Rainbows...

December 29, 2011...our first rainbow of the year!!!  A sure sign of things to come....

Wishing you all the Blessings of this Season!!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow...Let It Snow!!!

Our little Thanksgiving appetizers were cute and delicious....but now we have the real stuff outside our door!!

Festival of Hope...

A peek at the tree we designed for the Festival of Hope to benefit the Crisis Center!  Trees, wreaths and other treasures on display now through December 4!  Stop by Abe Krasne Home Furnishings to place your bid and support a very worthwhile organization!

Autumn Color....

Oh, Mother Nature...you take my breath away!!!!



Happy Haunting!!

There's been a spooky sight or two around here!!!

A safe and Happy Halloween to all our little ghosts and goblins!!

Brr..

We've had our first nights of freezing temperatures...

but we're still smiling....

and thinking of the great times we have shared with all of you this summer!!!



The Blessings Of Each Day...

Working on some fall clean-up duties...enjoying every last bloom of the growing season...

and celebrating each beautiful autumn sunrise!!!!

Tiaras And Tutus....

Tiaras and Tutus Equal.....

Auntie Sue's first anuual Tea Party!!

Happiness, joy and..oh...so much love!!!

Oh, No!!!

Oh, oh!!  The Wooly Caterpillars are making their way in from the surrounding fields in search of a place to hibernate!!

Thousands of them!!!

Sure hope this isn't a sign of what Mother Nature has in store for us during the winter months!!  Another strange phenomenon of this unusual growing season!!!



A New Assistant...

These hungry helpers are some of the beneficial insects used to manage 'bad bugs' in our greenhouse.  Praying Mantis, Ladybugs and Green Lacewings keep our greenhouse Pesticide Free!!

Special Thanks....

Special thanks to everyone who attended and assisted with our special weekend!  We made some great memories!!  Let's hope Mother Nature is kind to us tonight so we can enjoy the beauty for just a little while longer...brrr!!!

A Tiny Peek....

A tiny peek...the festivities begin tomorrow!!!!!



Autumn...

We watched Autumn creep across the prairie this afternoon!  We're getting ready to celebrate the treasures of the season!



Our Fall Newsletter!

Is it really August and is it really time to compose the Fall Newsletter?

Our prairie gardens… and their gardeners… are breathing a sigh of relief with cooler temperatures. We are grateful for beneficial moisture and are delighted to discover Praying Mantis and Green Lacewings devouring the bad bugs that are hungry for our beautiful blooms. This growing season has held its challenges… but our hearts and prayers are with so many of our summer visitors who have been displaced from their homes due to flooding and storms. Your attitude and perseverance are an inspiration! What’s a bad bug or two?

Fall Open House

September 9, 10 and 11

Friday and Saturday 9 to 5

Sunday 10 to 4

We have so many new treasures to share with you! Arrangements and wreaths filled with beautiful blooms harvested and preserved from our gardens! Lots of new furniture and vintage treasures! Beautiful locally grown pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn! Huge and gorgeous Belgian mum plants grown right here in our nursery area…perfect for a burst of fall color! New succulent gardens for a sunny window in your home…yes…something green and growing when the snow flies…and they will thrive on neglect! Original photographs featuring amazing images captured in our gardens…many featuring words of inspiration…and we’ve expanded our popular selection of note cards! Original art, garden wire, our own signature potpourris and lots more garden inspired treasures!!!! Take some time to tour our gardens. You will be amazed at the amazing variety of plants that survive on the Nebraska prairie…even during a very unusual growing season!

Join us for lunch and refreshments served to benefit the Crisis Center.

The Crisis Center serves a five county area in Dodge, Washington, Burt, Saunders and Cuming Counties in Nebraska. Please join us for lunch and refreshments in our Bistro area, pergola or choose your own peaceful place in our gardens…and enjoy!!! We are grateful for your support of our very own fundraising effort to benefit the Crisis Center during our Spring Open House…just wait until you see our autumn plans for this project!! For those who would like to further assist this worthwhile organization we happily accept your donations during our event. Their needs are personal care and grocery items, paper products, flashlights, batteries, cleaning products and used cell phones.

Directions: Please don’t use Google! We have contacted them several times but their directions will still land you somewhere near a grain bin on Hoegemeyer Road! So here you go!! Directions from Fremont: about 5 miles North on Hwy. 275/77, 4 miles West on County Road O (not Q), then North on County Road 18. We’re the first house on the East.

We’re looking forward to seeing you!!

A New Addition...

A new addition to the shop...perfect for a princess!!  The arrangement with our dried Sunflowers would make the perfect centerpiece for a tea party!!

Finalizing Plans...

Finalizing plans for our 2011 Fall Open House!!  September 9, 10 and 11!!  Details to follow!!



For Tim and Courtney...

For Tim and Courtney...we hope your first week of marriage was as magical as your wedding day!  Our hugs and best wishes to you both!!

Two Hands Would Be Better....

