A Perfect Valentine's RED Petunia...

 I just have to introduce ya all to 'Petunia HOT ROD RED' by 'Enrich with Nature Plants'!
What a perfect Valentine red inspired flower.

 Beautiful, bright, RED...

 A PROLIFIC FLOWERER...
that has an improved resistance to adverse weather!
That's a bonus don't you think?

Grow in full sun. 
Keep moist but not overly wet.

 'Hot Rod Red' Petunia can be grown in the garden bed,
pots, hanging planter baskets or window boxes.

Make an entrance statement with this plant on your porch, or front door entrance.

Incorporate it into your valentine display...

Potted in a dramatic white tin bucket as I have done...
Or bring the plant inside for a short term (2 day's max)
event display.

 'Hot Rod Red' Petunia

  - easy to grow...no problems with disease or bugs,

and loads of the most stunning red flowers...

Mia Bella Passions is in LOVE!

#petunia #gardenplants #floweringplants #redflowers

What You Chose - Most Popular - Craft & DIY...

The upcycled rake head bird or butterfly feeder was top of the 2016 Craft & DIY list.

It was a super simple DIY that you folk LOVED.

And then there actually was a whole heap of banter and debate regarding its safety.

(I kid you not!)

Some thought those spiky tips on the rake were dangerous.

But I am not about to jump over a fence, and the Mia Bella Passions cats are so used to all the feeders in the garden,

plus they are so well fed, fat and lazy it really wasn't a bother to them.

So you will be pleased to know no one got impaled!

Find out how to make one HERE.

Number two in popularity was this uptake on an old fashioned macrame pot plant hanger.

It brought out a whole lot of nostalgia in y'all!
Find out how to create one HERE.


Next on the list is:
The 'On A Wire' Hanging Frames.
I loved how some added suggestions to this creation like: 
Decorating the picture hook hanger that the wires are hung with, with beads,
 or paint the hook in a contrasting colour.
Instructions on making one are HERE.

So those were the top three most popular DIY's for 2016...
I can't wait to share more creations with you this coming year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.

Linking at:

  Happiness Is...Homemade, Show & Tell, Inspiration Monday

The Creative Gallery,  Tuesdays At Our Home,  

Totally Terrific Tuesday, Homework Creative Party,  

Wonderful Wednesday, , Simplify Wednesdays,
Creative Ways Link Party, Share Your Style ,

  Favourite Things,  
To Grandmas House We Go,

Home Matters, Sweet Inspiration, 

Life On Lakeshore Drive, Share It One More Time,

❥ Snickerdoodle Sunday. 

Garvinea - My New Garden Plant Crush...

The label on this gorgeous daisy like plant pushed all the right buttons!

Robust!
Will overwhelm you with colour
Non stop flowering
Use as indoor cut flowers!

The two I have started my garvinea collection with are:

A red single called 'Sweet Glow'

This red is so bright the camera had focusing issues!!!

and:

A pink,white & green double variety called ' Sweet Memories'.

Sooooo pretty.

I don't have a huge amount of pink in my gardens or pots...

but I just could not resist this one.

These plants can be planted in a garden,

 in pots on a patio, or porch,

 and make a stunning border plant.

Soil must be well draining and moist in a half sunny position.

Fertilise regularly,

 and trim off the dead flower heads to encourage beautiful new blooms.

I planted mine into to metal buckets

 which I drilled drainage holes in the bottom of then painted.

They are a fabulous addition to my porch.
(Available at Mitre 10)

#garvinea  #gardenflowers #pottedplants

Spring Flower Basket...

What do you do with a basket from a hamper gift

 when you have baskets literally coming out your ears?

Upcycle it of course!

 I spray painted the basket in a soft grey.

This also gives it a little bit more water repelling protection.

 From Bunnings I bought ready to plant annual pots.

A Pansy, sweet alyssum, and two polyanthus.

 Next I lined the basket with a heavy clear plastic, 

and poked drainage holes in the bottom.

 A good quality potting mix filled it.

And the plants planted.

A whole lot of spring pretty...

 that utilizes a basket that would have probably been lost 
and forgotten in the storage shed.

In love with Magnolias...

Magnolia 'Black Tulip'...

An outstanding performer in the garden.

New Zealand raised by Mark Jury,
 this stunning magnolia has large cup like blooms.

They are dark ruby red (mine has pink undertones).

Magnolia 'Black Tulip' will grow to a height of 6 metres by 4 metres...
The like acid soil and are deciduous.

Available via most New Zealand Garden Centres 
or through Wairere Nursery online 
http://www.wairere.co.nz/Trees-Deciduous/Magnolia-Deciduous

The magnolia centres are complete bee food...

not to mention incredibly interesting to look at.

And each year in Mia Bella Gardens the tree produces more and more flowers that last an incredible time.


#gardening #trees #magnolia

Rake Head Bird Or Butterfly Feeder...

Let's create a rustic upcycled bird feeder...

 I found an old rake head in the shed...
(you can source these at yard sales, or goodwill stores).

What better way to upcycle it than to use it as a bird feeder?
(Butterflies would enjoy this feeding station too...)

 I positioned the rake head on top of the old picket fence...

 Then used two large staple nails to attach it. 

Added some tangelo orange halves dripping with sweet juice...

The bird life instantly approved!

It turned out to be a most popular addition,

 to the many bird feeding areas in Mia Bella Gardens.

No butterflies yet as it's winter in Mia Bella Gardens...
but I hope they will come for a visit in summer.

#diy #rake #upcycle #birdfeeder

The Orchid House...

At last I am re-purposing the old unused aviary into an orchid shade house to house some of the orchids in my collection...

 First step - 

Clean it out, remove old bird toys and perches...

 Place planks in position ready to make into a bench for the pots to sit on...

 Isn't the patina of this old wood gorgeous?

 This is actually an old fence that was in a skip at a new build site waiting to be dumped!!

I am quite impressed with my rescue skills...

the tradesmen however thought I was absolutely bonkers!
But I was super excited with my find, 
 and had enough wood for the orchid house as well as for 

  a potting bench in the garden shed...

'Jade' the Indian Ringneck parrot who resides in the next door aviary

 was not too impressed by all the banging in the construction process...

But it turned out FAB...

Now I just need to increase my orchid collection to fill all those empty pots!