In The Garden - My Fairy Crate, December 2018

This container garden was created primarily using items from My Fairy Crate's December shipment.

These were the items that arrived in my box. A colorful fairy card (I've come to love collecting these), two battery powered street lights that are reminiscent of  A Christmas Carol, matching frosted wreaths as well as candy canes, a beautiful festive fairy, a tall bird house covered in snow and a patch of snow with some curious bunnies.

The fairy is joined by a friendly squirrel. Her pose makes me believe she enjoys the spotlight. In comparison, the candy canes look quite large, but in my hands they seem so tiny and fragile! 

Curiosity won over the desire to stay warm for these two bunnies.

This lovely birdhouse is quite festive with freshly fallen snow, a bowed wreath and what seems to be a perched Cardinal.

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In The Garden - My Fairy Crate, November 2018

The container garden above was created almost entirely by using the decorative items I received in November's My Fairy Crate (excluding the plants and castle).

The matching brick hedges are hefty and can be positioned in a number of ways. The stepping stones have unique detailed designs on them that could be used as a set or as individual pieces. The trail sign opens a few possibilities to new areas of my garden that could be dedicated to a Troll Bridge, Fairy Ring and Unicorn Crossing. The mushroom will have no trouble finding a place in my garden and the butterfly can be placed on any surface (it's not attached to the mushroom). I also love that the rear of the fairy decor is just as detailed as the front, meaning it will look good from any angle (and the wings are so sparkly).

This picture is a bit clearer, showing detail on the brick wall, mushroom and showing off the beautiful face of the fairy and unicorn.

Depending on the surface these stepping stones are placed, they can blend in or really pop. And who knows, maybe in a different setting they can be used for something other than stepping stones. There are many possibilities.

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In the Garden - My Fairy Crate - October 2018

I've had this fairy for a while but this wagon is a new addition thanks to My Fairy Crate subscription box. She is wearing a hat made from the fallen husk of a goldenberry from my garden.

The bridge is also a new addition that arrived in October's box. The natural color makes it blend right in to the natural scenery, as if the bridge has a long history of guiding travelers safely to their destination. 

This fairy baby rests atop an acorn with a companion squirrel, wondering of it should wake the baby to achieve this massive feast. I was so happy when I saw this in my subscription box because I'm trying to collect one baby to represent each of the months for next year's new segment.

This market stand looks great in my food garden! I already had the apples, gourds and pumpkins, but the piece on the far left is a new addition to my decor (along with the stand).

If you'd like to subscribe to My Fairy Crate, I found them through a site called Crate Joy, where I believe anyone can find a subscription box that fits their interests.

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My Fairy Crate - October 2018

This is the beautiful spread of items I received in October's My Fairy Crate subscription box. So festive!

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Unboxing - Seed Bank Box - October 2018

Bull's Blood Beet - I'm not the biggest fan of beets, but this particular type has bright, purple leaves that are great for salads. I'm willing to try it once, of course, but it's good that I know a few family members that enjoy beets more than I do.

Garlic Chives - This unique onion will fit right in with the new area of my garden. It's used often in Asian dishes but in the garden, the small flowers that bloom help to attract pollinators and keep my garden looking beautiful and alive.

Giant Prague Celeriac - This unique looking vegetable can be identified by it knobby roots and is popular in Europe. This relative of celery is commonly feature in mashed potatoes, soup or simply fried. Interesting!

Salt and Pepper Cucumber - They taste similar to most cucumbers but what sets this type apart from the rest is it's pale complexion. The tiny black spikes on this white cucumber is where the name is derived and is great for pickling.

Spring Tower Greens - The leafy greens of this lettuce can be good for salads, but the bitter stalks of this Chinese specialty is great in soups and stir fry!

Black Magic Kale - This dark-leafed beauty will add some contrast to my garden, nutrients to my dinner table and is suggested for making a healthy snack - kale chips.

Cherry Belle Radish - These round, spicy roots are great in salads and quick to grow! 

Early Frosty Pea - These babies are frost tolerant so they can tolerate being grown in the cooler seasons. They're also great for freezing once harvested so you can save them for a later date.

As mentioned in my video, this will be my last Seed Bank Box delivery. I have so many seeds to be planted next season and I don't think I have much more room in my garden for any more deliveries. This service has been wonderful and I hope to be able to return to it in the future, but I need to cut down on what I'm spending on my garden.

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My Fairy Crate - September 2018

September's delivery of My Fairy Crate came with quite a few adorable items. I was so excited to see another glossy tarot card (which is what I'm referring to them as) which is one step closer to a whole set. I'm not sure what I will do with them yet, but the prospect of collecting more cards is strong encouragement for me to continue with this subscription box!

This elf and owl are so adorable! His facial expression is too cute and the design is lovely. Of course I'm in love with the fact that there are mushrooms on it! The rest of the items could work for a cute fishing scene - lantern, tackle box, fishing pole, log bench and a frog.

