of that day during this summer.

First I'll share pictures of people enjoying exploring the gardens and chatting with the garden hosts!  Looks like fun doesn't it?  Pictures, ideas and information about specific plants were gathered abundantly.

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!