Carol, The tree is a: FICUS The pink flowering plant in the back is: IMPATIENT The fern next to the large deer is: RABBITS FOOT FERN The 2 low growing light green plants are: BABY TEARS The hanging plant on the right side is: CREEPING WHITE STAR The pot is 12" round & 5" deep. I was told about a nursery in Norwalk, Ohio that sells all mini plants...lots of them....all kinds of minis. I've been thinking about a fairy garden so I went to check this place out. It's called Mulberry Creek Herb Farm. I found this shade loving fairy garden all ready made up that I liked, but it didn't have any hosta in it. So, I picked out a mini hosta, upgraded to this fairy that sits on the rock that I liked better than the one that the pot originally had, added the turtles on the rock and the gazing ball. I than went to TSC (Tractor Supply Co) for some vole killer and just couldn't resist a few of their miniture animals that I saw there. I bought the cute doe & fawn. Also, if you look closely to he left of the hosta, you'll see 3 little raccoons playing. My idea was to buy the pot, plants and figures, but when I got to the nursery I realized that I had no idea how I wanted to put a fairy garden together.(I'm not too visual, I guess) So, I got this already made one and added to it the way I wanted. These are the instructions that I was given: Bring it in the house this winter and put it a cool room with some light. Keep it moderately moist. Fertilize it every 2 weeks. Don't be shy about keeping the plants trimmed back..they're tough. BTW, the total cost of this was about $95.00 I think the smaller the figurines, the more they cost. lol

When I was a little girl, a long, long time ago, I thought every suburban dweller had a backyard veggie garden. I can remember my granddad going out to his garden in the morning to pick bell peppers, tomatoes, onions - whatever was ripe - to chop up and add to his scrambled eggs. My grandmother, I am convinced, had not only green thumbs but green fingers and toes as well! Granddad got the back fence for his veggies, but Nana got everything else for her flowers. Along the sides of the back fence and every wall of the house she had flowers. Her name was Rose, and she grew roses in every color possible for roses, along with hydrangeas, azaleas, peonies, zinnias, irises (which she took to shows, she was a member of the local Iris Society), even florist-type carnations one year, and many more I can now barely remember. My stepdad grew up on a farm near Ada. He, too, always had a veggie garden along the back fence of our backyard. He and Granddad had very different gardening styles. Granddad's garden was every bit as neat and tidy as Nana's flower beds. Daddy let everything pretty much do what it liked. He'd plant cantaloupes at the west end of the garden, and we'd be picking them from the east end. I don't recall ever seeing cages for anything, though I do think he'd add stakes to tomatoes if they offered to fall over. If they wanted to spread and sprawl all over the garden, he'd let them. Until a couple of years ago, when I bought my first house, I never had the opportunity to garden much so I didn't have any questions for them. Now that I do, they're not where I can phone to ask. But I did learn that you can grow your own food, and that it tastes better than what you buy in the supermarket, and that you can fill your house and yard with beautiful forms, colors, and fragrances. If I didn't manage to learn much about the specifics of accomplishing all that, I did at least learn it was possible and that I wanted that ability. My Nana left on All Saints' Day in 1988. By the time the fourth anniversary of her departure came, they were all gone - Nana, Granddad, Mom, and Daddy. I have learned that I will never not miss them, but time does make the ache hurt less. Melissia, Jay, and tulsacityfarmer, you have my deepest sympathy. Connie, your husband's response is easily one of the, if THE, wisest thing I've ever heard. I don't remember who found this poem, but my Granddad had it read at the graveside for Nana's funeral. After her death he and my parents all decided to plan for their time and let us all know what they wanted. Every one of them wanted this poem read at the service, which we did. It took me a while to find it on the web; I was beginning to think I'd have to hunt up my copy at home, but I finally managed to find it. I didn't remember the title, perhaps the copy I had didn't have it on there, but according to the site where I found it, its title is, "I Am Always With You." When I am gone, release me, let me go. I have so many things to see and do, You mustn't tie yourself to me with too many tears, But be thankful we had so many good years. I gave you my love, and you can only guess How much you've given me in happiness. I thank you for the love that you have shown, But now it is time I traveled on alone. So grieve for me a while, if grieve you must Then let your grief be comforted by trust That it is only for a while that we must part, So treasure the memories within your heart. I won't be far away for life goes on. And if you need me, call and I will come. Though you can't see or touch me, I will be near And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear All my love around you soft and clear And then, when you come this way alone, I'll greet you with a smile and a "Welcome Home". Debra

Welcome drummegrl...if you haven't read all about winter sowing, you need to go to that forum here on GW and real the FAQ...you can plant outside all winter...just go read about it. It is very addictive let me warn you! It beats having plants inside that get leggy and anemic looking. There are several plant swaps here in TN starting in May...the Middle TN Plant Swap is May 19th. If you will go to www.midtnplantswap.com you can read all about it. That will be a great place to get plants to go in your new place...and you will meet some WONDERFUL gardeners to boot. Hope to see you May 19th. Jan

Some of them are dead already from what I see. The soil looks bad and it appears one pot has standing water in it. Others will give you some advice, post this over in the house plant section where there is more action. I think you should start with nice healthy plants if you want to start growing plants, that just my opinion. Good luck...