And we're back! Here's an update to the #SunflowerChallenge2019 (click here to see the previous update), with a focus on the tallest sunflower category. I have until the first of October to get the final submission height in. This Velvet Queen measured 10.5ft tall!
#SunflowerChallenge2019 is off to a great start! The video will show you the progress these seeds have made in the last two weeks, including adding a new variety of sunflower; Dwarf Teddy Bear. I've seen a handful of others participating in this challenge that have planted this variety so I thought I'd give it a go. Some seeds weren't doing great so I've added some more seeds in the hopes that I can get some sprouts going before I put them in the ground.
As if one garden challenge wasn't enough this year, here is another. It involves sunflowers, which I love, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to invite a variety of sunflower into my garden! This challenge was presented by Nick's Allotment Diary and contains three categories, all of which I plan to get involved in:
1. Tallest Sunflower 2. Biggest Seed Head 3. Most Unusual
By using #SunflowerChallenge2019, you can search other entrants. I planted my seeds on April 30 and have until October 1 to let these beauties bloom.
My entries for most unusual will be Velvet Queen, Italian White and Autumn Beauty Mix. Entries for biggest seed head and possibly tallest will be American Giant Hybrid, Pike's Peak and Mammoth.
Oh my goodness, it's time to celebrate another year already! As of tomorrow (July 9), this blog is turning 3 years old! Can you believe it? Last year's review mentioned Wikipedia's anniversary flowers - I remember looking at the list and being excited for this year because the third anniversary flower is my favorite; the Sunflower! Here's one of my beautiful sunflowers from last year's bloom since I don't have any blooming yet this year, but you bet your bottom that they're in the ground, working their magic.
Now, lets get to the progress we've made in the last year here at Grandma's Enchanted Fairy Garden. My Google+ followers haven't gone up much (and I still can't figure out how to see my Google+ views), but my YouTube views have increased by 1,979 in the last year to bring me to a total of 3,126. This means that I more than doubled my YouTube views in the last year. That's wonderful! I know that wouldn't be possible without My Fairy Folks sharing my videos with friends and family, so thank you very much! I am just shy of 70 videos uploaded to my channel.
Speaking of My Fairy Followers, I want to thank those of you who have shared your own creations. Lets look back at all of them.
Again, thank you to all of my followers. I appreciate every one of you, even if you haven't sent in any pictures or made any comments; just knowing there are eyes on my blog and YouTube (represented by views) keeps me going. There are so many of you all over the world. Some of you might even hail from the following locations, represented in my vacation series of fairy gardens.
These two vacation-inspired gardens, Ensenada and Hawaii, were created within the last year and helped me achieve one of the goals I set for myself in last year's review. There are also a few more that I have planned and that you can look forward to in the future including Yellowstone, Alaska, Williams Arizona and Cabo San Lucas.
I have made many posts about Fairy Garden Classes, a few that took place in public but the majority being just tutorials. Some were based on a holiday theme or a monetary goal. I want to expand these tutorials to include child specific activities and make this blog even more family-friendly.
With all the successes we've had in the past year, there is one that slipped through our fingers and that would be the Gnome wedding. Things in the real world got in the way of making this event come out in November (which was what last year's review slated it for). It was decided that we would just move the date forward another year. Between you and I (and the rest of the internet), the pictures were all taken and in the system but my granddaughter's (who helps me write this blog) wedding was a priority.
With that being said, I had time to do some thinking about the goals for the next year of our blog. One thing that really popped out to me was a contest. There's only been one contest here and the product of that was the name My Fairy Folks. In that same vein, I want to continue to celebrate My Fairy Folks, their creativity and promote my blog. With all that being said, we have plans here to start our own miniature garden contest that will last a whole year! You will be allowed to enter with multiple miniature gardens (maybe one for each season!) and have your friends and family help by voting. Prizes aren't decided yet and neither is a start date, but I will keep you updated. I really want to make sure there are at least two winning categories - people's choice and best of show. I'm very excited about this and hope you are too!
The sun woke up this flower and caught me by surprise. It won't be long now before the others open up.
This photo was taken only one day later. When they are ready to bloom, they sure open up fast.
Myleene noticed me taking photos two days in a row, so the morning this photo was taken (on the third day), she made sure to be hovering around the flower and snuck into my photo.
