Garden Centre

Had a run out to the garden centre on Saturday.  Have to say I was thrilled to see some greenery.  I wasn't so thrilled about the price of things though 😟  I guess like everything else things have shot up in price.  I took some photos.

I loved the contrasting colours on these branches.

Then I looked at the price........$649.99 🤯

I also loved the contrasting colours with the yellow and green.  Bumble bees and lady bugs seem to be a "thing" with this garden centre this year.

Loved the different colours of the Hibiscus.  Of course we wouldn't be able to put these outside here in Southern Ontario until June.  We have a chance of frost until at least May 24th.

This bougainvillea is also so pretty but again needs warmer weather than what we have at the moment.

People were buying hanging baskets and other annual plants, all which would die if we put them outside at this time of year.  I am just pleased to see a bit of colour after such a long winter.

Weather for ducks..........

We have been having a spell of wet weather this past week or so.  You know the sort of weather that only ducks love?  Which made me remember something I saw in the UK last time round.  In the garden centres we visited they all have lovely gift shops and super cafes.  We were particularly fond of the Dobie's garden centres.

One of the many things I fell in love with there were these ducks from the DCUK Company UK.

Each one was so different and all had lovely names.  I should have picked up a couple, but the price put me off.  This one is a little one so is 21.99 GBP, the larger ones are closer to 40 GBP.  

I have suggested to our local garden centre to put a cafe in as it would make a great addition.  It never came to fruition which is a shame, something to do with the septic systems.  I love to wander around the garden centre, and having a cup of coffee after would make a great finish to a trip there.

Meanwhile I will be putting my wellies/rainboots on when I pop out today.  The good news is the weekend has a decent forecast.  Our grass desperately needs cutting and as yet I have not been in the garden this year.  So fingers crossed this weekend will be the start of gardening season for me!!

Do you have a good garden centre close to where you live?  If you have a blog write about it, as I would love to read about it?

Petunia's

Saw these petunia's at the garden centre the other day and I was impressed at their lovely mottled colours.  I had never seen these types before.

 If I had to name these petunia's I would name them Northern Lights.

Although I like the look of petunia's I find them hard work with all the deheading you have to do.  Also they tend to be "sticky" when you deadhead them I find?

A bit of colour

Popped into the garden centre on Saturday and despite there being snow on the ground..............yes it flipping well snowed on April 27th........I was NOT impressed.........there was plenty of signs that we will be planting in our gardens soon........well no annuals until after May 24th here, we are in Zone 5.

So please enjoy the lovely colours.

All photos taken on my Apple iPhone 8.

Lavender.......

It was a mixed bag of weather on Sunday, a little of everything.  We popped to the garden centre for me to pick up a couple of pots of spring bulbs to brighten up the house for Easter.  Wasn't happy with the selection, so picked up a pot of lavender, as there is none in the garden.  After having it in the house for the next month I'll plant it outside.  I haven't re potted it yet into my cup and saucer planter.  Thought the planter was cute.

 Never heard of Anouk Spanish Lavender.

As per this site Gardenia it sounds perfect for our garden.  I checked out Freeman Herbs, there are all sorts of things on their site.

Pansies Galore.........

When we were at the garden centre on the weekend, there were so many pansies about.

 This pot came back home with us.......

 Loved the delicate colours.

Insect Houses

They must be the new "in thing" at the moment as there was an area dedicated to them at the garden centre.  I took a few photos as I thought they were really neat.

This one was huge, and I couldn't see the price tag, but I am guessing if you were concerned about price you wouldn't be buying this one..........

 This one was $39.99 so the one above would probably be $300 or more.

 I loved the green accent on these ones.  I don't think they would be too hard to make?  I should mention it to dh to see about making one for me.

 This one is a ladybug/ladybird house, something I had never seen before.

Do you have an insect house?

What a beautiful night....

After supper we headed to the garden centre.  Dh wanted mulch for our garden.

Saw this as we walked in, it was all real, I think willow:

 Bought 30 bags of mulch.  Managed to get 25 in the bed of the truck.  5 bags had to ride with us.

Sun was shining bright at 7 pm. 

 Parking lot was empty.

 Tomorrow this car park will be full.

 We had to keep stopping the truck as we wanted to make sure everything was good in the back.  One placed we pulled over was by this cemetery.

 Shame it is beside a busy road.

So I guess we are going to be busy tomorrow.

New Plant Stand.....

We popped up to the garden centre on Sunday and had a look around.  I had some money left on a gift card I had been given for my birthday so decided to buy a plant stand with it for the breakfast area in the kitchen.

It's metal and all folds up when not in use.  I may put cookery books on the bottom shelf.  The African Violet is on an old Tupperware container.  Perfect size for it.  It's that orangey brown colour from the 80's.

A closer look at the birdies on top of the unit.  Can you see the little squirrel door wedge to the left of the plant?  We bought it for the last house.  

Our menu plan for this week is very basic, LEFTOVERS!!  Not sure how long I can make the leftovers stretch, but I think they will last most if not all of the week.

We had ham, mashed potatoes, salad and coleslaw on Sunday night.  Ham, mashed potatoes, salad and baked beans on Monday night.  Ham quiche and salad on Tuesday night, with the last of the mashed potatoes.  Tonight will be ham quiche and salad again, with maybe a baked potato.  So that only leaves, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

I will make a pot of soup with the ham bone, and see how much we have left on Thursday.  Not bad from a ham that cost just under $10.

At the garden centre with Our Little Munchkin

It was bitter cold outside but inside it was nice and warm.

Same photo as above but the colour version.  She loves her wellies.

She enjoyed looking at the turtles.

Here are the turtles a bit closer.

They had big tanks of Koi Fish.  These ones were the owners own ones, brought in for the winter, as they have had a problem with mink in the past eating them.  They will over Winter in a deep pond no problem.  These fish were worth up to $1,000 each, depending on the markings on them.

In the garden centre itself, there were some colourful displays of early Spring flowers and house plants.

That moss feature below, reminds me of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, what do you think? 

 Thought these pots were different and colourful

Our Little Munchkin was a joy to be with and as good as gold.  Saturday was her last day of antibiotics AGAIN.  She has had another chest issue, so has been on antibiotics every month so far this year.