Fairy Garden for the Studio

Fairy Garden Doors are available to purchase here~ on my etsy site SimplyHomeSweetHome

I added an indoor Fairy Garden to the Studio.. I created a few mushrooms and Fairy Garden Doors out of pottery. I experimented with some of the glazes that I came with the second hand pottery wheel that I picked up a while ago....

Picking Flowers

Indigo Bunting

I took a lunch break to enjoy some of this Beautiful Day outdoors.  This Indigo bunting was visiting the pond this afternoon

Perennial Forget-Me-Nots- Myosotis

              Charming little forget-me-nots are delicate plants with beautiful little blue flowers.

Forget-me-nots are great plants in the shade Garden as well as pots. I love to use them as edgings or planted close as a groundcover. They Dance around my shade garden as they reseed generously. The flowers have colorful, tiny yellow eyes and bloom in spring and into early summer. 

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Zones:

4-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

To 1 foot tall

Plant Width:

To 1 foot wide

Bloom Time:

Blooms spring to early summer

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Slopes,Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Fragrant,Cut Flowers,Drought Tolerant,Tolerates Wet Soil,Easy to Grow

Creating Living Wreaths with Sedum

I wanted to create something to hang on one of my old barn doors that I have throughout my gardens.
I filled the small pots with some sedum but will probably add to it after this takes off.

I have too many fun projects - I really need to be cleaning up my flower beds!

Making Garden Nests

Beautiful Morning to Garden

I just got started with yard work this morning and I found this little guy on my front Step!
It is so beautiful outside this morning it is hard to focus on working!

Earth Day Blooms From My Garden

Blood Root Poking through the Leaves

This  Helleborus is called  Blue Boy -

Lungwort is always one of the First plants to Bloom in my Garden

The Hellebores are so Beautiful and Full of Flowers this Spring

Striped Squill - I find these here and there through out the front yard

Love my Garden Junk

Signs of Spring

It was great coming home from a 10 days vacation to see signs of SPRING.  We left when there was still snow on the ground and cold temps.  Today I found the first of the Spring Blooms, Frogs swimming across the pond, Gold fish and Koi stirring, Robins and Cardinals singing, and Green plants poking through the leaves.

Helleborus- Lenten Rose  Blooming

Crocus

Beautiful Orchids

Found these Beautiful Orchids along with some gardening tools at a Moving Sale this morning.  It was so sweet- I was given them so I could give them a good home.  I have never grown Orchids before.

Basic Info for Growing Orchids

http://www.dreamorchids.com/

When growing orchids indoors, choose a east or west facing window or room that has bright light, but not direct sunlight.If this is not possible in your home, fluorescent or other grow lights, can simulate the ideal conditions. Specifically, two 20 watt fluorescent tubes with reflectors per 12 X 24 inch area, is recommended. Light set-ups for indoor orchids and caring for are available at nurseries and garden supply stores.

Indoor temperatures should be above 60 degrees at all times. In the daytime, even warmer temperatures are recommended. If your plants are kept on a window sill, be sure to move them at night or when the outdoor temperatures drop low. An alternative is to place a piece of cardboard between the plant and window to provide insulation from the cold.

These plants need moist air. Placing pots on wet gravel in trays is a good idea. Keep 1/2 inch of water in the gravel....this will evaporate and provide humidity. Using a mister to give your plants an occasional spritz will also provide the moisture your plants need.

Air circulation is important. Open windows when the weather is warm, or place a small fan in the growing space.

There are really just a few factors involved in orchid care. Once these are addressed, even orchid types requiring very specific care are not as daunting. 

Light is an important factors to consider. If your orchid gets too little light, it may not flower, and it’s leaves will be soft and unattractive. The look of the plant could also be stretched, where the space between leaves is longer and new leaves are longer and thinner. But, if an orchid gets too much sun,  might get sunburned . 
Careful Watering is necessary in the care of orchids. Too much or too little water can kill the orchid or leave the plant in a weakened state where pests and diseases can move in. Avoiding fungus and rot is important. 
Air humidity and Air Circulation are important considerations when deciding where you will place your plant. Too little moisture in the air can stunt your orchid and contribute to Bud Blast.

Orchids require a special kind of Potting Mix. Unlike other plants that need soil and compost, orchids instead thrive on the proper mix of air and moisture. Care for Orchids requires a growing medium that is a mix of inorganic materials and fibers. 

          Watering Orchids

When Watering Orchids, the grower needs to remember that orchids require the right mix of air and water. If there is not enough air at the roots, the excess moisture will rot the growing medium, leading to fungus, diseases, and infections. Some orchids prefer their roots to be somewhat dry. Others need more moisture.

In general, orchids like to be drenched, and then not watered again until they have almost dried out. The frequency of watering will depend on the temperature and humidity of the environment, and the orchid species.

Here's an easy way to tell when your orchid is thirsty:

• Using warm water, irrigate your orchid thoroughly.
• Lift it to judge its heaviness.
• Check everyday to see how heavy it is.
• Stick your finger down about an inch to judge dampness.
• Water again only when it feels significantly lighter and is dry at a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch.

Keep in mind when watering your orchid whether your plant likes dry roots or a little more moisture. Also, you should always use warm water, and do it early in the day.

Beautiful Fall Day Today

I took a little time to day to enjoy the Beautiful Weather! I have so much to do outdoors before it gets too cold.  Hopefully our fall is full of more days like today.

My Garden in Late July

This Hot Dry Weather has made it Challenging to keep everything looking good.  Lots of Watering! I took a few Photos early this morning before it gets too hot.

Entrance to Backyard Hosta Garden

Barn Door Garden Gate

Basil is ready to Eat

Old-fashioned White HollyHocks

Hosta White Christmas in a pot

Pee Gee Hydrangea already blooming

Koi are refreshing to watch

Black-eyed Susans in full bloom

 Woke up to this Beautiful Pink Hibiscus blooming this morning

Garage sale lantern and antique bird in pot

Amazing Chickens continue to lay eggs in this heat

Vintage Mirrors in the Garden

Hen and Chicks Hot in a Tea Pot

Gertie Hanging in the Hen House

Beautiful Huge Hosta Leaf- Sum and Substance

Peppermint Tea Garden

Tall Garden Phlox is in Bloom

My new Rusty Garden Treasure 

Beautiful Garden Junk- shabby shutters, antique stained glass window , and an old chicken feeder

planted crate on a rusty wagon frame found in the trash

Love the moss growing on the waterfall

Chicken Butts

It is Hot in the Hen House Today!