One of our fellow gardeners sent this pic over of the first "big haul" from the bean garden this year. Love the colors!!!! and I am sure they tasted just as sweet. (Send over your garden bounty photos, I'll post up as many as I can)
How I Spent My Summer Vacation, Part 1
Part 1
Let me first start off by saying, I am very fortunate to be surrounded by the group of people I am. They give me the flexibility to travel, with the comfort of knowing that not only the businesses, but my home gardens, (thank you Bob) will be taken care of with green thumbs and wise decisions.
This July, like last year, I traveled to stay with the kids in Jacksonville, Fl. They have been in their home now for a year, and it is comfy and relaxed, on a quiet street in a lovely tree filled area. I am a pretty driven person, and my goals for this sabbatical were to take some time to write, work on my website and do some “retail” therapy to find some new products for both stores. But my most important goal was to just relax with the kids and my family. It was a wonderful time, filled with giggles of a three year old, long quiet chats with my daughter, and thrill filled moments on the Jet Ski with my son-in-law at the lake. I visited members of my father’s family that I have not seen since 1968, and spent a quiet afternoon with memories of my Mom at her favorite place, Bok Tower, in Lake Wales.
I think with any long vacation you get to those last few days and wonder “How did it go by so quick? “ There was still so much I wanted to do and so many people that I wanted to spend more time with. I flew back towards the west with a heavy heart knowing that I wouldn’t get to play astronaut with the grandson the next morning. That I wouldn’t be there next week when my daughter goes for her next Dr’s appointment to find out if we are going to be welcoming a little girl or another boy into the family this Christmas, when I wouldn’t get to go up to Brunswick, Ga. and sit by the beautiful marsh for another day with Robert’s parents, and when I wouldn’t get to spend another afternoon with my brother just sitting around reminiscing.
As I sat on the plane during the long flight home, I made notes in my journal of tidbits of conversations that I had had various family members, so that I could pass them onto Sara, our family historian. She has been hard at work on our Family Tree, and the branches are filling in quite nicely, like a sycamore in summer. I can’t wait to see it after all these new additions have been filled in.
Now I am back to writing in my side garden in the early morning. Robert and I have been “Practicing Retirement” for a few months now; trying to figure out how we are going to go from 120mph lifestyle we have now, to the one we know is coming. We take a day here or there and just hang around the house, go for a bike ride, read a book on the back deck….you know…relax. If this last three weeks are any indication of how we might fill our days……I think we are going to be just fine.
(Part 2......pictures tomorrow)
Let me first start off by saying, I am very fortunate to be surrounded by the group of people I am. They give me the flexibility to travel, with the comfort of knowing that not only the businesses, but my home gardens, (thank you Bob) will be taken care of with green thumbs and wise decisions.
This July, like last year, I traveled to stay with the kids in Jacksonville, Fl. They have been in their home now for a year, and it is comfy and relaxed, on a quiet street in a lovely tree filled area. I am a pretty driven person, and my goals for this sabbatical were to take some time to write, work on my website and do some “retail” therapy to find some new products for both stores. But my most important goal was to just relax with the kids and my family. It was a wonderful time, filled with giggles of a three year old, long quiet chats with my daughter, and thrill filled moments on the Jet Ski with my son-in-law at the lake. I visited members of my father’s family that I have not seen since 1968, and spent a quiet afternoon with memories of my Mom at her favorite place, Bok Tower, in Lake Wales.
I think with any long vacation you get to those last few days and wonder “How did it go by so quick? “ There was still so much I wanted to do and so many people that I wanted to spend more time with. I flew back towards the west with a heavy heart knowing that I wouldn’t get to play astronaut with the grandson the next morning. That I wouldn’t be there next week when my daughter goes for her next Dr’s appointment to find out if we are going to be welcoming a little girl or another boy into the family this Christmas, when I wouldn’t get to go up to Brunswick, Ga. and sit by the beautiful marsh for another day with Robert’s parents, and when I wouldn’t get to spend another afternoon with my brother just sitting around reminiscing.
