Rearing Monarchs

Our first batch of larvae arrived two weeks later than expected. On June 21st about 36 first instar larvae arrived from Monarchwatch.org. Our second shipment of 48 arrived two days later (on time). For the first few days they all fit in a large candy jar with milkweed and a cheese cloth cover over the top of the jar. The larvae ranged is size from under an 1/8 of an inch to under a 1/2 inch long. As the larvae grew we added more jars. When we had 4 jars and could not keep up with added enough milkweed, Doug built a large Conservatory or Atrium type enclosure out of old windows and a screened top. The bottom is open to the ground.

Butterfly Garden at GGC

I am really excited about the second summer in the Lefevre Butterfly Garden at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. We are planning two days of fun events in the garden. There will be a small selection of plants for sale, some not so easy to find too!  I have added a Butterfly garden flag "make and take" to the list of activities. For more info go to Greensburg Garden Center

2016 Fairy Garden

This years Fairy Garden is really coming along nicely!
As you know the fairies and I have an understanding about my space and their space in the garden. Last year they tried to take over but this year we came to an agreement. First off they have decided I can continue as garden care taker of my garden and they will pollinate and not cause road rage with the other pollinators. Also, they will only have one big fairy festival in there camp and not every week like last summer. They are really fond of Gypsy Radio and those late nights at the fairy festivals can go into the wee hours. It takes an entire day to clean up all the fairy dust.

Cabinet Rehab

My cabinets are out dated but in great shape. They were made of solid wood with laminated fronts. My son agreed to update them for me. He made new doors and drawer fronts using Poplar boards and purchased European style hinges.















The new cabinet drawers and doors are flush with the front of the cabinet. I found new handles and door pulls at the hardware store. Before painting we sanded the existing laminate fronts. Everything was painted with Annie Sloan paint and sealed with Annie Sloan soft wax. The entire DIY kitchen project was done for under $200.00.




















The project went so well he is going to build a small pantry cabinet to match.

The next book is done!

The book is completed and available. It is another how-to book filled with a huge amount of images and step by step detailed instructions. I had fun trying to document all the steps. It is an easy fun way to take a log and create a fairy type house made of natural materials. It is about the process. Its the same process I taught to many, many people in my workshops. The book is a guide and idea. The artist is the person who creates the work. Make

your fairy house your own work of art!

Garden

Thought provoking sign at the edge of the meadow at Longwood Gardens. 

I have spent a wonderful amount of time in the garden. Things are really looking fantastic. Our garden will be a part of two garden walks this summer. Maybe we should not have chosen this year to remove the nasty fence. I have already found the tops of Jewel Weed along the edge of the garden eaten by deer. Oh well, carry on!

I love to break plates

Today a local Convent will be having their yearly fund raiser, a rummage sale. I am going to take Molly, my 6 year old grand daughter to find plates we can break. I of course will be looking for other treasures.

I like to make signs for the fairy gardens. I will be teaching a class on making fairy gardens and I like to encourage leaving a small of original art as a gift to the fairies. If you take something from the fairies like a bottle of fairy dust off of the wishing tree, you need to leave a gift. My gifts range from broken jewelry (bling and sparkle), flowers or berries (food and beauty), and sometimes pieces of fairy furniture I have made for the garden. Lately I am really into making hammocks. I can't stop. I love tying knots and creating places to lounge in the garden.

The Fairy Garden is Finished!

The biggest fairy garden to date is now finished in my garden. It is about 4 feet deep and goes the length of almost 20 feet. It has a kitchen, a powder room, 7 home sites, a water feature, meandering path, fenced in garden, a wishing tree and a meeting hall. Some of the pieces will not be outside all the time because the birds and squirrels are having fun playing in the fairy garden too. The birds are little thieves when it comes to Spanish moss. If you are going to stop by to visit the fairy camp, best to call ahead.

Living Wreath

I have wanted to make a living wreath using succulents for a long time. I think years? This week I did it. I used a wire floral ring (mine is 14"), two black nylon knee high, potting soil, floral pins (these look like large staples), moss, fishing line type string and of course a variety of succulents.

Here is what I did.
1. Fill both knee highs with potting soil. Knot them together once they are filled.
2. Place the filled knee highs on the floral ring and attach using fishing line.

*Do the next steps on a flat surface that can get wet!
3. Make small holes in the stocking. I used a tooth pick for the really small holes for stems and scissors to cut a small hole for plants with roots. Stick the stems or roots of the succulents into the holes.
    Make sure to message or press gently on the knee high to get soil around the newly planted stems.
4. Randomly place succulents around the knee high.
5. Add moss in places to cover the parts of the knee high that is still visible. Attach the moss with floral pins.
6. Leave the living wreath laying flat and water.

You will need to leave the wreath on a flat surface for at least 2-3 weeks before hanging. You have to wait until the succulents root in before hanging. Water as needed.

When it grows and the plants make it difficult to water with a sprayer, you can place the wreath in a large container and submerge it part way in water. Remove after it's wet. Don't leave it in the water or it will die. **Succulents do not like to be over watered. This is why they make a great plant for a wreath.

