What a Trip to the Nursery Can Do...

A beautiful, ordinary day + a trip to the nursery =

a JOYful, beautiful, ordinary day!

John Dromgoole of The Natural Gardener in the Garden!

Me. Oh. My.  What a great start to the Memorial Day weekend!

John Dromgoole, Austin's very own, nationally recognized, organic gardening guru and his delightful assistant, Merry came by my little garden today.  Along with them was Todd of  KXAN news to do the filming for a short spot on The Weekend Gardener.  These folks were about as nice as anyone could be and it was my pleasure to chat with them for a few minutes about how we've created a garden where family, friends and wildlife harmonize.

John, Todd and Merry   

John and the gardener

 
The Weekend Gardener visits The Whimsical Gardener

The Weekend Gardener airs Saturday mornings on Austin's KXAN.   Our segment airs tomorrow morning between 7:00-7:30 am.  Oh me, oh my!

Happy Memorial Day!

An Old Spigot and SIX Water Lily Blooms!

It's a water lily palooza out there in the garden today!  Oh my, so much lily goodness going on a girl can hardly stand it!

Five hardy 'Colorado' water lily blooms and one bloom on the tropical Madame Ganna Walska beckon to us across the patio.  Come. Look. Linger. Bring the camera...

Read about the fascinating Madame Walska here and here to learn more about her gardens, Ganna Walska Lotusland.

The lovely, dainty Madame Ganna Walska

If you've ever given any consideration to adding a stock tank pond to your landscape, I would encourage you to do it.  Don't worry that it won't work out, it will.  With a little effort, the right plant choices, some sun and some fertilizer, you'll have a beautiful, low maintenance water garden.

We bought a 4' x 2' stock tank from a farmer's supply store, used sand to level the surface, then simply added water and a solution to remove chemicals and metals from the water (for the health of the fish).  Visit a reputable nursery for water plants, the solution to detoxify the water, fertilizer pellets and fish, (if you're adding them).  I went to Hill Country Water Gardens in Cedar Park, explained what I was trying to accomplish and they helped me out with plant and fish selections.  I am using mosquito fish and a couple of goldfish to keep the mosquito larvae in check.  Their website has a lot of good information about keeping your pond healthy too.

Oh, yes.  I almost forgot.  The spigot.  My husband and I discovered this old spigot in the garage of his parents a couple of weeks ago.  It belonged to my husband's grandfather and when I saw it, I knew I had just the place for it. 

The sound of gurgling water is appealing to me and it's especially welcome in the summer when Texas white noise (air conditioners)  is so prevalent and drowning out the softer sounds of the garden.

To make the fountain, we used two pieces of galvanized pipe and a galvanized elbow (to make the turn), the spigot and a small pump (you'll also need a fitting to attach the pump to the galvanized pipe) to recirculate the water.  I  absolutely love the whimsical addition to the stock tank and it means even more knowing we re-purposed a found family object into a little garden treasure.

Really.  You won't regret it for a minute!

30 Day Challenge ~ Thanksgiving ~ Day 28

These pressed and framed leaves capture and hold my imagination.

  I came upon them at Thompson & Hanson nursery during a girl's trip to Houston this summer.  Thompson & Hanson is without a doubt a small slice of gardening and home decor paradise in River Oaks.  There is also a sweet little restaurant on the grounds called Tiny Boxwoods that should not be missed.

 These pictures were snapped quickly while I was shopping.  Didn't think I'd be posting them but you might find inspiration from them too.  The frames are a simple design of clean lines fashioned from wood.

You can imagine that they are quite large as the leaves selected are big specimens.  They are really engaging in a subtle way and make a simple, elegant statement.  

Thankful today for simple elegance found in the most unexpected of places...decaying leaves.

Austin Nurseries Giveaway! ~ It's About Thyme

My friend, Pam is the brainchild of Support Your Independent Nursery Month here in Austin, Texas.  She has encouraged local bloggers to highlight independent nurseries each Wednesday during the month of October.  Our local nurseries have felt the pinch of the extreme drought conditions and ailing economy and as a result could use a little extra love.

As passionate gardeners, I know I don't need to twist your arms to get you out there shopping the local nurseries, especially now that fall has arrived in earnest.  There are perennials, herbs and vegetables to be planted, compost or mulch to be added or maybe you have eyes for some new garden whimsy.   Oh, and don't forget those gift opportunities for your gardening friends.

Here is the really cool part:  you're invited to win gift certificates from each of the nurseries involved in the Austin Nurseries Giveaway!  Yeah, that's right, they're sharing the love right back!  Wait until you see the prizes!

Digging:  $100 gift certificate and a Fall Power Package (valued at $50) from Barton Springs Nursery
J Peterson Garden Design:  $50 gift certificate from The Great Outdoors
Go Away, I'm Gardening:  $100 gift certificate from Sunshine Landscape & Garden Center
Rock Rose:  $50 gift certificate from Shoal Creek Nursery
Sharing Nature's Garden:  $50 gift certificate from Emerald Garden
Great Stems:  $50 gift certificate from Hill Country Water Gardens & Nursery
The Whimsical Gardener:  $25 gift certificate from It's About Thyme
Growing Optimism $25 gift certificate from Natural Gardener

If you're looking for some of that famous South Austin, laid-back vibe It's About Thyme is the place.  You'll find knowledgeable staff, plenty of trees, perennials and annuals, ceramic pots and lots of whimsy.  There is even a $5 off coupon you can print from their website.  They are definitely doing their part to keep Austin weird and growing!

Their specialty though is vegetables and herbs grown in their five huge greenhouses.  Many of them you won't find anywhere else.   While visiting I saw curry plants, ghost peppers, which came with warning labels because they're so hot, and "salsa bowls" with everything growing in one pot that you'd need to whip up fresh salsa.

Bijou, an African Gray parrot, who resides at It's About Thyme with dozens of other rescued birds was discovered at the bottom of his cage in a burning home and given "birdie CPR" by his rescuer.  Bijou's keen intelligence and inquisitive, kind nature draw you in for a visit.  Stop by and give him a few minutes of your time...you won't be sorry, he's a sweetheart.

Cat, how do I get to be a part of this great giveaway, you ask?  It's easy:

1. Leave a comment on this post to enter the It's About Thyme giveaway.
2. Each participating blog will hold its own random drawing, so leave a comment on each blog to enter all the giveaways.
3. Only one comment per person per giveaway.
4. Participating bloggers and their families are ineligible to win.
5. Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on October 26, 2011.
6. Winners will be announced on each blog on October 27, 2011.
7. Winners must go to the nursery with a photo ID and pick up their prize in person within two weeks of winning.  Prizes will not be mailed.

That's it!  How easy could that be?  Don't be shy, go ahead, leave a comment and enter yourself in the drawing to win a $25 gift certificate to It's About Thyme.  Then visit the seven other Austin bloggers (links above) and leave a comment there too. 

Let's all do our part to keep Austin growing!  Good luck!