Mini Tropical Mountainscape Garden...

Miniature gardening has become quite the thing!

It all started with the classic and much-loved fairy and pixie gardens,

and has evolved from there.

Now you can create gardens themed by dragons, dinosaurs, beach, alpine, tropical jungle or bonsai.

Just select the plants and theme that will suit the position you are placing the container in.

Once you have decided on the theme, and the soil requirements and plants to suit, you just add as much (or as little) accessories as you desire.

A coastal beach scene might have a white sand area with a mini Adirondack deckchair made from iceblock sticks.

A beach sign (also made from iceblock sticks).

Plants could be mini grasses, small-leaved succulents, small natural stones and tiny driftwood pieces.

The main focal tree could be a mini size fig or palm.

You only need to let your imagination have free reign to create any type of themed miniature garden. 

The one I've chosen to create today is a 'Mountainscape'.

To do this I used tropical type plants:

Rocks in various shapes and sizes.
Mini size 'Baby Houseplant' ferns x 2.

Coleus Baby Houseplant.
Tradescantia spathacea Baby Houseplant.
Black Mondo Grass (ophiopogon Black Dragon).

A Flamingo Flower plant (anthurium Andreanum).

Moss.

A round squat type planter.

I filled the container with potting mix.

 

Placed my rocks into position.

Worked out the best placement...

of plants and planted them.
Final touches - a rocky path and moss to cover the soil.

This Mini Mountainscape Garden is now gracing my afternoon sunny covered deck.

I'm thinking in summer I'll be making a beach themed Miniature Garden for this spot and move the Mountainscape inside while it's hot.

And if you are stuck for a school holiday idea for the kids, this is a fab fun activity for them to enjoy. 

#minaturegardens #mountainscape #minigardens

Hyacinth In A Teapot!

It's now the depths of winter here in the Bay Of Plenty in New Zealand.

Today has been the coldest day so far...

a mere 4 degrees at 10am this morning.

I am not a fan of the cold. 

 I am so grateful the beautiful Bay offers a Spring, Summer and Autumn with warm, hot, warm temperatures.

It really is a grin and bear it scenario in winter.  

When the weather is just awful and you are stuck indoors, what do you do?

Well, you fast forward Spring, and jazz up your home decor a bit, that's what you do!

So today I potted up a gorgeous blue-purple hyacinth into a funky teapot.

The white teapot was $8 from KMart.

 

The Hyacinth sourced from Bunnings.

A hyacinth in a teapot you ask?

Well, I say - why not!

It's a bit quirky, and once placed onto a French style tray, makes a super winter table centrepiece.
I also made a new table runner.  
You can find out how to make a 'DIY TABLE RUNNER' HERE.

It looks pretty. It smells divine.

And it's a reminder that Spring is coming!

Once the Hyacinth blooms have finished flowering which will be in 2 or 3 weeks time,

 I will plant them out into the garden border where they will rebloom next winter.

Hyacinths have a delightful scent and a stunning form.

If you grow them potted indoors they require a warm position with good light conditions.

Only keep the soil lightly moist as too much water makes them grow too tall!
It is best to place a wood orchid stake in the centre of the pot and make a thin wire loop to thread through the flower stems 3/4 of the way up, to pull stems together so as to avoid the weight of the flowers drooping over.

They do tend to grow towards the strongest light source, so turn the pot regularly to keep the plant in shape.
You just cannot beat the beauty and perfume of the Hyacinth.

#hyacinth #springflowers #bulbsindoors

Arty Painted By Sharpie Rocks...

'Arty Painted By Sharpie Rocks' is an easy decor 'pick me up' idea, 
that is also a great school holiday project for the kids.
Super easy to create.
The design can be as simple or as complicated as you like.
You can use simple shapes or line art images.
For ideas - Google 'simple black and white line art images'.
For this project, I used three designs.
A simple twig, tiny daisy flowers and a more tricky - rose. 

You will need some clean dry flat rocks.

