On Garden Dreams in the Winter (Ticket Giveaway!)

My mother and I always go to the Arkansas Flower & Garden Show together for her birthday.  It’s a fun time to plan and dream about gardens we want to build in the spring.  This year however we won’t be able to go because my daughter is participating in the Youth America Gran Prix (ballet competition) and I’ll be out of town.   (Ironically the theme for this year’s show is “That’s Entertainment!”)

So, you know I was overjoyed when my friends at Arkansas Women Bloggers asked if I would come to a preview party for the show!  Meaning I wouldn’t miss everything, and would get to visit with some lovely people!  (By the way, if you are a blogger getting with a group like ARWB is something you WANT to do.  I’ve made some great friends, learned so much, and been able to participate in things I would never have known about otherwise!)
The hosts, Clark Trim and Chef Hendrik Thostrup, are the owners of Colonial Wine & Spirits.  They had wine/food pairings which were very educational and delicious (even if I couldn’t partake of everything in my quite pregnant state.) I took notes so I know what to buy for my next party!

Beautiful Table! 

Centerpiece Idea with a Shallow Bowl and Cut Flowers

Chris Olsen, of Botanica Gardens, gave a great presentation on tablescaping with hints out of his book “Five Seasons”.

How to Arrange a Coffee Table Display

Gorgeous Quartz Bowl (You can Make) with Succulents

The Arkansas Flower & Garden Show is a non-profit organization that’s mission is to promote gardening and beautification of Arkansas, promote local horticultural businesses, and educate the public about gardening, landscaping, and floral design.  The proceeds from the show go to support college scholarships in horticultural related fields in Arkansas and to fund “The Greening of Arkansas” grant program which gives communities throughout Arkansas funds for beautification.

Along with the fun night we got some great swag (and what blogger doesn’t love some swag?)  So a big thanks to all the great folks who donated to that cause- Colonial Wine & Spirits, Antique Brick Outdoors, River Valley Horticultural Products, Inc., The Good Earth Garden Center, Tammy Sue’s Critters, Ghidotti Communications, and anyone else I missed!)

For the most fun of all I was given tickets to give you for the show!
If you’d like to go please leave a comment below.  Make sure to tell me how many you’d like.
I have several to give away and will go down the list of winners until they are gone!
*If you can’t wait to see if you’ve won you can pre-buy tickets HERE.
Adults are $8
Seniors $6
3 day pass is $12
Kids under 16 are FREE!
Also free parking at Dickey Stephens Park in NLR.  Walk or take the shuttle for $1!

Disclosure- the Arkansas Flower & Garden show did give me tickets but all opinions are strictly my own.

On Planning the Garden

One of the motivating factors for moving to this new house was the wonderful yard.
The plan is to have a little urban garden where we don’t have to buy produce (at least all summer and spring.)

Back Side Yard- Tree Fort is almost complete!

   

Planning is not easy.  We have 3 lots, which is just a hair shy of an acre! 

I keep changing my mind about what I want and where I want it and I believe I’m driving my husband crazy showing him pictures on Pinterest or yet another gardening book.

The kids and I went to the Splash Park last week and afterwards stopped at the Bernice Garden in the Quapaw district.  (Of course our main reason was to get some of Arkansas’ best ice cream at Loblolly Creamery…)

The gardens are so cute!
Beautiful sculptures and structures made from reclaimed and re-purposed materials,

There was a tiny baby Praying Mantis on her finger!

   Paths made from broken bottles,

Phone Pole & Chicken Wire Trellis for Clematis

More ideas.

So far I’ve planted two apple and two peach trees in the back.  I want to get about six more fruit trees for the front yard.   And the chickens are loving their new space…

I’m not sure our garden will have much yield this year if we even get the ground tilled, but next year? 

Side Yard- Spot forVeggie Garden

 

On Dreaming of Spring

It’s the simple things that make me really happy,
like a burst of yellow on a sunny day…
 A bouquet found,
 Rolls hot from the oven,

Or a smiling hen.
Nurture Photography Challenge - Spring 2013 Edition
Come on and join the fun!  This week’s challenge was “yellow/Easter.”

On Flowers in the Fall

I found these sweet surprises in the new yard
they made me smile…
Tiny Roses Blooming Again Under the Vines

Camelia- I thought was a Hawthorne Bush
Purple Salvia Along Driveway
Purple Tickseed Loving the Sun

Dandelions in the Grass

On A Quiet Path

Picture of Ozark Witch Hazel @panamamama.com
Ozark Witch Hazel

Beautyberry- purple berries on green stem in herb garden
Beautyberry

Old log cabin and fence, log carving of a little bearded man
Shy Guy

Celosia or cockscomb flower up close in hanging basket, pink flowers
Celosia in a hanging basket

Fence with hanging herb baskets and rosemary in pots
Secret (Herb) Garden
Ozark folk center state park herb store, hanging plant in wire insulator
Hanging plant holder from wire insulator (I have to make one of these!)

Sunflowers, yellow with green stalks
Sunflowers

Ozark Folk Center State Park herb store and garden with trellis
Beautiful Arbor

Potted terracotta plant, purple and white flowers
Potted loveliness
I’m home from the Arkansas Women Blogger’s Unplugged conference at the Ozark Folk Center!  
More fun to come… 
Be on the lookout for a chance to win boots from Country Outfitters!