My most recent haul from Jo-Ann came out to around $40 total. I used a 20% off entire purchase coupon to add to my savings. Don't be ashamed to work those coupons!
All of this Fall harvest decor was on sale at 50% off.
This decorative yet simple pumpkin was on sale at 40% off.
A home for a gnome. This was the only item I purchased at regular price which allowed me to use a 50% off coupon.
This is my most recent Lowe's haul. Three strawberry plants were $3 each and the reason for this shopping trip. The rest of the haul was an impulse buy. I don't always know what I want to purchase prior to entering the doors - most of my decision is based on deals and sales (and the colors).
I picked up some yellow and red snapdragons for $1.38 each.
This Marigold came in a 4 pack at $2.49.
This is an Evening glow mirror plant, originally $16, purchased on super sale for $5. I plan to use it as a tree in one of my fairy gardens.
A few months ago I received some pictures from one of My Fairy Folks that I knew would be perfect to share this month. This first photo is a jack-o-lantern that Gus from Riverside carved and decorated her porch with last Halloween. Very creative. After the festivities had ended, Gus hosed off the porch and called it a day. By June of this year, some interesting development had begun to happen near the front porch. A personal pumpkin patch had grown!
In July, the plant had grown significantly. "It's tripled in size over the past week" Gus wrote.
A beautiful bloom.
Mid August is when the first pumpkin showed up.
In September, I got this update: "I had to cut most of the pumpkin plant off because it was dying. The only one that grew is still going strong though so I left him some leaves for shade and a plate to rest on so his pumpkin butt doesn't rot in the wet grass. We named him Ichabod."
And here is the most recent picture. What a wonderful story! I'm eager to hear what becomes of Ichabod. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful garden adventure.
If there can be a Christmas in July, I would like to suggest there be a Halloween in June. This container garden was created using a basic terra cotta pot, stones and some shade-loving plants, all of which take a back seat to the main attractions. This is a no cost garden since all Halloween decor came from storage and mostly from discount stores.
This is Tia the fairy and Jeoffrey, her chauffeur snail. I felt this was a Halloween fairy due to the black and orange of her wings as well as the popular witch wardrobe of a hat, dress, leggings and boots. She is one of the newer pieces in this garden (and the inspiration for it), acquired in the last subscription box from My Fairy Crate.
Hazel the witch was invited to the fairy community for the Halloween festivities. She positioned herself outside the haunted house and waited for happy trick-or-treaters to come visit.
Hazel patiently waits in front of the haunted house for the horde of children that would gleefully ask for candy. She has a big smile on her face and is happy to have been invited.
Hazel had so much fun (and so did all the children) and hopes to return next year. The children enjoyed dressing up and eating candy.
Photo credit: CertainlyCaroline, YouTube (please visit her page for a tutorial for this polymer clay beauty)
Pictured above is Pumpkin, one of the fairies in our community. Her favorite season is Fall and this week she invited three of her closest friends to a lovely dinner party. She served many Autumn delights but the one which received the most praise was her Pumpkin Soup. I was able to get a picture of the dinner table set up, which I found so interesting - bowls made of acorn tops and soup served in a small pumpkin. It was a lovely event.
Look everyone, Andy is back! When Andy shows up, you know it's time to celebrate Fall. He arrived just in time for the Halloween celebration.
Fairies show their sense of humor by playing a trick on me. I thought there was an accident but it turns out these legs are just a decoration.
Look at this scaredy cat.
Mrs. and Mr. Bones have come to visit and help celebrate Halloween.
The Haunted House boasts a lovely floral arrangement this year as the celebration's centerpiece.
Ophelia and Elvis met in grade school and became Mrs. and Mr. Bones years later. Even though their wedding vows said "till death do us part," they had a change of heart during their vow renewal; "together for eternity."
Jezelle was invited to join Laura for tea and got caught up in some spooky gossip. Laura asked "did you hear what happened to Grace and Gwendelyn the night they were invited to the Mad Scientist's Haunted Mansion?" Jezelle almost spit her tea out! "No, tell me!"
"Well, Grace and Gwendelyn were sent an invitation to come visit a large mansion. They knew the man who owned it was a scientist but only found out later that he was mad! Okay, so they both get there, knock on the door and it opens but no one is inside. They walk in and ask "is anyone here?" but no one answered. They ask again, louder, and this time someone says "hello, thank you for coming." They don't see anyone. They call out "who's there?" and the voice replies "it's me, Dexter." Grace and Gwendelyn walked around the room and still couldn't see anyone. Grace asked "where are you? I can't see you."
"I had a little accident in the lab," the scientist said "and it turns out that I'm invisible." How crazy is that!? They reluctantly went on a tour of the house with an invisible guide and even got to see his lab with all his potions and experiments. The further up in the mansion they went, the more they feared they would be unable to find their way back out if they needed to make a run for it. Grace was worried the two of them might end up part of an experiment, or even turned invisible.
