Peaceful and beautiful!

I just have to visit Mary's gardens once a year to enjoy this view!  It is not a lake, it is a pond.  Yes, a big family made pond!  Actually it is a swim pond stocked with a friendly assortment of Koi!  Yep, it is about 8 feet deep out there!  It sits on top of a huge hill where her home is surrounded by many garden beds and other water features.  Best of all, Mary is so generous about sharing the beauty she creates with others!

Her chickens, horses, donkeys and abundant wild life get to live there!  After you get out of your car it becomes difficult to remember you are perched on a hill on the edge of a large city instead of "Up North" in Minnesota!

Mars.....

Mars is one of my favorite varieties of Heuchera and has been showering me with lots of flowers every year since 2008!

I so enjoy the various varieties of Coral Bells that keep hitting the market every year!  Most of them do the best for me in a part shade environment.  Some are mostly beautiful foliage but some are prolific bloomers also!  Great companions for hostas!  'Mars' is one that seems to be a happy camper for me providing a bounty of lovely blooms that are primarily a light cream color with edges of a darker color that seems to escape from the foliage!  The more I deadhead and harvest it for floral arrangements, the more it seems to bloom!  It is definitely so happy in its home, it far exceeds the width in its description.  After 8 years I think it is time I split it a bit and spread its happiness around!  I recall planting it 8 years ago and it was a wee baby in a 4" square pot!  I will do that in the spring so it gets well established next year.

This picture was taken in June and right now it is full of blossoms yet!

For more information about "Mars" CLICK HERE!

Hmmmmm, what's this?

I do believe it is Ornamental Kale!  Such an interesting planter for the summer that will turn into a fantastic fall container!  Wish I could see it this fall!

I spotted this during a garden tour, of course, in the Apple Valley MN area in July!  This is a great idea to have such a unique and interesting summer planter that will continue into our MN fall season and become spectacular! 

I'm adding this to my list of things to do next year!  A way to enjoy this unique plant all seasons!  I just may do a planter sized to fit into one of my pots I usually switch out into mums for fall! 


For more information about Flowering Kale/Cabbage   CLICK HERE!

Mike is looking for his golf bag.......

I'll bet he won't find it! 

Yep, Cindy got creative with Mike's golf bag!  Maybe he is golfing just a bit too much?

It needs Denny's golf shoes turned planter to sit with it?  Denny will never find them at Mike's house!

Another spot to relax and enjoy mother nature's beauty!

And, here you get a mama duck and her ducklings to keep you company!

Yep, found this little scene on a garden tour!

Best kind of ducks to have, they don't require food, water or clean up afterwards!

How's this for a room in a garden?

Don't you just want to have a seat and enjoy the moment?

This blue has become so popular and one of the best accent colors you can use in either sun or shade.  Furniture, containers, or garden art !  It just seems to go with everything!

I find so many ideas on garden tours!  Love garden tours! 

Should-you-still-deadhead?

This week I received an email newsletter from MSHS (Minnesota State Horticulture Society) and read an interesting story on deadheading!

After reading the story I decided to investigate the blog it was from and  this morning am delighted with my first email blog from this site!   If you are gardening in zone 4 The Northern Gardener magazine, website and/or this blog is for you! 

I suggest you check it out!  To view the blog on Deadheading CLICK HERE!

There is a place on the blog for you to register to receive this in your email on a regular basis.   Of course, if you decide you don't like it later you can quickly and easily unsubscribe!

No cost involved, of course!