Tuesday, June 17, 2025

MERRIFIELD GARDEN CENTER - 6-13-25

Our latest trip to the garden center. I have added this link that will take you to all the other times visited. It will include today’s post, but if you keep scrolling you will see the others. Quite lengthy as it is a favorite place to wander around. My photos taken are to make a record, so that I can go back and buy a few things, when I have to think about them for a while.

Sometimes they are still there. Other times I 'snoozed', as in 'you snooze, you lose' just a bit too long. But, doesn't happen very often and though I don't visit as often as I would like, there is always something else that takes my fancy when I go back, if whatever I looked at is gone.

One of the staff was watering the plants and she stopped when she saw that I was interested in them. I can't say enough nice things about those who take care of everything, as they are consistently pleasant. I hesitated about crowding her and told her I didn't want to get in her way. She turned and smiled and started one of those conversational interactions that I find so pleasant when visiting these places. She couldn't have been more helpful. 
I told her what I was interested in, which were two green pots and the addition of the Lantana inside them. They only had one of the size I wanted, and my symmetrical brain had already found the exact spot where I was going to put two, and I wanted identical pots. They would be on each side of the bench on the deck, along with the Lantana. She offered to go into their storage area to find its partner. I had also asked where their succulent plants were, as I had another pot at home, and it has been a long time since I bought cacti. She told me they were in the greenhouse, and she would bring the pots to me as soon as she had found them. So, off she went...off I went...and Gregg joined me soon after as he had been parking the car. I had my eye on those toadstools, not to buy as I couldn't figure how they would fit in and besides, wasn't looking for toadstools to take home with me. They were fun to take a picture of though, as well as other things. Same thing, enjoyed looking at them but wasn't going to buy.
I really loved the yellow Lantana, so sunny and cheerful, and this is the green pot I had my eye on.
I passed by this delightful bird bath.
and the Yarro...
and then found myself heading inside. 
The greenhouse is on the right and I saw these pretty fucia almost immediately...
near this old beauty. I wondered about it as it used to be in the front of the building, but it has a new home. 
I shared it once before at this link in case you need a refresher. I see many of my blogging friends had left a comment there. I checked online at the time and identified it as a 1930 Ford Model A Pickup. 
I never did get as far as the succulents, but I spotted these big pots...
and no I didn't buy as I had committed to the green and had already purchased those, or at least Gregg did. He was putting them and the plants in the car. 
I was searching for a bench to sit on and my eyes wondered to this little creature...
and then I found these, and my whimsical side appeared. My impulse purchases of the day (below).
I resisted the fairies but am still determined to make my own fairy garden, and every now and again I add to it. 
Anyhow, no fairies but the turtle and the rabbit are joining the fairy family today.
They have quite a nice selection that I will be checking out later.
I am still heading to the bench to wait for Gregg, but saw these lovely orchids.
These looked interesting too...
and I stopped myself from looking at every one of these items on the long display bench, top and bottom.

I resisted any further temptations, took one last look...

and headed to the cashier's desk with my impulse buys. Gregg came back to see where I was (I am moving extra slowly lately). He had put all the other purchases in our vehicle. A good job too as I had forgotten that I had given him my wallet (didn't want to bring a purse and wasn't wearing anything with pockets). I would not have been able to buy rabbit or turtle and we all (not Gregg) breathed a sigh of relief (not really but whimsy occasionally takes hold).
Lastly, I had fun playing with my collage app to which I added photos in today’s post.

It was fun and good to get out for a bit. I went home, put my feet up, put my slippers on and had a cup of tea, and maybe a nap, not necessarily in that order.

Thanks for looking! I hope you have a great week ahead.






50 comments:

  1. Hi Denise, I love ❤️ the turtle 🐒 and the rabbit πŸ‡ 🐰 πŸ’• Your flower 🌼 🌸 photos are gorgeous. What an amazing place and the lady was so kind πŸ˜‡ and helpful.

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    1. Thank you Linda, so happy you enjoyed, and the lady was indeed very kind and helpful and love all your emogees :)

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  2. What a charming and thoughtful wander through the garden center—filled with serendipitous finds, kind staff, and just the right mix of practicality and whimsy that makes those visits so special

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  3. What a large place. They have wonderful things. I really like the pretty green pot you bought. Our greenhouse used to have a fairy garden section. They got rid of it because it did not sell well. The fucia and Yarrow are gorgeous! I am surprised you did not buy the froggie bird bath, it seems so YOU!

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    1. I am glad you enjoyed those green pots Ginny. I ended up buying three of them, one smaller than the others. I have to get one more plant and small succulents but those will have to wait. I went a bit over budget for these. Hence no froggy birdbath :( Also a lot of rain around here lately - good for the gardens and for our farmer’s crops but it keeps me inside more. Sad about your place giving up on fairy gardens.