Ken thinks two hand would have been better to hold a tomato this large...Giant Belgian Yellow!!

Just One Time...

Just one time for a special friend!!

Congratulations Tim and Courtney!!



Summer Sunshine...

A ray of summer sunshine in the garden!!

Sweet Scents...

The sweet scent of Jasmine at my door...on such a beautiful morning!!

Feeling Blue...

The most recent addition to our landscape is thriving!!  Just need to collect a few more bottles and jars to complete the blue glass border!!

Reflecting...

A quick break from our busy shop this morning...

just to enjoy a simple bloom or two!!!

Ahh...

'The Great Fountain Project'...Done!!!



Freeze Dry 101...Part Two!!

The Freeze Dry Chambers are set to temps below zero...what a thought on a day like today!!

The flowers are quickly inserted and placed under a vacuum.  Every 12 hours we will increase the temperature by 5 degrees.  The flowers will slowly thaw and the vacuum will remove the moisture!  In 10 to 14 days I'll have more beautiful blooms to design with!!



Wow!!

Wow!  Thanks to everyone who has visited the shop and gardens the last couple of weeks!!

Visits are always welcome by appointment from 9 to 4...weekdays and weekends!!

We wish you a safe and Happy 4th!!!

Always...

There is always a reason to enjoy God's gift of today....



A New Bloom...

The newest bloom in our greenhouse...Pachystachys lutea (Shrimp Plant).  I'm in love!!



Waiting Patiently...

Patiently waiting for fewer thunderstorms in the forecast so we can continue

'Freeze Dry 101'....

we are taking no chances of a power outage with our beautiful harvest!

In the meantime...

this fellow just loves the weather!!!



Freeze Dry 101

Part One!!

Out early this morning to harvest perfect blooms before the heat arrives!

The pre-treating process is completed and these gorgeous beauties from the Rose Garden have been pre-frozen in their boxes...destined for the Freeze Dry Machine!



The Great Peony Harvest!

Ready for the Freeze Dry machine...Incredible designs ahead!!!



How Sweet!!

Another sweet treasure in our greenhouse!!



What A Treat!

What a treat today...

to visit every garden...

and discover a new treasure in each of them!!!!

Spring Gifts!

Celebrating another gift of Spring!

Polygonatum commutatum...

aka..Soloman's Seal!!  This beautiful plant loves the shade and thrives on the north side of our shop...an area that can be tough on our perennials!!  What a treasure!!

Welcome Back!!

Oh...Spring!!!

Welcome back!!!

We've missed you!!!



Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing women who bless my life

and continue to inspire me!

I know each of you

received a gift as special as mine...

Thank You

my sweet little Ava Sue...

I love it!!!

Just A Reminder...

By request we are going to have the shop and greenhouse open tomorrow from 9 to 4!

So...stop by to say hello, celebrate a beautiful spring day and enjoy a bloom or two!!

Directions from Fremont...5 miles North on Hwy. 275/77...4 miles West on County Road "O"...North on County Road 18....First house on East

Phone...(402) 654-2058

We're Listening....

Ok, everyone...we are listening!  We have received so many emails and calls requesting appointments for Saturday May 7...

sooooo.....

the shop and greenhouse will be open from 9 to 4...

It's going to be a beautiful day!!!!



Thank You!

We are Blessed!  Thanks to all who shared in our special weekend!  We know your treasures will have a  special place in your home...your gardens...and in your heart!!

Our heartfelt thanks to those who love us....we couldn't make a difference if it wasn't for

YOU!!!



My Little Helper...

Little feet firmly standing on an upside-down bucket....

So that little hands can reach the potting bench.

Our first choice is always in a lovely shade of pink....

But these orange marigolds are beautiful too!

My little Ava Sue...assisting with preparations for our Spring Open House this weekend!!

Easter Blessings...

Happy Easter to all of you who Bless our lives!  Our gift today was the beautiful bloom

of this Mystic Enchantment Dahlia!

We're Counting The Days...

We are counting the days!!  Our 2011 Spring Open House April 29, 30 and May 1!!!! 

Your favorite weekend for everything wonderful for your home and garden!!

Including this little treasure...

your Aussie favorite!!!



Smell-A-Vision...

Sharing another bloom from a favorite!!  Ruellia blooms last for one day....but are quickly replaced by new ones!!  A great water garden plant....but thrives in container gardens in the heat.  I wish the scents in our greenhouse could be delivered to each of you over the internet!!!!

Gardening 'War Wounds'!

Note to clutzy self...wearing safety glasses while trimming Pergola vines during 'spring clean up' would be a good thing!!

Quick trip to ER...the swelling will go down.  Thanks to those great folks and an always patient husband.  I'm seeing some beautiful sights ahead!!!!



Joy!

Joy in first blooms...

It Must Be Spring...

It must be spring...

Our garden angel is back to keep watch over us all!

Spring Open House!!!  April 29, 30 and May 1!