The frog on the left is the new one. The larger of the two frogs I currently have, I've decided to name him Hermitt. And because I've never got around to naming the frog on the right, today's the day. Say hello to Charlene.

Thermin the elf echoes the hoots of Oswald the owl. 

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Unboxing - Seed Bank Box - September 2018

King Richard Leek - Depending on how much you love leeks, or how impatient you are, these leeks can be harvested at 3-4 inches or you can wait until they reach their full length of 1ft. Whenever you choose to harvest, they suggest trying your new leek in mashed potatoes, soup or even roasted.

Walla Walla Onion - Mild and extra sweet, these are not your typical onion! People have been known to eat them "like an apple" but I'm not sure how I feel about that. These along with the leeks will be the first time I've ever attempted growing onions (if you can believe it)!

Touchstone Gold Beets - Have you shied away from cooking with beets because they are known for staining kitchen ware that you do not want stained? Unlike other beets, the Touchstone Gold Beet is notorious for just the opposite - NOT staining things! This fact coupled with their mild flavor makes me more likely to attempt this root vegetable in my garden and hopefully have my mind changed on my dislike of beets.

Green Zebra Tomatoes - If this light green fruit with dark green stripes doesn't catch your attention, the bold, sweet taste surely will! This unique addition to the garden will have visitors requesting to take a few home to try and you'll be able to oblige because this plant is a heavy producer! 

Jewel Mix Nasturtium - This edible flower blooms in beautiful clusters of red, orange and yellow and I'm very excited to plant these in my garden since they are one of my favorite flowers.

Royal Burgundy Bean - I was just getting ready to plant some beans the week this box arrived so this is pretty exciting. After I'm done with that I'll need to sweep my house for cameras and microphones because I don't know how this company keeps knowing exactly what I'm planning to plant!

White Gold Mighty Mustard - To add to my list of "I've never grown this," this particular mustard plant is a jack of all trades! The plant serves as ground cover and suppresses weeds, attracts beneficial insects, the leaves are edible and its deep roots enrich the soil. What a power plant!

Surry Arugula - This fast-growing plant has a spicy kick to it which will be a punchy surprise to add to a salad. Potassium, Calcium, vitamins C, B, K - what a great addition to my garden and with great timing, I'm preparing an area to grow a salad mix already.

Seed Bank Box continues to impress me with their unique plants and vast variety. Like I always say, if I won't eat it, someone I know will (although of course I am willing to give every plant a fair chance). If you'd like to subscribe to the Seed Bank Box and have a mystery box of edible future food delivered to your door, please follow THIS LINK and let me know how you feel about what you receive. If you send me some pictures of your Seed Bank Box garden, I'd love to spotlight it here on my blog.

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Illuminate - Lights, Shadows, Action!

The last few months, I've made my monthly lighting posts focused on bringing artificial lights into my garden and that is what I plan to focus on most of the time. This month, however, I decided to focus on something that's not only important to my blog but also for taking better pictures; natural lighting and scene setting.

First I'll focus on scene setting. in the top left photo, the grass I've used for the ground cover is a bit wild and needs to be tamed, especially because it is blocking the view of the detailed chair legs. After removing all the decor and flattening the grass, I reset the scene in the photo on the right. The chair now looks great, but I've placed the teapot all the way to the left of the table, and it should be centered (or at least closer to the chair since that's where the character will be sitting). 

Even when your decor is centered and your flora is in place, you may still not be ready for the best photo. Direct sunlight often washes out certain details and can make an otherwise great photo opportunity a flop. In the above photo, direct sunlight has completely washed out the details on the tea set and the back of the chair. The angle of your photo is also important. While this angle shows off the flowers in the background wonderfully, the containers edge is blocking quite a bit of the chair - the chair legs we worked hard to expose earlier when taming the ground cover.

Sometimes it's as easy as picking the right time of day. Familiarize yourself with your garden and the position of the sun at certain times of day. If your schedule is restrictive, a large sun shade might be what you need to get the best photo. The photo above is a good capture - the grass is pushed down, the decor is centered and the full scene is in shadow. The angle avoids the decor being blocked by the edge of the container but also cuts out the colorful, floral background. Once your scene is set, a few photos from different angles is a good idea so that you have a few photos to choose from for the best share.

Let's start fresh. New decor, same container. On the left, the container is in partial shadow and some direct sunlight. This completely washes out the fairies beautiful face. The lighting on the rest of the decor is good. In the photo on the right, the direct sunlight causes long shadows to be cast and the fairy is still washed out. 

Spotted lighting is fine as long as it is angled appropriately (like not making a bright spot on a fairy's face to wash her out). If this does not happen naturally, you might be able grab a tree clipping to block the sun out or even a large, thick card stock with some hole punches in it. Get creative! If it wasn't for the fact that I forgot to replace the flower pot, this would have been a perfect scene! So here's a reminder, always make sure all your pieces are in the shot!

