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.

TAKEN AT THE MERRIFIELD GARDEN CENTER - 6-29-23 - PART 1

I hope those of you who were celebrating had a Happy 4th of July yesterday.  Our neighbors put on quite a firework display in their yard at the back of us.   It was fun to watch from our deck.

A few days ago we went to a garden center to look around. As you can see, Mrs. Gnome gave us a lovely welcome. 

 Okay, I added her thanks to paint shop pro.  She was for sale inside the building.  Unfortunately, she did not come home with us. We were there to find potted plants for the deck at the back of our house.  We were impressed with the staff who were very friendly and helpful.

We were also greeted with this beauty!  I checked online and the one I saw identical to this said it was a 1930 Ford Model A Pickup.  For the classic vehicle enthusiast there is a very interesting page here.  I fell in love with it.  I am by no means a car enthusiast, hence my first rust bucket (Morris Mini Cooper) very similar to this one. 

 It got me from A to B, and I saved every penny for three years, finally purchasing my old car second hand when I was 21. I said goodbye to it when I got married and moved across the pond.  I loved it dearly and traveled many miles along those narrow, country lanes, back and forth to work, a night out with friends, and further north to visit my sister and her family on the occasional weekend.  I sold it to a good friend who needed a second car.  She and her husband drove it for several years.  It was a good little car to them also.  However, getting back to that gorgeous old pickup truck, these old classics are the kind that I have always coveted, even before my old rust bucket.  I say this realizing that it is never going to happen.  Maybe in my next lifetime.

We started off inside the store and I took photos of things I might want to purchase in the future.  For instance, cute hummingbird feeders.

Here she is, Mrs. Gnome

A pretty little angel birdfeeder.

Lots of items that I didn't get a chance to look at, but there's always next time.

Beautiful orchids!

The last three photos were items we found outside, with a 4th of July theme for Independance Day. 

People are celebrating this weekend also, though the actual 4th isn't until Tuesday this year  (which will have been yesterday when you read this).

This patriotic wind spinner was very colorful.  I expect it would have been a pretty sight on a windy day.  

I have photos from the outside also, which I will share soon.