Paint the rocks using a prime and paint spraypaint like Rustoleum white gloss.

Leave rocks to dry for at least one hour before the next step.


Once the painted rocks are dry, you can draw your design in pencil first onto your rock, and then go over the outlines in black sharpie pen.


Or you can freehand draw your design.
If rocks will be indoors leave as is...but to put outside you will need to put at least two coats of sealer or varnish over the paint and design.

I have used mine inside on a side table as funky arty decor accessories.

Rather fun, don't you think?

For more about me 

and my stores

 visit Traceyleecassin.com

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traceyleecassin.com 

#paintedrocks #artrocks #rockcrafts #kidscraft

Fancy That Yellow Chrysanthemum...

 

Over summer I had the complete 'white pot craze' happening...

And yellow was the flower colour craze!

In the plant rescue stand at the garden store, I found two half-dead chrysanthemum plants for $1.50 each.

Knowing darn well it's really had to kill a 'mum' I bought them thinking they would be perfect for my white pots on the back deck.  
And they grew... and they grew in their part shade position.

Healthy plants - no yellow flowers!

Lesson learnt - the pot must be placed in the FULL SUN ALL DAY to achieve the promised prolific flowering!

But by then summer was over and autumn had arrived. 

The myriad of white pots were all emptied of their plants,

 and the pots were put into storage for winter.

So these very healthy green foliage 'mums' were put into the garden bed.

In FULL SUN might I add.

Then look at what happened.

Flowers!

so many flowers!

Dainty yellow flowers.

And a month later we still have masses of flowers!

So really it's a lesson to read the plant label properly.

Full sun means just that!

Laugh out loud!

So in case, you have a space in your garden for an amazing pop of yellow then plant:

'Fancy That Yellow' Chrysanthemum.
From Zealandia's Living Colours range.

It's a new breed of free flowering chrysanthemum that is suitable for a low, ground covering in garden beds, pots, hanging baskets and bowls.

Just remember that FULL SUN is the secret to success with this gorgeous mini daisy Chrysanthemum.

It's fabulous for picking.
Plus the butterflies will love it too.

And the flowers last such a long time in a vase.

or teacup.

Which is what I used as a vessel to display the posy of blooms.

The teacup is Vintage Colcough.

Plant Name: Fancy That Yellow by Zealandia Living Colours

#chrysanthemum #yellow #floweringgardenplants 

#yellowflowers

Berry Semifreddo Icecream...

Berry Semifreddo Icecream is exceptionally easy to make!

A perfect treat for using berries fresh or frozen.

Step one: You will need to make a berry puree.

I used 1 1/2 cups of frozen berries - raspberry and blueberry.

To this you add 1/4 cup caster sugar and a tablespoon of lemon juice.

Heat in a saucepan over low heat until berries become pulp like.  Set aside to cool.

Step Two:  Puree the pulp.

I used my Magic Bullet to do this.

This Nutr.Bullet is seriously the best small appliance I have in my kitchen.

I used it for making sauces, smoothies, and milkshakes.

I'm big on making pure fruit healthy smoothies!

 Step Three: Whip 300 ml of pure cream with 1/4 cup sugar.
Step Four:  Whip till peaks form 2 egg whites.
Fold into cream.

 Step Five:  Fold 150 ml of natural sweetened yoghurt into the whipped cream mixture.

Then swirl through half of the berry puree.

      Place it in a small tub.

 The last step is to use a knife to swirl the remaining berry puree through the icecream.

Cover and freeze.

 Semifreddo is much more of an icy texture than icecream.

But is so refreshing on a summers day.

To serve:  Remove from freezer and let thaw for five minutes.  Use a metal Icecream scoop that has been heated in hot water.  Roll balls and serve with fresh or tinned berries or a berry compote sauce.

Berry delishishness...

Not a real word but you'll know what I mean!

Put it on your must-try list when your summer season arrives!

The printable recipe is HERE.

#icecream #homemade #berry #dessert

Easter Wish....