This welcoming garden belongs to one of My Fairy Folks. This shade-loving "Pink Splash" is a good plant to utilize in a front porch container garden. This plant loves the shade and guests will love to admire the speckled leaves as they wait for you to answer the door.
I do not know this fairy's name, but she looks like she wouldn't mind holding a conversation with your patient guests while you make some final adjustments to prepare for company.
This month's subscription box from My Fairy Crate came with only five items - the least I've received out of the three month's I've been subscribed - but I'm very pleased with these unique pieces and the quality of them. As the saying goes, "quality over quantity."
This post box will work great to make a fairy garden seem more homely. It even has a little slot that I could potentially stick a tiny envelope in.
This little critter traveled within the safety cushion of some plastic and foam to be certain not to break any glass appendages. I can picture someone hand-making a piece like this which makes it seem more special.
This piece brings together three species of bird to enjoy a sip or dip in this bird bath.
I am pretty happy with this piece. Not only is it a style of fence I do not have, it looks like something I could learn to create myself and fence an entire perimeter. I love finding new inspiration for DIY projects.
While I did mention in the YouTube video that I love all the pieces in this month's box, this piece was the most surprising. If this isn't your first read of my blog, you probably know how excited I get when I come across small characters that are boys because they are difficult to find. While this well-painted boy does not have wings, he does have pointed ears and is holding a rabbit.
If you'd like to watch the unboxing video, please click here.
This unique container was purchased at Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago, priced at $20.
I found this terra cotta container to be a great deal since it is tiered and came with a few decorative pieces already attached and also has drainage holes, so it's ready to go!
These flowers were purchased from Lowe's for $1.50.
I would love to find more containers like this. The plant in the rear is Marigold and was also $1.50. I feel like the dwarf cup flower was a bit too bushy for this container and in the future might stick to small succulents.
The gift I received this month is from a Fairy Follower. When she realized there was no more room in her yard for this unique planter, she offered it to me. This gift will go in my fairy garden and be home to a container garden I plan to create with some of my micro decorations.
From left to right, Gomphrena's vibrant purple flowers were priced at $2.50. "Angelface" Angelonia Hybrid in blue and pink were $3.99 each. Pentas' bushy pink flower was also $3.99 and the blue dwarf cup flower was $2.50. I've only planted the Gomphrena so far, so the other flowers will be placed in my August fairy gardens.
This month's delivery of seeds includes a few flowers, but everything is edible. I continue to believe that this company is researching my interests and sending me the perfect variety of seeds. Johnny Jump-Up Viola - This is one of my favorites and no stranger to my garden. Because it is edible, it will be a welcome addition to either my flower garden or food garden. Sweet Banana Pepper - More sweet than heat, this pepper is a great candidate for pickling. These mild peppers begin yellow, transitioning to orange and then red which will make for great photo opportunities. Dark Opal Basil - According to the information card, this basil loves the heat (which is great since we're getting so much here in Southern California) and will attract all the right insects. I'm also looking forward to the pink flowers it produces. Golden Beauty Casaba Melon - This melon originated from Turkey and is similar to honeydew. It's unique husk makes it easy to store during the winter. Piel de Sapo Melon - Also similar to honeydew (and pineapple, according to the information card), this hearty grower has an interesting color pattern with a sweet interior. Grey Zucchini Summer Squash - Most squash grow on vines but this stout, flavorful variety grows on a bush, saving a bit of space in the garden. Lemon Mint - Pink and purple blooms from this unique wildflower will bring bees and butterflies to my garden. Leaves and flowers from this plant are edible and make a great pot of citrus-flavored tea. New Zealand Spinach - I'm a big fan of spinach so I'm excited to try this "fake" spinach in my yard. Thankfully, this plant thrives in warmer weather. If you'd like to watch the unboxing video, click here.
If you'd like to have your very own Seed Bank Box delivered to your house to brighten your garden and kitchen table, use this code that Seed Bank Box gave me just for My Fairy Folks! https://www.seedbankbox.com?rfsn=1330031.b0ef5
Here is the arched path that takes you to the house on the hill, just beyond this ticket booth. This post is a continuation of the Myrtle Creek Nursery tour.
