Grand Marais Garden Tour

On Saturday, June 26, 2010, from 10am to 4pm, the Grand Marais Garden Tour will feature 12 lovely flower and vegetable gardens in Grand Marais, MI on beautiful Grand Marais Bay in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

While the gardens are the focus, the tour offers so much more!

Included in the tour of gardens are some special features that Grand Marais is honored to share with this year's visitors. There are three stops on the tour that you won't find on other garden tours: The Pickle Barrel Historic Iris Display Garden, the Old Post Office Museum Rose Garden, and the Grand Marais Public School's Edible Garden. The Iris Garden features old varieties with some dating before 1935. The Rose Garden will feature more than 70 kinds of roses and the School Garden is a culmination of the work of students ages 5-18 where they experience "the (gardening) process and see where food comes from and how they are a part of that process".

An English Tea will be offered from Noon to 2 pm. This traditional "low" tea or afternoon tea will include a selection of teas, sandwiches and dessert breads at a cost of $7.00 per person. The tea will be served on the beautiful lawn of George and Marion Curtis and will be in memoriam of Marion. This event will be tent covered in case on inclement weather.

Two very special seminars will be held in conjunction with the garden tour. These seminars are an absolute "do not miss" opportunity for the avid gardener. Neil Moran, of Sault Ste. Marie, is a horticulture instructor and author of North Country Gardening: Simple Secrets to successful Northern Gardening. He will relate what he knows about growing flowers and vegetables in cold climates. Nancy McDonald of Grand Marais will present
The Daylily Explosion: Making sense of 50,000 Choices. Some kind of Daylily will fit into every garden and Nancy will help you make the right choices for your garden space.

As in past years you will be able to purchase plants donated by local gardeners at our plant sale, bid on innovative and unique items during our Silent Auction, and enjoy our delightful Music and Art on the Green.

This year our musicians in the gardens and the green space will include the 'Ski Band featuring Ira McDonald at the keyboard; Ann and Will Rowland, a well known Michigan duo; pianist Bob Williams; flutist Elizabeth Magyar; the Schlabach Family's Old Time Fiddle and Dulcimer Music; solo performer Nick Dongvillo presenting his talents on guitar, mandolin & vocals; duo Bill and Laura Baudoux on Guitar and Violin; and a local favorite, Al Young on guitar & vocals.

Admission is $10 per person. For more information or to reserve tickets, call (906) 494-2299.

Iris - the State Flower of this Beloved State - Tennessee

It is not often that I have expressed my pride in the state where I reside. I have admired the locations where I have lived. I have enjoyed many homes from as far north as Vermont to as far south as Fort Lauderdale and while there are things that I really miss from many of these locations I have never been more proud of being a resident than right here in Franklin, Tennessee.

We recently suffered what has been coined a 1,000 year flood. Devastating amounts of water poured into our cities and towns. While we were personally spared most of our friends and neighbors were touched in some way by the flood waters.

This week I created an Iris card and ironically my Variegated Iris bloomed for the first time. Pictured is the Iris and the card... both are dedicated to Tennessee. The Volunteer State that this stately flower represents. A beautiful state with just plain good people!

Etsy Greetings Team is having a 5 SPOT SALE on Etsy this Saturday, May 15. This talented collection of card makers is offering a $5.00 coupon for every $5 dollars spent in participating shops! These cards are the best greeting cards on the planet! You can find a list of the participating shops by clicking here. You can visit my shop here. You don't want to miss the opportunity for such a great deal on these cards! You know you are going to need them!!

Great Blog Giveaway

The lovely gift shop that my cards, hand sewn items, and lamps are available in is holding an amazing blog giveaway. Go to Heart and Hands blog for all of the ways to enter. The items are lovely and I have three cards and a jewelry travel bag in the giveaway. Heart and Hands is going to ship if the winner is not local and these items are very nice!!

Middle Tennessee Flooding

Over the weekend my hometown, Franklin, TN and the surrounding Nashville area have been devastated with horrible flooding. Our local river, the Harpeth, crested at 33 feet. The Cumberland, a very large river, that runs through Nashville, TN will crest somewhere around 63 feet. I am very proud of my city, region and state. They have handled this crisis with their normal bravery, efficiency, and compassion.

Here are a couple of pictures of Franklin. Please be thinking of us and send us your thoughts and prayers.