As I sat on the plane during the long flight home, I made notes in my journal of tidbits of conversations that I had had various family members, so that I could pass them onto Sara, our family historian. She has been hard at work on our Family Tree, and the branches are filling in quite nicely, like a sycamore in summer. I can’t wait to see it after all these new additions have been filled in.
Now I am back to writing in my side garden in the early morning. Robert and I have been “Practicing Retirement” for a few months now; trying to figure out how we are going to go from 120mph lifestyle we have now, to the one we know is coming. We take a day here or there and just hang around the house, go for a bike ride, read a book on the back deck….you know…relax. If this last three weeks are any indication of how we might fill our days……I think we are going to be just fine.
(Part 2......pictures tomorrow)
1 small reason.......
One small, as in 3 years old, reason why I am having such a wonderful time in Florida! Today we re-discovered why Nana (me) likes slip-n-slides.
Bok Tower . . Revisited
A few days ago I ventured south from the kids house in Jacksonville, to Lake Wales for a walk through the gardens of the Bok Tower. Located on the highest point in Florida, the tower has always been a stopping point for our family since I was a very little girl. My mother grew up in Lake Wales, and at one time her father was one of the many groundskeepers at the tower back in the early 1940’s.While I was stretched out in the grass resting under the shade of the huge oak trees draped in Spanish moss, (which is not actually Spanish or moss by the way) I listened as the huge carillons played their beautiful music on the half hour and hour. I recalled all the many, many times I had placed my head in almost this exact same spot, and it was then that I realized that this was the first that I had been here by myself, with no one to talk with but my memories.
I stayed until the caretaker came to tell me they were closing up for the evening, and then I gradually and slowly, made my way back down the hill through the gardens to the car.
It was a beautiful day.
http://www.boktowergardens.org/
Happy Birthday Cash!
Happy Birthday
Cash Dean Thompson!!!
Today you are 3
Today @ Red Zinnia
Sometimes I get asked when I am out playing in the garden at The Flower Tree,"I heard you girls have another shop in town, but I have never stopped in yet. What kinds of things to you have there?" Well................here is just a little sampling................
books....books.....books......including this brand new one from Sandra Boynton (Don't look Cash, Nana's bringing this one to you in a few weeks)
Books from Grandma's and Grandpa's
Books for the newly arrived to our area...........we have a LARGE Nevada selection......
Even young boy & girl books....
and every cookbook you could possibly want or imagine........
and vintage cookware and serving pieces for what you cook up.......
Vintage Hawaiian goodies, and beautiful purses and scarfs......
jewelry with inspirational quotes, and fun frilly accoutrement's for your shoes.......
amazing local art from our own Lucia, Jaime & Michelle.......
and of course..........Fallon's nicest selection of boutique wines and eclectic brews............
see, I told you..............pretty cool place isn't it! See you soon, Susan
Camp Garden 2010
It's Started!!!
CAMP GARDEN 2010 
Over 50 children, and their accompanying adults attended the first week of Camp Garden at The Flower Tree. Set for 8 weeks, we start at 9:30 and go till about 11am. Every week the kids have a entertaining reading by Miss Donna, a snack, craft project, and then they get to plant something in the garden. This first week Kat had them planting a Sunflowe
r House. Join us! It's a fun way to get your child involved with the garden, and meet other parents and grandparents. See you next Tuesday!!!! Susan(ps, adults, please bring a chair for the reading time for yourself. Guess we didn't have quite enough this last week.)