My granddaughter and I each traded 5 american dollars for 5 Curious Gardens bucks that can be used inside to purchase many things to help personalize your garden.
Here are some of the unique containers that can be purchased and used in the workshop. I purchased the one on the bottom shelf. I called beforehand and asked if we were able to bring our own container and decorations, which they were fine with, so my granddaughter brought her own container.
There were so many items for sale to accentuate your container garden ranging from colorful stones and pebbles, many styles of fairies and animals, houses, plants and more! Here is only one of the tables with a few plants that were on display.
This large example of a container garden sits right at the entrance of the Curious Gardens which I'm sure is meant to inspire and peak the curiosity of any passerby.
There were so many small fairy gardens spread throughout the grounds and the house. I found it hard to not stop every five feet and take a photo!
The workshop is held in a nice size room with rows of working surfaces, chairs and tubs full of soil. The walls are adorned with decor that inspires creativity and reflects the unique character found inside the house. The woman on the left in the red is the Fairy Godmother (Debra). She is integral to the Curious Gardens experience as she guides guests through the house tour and encourages them to take in the inspiration scattered throughout and to meet her in the work space area when they're ready.
This garden is what I created. While I did bring my own decor and accessories, I didn't end up using any of them since I found all of these unique pieces in the Curious Gardens shop. I was sold on these sprite looking beings the moment I saw them. I was amazed at the range of suppliers they stocked as evident by the many styles of fairies, animals and decor including this natural-looking door that I've hidden amidst moss and corkscrew greenery.
This container garden was created by my granddaughter. Both pieces were purchased in the Curious Gardens store, as well as the colored stones, moss and plant. Of the items they have for sale, I'd say the container and moss are the best deals in this workshop. We each purchased a basket of moss (which included multiple colors as well as sticks) and the moss my granddaughter didn't use in her creation went to my larger container which worked out perfectly.
Here are two young participants that shared the work space with us that morning. Their creation can be see on the table next to them. The Fairy Godmother had some great suggestions for this work of art but was put together with these tiny hands!
Here is another creative little participant in the workshop. Her art is contained within this natural container sold in the Curious Gardens shop. It could easily blend in to her garden at home! Before we left the Gardens, we took advantage of the air conditioned tea room where hot tea was offered and had a conversation about gardening with some other guests of the house who stopped to admire our creations fresh from the workshop.
As I said, I couldn't stop taking pictures, so below is the slideshow of the majority of my pictures within the gates of the Curious Gardens. I also want to thank all participants who allowed me to take photos to share the experience with my followers. If you see yourself in any of the pictures below, please feel free to comment with how you felt about your experience at this workshop.
I was able to ask Emma the cashier a few questions to quench my curiosity about the building that houses all these magical things. The house was built in 1972 and based on a 1600s plantation home. The house was used for special events and tea parties before the fairies moved in at the end of March 2018. However, the fairy workshop is not new to Myrtle Creek Nursery and had been held elsewhere on the grounds for a few years. The popularity of fairy gardens and the workshop caused them to grow from the two vendors they began with (which focused mainly on farm animals) and move up to the house on the hill. I want to give a final thank you to Myrtle Creek Nursery and encourage others to experience what they have to offer - make sure you set aside a whole day though because there's so much to explore! If you'd like to learn more about this business, visit their website HERE.
My granddaughter and I took a short road trip to Fallbrook, CA earlier this month to visit Myrtle Creek Nursery. She had been seeing advertisements for it on Facebook and decided we needed to make a trip during her Summer break. I'm not one to say no to a trip to the nursery, even one that is 60 miles away.
Upon arrival, we were welcomed by an employee in the parking lot who gave us this map when he found out it was our first visit. Have you been to a nursery that required a map!? The weather was hot when we arrived at 10am. It was hotter when we left around 3pm. I'm hoping the temperature is a good enough excuse for the fact that we were only able to appreciate 50% of this map and I also hope to return when the weather is cooler.
