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.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - WE WENT TO THE FLOWER NURSERY YESTERDAY

 

Meet Beryl the Bird and Chip the Cat. I'm still trying to figure out what kind of bird Beryl is. She has a smaller, shyer relative behind her. We were at the flower nursery yesterday, reconnoitering more than anything. I spotted Beryl and Chip in a corner, but they didn't make it home. I was trying to think what spot in the garden I could put them in, but I am going in a different direction and couldn't in my mind's eye get them to fit with what I wanted. 

I wasn't really too serious. I enjoy looking at a lot of things like what you see above, but I don't necessarily buy. My dear other half is telling me to go ahead and do what I want to pretty the deck up now the weather is warming up, so when the big old truck pulls into the driveway and they start putting in the renaissance fountain in the back, he's okay with that I told him. And no, that's not happening either. I want to make it a nice, cozy sitting area with a few things around us.

I did not come away empty handed. I made three purchases, two small pots and a fairy sitting on a bear. I have been toying with the idea of putting together a small fairy garden outside, in a planter on the deck I'm thinking. My inner child manifested every time I saw the one at this particular garden we go to. We'll see! I might put an electric fence around it to stop the squirrels and raccoons from tearing it apart. Yes, I am kidding but with a point as we know what luck I have with those little rascals. What do you think? Would this withstand the onslaught?

Maybe I will just stay with my little fairy on the bear for a while. 

I took a lot of photos at the nursery, no surprise there. I made lots of notes of a variety of fauna. I saw native plants and am looking at getting another couple of planters, plus a few additional small pots. We get sunshine out there but not for long and it's more of a shade area. I have to take that into account. It is fun planning something new.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you are all having a great weekend. May the sun shine warmly in your part of the world.

A TRIP TO A GARDEN CENTER

 We are getting ready to plant a few new flowers.  With this in mind we visited one of our local garden centers, our first of the year.  

Bear greeted us inside with a request for all customers to wear their masks.  It's a different world but everyone seems to be very good about it, happy to say.

I checked out all the knickknacks first.  

The bears didn't go home with me but one of these plant pots did, the one in the middle.  I needed a new one and I liked the design.

This prettily painted slate had the garden's name on it, but I decided to replace it with a positive quote.

Thought these were cute little guys.  They said they were all hanging in there.

Liked the wind chimes and the basket.

The cat was looking up at the birds?

There are fairy gardens everywhere, my favorite being the one at Meadowlark Gardens.  I look forward to going there again, hopefully soon.

I get in touch with my inner child around Fairy Gardens.

They appeal to my whimsical side.

These are Foam Flowers.  I saw them as I was leaving the garden center.

Forgot to take note where I read this, but it said: "Foam flowers form clumps  with its lobed, evergreen foliage; it spreads by underground stems or rhizomes, although the eastern American species, T. cordifolia, commonly called the heartleaf foam flower, also expands via above-ground runners (otherwise known as stolons).  The leaves come in an array of colors and patterns thanks to the diverse varietals and hybrids on the market, and in some of these they change color in fall or winter.  In spring Toiarella raises lovely blooming stalks of little white or pinkish flowers.  When in bloom, this otherwise ground-hugging plant commonly stands between one and two feet tall.  It makes a very attractive ground cover."

The next photo shows the Cherry Laurel, Prunus laurocerasus: Common Laurel.  It was growing in front of the building.  It is an evergreen shrub that will tolerate shade and produces dainty white sweet-smelling flowers in the spring.  

It is fast growing and also lures birds with its cherry-like red fruits, which turn black in maturity.  But, one thing to know about it is that though it emits a pleasing fragrance of almonds when its leaves are crushed, it contains hydrogen cyanide, a poison if ingested in large quantities.  I found my information and much more at this website.

Next to the Cherry Laurel was the Japanese Maple.  It still had quite a display of daffodils in front.

How sweet the daffodil, its sunlight hew calls out,

"Notice me, I am joy!"

~Author Unknown~

We came home with the plant pot, two Hellebore plants and a Coneflower.  I am trying to decide where to put them in our garden.  We have a lot of shade for the Hellebores.  Has anyone ever had them in their garden?  Any tips?  I would be very appreciative for any help!  

I also saw a shelf of honey from a local apiary.  I can now scratch that off my shopping list.  

That's all from our trip to the Garden Center.