Fanciful Fairies

I had a couple of days off work this weekend and got inspired to do something I've wanted to do for a long time (also thanks to Pinterest)...a fairy garden.  You may recall some pictures of fairy things I have taken on previous posts.  I had my fairy community at the base of a gnarly old tree.  Well I continually accumilated more fairy stuff and it started to look cluttered.  (yes,  fairies can be hoarders too!)  I thought I would enjoy them more all grouped together, raised up off the ground where I can see them.  I had an old wheelbarrow missing the wheel that I had "curb shopped" as my container.  So I went about picking up rocks for the base, shredded leaves for the middle layer and some nice composted manure/compost for the top layer.  I used sedums, moss, oxalis, lamium and even a little cedar tree sprout for my landscaping.  The pond is a plastic rock planter filled with blue stones..I even have some glass fish if you look closely. 

The other items were bought at yard sales or dollar stores.  My sister painted the cute stone fairy houses.  I keep tweaking it..since this pic I added an old horseshoe as a garden arch...cute!

After I posted my pic on facebook I was contacted my my garden buddy Heather about doing a workshop on fairy gardens.  I agreed-- so now I'm busy coming up with neat ideas I can share with others at the workshop.  The neat thing about fairy gardens is they can be done in any container..the more unusual the better.  I have seen them in old washtubs, flowerpots, birdbaths, and baskets.  Now for today's fairy project.  I have seen fairy houses made from gourds on the internet so I decided to give it a try.  My gourd was well past its prime for any bird housing so I didn't have anything to lose. 

 This is the gourd before:

This is the same gourd after about 15 minutes:

This "extreme makeover" consists of lichen, acorn cap, and nut half I found in the woods near my house.   I used some silk floral odds and ends that luckily hadn't been thrown away to give a little color and hide the ugly entrance hole.  Did you see the little porch light I made out of a marble and acorn cap?  Here's a closeup:

I have decided to keep it as part of my back porch display for now:

To end I will pose the question made famous by the fairy soap company....

Adventures in Hydroponics

Hello!  I can't believe we have had 70 degree temps on Feb 1.  If that old groundhog has a sunny day tomorrow maybe we can just forfeit this whole winter to spring.  I wanted to share my newest hobby...hydroponic gardening.  This was my set up I requested for my birthday.  Glen did a good job I think!  We researched designs on the internet and he sketched up our own version. 

Then it was my turn to figure out exactly how to use it.  I am more a fan of rooting cuttings than starting seeds or actually growing entire plants in it.  So, I set about finding some cuttings in my yard.  A few roses, some camellia, holly twigs and african violet leaves.  I prepared them Thanksgiving weekend and transplanted 2 of the roses today. 

Here is the best rooted one (although both were good)

I suffered information overload from all the sites recommending "these" nutrients and "that" growing medium.  I was eager to get started so I just used what I had...some liquid plant food and some coconut coir.  I was dreading a dark cold winter with nothing to putter around with that was garden related.  Well the winter really has been mild but I've enjoyed the hydroponic set up just the same.  It is situated in my basement underneath our staircase which makes it convenient and out of the way.  It contains 28 growing "holes" and the containers I used were just plain clear cups from Wal-mart with holes poked in the sides.  By the way..the camellias and holly were a dud.  The african violets rooted well.  So what are YOU doing till spring??



Treasure Hunt

I celebrated the winter solstice with a big ole HURRAH...since it marks the end of shortening days.  As the days lengthen so does my mood lighten.  I am on school break so I promised myself to tackle a chore most days that I have been putting off.  The potting shed was a wreck so I spent an afternoon cleaning and organizing (sorry no pictures).  While I was down there I decided to look and see if I could find any "buried treasure." 

CAMELLIA- YULETIDE--appropriate isn't it?

This variegated ivy keeps my windowbox from being bare!

