Happy Halloween

Another creation for the Juvenal Diabetes Pumpkin Auction. I had fun recreating the midcentury style of Halloween past with this scarecrow couple.

Wicked

This wicked little witch was created for a pumpkin auction for Juvenal Diabetes. Her body is a pumpkin that has been painted and holes drilled to make the lacey pattern.

Last Hummingbird

My little hummingbird friend sitting patiently while I refill the feeder. This was the last time I saw him before he headed South for the winter.

Candyland at MBG

Here are a few images of the Candyland figures that were made for the

Missouri Botanical Gardens Childeren's Garden.Gingerbreadmen stand guard around a Lantana standard.

A Gingerbreadman playing in the Coleus

King Candy's Castle with Gumballs and Icecream cones.

Come back and play with us soon!

St Louis A-List Awards Colleen's Cookies

A whimsical presentation of Colleen's Cookies for the St Louis Magazines A-List Awards. Check out the link for Colleen's Cookies under Favorite Things.

Butterflies and Gerbera daisies make a bold statement.
Tasty Linzer cookies with Raspberry filling take center stage.
So many treats to choose from!

Diamond Frost

``Diamond Frost'' has delicate white flowers that will remind you of baby's breath. The difference is that Euphorbia ``Diamond Frost'' is grown as a potted plant for both indoor and outdoor use. ``Diamond Frost'' has been available in the nursery trade for only a few years, yet in this short time it has proven itself as winner. Planted outdoors, it blooms nonstop when utilized as a bedding plant or ground cover. ``Diamond Frost'' is highly drought tolerant with a bushy, yet open growth habit, uniquely qualifying it as a subject for hanging baskets and containers.``Diamond Frost,'' as a member of the succulent Euphorbiaceae or spurge family, is not as hung up on the issue of moisture loss. A bonus attached to ``Diamond Frost'' is its ease of propagation so that you are actually getting dozens, if not eventually hundreds, of plants at no extra charge. Detach 3-inch stem pieces and stick them in pots or soft ground to expand the presence of ``Diamond Frost'' in your garden.

Happy Earth Day

Every year, April 22 is celebrated as Earth Day. Still, it is best to be kind to the earth every day.
This is where we live, and unless our habitat is in good shape, we cannot live as well or as long as we would like. Here are some great ideas to keep the earth clean.
*Never throw things away unless you use a trash container or a recycle container.
*If you see trash on the street, pick it up and throw it away.
*When you no longer need an item like a toy or clothing, give it away to someone who can use it.
*Have a yard sale with your family or friends.
*Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
*Buy recycled paper and plastic products whenever possible.
*Use paper instead of plastic bags, or better yet, used cloth bags when shopping.

Capsicum 'Black Pearl'

Attractive pearl-like black fruits appear on this ornamental pepper in summer, but the real show begins when those fruits mature to cherry red in sharp contrast with the plant’s superb, season-long, glossy black foliage. Plants typically grow in pyramidal shaped mounds to 18 inches tall and exhibit good tolerance for high heat and humidity. This is an excellent selection for beds, borders or containers. Plant in Full Sun.

Dichondra "Silver Falls"

Branching silver stems with soft, rounded, fan-shaped, silver leaves spread rapidly on this creeping/trailing foliage plant. In a single season, stems will cascade from a hanging basket to 3-6 feet or will creep along the ground rooting at the nodes to 3-4 feet. Tiny greenish-yellow spring flowers are not showy. It is the dense, metallic foliage that impresses. Great as an accent plant in containers and hanging baskets. Plant in full sun.

TerraCycle Sells Trash

TerraCycle manufactures affordable, potent, organic products that are not only made from waste, but are also packaged entirely in waste! TerraCycle Plant Food™ is made by feeding premium organic waste to millions of worms. The worm poop is then liquified into a powerful organic plant food and bottled directly in used soda bottles.

Strawberries

The first seasonal strawberries appear in our markets and shops in April. The fruit we know today has evolved from the wild or alpine strawberry, which can still be found in grassy woodlands all over Europe. You can experience their delicate flavour in wild strawberry jam which is available from specialist shops. Cultivated strawberries come in many varieties and in all shapes and sizes. Look for fruit that is firm and unblemished and go for smaller fruits, because larger ones, although they may may look like more of a treat, are often watery. Supermarkets will often stock only one or two varieties but if you venture out and find a pick-your-own farm you should get wider choice and more fruit for your money.Adding balsamic vinegar to the strawberries does wonders for the flavor and produces delicious juices.
Ingredients:
1 pint box strawberries
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Hull and slice the strawberries and combine them with the sugar and balsamic vinegar. Leave for 1 hour before serving.

Green Floor Coverings

Anso Nylon Carpet in Fresh N Fabulous. Subtle yet striking, Fresh N Fabulous from Shaw offers dimension and fashion with a raised geometric square pattern and natural striations of soft two-toned color. Made of luxurious, durable Anso ® nylon, Fresh N Fabulous contains recycled content and is recyclable into new carpet again and again –CARPET TO CARPET ™. Shown in Java.

Green toilets

Wellworth Pressure Lite Elongated Toilet FEATURED IN THE HGTV GREEN HOME, the Wellworth elongated toilet brings graceful design and superior functionality to the bathroom with the Pressure Assist technology, precision-engineered to deliver complete 1.1-gpf performance. 30-1/4"L x 21-1/4"W x 29-1/4"H

Pressure Assist flushing system

Two-piece toilet with elongated bowl

Meets strict flushing performance guidelines established by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) WaterSense program - uses at least 20% less water than standard 1.6-gallon toilets.

Marigold Mumsy Gold

Beginning in late spring and continuing through summer and into fall, Mumsy is a tireless bloomer, setting giant 4-inch double blooms with a flattish pompon shape. Mumsy reaches about 14 inches high and 8 inches wide, it makes a good container choice, offering a lot of color in very little, bright and sunny space.

Clematis "Princess Diana"

The dainty, upright blooms are shaped like Tulips, with a soft pink-to-white base and a rich darker pink stripe distinguishing every blossom. Abundantly borne on neat little vines, they blanket the garden first in mid- to late summer, then return for an encore in fall. This vine grows just 8 feet tall and wide in sunny to partly shaded soil. Like most Clematis, it prefers an eastern exposure and rich, moist soil. Mulch around the base of the plant to keep the roots cool. Hardy zones 3-9.

Garden Phlox "Robert Poore"

This giant among the garden phlox varieties, with its fragrant, richly colored red-purple flower clusters, is sure to catch your attention when it blooms in mid-summer. Named after Mississippi landscape architect Robert Poore, this is a top-rated phlox for its resistance to powdery mildew, the nemesis of many other paniculata cultivars.

Mardi Gras

Flamboyant blooms in a novel blend of pink, orange, and yellow, and a delightful peppery scent, Mardi Gras creates a festive atmosphere in any setting. The colorful blooms are perfectly framed with dark green, semi-glossy foliage, and its upright columnar habit makes Mardi Gras an ideal rose to use as a hedge or in a border with mixed perennials.

Location: Full Sun

Height:4 feet

Geranium Elke

Very long-blooming, beginning in spring, lasting through the worst summer heat, and continuing into fall, also far more tolerant of heat, cold, and even drought than most other hardy geraniums. Charming pink-toned blooms and red autumn foliage, gives you a carefree, colorful, long-lived ground cover.

Location: Sun or Part Shade
Height:10 inches

Ajuga 'Golden Glow'

Everyone has a burgundy ajuga but this new variety has gold- and cream-variegated foliage.
Location: Sun or Shade
Height: 6-8 inches