A Passion for Peonies

So long until next June.


















Why do ants love peonies? When should we move them? Why didn't they bloom? Find out at faq@peonies.org


Photos: S. Plasch

Uncommonly Good Gardening

Add Uncommon Gardens to your list of things to see and do in Minneapolis.




Fun stuff!

Yes, of course our little friends need a gnome door in the enchanted maple tree-of-a-million-whirligigs. If it's uncommonly good enough for the some certain cookie baking elves, it's good enough for ours.

Guess Who's Coming to Brunch?

Seen and noted at Bachman's.

Up Against a Wall

Did you notice that throughout the entire ideas house there was not a stand-alone, traditional picture in a frame to be found? Let's review the alternate wall decor the house designers came up with.

Slide carousels




Wall planters




Bake trays




Garden gate




Bushel basket lids




Butterflies




Plates and pages




Paper plates




Shutters




Garden trellis




Placemats




They're some clever ones, they are.

Farm Fresh or - You'll Love Our Dairy Air

Our first ever visit to the famed Madison Farmer's Market on capitol square. Pretty darn wonderful, just as promised.



















Walkerville struck camp the night before the market so, the only thing that could have made the experience better, or at least more "Madison" would have been catching a glimpse of the World Naked Bike Ride scheduled for the day. Dang! Missed it. It went by in a flash.

Makin' Whoopee in Wisconsin

There are lots of ways to picture the fun in WI. But please, don't send them all to us. TMI. Thank you.

Bird Balls Demystified

The original recipe calls for the olives wrapped in cream cheese and rolled in toasted sesame seeds. Don't even remember what the real name of this simple hors d'oeuvre was, but they looked like something you'd put out at the bird feeder so they have been called bird balls ever since someone in the neighborhood first made them.




Inspired by the classic Olive Nut Sandwich at the Olympia Candy Kitchen and the high price of sesame seeds this version is rolled in chopped cashews. The party crowd approved.





It's kind of fun to sit back and watch while guests try to figure out what's inside until somebody gets brave enough to try one. Then, just like that, they're gone.

Fun in the Sun

It's officially summer. Get out there and picture some fun with, or without, the Fonz.

It's Your Day Dad

Fun Father's Day retro clip art from Just Something I Made via The Graphics Fairy.

JSIM Father’s Day Clip Art

Anyone need a last minute homemade card? Oops! That would be us. Yikes!

Where's the Weedeater?

Maybe a garage party would be more acceptable if we all had immaculate, empty garages to decorate instead of having to hang tarps of various colors and levels of filthiness over all the yard, garden, and automotive stuff cluttering the walls and ceiling of our car park. Oh, and then there's the oil leak spots on the floor.

Here is possibly the cutest garage we have ever seen.














Nice, but for us it would be less work to just let our guests come in to the house. Can't guarantee we'd pass the white glove test, but we're 99% sure no one will slip on a puddle of 10-40 Valvoline.


Bachman's summer idea house 2011.

On the Grounds

Bachman's summer idea house 2011.

Pink, porch planter.




Luncheon al fresco.






Backyard writer's retreat.







Pithy plates.

Bed, Bath, and Beyond

Bachman's summer idea house 2011.

Bed,













Bath,









Beyond (the media room).