BACK TO THE GARDEN CENTER ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH, 2025...

and what a lovely time was had. I wanted to purchase seed packets to pop into the Christmas cards for gardening friends. The usual spot I always found them had other things on display. A lady came over to see if she could help and when I told her what I was looking for, she showed Gregg a place on the other side of the center. He disappeared for a couple of minutes, and I pottered around while waiting for him to come back. That’s him on the left just before he follows the nice lady. I really can’t say enough about the staff here. In all the years we have been coming, all have been super friendly and helpful.

I asked Bear if he would like to come home with me, but as often happens, he said no. He was far too busy greeting people and offering them refreshments. The deer below gave me the same answer. Ah well, there were other things to occupy my line of sight.

The raccoon was as interested as I was as he poked his head through a hole in the wall.

Hmmm.....he said. I know....I said.

Trinkets...I said.

How I love trinkets, like a moth to the flame...but I have more control than the moth as I left the flame and went on to look at other things.

Still rabbiting on here…hmmm....shiny objects. What am I, a jackdaw? Not really but how I love browsing around shiny, glittery things.

I went through one of the double doors into the greenhouse and had a browse around there too.

You can see what drew my attention this time. I also like rusty animals…

and while getting in touch with my inner child even further, decided to look at fairy things.

Not buying anything but seed packets, just browsing today!

I wonder if Santa is visiting later?

So, with seed packets in hand thanks to my dear other half, it was time to leave. We had passed turtle on our way in. 

We made our way to our drive-thru and ordered a coffee. They were offering their snowman cookies and one actually did make its way home with me. I ate it while drinking my coffee and writing Christmas Cards. I'm late sending them as always. Maybe next year I will be earlier! But then again, snowmen may fly!

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great day!

AT THE GARDEN CENTER GIFT SHOP

 I meant to share these back in April. I didn't buy anything but had a fun time looking around. At the garden center on each side of a corridor were the gift shops. You may have seen this post.  

I don't know what these would be called, but they were spools of decorative binding with different patterns. I especially liked the one with bees. They would look very nice on the end of a summer blouse or dress, or a tablecloth perhaps.

This design of an old postcard was on the front of a bag.

 

There were so many things I enjoyed browsing through.

I particularly liked the bunny. 

No surprise there!

And the frog!

and I thought these decorative butterflies were really pretty.

They were next to the ceramic froggy watering can.

And that's all from the garden center.

Thanks for looking and 

I hope your day is a great one.

AT THE GARDEN CENTER

We are looking for a few pieces of garden furniture to put on the deck. Although we were actually in the market for a few flowers, these caught my eye. Good marketing on the garden center's part, they were right there before the flowers. My dear other half sat down in one and said these are going to be very hard to get out of. I could not deny he had a point but I hopefully said, "Nice thick cushions?" No, I don't think so. Onwards, but first...

this was a very cute water fountain between those bright yellow chairs.  In my mind's eye I could see the fountain of water shooting up and happy little birds enjoying themselves but no and again, onwards. A close-up of those pretty pots behind the chairs. I like those very much but right now we are concentrating on filling the pots we have and looking for flowers. Nice to see though.

These photos were more of the Talavera pieces I didn't share the other day.

In the middle of the next collage are the birds I shared but more of a close up. I saw a description this time identifying the larger one as Mother Dodo Bird. The smaller one was supposed to be its offspring presumably. 

This type of pottery is appearing everywhere. I have seen it in several catalogs that are delivered in the mail.

Aren't these white flowers pretty? The name on the label was Andromeda Scar O'hara Mar., 3G 15 - 18", but the following is from my 'Picture This' plant app.

They are called Japanese pieris, also known as Japanese andromeda, Lily of the valley bush, Andromeda japonica, Fetterbush, Mountain fire and Dwarf lily-of-the-valley shrub. Its botanical name is Pieris japonica. This is an evergreen shrub that produces chains of small flowers. So pretty to look at but I am always surprised at the toxicity of various flowers and plants. This one can cause seizures and temporary blindness if consumed by animals or people! An interesting story about its name is that the genus name Pieris, derives from Piera in Greek. According to Greek mythology, which is a subject I have always been interested in, Piera is the home of the Muses. This is enough to demonstrate how beautiful the plant is. Its foliage changes colors throughout the seasons and dangling clusters of colorful flower buds appear in late summer or fall. This plant originates from Japan which is why it is called Japanese pieris.

These were very interesting also. I don't remember seeing anything like these before. I am in the shade area. Most of the plants I'm buying will be shade plants. Epimedium 'Amber Queen' - Fairy Wings according to the sign below.

Next are Green and gold, also known as Golden Star, Golden Knee, Allen bush and Superstar. Botanical name Chrysogonum virginianum, a low growing perennial. We bought two and want to add one each to the larger planters we purchased last year. Commonly found in woodland areas of eastern North America. It makes a great ground cover in shady areas, and prefers partial to full shade. It blooms in spring and summer.

This is a beautiful little house to raise butterflies...

and last photo for today is a tulip planter filled with Penny Peach Jump Ups. A delightful color combination.

I will have more photos to share another time.

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.