Local Happenings: Green Scene Expo 2019

Another year, another Green Scene Expo trip with my best friend! Last year my blog post focused more on the vendors and items being sold, so this year, while I did purchase items and enjoyed the vendor section, I decided to focus more on the natural beauty of the Fullerton Arboretum.

This walkway is lined with seating and covered with beautiful flowers, making it a great spot to relax, take in the beauty and enjoy the company of your friends and nature.

The Fullerton Arboretum boasts over 26-acres of botanical gardens. I was able to manage walking the paths for at least 1.5hrs and still didn't walk them all.

The array of colors this time of year is fabulous! There are so many different plants, over 4,000 plants, making it the largest botanical garden in Orange County.

While walking near the lake, people were pointing at the water with 'ooh's and 'ahh's. At first I wasn't sure what they were seeing, until I stood still and looked hard. There were itty bitty baby turtles swimming around! There was a whole bunch of life under the surface that I may have missed if there weren't others pointing. I also saw that there was a collection of turtles on a log which I initially thought were a pile of rocks. In the photo above, there is also a family of ducks. What a great photo opportunity!

I saw these flowers and have decided this is a plant I want in my yard. Can any of My Fairy Folks help me to identify it?

Unfortunately, while I was at this event, I did learn that the future of the Fullerton Arboretum may be in danger. I was hoping to tour the Clark House but had run out of time, and now I hope it will still be there next year (if they continue to do this event, of course). I found a news article about the situation online. If you'd like to read it, click here.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

grandmasEFG@gmail.com

FACEBOOK  GOOGLE+  INSTAGRAM  

PINTEREST  TWITTER  YOUTUBE

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

Local Happenings - Veggiepalooza!

On March 16 and 17, Veggipalooza attracted quite the crowd of "green thumbs" to browse nearly 300 home-garden friendly plants for sale. I managed to buy a few types of tomatoes and beans but it was a hard decision. I passed up Clint Eastwood's tomatoes but will hopefully try them next year. I'd also like to thank my best friend for accompanying me on this day trip.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

grandmasEFG@gmail.com

FACEBOOK  GOOGLE+  INSTAGRAM  

PINTEREST  TWITTER  YOUTUBE

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

Local Happenings: Fairy Garden Class Returns!

If you've been with us for a while, you might remember the few meet-ups we did at Sunshine Grower's Nursery back in 2015 to create themed fairy gardens. Well, they're back!

On Saturday, January 26th at 10am we will burst into the new year with some festive miniature gardens! The $10 entry fee will give you access to a small container, potting mix, bark, moss, plants and one small fairy (however, feel free to bring your own container, fairies and decor as well). On top of all that, My Fairy Folks who reserve their spot in advance will also be able to enjoy a light snack and refreshments. But that's not all! If you see something fairy garden related in the store that catches your eye, take 20% off that day!

We will personally be available until at least 12p when we'll host a raffle for some great prizes. To be entered into the raffle you need to follow these steps:
1. Be on our emailing list. If you'd like to sign up, please email grandmasefg@gmail.com with your first and last name.
2. Register for the class. To do this, you'll need to contact Ken at Sunshine Grower's Nursery via telephone 909-797-9210.
3. Have a friend register. Make sure they tell Ken YOU referred them. If you are able to grab a friend the day of who hasn't registered but is interested, that will work too but RSVP is preferred.

If you've never attended a class before, here are some beginner tips:

• Come early. I will be in the nursery at 9am to prep and answer any questions and there will be plenty of plants and decor to ogle at and gather ideas before the class begins.
• Bring items from home. If you already have a container or decor, feel free to bring them! Sometimes it's easier to create a fairy garden with things you already know you have and love.
• Pocket money. $10 is a great deal for everything included in this class, but you should also take advantage of the 20% off sale only available this day and only for class attendants! As you saw in the video above, they've got some amazing stuff and I only captured a percentage of it. Small plants are also included in this sale.

To recap:

Sunshine Grower's Nursery

34017 Yucaipa Blvd. Yucaipa, CA 92399

$10 entry - Saturday 26th @ 10am-12p 

(fairy garden creation and 20% off sale will continue until 5pm, however myself and the raffle will be gone by then)

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

grandmasEFG@gmail.com

FACEBOOK  GOOGLE+  INSTAGRAM  

PINTEREST  TWITTER  YOUTUBE

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

Plant Haul - July 2018

All of these flowers were purchased from Lowe's.

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.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

grandmasEFG@gmail.com

FACEBOOK  GOOGLE+  INSTAGRAM  

PINTEREST  TWITTER  YOUTUBE

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

Garden A Day Challenge - Intro

My yard has been through quite a lot of changes in the last seven years; landscaping, paving, hardware, rotating plants (edible and otherwise) and being flexible when it comes to the active fairy community I've acquired. While I try to keep up on the maintenance for my main hobby, mother nature and life outside of the garden often have a way of making a negative impact. 

