Excerpts from my Google reader~it’s like settling down to read a good book that’s never ending, as I always find something inspiring, thought provoking or just plain funny.

I’m really eager for fall weather.  I love fall (hate winter).  If you’re one of the lucky ones that has a Magnolia tree in their yard..here is a great craft from Centsation Girl (easy to create) with your fallen Magnolia leaves. Love this.

Speaking of fall…it’s time to start thinking about some killer fall floral arrangements.  I’m loving the golden yellow blast you get from this combo and the slight accent of green that drapes at the base.  Great centerpiece for any table.

If you’re a vintage/antique junkie like I’m becoming..maybe you already know about this great event in September up in Shokopee, MN.  Maybe you don’t….get a load of Junk Bonanza and get September 16th or 17th or 18th on your cali as you need to peruse the hundreds of funky junk vendors participating!  I’m taking my mom!

Have a great week folks!

kk

Excerpts from my Google reader~it’s like settling down to read a good book that’s never ending, as I always find something inspiring, thought provoking or just plain funny.

Not sure if you’ve got the memo yet….but wallpaper is back in baby!  And not like it was in the 80s…it’s soo much cooler today.  Design Sponge highlights on new designs from Hygge & West.

I think this is pure genius.   My Skinny Garden (aka Gina) interviews some of her fellow green-thumbers about their gardens!  It’s interesting to hear the struggles other gardeners go through…and their best advice.  The coolest though….the videos at the end of their gardens~Virtual Garden Tour. Genius.

I really wish Des Monies has something like this…workshops where I could get my hands dirty and learn how to create cool stuff at the same time (maybe I should start something).  Check out this DIY Staghorn Workshop where natural creativity steals the show!

Japanese Forest Grass

Apple trees can really be a space hog…..with their 25ft wide arching branches..their general need to have a partner.  Who has the yard big enough!?!  I don’t.

I want this miniature, columnar Apple tree so I can have Apple crisp till the day is dead.

I came along these lil Apple trees at the Independent Garden Center show this last weekend in Chicago.  Really makes me wanna take a bite out of them!

Have you seen these before?

kk

I recently raved about Bachman’s recent journey into the vintage world.  (what I’d give to live there…in Bachman World)  Here’s a gander into the what makes their garden centers so fun to shop….

I’m currently trying to grow the Ponytail Fern….really trying.

HOT PAPAYA! You may have heard about the latest Coneflower introduction.  I was excited to see such a nice/full bloom.

I flock to Hydrangeas…and it’s no surprise I liken a snapshot of this Pinky Winky Hydrangea tree on standard. Want one!!

Intriging display gardens.

Ginormous succulents!

Can’t handle a super-sized garden?  Get yourself a terrarium with mini garden accessories.

Two things I love here….the arrangement in the birdbath (genius use for an outdated birdbath) and the wooden shelving in the background.

Time to throw out the ol raggedy deer you got from the boxstore, get yourself this natural, carefully crafted garden piece.  How unique would that be?

Speaking of unique…think I could maintain this creature?

Could you?

Have you been to Bachman’s yet?  What’s your favorite part?

kk

Bachman’s Nursery in Minneapolis, MN has always been a favorite of mine.  So much so, that when I finally figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up, I went up to work for them for one summer.  Still some of the best times of my life.

So when I heard that Bachman’s was going vintage I knew I was in need of a road trip.

I love these vintage signs true to local connections.  Local to Minnesota.

Ever since I saw these masonry trowels being used as hooks….I am now on a relentless search to find me some.  If you have a few you could part with….let me know.

Really neat idea of what to do with those ol bats sitting in the corner.

Burlap is in. Period.  And I’m on that bandwagon full board!

See.  I told you burlap was in.

And now…I am sooo jealous! Bachman’s is doing everything that I’ve been dreaming of: Garden Center…Landscape Design/Build…Gift Shop….Floral…Coffee/Lunch bar and now…. Vintage.  Maybe I could head up an Iowan based Bachman’s?

Living in the clouds….

kk

TimberPine has been featured in the September issue of Better Homes and Gardens…along with me (blush) and Riley.   Last summer we were contacted by Better Homes and Gardens to install some hardscapes at the original test garden in Woodward.

Just to prove it…here are a few snap shots.  You’ll have to rush out to get the magazine yourself to see what it’s all about.  Someday I’ll share with you the before, during and a few after pictures.  But for now, this lil spotlight will have to do!

A big thanks to Better Homes and Gardens, specifically Doug Jimerson, Karen Weir-Jimerson and Eric Liskey.

Happy Planting!

kk

Friday I was invited to share in the viral launch of Hard Hats High Heels on WebCastOne Live.  Hannah Inman and Cathy Bormann are the blonde bombshells behind the production that promises to bring you everything Home and Garden with shades of pink.  Learn more about the dynamic duo.

Give a listen to their first show and keep your Friday afternoon’s open for future episodes…these gals rock it.

Just to clarify a few items discussed during the show:

• You don’t need a rooster to get eggs from your hens.  I had to google it.
• Check out the exterior living wall we dished about as well as the Woolly Pocket Cathy brought up.

Big thanks to Hannah and Cathy for allowing this grunt to crash their show.  It was a great time!

kk

Generally speaking…I have a hard time reading a blog post if it doesn’t have pictures….as if I was a third grader.  I need those eye rests.  However~I’ve recently started following Paige Worthy on twitter and have taken a liking to her blog~PaigeWorthy.com (pretty easy to remember).  She’s sassy, tells a great story, and I’m quick to turn every page.

In the garden the Japanese Beetles are killing me!  Killing you and you probably don’t even know it!  (not literally killing you) My garden looks horrible thanks to these beasts!  Eric Liskey from Better Homes and Gardens shares his remedy for this Garden Warfare.

When is the last time you went to the Des Moines Botanical Center?  I applaud Garden Mom and thank her for giving me a Wordless Wednesday glimpse at the garden wonders at the center as I haven’t been in eons!  I mean eons.  Time to plan a trip.

Have a great weekend Grunts.

kk

Blushing Bride Hydrangea

Sometimes you just don’t want to talk to your neighbors.  Or maybe you’d prefer to sun yourself in your itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini without fear of peeping eyes.

Here are three plants that bring instant privacy to your outdoor space: (if you can’t see the video link, please click here)

If you are desperate for instant gratification, I would suggest purchasing a larger specimen of ornamental grass. However, if you have some patience, you can purchase 1 gallon containers costing anywhere from $7-12.  The grass shown in the video is a 5 gallon Maiden Grass standing approximately 5ft tall, costing approximately $30 at TimberPine Nursery

Here are my top 5 ornamental grasses that would work well for privacy:

1.  Maiden Grass

2.  Karl Foerster Reed Grass

3. Silver Feather Grass

4.  Huron Sunrise Grass

5. Zebra or Porcupine Grass

Two vertical evergreens that work well in the Iowa climate are the Hetz Juniper and the Skyrocket Juniper.  Both handle the winters well and can adapt to the clay soils, versus the pyramidal Arborvitae that struggles here.  (so much so that I don’t ever use them).

Happy privacy planting.

kk

I can’t tell you how badly I yearn to live within the confines of the Barn House.  How freaking cool does this look?

Barn House recently had a HUGE flea market day at their home in Battle Ground, WA.  Makes me want to uproot and move westward….at least for a visit.

Ahh…but alas, I shall find contempt in admiring their talents from afar…stuck in my vintage vortex.

kk