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Unboxing - Seed Bank Box - August 2018

August's Seed Bank Subscription Box came with 8 unique seeds spanning from hot, to sweet and even a drought tolerant flower! I love the variety they include every month! I took the liberty to copy the descriptions from their information cards word for word this month.

Big Jim Pepper - "The Big Jim Pepper was developed by New Mexico State University and has since become a favorite in green chilis and rellenos. The medium-hot fruits change from green to red and grow up to 12 inches long. These peppers are sure to impress your friends and your taste buds!"

Cream of the Crop Squash - "This creamy little acorn squash is a compact, bushy grower that belongs in every garden! Each plant can produce 10-20 of these delicious, nutty squashes. Whether you choose to pick them young and saute them like a summer squash, or wait for them to mature so they can be stored as a winter squash, you'll be happy to have made room in your garden for this vegetable!"

Siam Queen Basil - "The Siam Queen basil is a highly ornamental herb, with large, bright green leaves and clusters of tiny purple flowers. This Thai variety of basil holds up well in heat, making it an excellent choice for the summer garden. Enjoy this clove-flavored basil in curries and Thai dishes!"

Evening Primrose - "These pretty North American wildflowers come in a variety of colors, ranging from white and yellow to pink and red! The short, 6-12 inch tall mounding shrubs bloom prolifically all summer, practically hiding their own foliage. These wildflowers are drought tolerant and have extensive medical uses in homeopathy medicine."

Sakata's Sweet Melon - "If you have never tried an Asian melon before, you are in for a treat! The Sakata's sweet melon originated from Japan and only grows to about 3-4 inches in diameter. The real surprise here, though, is that the entire crunchy fruit is edible, even it's rind! Let your garden host this interesting melon this summer and enjoy the single-serving fruits, rind and all."

Long Purple Eggplant - "This delicious Italian eggplant grows up to a foot in length and has a glossy, deep purple skin. Long Purple eggplants are copious producers, yielding up to eight fruits per plant! For the best flavor, pick these eggplants when they are about six inches long and try them in an Italian dish like lasagna or caponata!

Emerald Okra - "Okra is a favorite vegetable in many different types of cuisine. This high-quality heirloom variety of okra produces tender 8-inch long fruits that, fortunately for the gardener, are spineless! The blooms of this heavy producer look like hibiscus flowers, making Emerald okra not only edible, but attractive as well!"

Sugar Pie Pumpkin - "These little 6-8 pound pumpkins are not only a superb variety for making into pies, but they also make cute jack-o-lanterns! The Sugar Pie pumpkin only grows to about 6-7 inches in diameter, making them easy to grow in your garden. We are already looking forward to one of our favorite fall treats; roasted pumpkin seeds!"

If you'd like to have non-gmo, heirloom seeds like this sent directly to your doorstep that will surely brighten your garden and kitchen table, please use my referral code! 

CLICK HERE

I'm excited to see how many of My Fairy Folks are joining me on this journey. If you also subscribe, please feel free to send me progress photos of your Seed Bank Box garden!

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My Fairy Crate - August 2018

My Fairy Crate for August had some beautiful surprises! 

These two cards we assumed were large, glossy print tarot cards. One is the Nine of Winter on the right. The card on the left shows the beautiful artwork on the back of the card, and on the front is the Eight of Winter. 

This little fairy looks like a fortune teller! 

This set of wooden chairs and table have beautiful attention to detail. 

In keeping with the natural feel, this wooden cart will surely help the fairies with any heavy moving, but can also be used just for fun, as shown by the porcupine who was also included in the subscription box.

A tiny flower pot that houses my favorite; sunflower!

What a great haul! And below is a container garden with all my lovely new pieces. I think it's great that the items in this box all fit so nicely in one scene!

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In The Garden - My Fairy Crate - July 2018

This container garden may look familiar to My Fairy Folks with a few additions. The majority of it came straight from my visit to Myrtle Creek last month with the addition of the elf in the rear, the tiny glass ladybug and wooden fence up front. These last three items arrived in My Fairy Crate subscription box from July. I created a few other gardens using the rest of the items in that package.

This lovely bird fountain arrived in July's My Fairy Crate. The succulents in this double container garden are clippings from my yard. The purple succulent in the middle rear and surrounding baby clippings are the only plants actually inside the shallow terra cotta garden (previously featured in my Garden A Day series). The flower on the left is a beautiful petunia and on the right is salvia. I decided to boost the foliage feel of this container garden by placing it inside a larger container with existing plants to create the illusion.

Finally, this postbox is the final piece from July's My Fairy Crate. All other decor in this scene was purchased from Hobby Lobby within the last year. I'm excited to show you the lovely things I received from the August subscription box! Are you a subscriber of any subscription boxes related to gardening? I'd love to know about them!

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Unboxing - My Fairy Crate - July 2018

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.

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Unboxing - Seed Bank Box - July 2018

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

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