I mention this because it has become my current situation. Whatever the cause, I know action is needed and inspiration hit me. My garden as a whole is quite a daunting task but like many overwhelming yet necessary things in life, there is one tried and true method to success; break the task down into manageable chunks and check them off as you go.

In an effort to clear debris, spruce up and rearrange my garden back into something pleasing to all senses, I've decided to make this month my very first Garden A Day Challenge. By working on one garden a day I will make my way around the entire yard by the end of the month. My motivation for this challenge is to have my yard presentable when hosting an upcoming family get-together, prepare for our upcoming blog anniversary, clear out space to expand my food garden and hopefully boost my social media following.

I'd love for My Fairy Folks to join me in this challenge. I'd encourage you to re-purpose and reuse as much as you can to keep costs down. I would also love to see what you create so be sure to post in the comments, email or tag me on social media using the hashtag #GardenADayChallenge.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

grandmasEFG@gmail.com

FACEBOOK  GOOGLE+  INSTAGRAM  

PINTEREST  TWITTER  YOUTUBE

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

Unboxing - Seed Bank Box - May 2018

I'd like to introduce you to Seed Bank Box. I only recently was introduced to it and I can't tell you how it exceeded my expectations. That's not true because I WILL tell you about it in this blog. First, I did some research on seed subscription boxes. I decided I wanted only food seeds that were heirloom and something I couldn't find at Home Depot. Some other subscription boxes didn't offer these things and the ones that did only offered 3 types for the price of the Seed Bank Box.

So, my first box arrived in this cute little package. 

And here is everything that arrived inside. The color co-ordination and labeling is so simple yet so helpful. I will write the month and year on the box and keep the seeds and information cards stored there. So convenient for someone like me that seems to lose everything under the sun! 

Ok, so the verdict? I love it! I was blown away by the variety and quantity of seeds for each plant. I honestly think I will need to gift some seeds in the near future because my garden won't have room for all I'll be receiving! I love Sunflowers so that was the best part of this box. I already had plans to plant okra - how did they know!? And the Hyssop looks like it will be so beautiful and perfect for my fairy garden! Can you hear the excitement in my font!?

Above is a closer look at all the information cards via slideshow.

Below is the video of our unboxing.

And below that is a link to get your very own Seed Bank Box via yours truly. 

Click here to subscribe for your own Seed Bank Box

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

grandmasEFG@gmail.com

FACEBOOK  GOOGLE+  INSTAGRAM  

PINTEREST  TWITTER  YOUTUBE

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

Fairy Garden Class - Purple Pot and Peppers

Purple Pot and Peppers - say that five times fast! Thanks to some recent gifts (click here to view the post), I had a vibrant container to fill and knew that my newly purchased colorful peppers would be a surprising pop of color!

Look at those colors! I was able to work with mostly 3 colors for this container; purple, brown and green, and they go so well together.

I began laying out my two newest plants and decided which container to put each in. For this class, we're focusing on the NuMex Easter Hot pepper plant to the right that I purchased at the Green Scene Expo last month (read about it here).

I placed some coffee filters at the bottom of the containers and some small pebbles; both will aid in drainage and keeping soil from escaping.

Soil fills up the rest of the pot before I plant my peppers and lay down more pebbles for colorful ground coverage. I also chose some miniature decorations to create a scene - all existing pieces I already had. How sweet is the little bloom at the top?

And here we are. Some rocks and glass stepping stones for a path to each house, and this container is ready to watch this pepper plant grow.

PLEASE COME VISIT MY FAIRY PAGE

www.facebook.com/GrandmasEFG

grandmasefg@gmail.com

Grandma'sEFG YouTube Channel

Local Happenings: Green Scene Expo 2018

Two weeks ago I took a day trip to Fullerton, CA with my good friend to an event we've attended for a few years now. The event was on Saturday and Sunday but we decided to get there as soon as they opened to the public Saturday for an entry fee of $8 which includes parking. Already at 10am the place was packed with people! The event has been pretty popular every year I attend.

The event is held every year at the Fullerton Arboretum which is a lovely setting with manmade ponds and waterfall (pictured above). Below are some pictures from vendors.

I found these plants to be so unique but did not purchase one.

Looking through my photos, I regret greatly not purchasing this grapevine-looking succulent. It would have been perfect for my vineyard scene I have planned. Well, there's always next year.

These plants have a pop of color that almost look photoshopped! The bright pink and purple could be used for lots of great scenes, including Spring and Mardi Gras.

One of the plants I purchased on this trip was this colorful bunch of peppers. Purple, Yellow and Orange peppers will brighten the food garden portion of my yard. While it is a pepper plant, the card specifically says they are not meant for consumption. Be sure to read all instructions on any plants you purchase.

This cucumber plant was purchased for my food garden, making it the 5th type for my garden. My granddaughter likes cucumbers so I tried to plant some from seeds earlier this year but it didn't take. So I decided to find a variety of cucumber plants to put in my food garden.

Have you ever seen a purple bell pepper? This was my first time seeing it and I decided that I needed to add it to my food garden. Purple is a magical color and this pepper is said to transition through four different colors!