Bud on my pink lenten rose

This is my "woodland garden" that I started 2 years ago.  I took a pic at this angle to show you its proximity to my house.  A little story about the rock edging in front-  I recently removed this from my dad's house when we sold it.  I didn't know it but my brother told me that he and our dad hauled these from a location in Wayne County near the Buffalo River.  He further said they had been the foundation of an old springhouse.  I love things that have history so this made me especially happy to keep them near me and in my garden.  I have bulbs, gold dust acuba, hellebores, azaleas, bleeding hearts, etc in this area.  Right now it's the hardscape and the acuba keeping it real.

YUCCA- COLOR GUARD-  It has a faint pink blush if you look close.

Birdbath with violas

Pixie says "Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Garden!"

Gnome for the Holidays

I love to use nature's freebies to ramp-up my entry --just as much as I like decorating indoors for the holidays.   I like to experiment and create things that can carry me not only through Christmas but to the end of January (at least).  I bought the sled for $3 and the gnomes for $2 each at yard sales this summer.  It's hard to buy Christmas decorations in July (or sweaters, etc.)...but when December rolls around I'm always glad I did.  I re-painted the sled (it was badly weathered) and was quite tickled with the results.   I'll subtract the gnomes and keep this out until it starts to look dry and unhappy.   My school vacation is coming up and I plan to stop neglecting my blog.  I'm sure you'll also be keeping track of your favorite blogs as I will to sustain you through the winter months ahead.  Merry Christmas to everyone!

Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May

I gathered some of the last roses for the season to make a happy bouquet for all to enjoy.  It is amazing..they are sparse and on struggling bushes-- individually,  but when put together I must exclaim wow!

I am dreading the time change this weekend.  Already I'm racing home to continue to plant a few remaining plant orphans.  Too soon I'll be on the couch with my garden magazines for company and a head full of plans that I will never have the time/energy to execute.  Oh well, such is the life of a gardener!

Hedgeapple Happiness

  I was yard-sale-ing this past weekend and saw a bunch of these in the road...so I immediately stopped and gathered a Wal-Mart bag full of them.  I love the chartreuse green color!  I know my sister and sister-in-law thought I was crazy but I planned to do something decorative on my back entry (of course).

 


I tell you, a gardener never stops learning about things does he/she?  I have heard of "hedgeapples" all my life but never really knew what they were all about.  Heck until I did an internet search I thought they grew on vines (they grow on trees).  Their real name is Osage orange.  Apparently they were widely planted in rows as an impenetrable cattle fence before the advent of barbed wire.    They are also believed to have bug-repellent properties.  This blog has a very interesting post if you'd like to know more:  http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/osage-orange-uses/

I just think they are a wonderful (free) fall decoration!

Thankful For What I Have

I read in the Lowe's Garden Ideas booklet today...(I'm paraphrasing) that if you are unhappy with the way your garden looks right now just snap some pictures and then make a note to look at them in February...suddenly they will look gorgeous!  I thought that was funny (and true enough).  Since we have a long growing season it is easy to get weary and tired during this hot, dry month.  So like the article says I have decided to focus on the positives!

Let's all do the "wave!"

Bronze leaf canna, carex and heliopsis

Helenium



Banana- Love the splotchy leaves.  (This should be fun to overwinter!)

A little Vinca goes a long way.  I am noting things that have not flagged in this horrid heat...vinca and lantana top the list so far.  Most of my potted annuals have bit the dust already.

Variegated ivy, white begonia, sensitive fern and climbing euonymous.  Cooling shades of white and green.

The "working" area of the yard.  My tire o' herbs has done well. 

Cashmere bouquet is running rampant around my spring house, I forgive it though when it's blooming so well when not much else is.

Any "birdie" want to go camping?  I picked up this sweet camper birdhouse at Burke's Outlet.

Obedient Plant

Pink anemone...love this late season plant.

Well that's about it for this time.  I am off for a 4 day weekend, so with cooler temps and low humidity forecasted (due to hurricane Irene), I plan to be out and about. Glad to finally post again, I've missed y'all!