Garden Tour Preview
This pretty much sums up how the seven of us felt as we ventured out on this lovely evening for a preview of the upcoming garden tour. This is the 9th year that Flower Tree has hosted the Fallon Garden Tour, and 100% of this years proceeds go to the Fallon Youth Club. I hope that you will join your fellow gardeners on Saturday, June 26th, as your tour some lovely areas of our valley. Tickets are only $5.00, and are available at The Flower Tree & Red Zinnia. We will be open early at the nursery on Saturday at 8am, if you want to swing by and get your tickets and map then. Hope to see you in the garden soon, Susan
Michelle checking out the perennials that line Bill & Theresa Lawry's pool area.
One of the two unfortunate parts of the evening. The five of us that were in my 1971 Torino had to get rescued when the fuel pump went out as we were traveling down HWY 50!!!!! (the other, my camera battery died when we were only at house#4 out of 7)
A visitor from across the fence.....
Michelle and Sooz looking at the rambling rose that climbs 30' up through the gigantic forest at John & Debra Scott's
Evergreen forest of unusual specimen trees at Lynn & Lori Bishop's
Michael & Peg's lovely garden......(the sign at the top welcomes you into their raised bed vegetable garden)
Michelle checking out the perennials that line Bill & Theresa Lawry's pool area.One of the two unfortunate parts of the evening. The five of us that were in my 1971 Torino had to get rescued when the fuel pump went out as we were traveling down HWY 50!!!!! (the other, my camera battery died when we were only at house#4 out of 7) A visitor from across the fence..... Michelle and Sooz looking at the rambling rose that climbs 30' up through the gigantic forest at John & Debra Scott's Evergreen forest of unusual specimen trees at Lynn & Lori Bishop'sMichael & Peg's lovely garden......(the sign at the top welcomes you into their raised bed vegetable garden) ROCKIN THE RIVER FOR RELAY
$2416.01
Under an absolutely beautiful sky, we watched as first the parking lot and then up and down the road filled with cars in arrival of the season’s first outdoor concert at The Flower Tree. This year we had decided to change it up a bit. For the last 8 years we have had Jazz on the River as our annual benefit for Relay for Life. Scheduling our concert the week of the actual walk, has allowed us to have a nice donation ready. This year we changed it over to Rock
in’ The River, and in keeping with our “Buy Local, Grow Local” theme at the nursery we hired all local talent to entertain everyone. Steven Christie opened the evening with his acoustic renditions of life on the farm and growing up in Fallon, to his time in LA, and then back again. After a short break Pink Martini took the stage and filled the air with the amazing vocals of Lissa Overlie. Accompanied by her wonderful band they got the crowd rockin and kept it going for hours.Led by Spencer Starrh, Southern Wine & Spirits out of Reno, our corporate sponsor for the last two benefit concerts, did an outstanding job of providing the wine and spirit tasting tents. Their DONATION of all the alcohol poured that evening is one of the major reasons our event is a success. But the number #1 reason is…..You! All of you that bought tickets to the concert, purchased raffle tickets for the scooter and prizes donated by Southern, filled the donation tip jars at all the tables, and stayed through the evening to assist us in being able to donate $2416.01 to Relay this year. The most important thing I can say is THANK YOU! From all of us!
Mike, Linny and Sophie manning the arrival area......
Steven Christie takes the stage......
Southern Wine & Spirit's Tasting Tent was hopping all evening....
We ended the evening with the raffle drawing...........
Take a morning stroll with me........
This morning I took the camera with me as I made my way through the garden. It's cool out this morning, the dark grey clouds overhead are moving at a pretty good clip, but I can see slivers of bright blue off to the west. It is shaping up to be another beautiful day in the valley
. Lately the temperatures have been wonderful, high 70's during the mid-day, with perfect open window sleeping weather in the high 40's at night. Oh, how I wish we could have 5 or 6 months of this.
These were my herb and tomato barrels last year. When my friend Melissa visited from Susanville last week she suggested I move them around and fill them with flowers this year. Sounds good to me, but first I need to let these onions finish up their growing.....they came from the kitchen compost I placed in the barrels over the winter when my tumblers were full.
The herb pots by my morning sitting area are doing well. The rosemary will part of our dinner later this weekend.
