Weekly Garden Thread - December 17-23, 2022 [Winter Weather Folklore Edition]

December 17, 2022 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[Diana in Wisconsin]

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[FamiliarFace]

Ok, so here’s another set of photos. I tend to use containers so that I can bring the fairies indoors over the winter. Many times the plants will survive, but not always. Sometimes I change them up just for the fun of it.

As an example of a themed fairy garden, I used an old tackle box that I found at a flea market, and put in different fishing aspects. I used some old acrylic sheets that were notebook page dividers, painted them, then glued on small colored pebbles to make the “river”.

The same tackle box, a year or so later.

Another year later, I repainted the rusting tackle box with Rustoleum inside and out. Then added totally different plants. This version has a painted Japanese fern in it. This photo is from 2 summers ago. It made it through the winter, so I didn’t change much this last summer. I don’t think the fern will make it again this year, but we will see.

[FamiliarFace]

My sister gave me a mermaid figurine, and I had found a sand castle at a thrift store, so made a mermaid sort of theme with those.

Bunny rabbits gardening in a mini wheelbarrow

Cracked pots repurposed

This will have to suffice for now. I have several more photos to share, but don’t have the time right now to post them. Glad you are enjoying these. Stay tuned!

[FamiliarFace]

Bon helped me with image posting so this post marks the beginning of my photos of the fairy gardens I’ve been making over the years. I figured you might be interested, too, and it may brighten up the winter days. I think I made my first one in 2015 when my Mama was still alive. I probably have around a dozen of these, and bring some indoors over the winter, but not all.

[FamiliarFace]

Camping fairy with animals

Treehouse fairies in an old galvanized washtub, this one stays outside over the winter

Wishing well and “shoe” home in oval aluminum container, sits on a chair that has no usable seat anymore

Farm scene in a barrel planter

I group these three larger ones together at the entrance to our backyard and deck.

Old metal scale tray from hardware store, a mock up of our own fire pit area.

I have a few more but you get the gist. Oh, one last photo. This is in an old birdbath that was being thrown out at a garden center. It was in bad shape, so I “rescued” it for a couple of dollars. It’s on our front walkway that welcomes visitors.

Hope you all enjoy these and get ideas on fairy gardens. It’s a fun hobby, and lets me get that little kid side of me out in the open.

[FamiliarFace]

So I looked more closely at what that sign up was all about. It turns out it was a cleverly designed ad to make it look like I was signing up for Post Images, but it was really for something else. I’ve canceled that subscription now. Hopefully the photos will still be hosted on post images. Thanks for your info. It didn’t make sense, and I don’t usually fall for stuff like that, but it looked like that was the way to sign in and get things uploaded. I’m not thrilled with how small these photos are. They aren’t very clear. Perhaps I chose the wrong size for them, but at least they won’t take up a ton of visual space in the forum.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Very cute! :) I like anything growing in a metal tub. :)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

[Bon of Babble]

Love those!

My next two are a “trailer park” theme - I already found a trailer that looks just like my grandparent’s, and then an underwater scene - love your mermaid! I may have to go to the local aquarium store for the figurines.

[FamiliarFace]

Yeah , I just pick up cute things whenever I come across them. I like using unusual containers if I can. I once saw an old bbq cooker turned in to a fairy garden, and of course, it had a picnic/bbq type theme.

Sometimes I make the little items that I put in the scene. In the camping one I made a fire ring from a jar lid that I painted, then glued pebbles on to it, added an orange flower for the flame, and twigs as the logs. That was a fun project.

In one for my daughter, who is an avid hiker, I made some bedrolls tied with fine jute to add to the scene. And I made marshmallows from clay and stuck them through long pins to be the skewers for roasting.

Sometime I want to make a fairy scene around a real tree that we have cut partway down. I’ve found that ivy is nice for wrapping around or dangling. It grows well here and lasts through the winter, so I try propagating those as often as possible.

[FamiliarFace]

Very pretty! Looking like we will have a white Christmas this year here, and because of the snow and high winds expected, I’m hoping that we won’t have a dark and frigid Christmas.

One year, when our kids were in grade school, we had a winter storm come through the Midwest with this same timing. The power went out all over. Luckily we have a wood burning fireplace so we slept in the family room. It really gave us an appreciation for power that we often take for granted. That particular year, Christmas Eve Mass was by candlelight only. It was so dark in the church, and yet, so beautiful. It was very special.

Looks like I’m having to plan for a power outage this year, just in case it’s like that one. I’m guessing you are, too. Stay safe! And warm!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Praying Mantis egg sack, containing hundreds of eggs. Praying Mantis are Good Bugs! (From Eric.)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Give me a few days - we’re in for some SNOW! Ugh!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Well, I am getting ready. I have a propane “Heater Buddy” that kicks out some heat. I have a fireplace and at some point would like to get a gas insert for outage weeks. I was thinking about getting a larger Heater buddy to go with my 20 gallon propane tank!

I also had the mechanic flush and drain the antifreeze in my car today. Realized I had not been changed in 10 years! Its going to get below zero and I would rather not crack an engine block!

Just hope that neither of us have to deal with power outages!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Snow; Here too, and cold, but not as much as you will have (Or these people have!)

There is a garden down there somewhere under all that snow!

Stay safe and try not to shoot the snow mobilers!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Happy Winter Solstice! 89 Days Until Spring...but who's counting? ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[FamiliarFace]

That’s me! I’m only 5’3”.

[bigfootbob]

Thank you for reminding me, I have been very busy of late and I actually forgot what day it is.

Today has always been important since I live in the PNW and the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the new year where the short dreadful damp and dark days become less and a new day dawns.

Perhaps a bonfire is in order!

[left that other site]

Good Morning!

[Pollard]

Thursday
Rain and snow likely before 9am, then snow. Patchy blowing snow after noon. Temperature falling to around 2 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -20. Breezy, with a west wind 7 to 12 mph becoming northwest 17 to 22 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Thursday Night
Patchy blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -6. Wind chill values as low as -30. Blustery, with a northwest wind 22 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.