HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - FAIRY GARDEN AT MEADOWLARK GARDENS, VIENNA, VIRGINIA

These are from Meadowlark Gardens, in the early days of the Fairy Garden. I haven't been there since I had problems with my knee sprain now turned into arthritis. I can't believe that started almost two years ago. It is very hilly for those of us who have trouble walking. I hope to get out there one day to see if the fairies are still there. Things were being changed around it seemed, so I am keeping my fingers crossed and I will let you know.

"When the first baby laughed

For the first time, 

Its laugh broke into a thousand pieces

And they all went skipping about

And that was the beginning of fairies."

~Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie~

(side note: when Mr. Barrie passed away, he gave the rights away to the Peter Pan works to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, which continues to benefit from them. How wonderful is that? His biography at the link above is very interesting.)

 "Who knows what secrets fairies like to keep.

Perhaps they whisper about the follies of humankind"

~Fairy Secrets - Brian Froud~

 "Blessed are those who see things in humble places,

Where other people see nothing."

~Author unknown~

 "Garden fairies come at dawn,

Bless the flowers and then are gone."

~Author Unknown~

 "And though you should live

In a palace of gold,

Or sleep in a dried-up ditch,

You never could be as poor

As the fairies are,

And never as rich."

~Rose Fyleman~

"Someday you will be old enough

To start reading about fairytales again."

~C. S. Lewis~

"Did you know,

hanging a spray of primroses on your door

is an invitation for fairies to come into your home

and bring fairy blessings?"

~Author Unknown~

"Children, children, don't forget

There are elves and fairies yet.

Where the knotty Hawthorne grows

Look for prints of fairy toes.

Where the grassy rings are green,

Moonlight dances will be seen.

Watch and wait, oh lucky you,

If you find a fairy shoe:

For a ransom he will pay

Hobbling barefoot all the day.

Lay it on his mushroom seat,

Wish your wish and go your way.

If your wish should be discreet,

Never fear but he will pay."

~Dora Owen~

"Stories are like fairy gold, the more you give away, the more you have."

~Author Unknown~

"Admit it, we all need books

and fairy dust once in a while."

~Author Unknown~

"Down along the rocky shore, 

Some make their home.

They live on crispy pancakes 

Of yellow-tide foam.

Some in the reeds 

Of the black mountain lake,

With frogs for their watchdogs,

All night awake."

~Excerpt from The Fairies by William Allingham~

(You can read the rest of the poem here.)

Down along the rocky shore

Some make their home,

They live on crispy pancakes

Of yellow tide-foam;

Some in the reeds

Of the black mountain lake,

With frogs for their watch-dogs,

All night awake.

Read more at http://www.poetry-archive.com/a/the_fairies.html#UlT7OpdpIZVRRRYp.99

"Mist-clad in the light of the moon,

Starspun seekers I search for thee!

Faery light I ask they boon

Of branch and thorn and Elder tree!

Wood woven creatures, shadow weavers

River keepers come to me!

Just beyond reaching, never in keeping

Spirits of Faery I call unto thee.

Wind-hewn wildness, dark and brightness,

Spiral enchantments born of the sky.

Cradle me with Elven hands,

Abide with me, thy human child!"

~W. B. Yeats~ 

I left links where I could. I am thankful to be able to find out more about these wonderful authors.

Down along the rocky shore

Some make their home,

They live on crispy pancakes

Of yellow tide-foam;

Some in the reeds

Of the black mountain lake,

With frogs for their watch-dogs,

All night awake.

Read more at http://www.poetry-archive.com/a/the_fairies.html#UlT7OpdpIZVRRRYp.99

Thank you for looking at today's tale of whimsy. 

I wish you all a great Sunday!

FROM GRAY WOODS THEY COME…

“From gray woods they come, on silent feet into a cone of light. A lifting note, O fair! O fleet! There the night through we take out pleasure, dancing to such a measure as earth never knew.”

~Seamas O’Sullivan~

Seumas or Seamus O’Sullivan (born James Sullivan Starkey, July 17th, 1879 - March 24th, 1958), was an Irish poet and editor of The Dublin Magazine. His father, William Starkey (1836 - 1918), a physician, was also a poet and a friend of George Sigerson. He was born in Dublin and spent his entire adult life in the suburb of Rathgar. In 1926 he married the artist Estella Solomons, sister of Bethel Solomons. You can read more at this link.

My photo was given an artistic effect but as it was done several years ago, I have long forgotten which one I used. The fairy was part of the Fairy Garden at Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna, Virginia  

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.

THERE ARE FAIRIES ABOUT...

We call them faerie. We don't believe in them. Our loss.

~Charles de Lint~

And as the seasons come and go,

Here's something you might like to know.

There are fairies everywhere,

Under bushes, in the air,

Playing games just like you play

Singing through their busy day.

So listen, touch and look around,

In the air and on the ground.

And if you watch all nature's things,

You might just see a fairy's wing.

~Author Unknown~ 

My photos of the fairies were taken in the San Diego Botanical Garden many years ago (maps above showing its location). The middle photo is blurry, but I noticed that I had caught a little hummingbird in frame. It is in the left of the photo, slightly above and to the side of the fairy's left wing, sitting on a branch. I was visiting the children's garden at the time, having walked all over the other areas and needing a rest. Keeping still and very quiet is a wonderful way to take everything in, and to see what little birds might appear, as in this case the hummingbird.

I had the place all to myself. The whole garden was very quiet and the only occasional person I came across was one of the volunteer gardeners. It took about an hour to get there driving north, and it was the first time I had used GPS. 

We actually lived in San Diego for many years back in the 80's, as I have mentioned before on other posts. I was looking forward to visiting with old friends.

On this occasion I had gone along on one of Gregg's business trips and we hadn't thought of getting GPS up to that point, but he didn't want me getting lost. We were late to the party, but I took to it like a duck to water and my adventures began, starting with the botanical garden. A lovely memory and another place I would like to get to again one day.

Thanks for looking and 

I hope you day will be great.

BACK TO THE GARDEN CENTER - GARDEN NICKNACKS

  I meant to get back to these sooner as our visit to the garden center was on April 20th. 

The foxes told me they wanted me to take them home but I stood my ground. I told them there were enough foxes in our neighborhood but I was sure they would be going home with someone that day.

Ahhh, dragons! 

"Let your creativity soar on dragon's wings across uncharted skies."

~Author Unknown~

The Zen Frog was giving some advice today: "Make a splash, look before you leap, don't jump to conclusions, enjoy a good swim, stretch your legs often, spend time at your pad, and hop to it!" I may have read this on Pinterest and yes, you may have read this before.

I was very taken with the bronze fairy. She is a birdfeeder/birdbath holder. It seemed like she was five feet tall but couldn't be sure as she was displayed on top of a table, and she towered over me. I wasn't surprised at the price on the sticker, so I wistfully put it down and said goodbye to my sweet fairy.

I asked my little buddies here if they decided to give her away to let me know, but they weren't hearing, speaking or seeing me. They knew nothing and I will always respect them for that. Good little bunnies!

So here we are away with the fairies.

I think I mentioned before I am hoping to put together a small fairy garden inside a planter. I enjoyed looking at the ones here.

The fairy house is the last photo from this side of the nicknack shop. Below is the one on the other side of the corridor. I had fun browsing through there also, but I will save that for another time.

Remember, if you are away with the fairies, in my mind that is a good thing. I have said it many times before, we all need to get in touch with our inner child/fairy once in a while. Let it fly!

Thanks for looking and sending you only the very best wishes for a great day!