In addition to cleaning up my flower gardens in the fall, I also clean up my fairy garden. I remove the fairies and paraphernalia, wash them up, then store everything away until spring.
May 2023.
Then I place a winter scene in the garden, with a single component; a fairy sitting next to a snowy tree. Even though, in “normal” winters, snow covers it up for most of the season, it’s fun to place this ornament outside to have a winter fairy scene too.
My winter fairy garden ornament.
Of course, this non-snowy winter the garden has not been covered in snow, and you can see the fairy and tree easily.
However, it has been invaded by an alien.
An alien in the garden…March 2024.
The other day as I was walking by, I noticed a small figure next to some glass mushrooms I forgot to put away last fall. When I picked it up, it looked like an alien. I trust it’s a friendly one.
A friendly alien, up close. March 2024
I will add him to my ever-changing and expanding fairy garden this spring.
It’s fun to know others notice this whimsical little world, tucked away under a rose bush in my back yard.
On a walk recently, I noticed these yellow crocuses already popping out of the ground these early days of March (3/7/24).
Visiting Olbrich Gardens has become a tradition for me and my friend from Indiana, every time we meet in Madison, Wisconsin.
An overview of Lake Monona in the distance, from the climbing tower in Olbrich Gardens.
This botanical garden has an indoor, tropical conservatory, 16 acres of gardens in the outdoor area, and an interesting gift shop. The admission is free if you stay outside, and that is where we always want to be! Some years, when we have visited Olbrich in late October, there has been snow on the ground, but even then, it’s a pleasant walk.
A stone pot with overflowing green grass and a wooden stick ball in the center makes for a beautiful visual display.
This year when we visited, there was no snow, an above normal temperature, and the sky was a beautiful blue with bright sunshine. Although it was later in the season, we did find a few lingering blooms before winter brings it to a halt.
The sunlight on this pink rose blossom made it even more stunning.
A lone wild geranium bloom.
A sweet red rosebud.
A couple years ago we discovered an interesting tree called the Full Moon Maple. We enjoy its fringed leaves and the vibrant red/orange color it turns at this time of year…and we like the name!
Full Moon Maple. Photo October 2020
Frances and me near the Full Moon Maple. 2021
There is a permanent display with a kaleidoscope to look through onto a pot of colorful greens and flowers you can spin around. I always enjoy looking at the geometric patterns through a kaleidoscope, especially when focusing on plants at botanical gardens. I’ve seen these displays at other gardens. What a creative idea someone had.
The kaleidoscope focused on a pot of grasses and flowers.
The gardens are open to enjoy all year. There is a special event in December, “Holiday Express” that would be fun to go back and see…model trains, poinsettias and fresh greens.
Four blooming red roses.
It’s an easy drive to Madison from Northfield, and Madison always feels welcoming and is easy to get around. It seems to have many interesting things to do and see, including many bike trails. We have more exploring to do!
Another trio of fall blooming crocuses. I saw these for the first time a couple weeks ago. It was interesting to see more in another place, never having seen them before this year.
But, it’s good to know we can revisit Olbrich Gardens to find respite, and a peaceful place to enjoy nature, every time.
As I was on a walk this week I noticed something out of the ordinary…
Blooming crocuses.
beautiful, blooming purple crocuses. It was a surprise to see, what I thought were, confused crocuses because they were blooming in the fall.
After taking a picture of theses perky blooms, I looked on Google and learned there are some crocuses that do bloom in the fall…only they have no leaves.
Autumn blooming crocuses with no leaves.
This was a pleasant sight to see while walking on a beautiful, unusually warm, fall day.