They were finally taken to a large room where a big feast was laid out. "Please, take a seat," the scientist said. Grace and Gwendelyn looked at each other, concerned, and Grace wisely said "we need to wash up first, can we use your bathroom?" He told them where it was and they managed to find a window that they could squeeze out of to escape whatever fate may have been in store for them!"
"Wow," said Jezelle. "That's scary. I guess the moral of that story is to really be careful with who you visit and make sure you know them. Good thing they went together." She slowly sipped the rest of her tea.
Grace and Gwendelyn joined King Edward and Queen Marlissa on their journey back to Mountain Lakes to experience the three week celebration of Halloween. Pumpkin carvings, dogs in costumes, ice skating, paddle boats, miniature golf, surfing over the waterfall and of course, dancing. The two hardly got sleep from all the dancing and the discovery of karaoke!
Above are some pictures from the event and below is a video.
Look at this happy group of people! These Fairy Garden enthusiasts enjoyed a morning of creativity and chit chat with other like-minded locals. 34 people were registered for this class and the back enclosure of Sunshine Growers Nursery was bustling. We couldn't keep the supplies stocked! Before the area cleared out, we already had 38 people signed up for our next class (more details on the next class at the end of this post). The Fairy magic is spreading!
This festive Fairy Garden was created by one of my very own Fairy Folk, a follower of this blog. Not only was she one of the only two class participants to bring her own container, she also was one of the only two to use real plants. This goes to show that these classes really do encourage you to use your creativity and utilize nature around you.
Here is another example of what can be done with a container from home, some live plants and festive decor. This garden was made by another of my Fairy Folks. Don't you think it turned out lovely? Below is a video of a handful of miniature gardens made by the class participants.
These ladies were nice enough to take a few moments to be interviewed by Grace. Thank you, Patty and Linda.
Look at our class being advertised on the big sign!
Our next Fairy Garden class will be held on November 14th at the same location, Sunshine Growers Nursery at the same time, 10am. The theme will be Thanksgiving and Christmas (we will not be having a class in December, make a note). The price has not been solidified but I will surely keep you up to date. As always, since you know the theme, you are encouraged to bring any small things from home that you think might make good fairy garden decorations. Bringing your own container from home is also encouraged but not required.
I want to send a big thank you to each and every one of you who attended the class and to those of you who were not able to attend but spread the word. I am very excited that the class was the success that it turned out to be and am overjoyed to learn about the growing number of locals interested.
This is a reminder that my very first Fairy Garden class will be taking place in a few days. I'd also like to announce that there WILL be prizes given out to participants - as if the incentive of making your own Fairy Garden wasn't enough. If you read my blog and attend the class, please come up and say hello. I will be available after the class to answer questions and am open to general chit chat. If you are unable to make it to the class but are in the area, please visit Sunshine Growers Nursery to view my Fairy Garden display.
Sunshine Growers Nursery, Yucaipa, CA
WHO: Hosted by Grandma Sandy for anyone who purchases a minimum of $10 at the nursery WHAT: Halloween-Themed Fairy Garden Class WHEN: October 10, 2015 @10am-12pm WHERE: Sunshine Growers Nursery at 34017 Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa CA, 92399 MORE: Contact Sunshine Growers Nursery at (909) 797-9210
This will be the second year that I enter The Magic Onion Fairy Garden Contest. The following blog posts are the gardens I chose to enter in the contest this year. I feel they are the best work I have done in the last year.
I chose the Halloween scene because I am proud of how my very first holiday-themed garden turned out, trying something new with the use of artificial lighting. This scene was also the first time I implemented the use of video paired with spooky music, which I absolutely love.
Queen AmberLynn has finally made her appearance. Oh how lovely she is!
The Queen addresses her court. Her daughter, Princess Jezelle, attempts to listen in as Casper, in costume, does his best to get her attention.
These three fairies, dressed as witches, gossip about Casper's attempt to woo the Princess.
It seems that Bitsy is the center of attention on this end of the party as multiple boys in costume try to chat her up. Rose, Tink and Sammy continue to whip up snacks for the guests.
Andy, released from time out, reflects on his actions after the kerfuffle with Shay.
The festivities extend into the evening. As the sun sets, a bonfire is in the works and I leave the fairies to their celebration.
The Fairy Council - Alvina, Radella and Diana (L to R) - gathers to discuss the Halloween Festival which lasts throughout the month of October.
It was decided that Andy would be in charge of the festival decorations. Here he is with his crew, setting up for the festivities.
The first guests have arrived. You may not recognized them in their costumes but they are the inseparable pair of Bobby and Sue!
With all his hard work out of the way, Andy can enjoy the festival. He is introduced to Shay, a new scarecrow in the garden. It looks like they are hitting it off.
A pumpkin tried his luck, asking Samm to dance. It looks like she is having none of it. Poor guy.
Uh-oh! It seems that Andy has been misbehaving and is put in time out, guarded by Tink and Rose. Perhaps things didn't go so well with Shay?
The Queen's pumpkin has arrived! This must mean the Queen will make her entrance soon.