Finished the Stone Fairy House

Its taken me a while and a few obstacles get over along the way. The stone fairy house is finally done! One obstacle was breaking the drill bit on the drill press. No! You do not need to have a drill press to make a fairy house but, it is nice to have. I am lucky to have my husband's in my shop. It is extremely easy to use.

I of course had a zillion, yes a zillion other tasks going on but, I finally finished the house. It will be elevated on a large stump from a shrub we had removed. It will be a part of the new fairy camp (where the Seven Gypsy Fairies of Garden Harmony live) or fairy garden.

I drilled holes for twigs to create gables.

Everywhere a Sign

I paint silver trays with chalk board paint for leaving messages with chalk around the house. This time I used white paint so it could sit near one of the fairy gardens outdoors.

Garden Chic

Years of collecting treasures are now showing up in the garden and around the deck and patio.

  

Landscape Renovation Nearing the End

I am very pleased with the renovations to the front landscaping. We replaced the colonial blue color on the window boxes, shutters and garage door to black. The new blue on the front door made a nice finishing touch. The color is called Raindrop from Sherwin Williams.

As of 5/20/14 we have filled 101 paper yard waste bags with landscape debris. The city has been here numerous times with the chipper shredder to pick up limbs and branches.

We removed the grass under the large Honey Locust  and added a small stone wall to create a Hosta garden. The roots of the tree where getting hit by the lawn mover and there was damage the base of the tree from continued weed whacking. The ivy is gone and grass seed is starting to grow.

July 2013 before renovation

My book is back!

Fairy Furniture you can make - Revised edition
available at Amazon

My book is all about learning to make fairy furniture from natural items found in your own yard. You will learn how twigs, dried flowers, acorns and broken jewelry can become enchanting furniture for the fairies that live in your garden. You will also see many photos of other fairy accessories to inspire your creativity.
(When searching, you have to include "- Revised edition" after the title or you will be taken to the "out of print" version.)

Spring Landscaping Project

The first project we are about to undertake is a total renovation to the front landscape. This is the before picture. The plan is to create a bed around the Honey Locust tree with native stone from the stone wall in the back yard. We are going to add a french drain to help with water the collects.  Removal of all old bushes and replace them with some that remain small. I want a few Hemlocks near the deck for privacy and winter green as well as height on the corner of the house. We will be removing ivy and putting grass seed down.  Large river rock around the foundation. Last will be changing the blue to black on the house and painting the door a sea glass blue. Sounds like a busy weekend or weekends for a while.

Pansy Time

If you have ever lost someone you love, you know what I mean when I say "at times, there are memories." There are certain days that they fill your thoughts. Holidays, Birthdays and other Special Occasions. For me the first Pansy I see each Spring remind me of MOM. She loved them. She grew them and carefully picked and pressed them.  She took a calligraphy class just to make framed works of art with

pressed pansies. Each spring I am out looking for pansies as early as possible. Yesterday I found these. I brought a little bit of Mom home again!

Stone Fairy House

I have made many fairy houses using stone around the doors, windows and as an apron at the bottom of the house. I have been wanting to try to stone all or a bigger portion of a house. I found some adhesive used to attach mosaic pieces. The glue is strong. The stones don't shift as much as other adhesives I have used. It also dries perfectly clear. I am dying to see how well it holds up outdoors on this house.

The house below is the current piece I am working on. I took my usual doors and cut out the top and bottom. I added fine mesh screening I found at a local craft store. I still need to make a handle using copper wire. I added two of the stained glass windows I make. The roof is the goal today in my studio.

Vintage Dolls

I have been doing a bit more research to find out about my dolls. I am just so in love with them. I found out they are referred to as Travel Dolls made by the Duchess Doll Corp in the 1940's and 50's. One vendor at a flea market told me, she was told some were given away at gas stations.

Over the weekend I found my first boy doll (upper right corner) along with other girl dolls of various sizes. I am excited to inspire other gardener/artists to rescue them and create a one of a kind garden fairy.

Waiting for new homes.

Potential Fairies

Ever since I met the Seven Gypsy Fairies I knew that these fairies belonged in my yard. They are not for sale! However, I encourage anyone interested in these fairies to get acquainted with the fairies in your own garden. I am sure the right representation of your fairy or fairies (in my case seven) will appear along your path. It may take some time. Put it out to the Universe and it will happen at the right time.
I am happy to share some of my "make over tips" if you find some vintage dolls. I am no doll repair expert but, I am sure the internet is full of them.

My mantra for creativity : "If you don't feed it, It won't grow!" This is where gardening principals join art.

I got this text with picture from my daughters: Potential Fairies

I adore how my girls wear their fairy wings into adulthood.

New Beginnings

I finally got out and joined a local garden club. Everyone was so friendly! It is a well organized club with much opportunity to volunteer and be among fellow gardeners. I even decided to attend the state garden club convention in April. I sent my registration form out this morning.