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  4. Garden Centres are wonderful places to spend a few hours (and sometimes quite a lot of money too).

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  5. I must confess that going to a garden centre is not my idea of recreation! We go to buy what we need and that’s it for us. Our most recent visit was a couple of weeks ago. Our garden is mainly perennials, but we always need annuals for pots and a few bags of soil. That’s it for us until the same time next year. If costs keep climbing the way they have in recent years we’ll need to arrange a line of credit!

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    1. Understand completely David, though everything seems to be recreational for me these days :)

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  6. I'd love to make a fairy garden,...I'm thinking about all the fun things you can do with that.
    I loved the items you saw.

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    1. Thank you Val! I would love to see your photos of any you do :)

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  7. It looks a wonderful garden centre that's for sure. Their plants look very healthy, and I love the pots. Helpful staff is good too. Seems you had a ball looking there.

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    1. Thanks Margaret and happy you liked what I shared today. I certainly did have a ball :)

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  8. Hello Denise,
    I love the yellow lantana and the green pots are pretty.
    The bird bath is cute too. I see so many cute items and pretty plants, very tempting.
    Take care, have a great day!

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    1. Hi Eileen! So many temptations at that place :) Thank you and I wish you the same.

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  9. I love the toadstools. There were so many things there to tempt you. I think you deserve a medal for being so restrained. The fairies are so sweet, but would be lost in our garden.

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    1. Thanks Janice :) I can be very focused on what I need for the moment but always find one or two impulse buys to bring home.

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  10. What a wonderful place this is. So much to see. I would love browsing through there. The rabbit and the turtles are adorable.
    I've always been fascinated by fairy gardens. I have a few little pieces that I purchased at Dollar Tree. I put them in my front flower bed.

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    1. I need to check out dollar tree again for many things but I would like to see their fairy section. I would love to see photos of them in your garden :)

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  11. I used to be the same way in a camera shop, as you are in the garden store.

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    1. I agree, I used to love going to the camera shops :)

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  12. Thanks for sharing that! To virtually visit, I don't get tempted by lovely loot!

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    1. You are very welcome Jenn and virtual visits can be as enjoyable and much easier on the pocket book :) as I have found myself.

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  13. The yellow lantana is really pretty! I bet that you were home with your purse much thinner :-))

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  14. Oh how I love-love-love garden centers...and yours is especially beautiful. They're like total "eye candy", even in pictures. Thank you for sharing yours, Denise. ~Andrea xoxo

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    1. They are fun places aren’t they Andrea ? :) You are very welcome. Always happy to share, xoxo.

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  15. There are always so many lovely things to catch the eye in a garden centre and not just the plants. I do like the bright and sunny Lantana and the pot it is in.
    10/10 to the very helpful staff member.

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    1. Absolutely agree Beverley :) and thank you. Yes, she was lovely and a credit to the garden center.

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  16. That is an awesome garden center!! Wow!
    I would have had to bring home the rabbit with the little bird on its ear. Total joy!!
    I can see why you go back again and again. :)
    Please show us the lantana in the green pots when they are home and in their spots.

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    1. Thanks Rita :) I will be sure to show you the lantana in their pots sometime. They are a bit battered at the moment as we have had some heavy rains. Shouldn’t be too long before they recover though. I couldn’t resist the rabbit with its little bird and the turtle.

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  17. Denise what a lovely outing. I too am a huge fan of Lantana. The yellow in the green pot will be stunning addition to the deck
    Hugs cecilia

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    1. Hi Cecilia, thank you so much :) sending hugs.

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  18. no wonder you love to shop there, its a wow moment no matter where you look. I do like the green pots you bought. I liked the bird bath you did not buy. I want one but am to cheap to buy it.. ha ha

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    1. That’s why we didn’t buy it, lol! Thanks Sandra :)

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  19. A most enjoyable outing.
    Lovely photographs you've shared.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan, so happy you enjoyed :) all the best to you too.

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  20. Es un bello jardΓ­n. te mando un beso.

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  21. I love that the truck got this second chance at life. I so enjoyed my excursion through the garden center with you. What a divine pattern on the green pot, made even more stunning with the yellow blooms.

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    1. Thank you so much :) so glad you liked them.

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  22. Those pots will be a nice addition. Glad there were two. Fun day for you!

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    1. Thank you Ellen, I am very happy with them and it certainly was :)

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  23. Great photos. I always enjoy going to the garden centre to get photos :-D

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  24. So many beautiful things but that orange mushroom at the top made me smile very big!

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    1. Wonderful, I am so glad you liked the mushrooms :)

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