From the parking lot we made our way through the large area and many tables where they have plants of many sizes and varieties. I had to stop at this tree just outside the gift shop to take this photo. If you click to enlarge, you will see some lovely potted succulents with an overflow design. I'm keeping this in my catalog of "things to try" for my own garden.
This lovely area is the carriage house, right next to Cafe Bloom. There are so many natural elements in this area, from the seating to the wall decor. I especially love this picture since I was able to capture the outdoor seating area and fountain in the mirror.
There is quite a lot of seating throughout the nursery (which was a blessing for me), but the most beautiful seating was at Cafe Bloom. Here you can enjoy fresh, healthy food that include salads, crepes, sandwiches, daily specials and made to order food truck specials!
And if the atmosphere wasn't quaint enough, our food arrived in a basket, bringing me back to the days of picnics. I enjoyed the turkey club on a pretzel bun and my granddaughter ordered the melon salad with mint vinaigrette, both from the Farm to Table menu.
This was posted inside the cafe, encouraging patrons to visit the lovely house on the hill. No need to sway us, we're on our way! And I'll save that experience for another post.
To learn more about Myrtle Creek Botanical Gardens & Nursery, please visit their website, discovermyrtlecreek.com
I received a message recently from one of My Fairy Folks. In this message she explained how she was motivated based on my Garden A Day Challenge to do something in her garden each day of July. She settled on cleaning up an overgrown path in her yard. She counted the pavers and divided the work equally throughout the month. The foliage was thick and covered the walkway making the pavers not visible.
The pavers shown above were once obstructed from view by dymondia margaretae, a ground coverage plant that is more commonly known as "Silver Carpet." According to Gardenia.net, this plant sprouts small, yellow flowers in the summer and is drought tolerant but will grow quickly when watered. A benefit of having Silver Carpet in your yard is that it is a heart plant with deep roots that tolerates foot traffic well and also grows to be a thick mat that prevents weeds from sprouting.
"I never would have got the project finished if I hadn't divided up the work one day at a time because of my bad knees."
Thank you for sharing your experience with us and I'm so glad I was able to inspire at least one person out there! If you have any projects you've completed that were inspired by this blog, please feel free to send me information so I can feature it during this monthly spotlight.
This decorative paver was a gift from my daughter probably 20 years ago when I first began gardening. Since then, it has sat out in the yard under a tree. The elements took their toll on this sentimental piece but I knew a new paint job would bring it new life. I also decided it needed to have a more prominent position in my garden.
I began with one base white coat.
I covered that with two coats of yellow paint.
Now this piece is what welcomes people to my food garden.
Last month we took a look at the beginning of my food garden, specifically the area where I started my salad garden. This was how the main area looked back in February.
These young cherry tomatoes grew quickly and have been thriving (unlike some other plants).
By April, my salad garden had filled out significantly, including the cinder block area and three separate pots for leafy greens.
When it came to harvesting the salad, I just couldn't keep up! My granddaughter would come over once or twice a week for a full bag of salad but could have easily made an extra trip each week at the rate my garden was replenishing!
This full salad is made from butter lettuce, red romaine and cherry tomatoes, all from my very own back yard!
These baby carrots are also from my garden - very few grew but they were delicious. Unfortunately the heat of June killed off all the leafy greens (the spinach held on the longest). The tomato and carrots are still holding strong thankfully.
Here we are at yet another anniversary post. One more year gone by with more experience under our belt and exciting things ahead. The fourth anniversary flower is the hydrangea which is what I used to create the banner above and the garden below. Unfortunately, mother nature didn't realize this week was so important to me because she decided to scorch my lovely anniversary flowers with temperatures reaching 112 degrees.
Based on last year's review, here are some numbers for comparison. In the last year I've made 108 blog posts, 40 of which were published last month alone thanks to my Garden A Day Challenge. June 2018 saw more posts published than in either 2016 or 2017, each of those years only having 46 posts in them! Google + is still pushing along with 544 followers. Since last year, my YouTube channel has gained over 50 uploads (124 videos) and the views have more than doubled at just over 10.5k! I'm pleased to say that my YouTube channel now has cleared the 100 subscribers mark. The most viewed post in the last year wasSeason's Greetings in December with 189 views which has a long journey to cactch up to the overall most viewed video fromM&M Nursery back in 2015 with 578 views. Since last year, my granddaughter helped to get us connected on social media including Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. I began pushing these accounts in May 2018 and currently have 17 Twitter followers, 40 Pinterest followers and 83 Instagram followers.