Yet another casualty from the wind storm back in May. My statue of the Bird Girl of Savannah actually blew over and last her head. Bob actually likes it better this way. I think he is trying to tell me something............... the pink blossoms at the bottom are creeping pink baby's breath. Fills in nicely around the roses too. ('Gypsophila Repens Rosea')
Yep, we lost pipes in the freeze too. Took forever to find the leak.....now just need to get it stopped.
This beautiful stone marker was given to me by my dear friend Linny. It used to grace the foot of a tree at her parents home in Danville, Ca. Now it sits under my Prairefire Crabapple.
The pines are actually starting to look a lot better. 
I love this tree. I had originally seen it at a friends house and just had to have one. When we have them at the nursery they don't usually have as much new growth on them so they don't have that dual color that it does here. The new growth is purple, turning to green. Just striking against the backdrop of the reverse of the crapapple. (Prunus virginiana 'Canada Red')
gotta go now, the big garden is calling. See you at The Flower Tree, Susan
. Lately the temperatures have been wonderful, high 70's during the mid-day, with perfect open window sleeping weather in the high 40's at night. Oh, how I wish we could have 5 or 6 months of this.Back to the garden, here are a few shots from my little corner of the world......look real close at the basket to your right......this is this mornings view of the Mamma dove that has chosen the basket of petunias and bacopo on the front porch for her nest. Bob says it may be the same dove as last year as they some times return to make their nest in the same area. I don't care if he just made that up to amuse me, I like the idea.
The huge ficus from my front room has now made it back outside. Heavy and cumbersome to move, I managed to wrestle it out by myself yesterday. It loves the front porch and will grow another three feet probably this summer. I may need to have Bob put an atrium addition on before next winter just to house it.
The huge ficus from my front room has now made it back outside. Heavy and cumbersome to move, I managed to wrestle it out by myself yesterday. It loves the front porch and will grow another three feet probably this summer. I may need to have Bob put an atrium addition on before next winter just to house it.
The vinca has filled in nicely. I was worried we had lost most of it as it was so brown and dead looking in April, but I pruned it back heavily, and already it is absolutely gorgeous and fills in the 3x10' area leading up to the front porch.
Yes, I really do use cocoa mulch, and lots of it. I love the way it makes the early morning garden smell when you water, and I am sold on the fact that I don't have grass growing up through my roses anymore. It works!
Yes, I really do use cocoa mulch, and lots of it. I love the way it makes the early morning garden smell when you water, and I am sold on the fact that I don't have grass growing up through my roses anymore. It works! These were my herb and tomato barrels last year. When my friend Melissa visited from Susanville last week she suggested I move them around and fill them with flowers this year. Sounds good to me, but first I need to let these onions finish up their growing.....they came from the kitchen compost I placed in the barrels over the winter when my tumblers were full.The herb pots by my morning sitting area are doing well. The rosemary will part of our dinner later this weekend. Yet another casualty from the wind storm back in May. My statue of the Bird Girl of Savannah actually blew over and last her head. Bob actually likes it better this way. I think he is trying to tell me something............... the pink blossoms at the bottom are creeping pink baby's breath. Fills in nicely around the roses too. ('Gypsophila Repens Rosea')Yep, we lost pipes in the freeze too. Took forever to find the leak.....now just need to get it stopped.This beautiful stone marker was given to me by my dear friend Linny. It used to grace the foot of a tree at her parents home in Danville, Ca. Now it sits under my Prairefire Crabapple.The pines are actually starting to look a lot better. I love this tree. I had originally seen it at a friends house and just had to have one. When we have them at the nursery they don't usually have as much new growth on them so they don't have that dual color that it does here. The new growth is purple, turning to green. Just striking against the backdrop of the reverse of the crapapple. (Prunus virginiana 'Canada Red')gotta go now, the big garden is calling. See you at The Flower Tree, Susan