On the way out of the succulent maze, there are many booths at the end of the event that you will want to save some money for. The Fullerton Garden Club has been there every year I've gone and they have so many wonderful plants for sale.

This adorable planter and healthy succulents are priced at only $10!

These ceramic mushrooms caught my attention, designed by a member of the Fullerton Garden Club.

Each container is priced very well for the amount of succulents they pack in there!

I found these garden markers for sale at another booth. There are so many creative people at this event!

Fairy Garden doors for sale! This cute basket had a fantastical door as well as some small decorations to accent the magical feel. 

This fairy home comes with lovely outdoor seating to enjoy a lovely, sunny day.

This vendor sold some unique Driftwood Creations (which is also their namesake). Owner Tim Shea and his wife were there to answer my questions about their art.

This particular piece is one I plan on purchasing. Their contact information is 714-875-5509 or Tim.Shea@hotmail.com

This vendor has taken an artistic approach to "what makes something a planter?" The following three pictures are from the same vendor.

This little buggy container makes you feel like it is housing some precious cargo. The chicken planter is the perfect size for the small succulent inside.

A small Radio Flyer is home to these succulents. I can just imagine them racing downhill.

This was definitely an eye catching display, both with color and function.

Gano Studios had a large display of ceramic containers. So many unique shapes and styles.

If you would like to contact Jenny and Jason Gano, I was able to grab their information.

FB: JenniferGanoArtist

GanoArtist@gmail.com

Instagram: JennyGano

Compared to the prices in the main area of the event, these succulents are a steal, especially with some interesting containers.

One booth had some air plants for sale and I managed to pick up a few.

It really is amazing what people can turn into a planter! I'm so happy I was able to attend this year and already can't wait for next year's event!

If you'd like to see the videos I took, pop over to my YouTube Channel.

PLEASE COME VISIT MY FAIRY PAGE

www.facebook.com/GrandmasEFG

grandmasefg@gmail.com

Grandma'sEFG YouTube Channel

Fairy Garden Class - Valentine-Themed Scene

It's February (wasn't it just New Year's Day, goodness how time flies!) and time for another Fairy Garden Class. This month's theme is, of course, Valentine's Day. These cherubs were found in my house and I thought they'd make a good addition to this month's container garden.

Alyssum, purchased at Home Depot. This 6 pack was under $3.00

Violas, purchased at Home Depot. This 6 pack was also under $3.00

Primrose, purchased at Home Depot. This flower was $1.50

I decided that the Primrose would make a bright, beautiful focal point in my small container garden. Based on that, I made sure to get supporting yellow and white flowers to surround it, settling on the alyssum and viola. 

This metal container is relatively new. I received it during the Christmas break full of candy and it is a beautiful, deep red that I felt would be perfect for this theme. The cherubs and alyssum are a bright white and the viola I used was a soft yellow which helped to make sure that the primrose would be the star of this garden. 

Because this will be a short-lived themed garden, I didn't feel the need to put drainage holes in this container. I don't plan to leave these plants in here for more than two months, and I made sure to keep the Primrose in it's original pot to prevent it's roots from reaching the bottom and risking root rot. If you ever plan to plant in a metal container, you'll need to drill in drainage holes yourself. If you are like me and feel you might want to repurpose the metal container for non-plant things in the future, make sure to re-home your plants within a month or two and not to over water. 

As always, place a good amount of small stones at the bottom of your container. This will help with drainage and is especially important if your container does not have drainage holes. Again, this is only meant to be a short-term home for these plants; any long-term container for plants need drainage holes at the base. These rocks will also prevent the soil from retaining all of the water and causing root rot. Since I kept the primrose in it's pot, I placed a layer of soil over the rocks, placed the primrose in the center and poured the remainder of the soil around that. This also will make extraction easier when I'm ready to move the flower to a more permanent location.

After placing all the flowers where I want them, it's now time to add decor. Here I have the cherubs to fit the theme as well as an 'iron' gate and pebbles for ground cover (purchased at Dollar Tree for $1.00). The pebbles would keep the container bright and cover up the dark soil. I then added the accenting gate and cherubs only to find that the cherubs were blocking the view of my planned main feature! I had to rethink this garden. It was obvious that I had to abandon my plan to have the cherubs and primrose in the same garden. I decided to use a different container and a taller plant so that it wouldn't be blocked by the cherubs. Since I recently brought ferns into my garden, I decided to use that, especially because I know ferns are a tall plant.

Yes, this is much better. The cherubs do not block the fern and this now looks like a quaint little park scene where two cherubs flirt on a park bench with a tall tree behind them. It was unfortunate that I didn't get to use the primrose with the cherubs, however, I'll find another use for them next week. If you have any photos of a container garden that didn't go according to plan, email them to me and a story about what happened and I may share it on the blog. 

PLEASE COME VISIT MY FAIRY PAGE

www.facebook.com/GrandmasEFG

grandmasefg@gmail.com

Grandma'sEFG YouTube Channel