Numbers aside, we had many accomplishments in the past year. Most recently was the Garden A Day Challenge, my first attempt at anything like this. I feel like this challenge did a great deal for me personally (cleaning up my garden and allowing myself to be creative quickly and cheaply) as well as helped my online presence (social media numbers grew significantly). The blog has seen very little of the food garden - which will change - but my YouTube views have really seen an improvement thanks to my edible garden updates. I also attribute a rise in YouTube viewership to a few of my new monthly features including my shopping hauls and unboxing videos. I still don't understand why "the haul" is such a big deal to people but I'm glad my grandson told me they were popular and we have been able to benefit from it. On the topic of monthlies, we have been doing a DIY fairy garden class each month for quite some time and have slowly begun to add new staples to the blog which I hope you will look forward to. The monthly list includes fairy garden class, My Fairy Folks - a visit to one of my follower's garden each month, Gifts for the Garden - a look at the gifts I receive from followers and family each month, unboxing posts (currently Seed Bank Box and My Fairy Crate which may change in the future), shopping hauls, food garden updates and garden projects that will including repainting and lights as a main feature. Whew!
That's all quite a lot of accomplishments but according to last year's review, our biggest goal was to put together a contest. Unfortunately, we were unable to make that happen in the last year, however you may be surprised to know that planning has been underway for a while! There is a lot that goes in to something like that (especially technical web type stuff that I don't know about), but actual progress is being made on making it a reality. We are hoping to begin the contest before the end of this year and will reveal details soon. What I'd currently like to announce is the fact that my blog has it's own url now! In March I purchased the name GardenWithGrandma.com and if you type that into your browser now, it will bring you right back to this blog. In the future, it will host our contest and blog posts. I felt this was an appropriate move since it would allow us to possibly make money through ads (which will help continue to fund all things fairy garden and food garden related), allow us to host the fairy garden contest and anything else we'd like to do in the future all under a website name that is easy to remember and access.
If you can believe it, I think our goals for the year ahead of us are even bigger! The previously mentioned contest is our biggest and scariest goal! This is uncharted territory for myself and any of my grandchildren but we are determined to make this happen. I was inspired to do this contest since the one I used to participate in (The Magic Onion) has not been active for years. I felt that there were a lot of people like me who were just hoping to find a similar contest and decided to take it upon myself to just create one. Also on the horizon for the next year is expanding the food garden and adding new fairy garden areas. I plan to make the front garden more kid friendly since my great-grandchildren are getting older and I'd love to have them over more. I plan to visit more local stores and nurseries to showcase fairy garden accessories and hopefully add this to my list of monthly features.
There is talk of getting the fairy garden class back out to an actual location, allowing me to meet up with My Fairy Folks and have a lovely morning of creativity. November 2015 was the last time a physical class was held at Sunshine Growers Nursery in Yucaipa, CA. It is a favorite nursery of mine and they have increased the stock of fairy decor as well as miniature plants since then, so I think we will be setting ourselves up for success upon our return. We have not set a date just yet, but if you'd like to sign up for our email list to stay in the loop, please send me an email with the subject "Fairy Garden Class" to grandmasefg@gmail.com and feel free to make class theme suggestions. We are hoping to get this started before the end of 2018. My immediate future holds a day trip this week with my granddaughter to participate in a Fairy Garden Class hosted elsewhere. Follow me on Instagram to keep track of Thursday's events and look forward to my review on the location and event later this month. If you have any suggestions for me or would like to say hi, my contact and social media information is at the bottom of this post.
Finally, I'll leave you with this photo of Prince Finn Mac Fidaig, seated in front of our anniversary hydrangea with an inviting setting for tea.
