Field Trip...

We made our own little field trip day last week and headed north. (Even though were done with school around here...an excuse for a field trip is still okay, right?) Our first stop was a wholesale produce auction. We had never been to this type of auction before and it was interesting to all of us how it worked. When you see the word "wholesale" in this case think "bulk sale"!! Everything was sold in large quantities. Like if you wanted to buy some beautiful hanging baskets...you bought 6, 12, or 20 of them at a time! I went armed with a list for myself, my mother-in-law and my mom. I'm not sure where all the growers were from but I think most of them are local...which in my book in another plus and makes me feel good about supporting the local economy.

 This is a snap shot of some of the goodies we came home with...Here are the prices in case your interested:

16 lbs of fresh rhubarb $1per pound, Hanging baskets (6) $6 each, 4 flats of petunias $8 each

2 flats of tomatoes (Celebrity, Better Boy) $9 each, 5 flats of Yellow Marigolds $6.50 each!

 I also brought home 10 rhubarb plants, 3 for my dad and then I sold the others because I already have a nice collection of 12 plants.

We had a really good time and I figured up what I spent on the things I kept then added what I would have spent elsewhere and I saved almost half..when you subtract my gas I still saved 40-45%. I saved some money, combined it with some other stops on the way home and it was great fun!

While we were out and about we also made a stop at a quilt shop to pick up some fabric so I can get sewing some new curtains for the dinning room....Not sure when I'll make time for that, but I need to very soon! Then after that we stopped at the home of Gene Stratton-Porter to tour the gardens. We had visited the grounds last fall but everything was done blooming. I think it will be just gorgeous in another couple weeks when even more things are in bloom, but we got to enjoy a nice walk on the trails and some blooms as well. If your local, you really should make a trip to visit the beautiful grounds, it's free to roam the grounds, it only cost money to tour the house. Here are some pictures of our visit.

 I love the simple rock path that leads to the this amazing arbor which is full of wisteria, but it wasn't blooming yet.

 Ahhhhhh, I love these little "snowball" trees!

 The poppies were showing their bright colors, I even spied a honey bee hard at work!

 Iris...Can you ever really have to many of these pretty girls around?

 It was a gorgeous day on the lake...we spied a pair of swans swimming off in the distance as well.

 

 Enjoying a stroll along the many paths!

 

 

 

A shot of part of the gardens, I think there are over 30 separate beds throughout the garden area.

Shade garden area.

 Then just past the shade area, is this sweet little pond with fish.

 

 

 

What a fun day!