Monday, April 12, 2010

Gardening Grab Bag

 

How many of you like grab bags?

Tulip_Stripes

 

I remember when I was young every summer
we would go on vacations and travel to different
states. Back then it was just boring and I did not
appreciate all of the scenery like I would have today.
I am certain the Grande Canyon, Old Faithful,
Monument Park and Niagara Falls would mean more
today and I would of course have trusty camera in hand.
But how many bears could one see eating from trash
cans in the Smokey Mountains before you just laid
down in the back seat and went to sleep.
We went there many times and to Gatlinburg.
That was before Dollywood for pity sakes.

BleedingHeart_Pink


There were no super highways and most of the traveling
were on two lane roads and it seemed the two weeks we
would spend on these roads would never end.
I know then I just wanted to be back home with the other
kids swimming and playing or riding bikes while school was
out for the summer and not spending my time in an old car.

 

BleedingHeart_Alba

But on these old two lane roads there were always these
wonderful souvenir shops.
In the mountains you usually first saw a large birdhouse
with “See Rock City” on them or lines filled with colorful
chenille bedspreads with large flowers, peacocks and birds.
There was also the cage with the bear in it.
One year we even bought a baby bear and brought it home
but that is a story for another time about Hobo the bear.


Hobo

In the desert areas shops were displayed with wagon loads
of antlers and on the lines there  were hand woven
Navaho rugs.

 

Dandelion

But what I liked about the souvenir shops were the
bins of grab bags. They would mark them kids, women
or man and with cent amounts. Sometimes there was
not much to them but once in awhile you would really
get something fantastic for a nickel or dime.
I always begged for one and Dad would usually give in.
Probably more to shut me up or maybe just because
he had a soft spot for his only daughter. LOL!

Primrose

So since I am a sucker for and have fond memories of
grab bags I am having a Garden Grab Bag Giveaway
this month to celebrate my birthday.
There is no big to do about entering to win this “Garden
Grab Bag Giveaway” (Say that three times fast)
Just leave a comment and your name
will be entered for a drawing on Wednesday April 21th.

 

IMG_6645 IMG_6646


Any one curious? Any guess as to what is in this box?
This is one of the garden related items to be given away.
Nice looking box isn’t it? LOL!
Oh, come on you know you want to take a chance to
see or own what’s in the box.
Okay I would never be able to sell snow to snowmen
but it is a fun diversion so leave a comment.
I wonder what is in the box?

Happy Gardening Everyone !

Until Next Time, Lona

49 comments:

Shannon said...

I've been a lurker for quite some time, but as a beginning gardener I always admire your pictures and hope one day to have some of my own to share.

Becca's Dirt said...

Lona what beautiful bleeding hearts to share. All of your flowers appear to be very happy.

Enter me in the Garden Grab Bag Giveaway.

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

What a fun post Lona!! I am very curious as to what is in the box! Also, you must post about the baby bear soon, it must be quite a story. Beautiful pictures, the tulip is STUNNING. ~Rebecca

Barbara said...

What a fun idea! I remember the same kind of road trip with my family well. The Midwest was full of those roadside tourist traps, and we kids loved them dearly as a welcome break from sitting for hours in the hot dusty car on the way to some national park. BTW, what's the name of the flower after the first tulip in your post? Are they blooming already in your garden? Beautiful.

The Redneck Rosarian said...

This tulip is magnificent.

Lona said...

Shannon: Hi! and glad you dropped by and at just the right time. You are entered. I will be looking for your pictures!

Becca:You are so in girl! You will love what may be in the box.

Rebecca:I just knew I couldn't be the only one who was curious about grab bags.LOL!

Dirt Princess said...

I love grab bags!!!! What a great idea!

Yes, it does pay off in the end. It is just all the hard work it takes to get there. But gardening never really has an "end". LOL!

MAYBELLINE said...

Zone 5?
Sadly, anything you can grow would get scorched in my Zone 9.

Bonnie said...

I’m a huge fan of grab bags too. I know I got that from my mom. She would love to buy them. She is super crafty. In craft magazines there was always a grab bag or surprise package. She would order them sometimes as a special treat. She would always finish everything in the package. It really was fun to open it. My favorite grab bag was the 1 cent package of seeds from Gurney Seeds Catalog. It would be a mixture of flower and vegetable seeds. My oldest brother and I would always get our own row to plant the seeds in the garden.

Noelle Johnson said...

Hello,

Okay, you have really sparked my curiosity about Hobo the bear - I bet it is a very interesting story. Your dicentra are so beautiful. Isn't is interesting how we look back at family vacations differently once we are grown? **Curious about what is in the box too :-)

Unknown said...

I love your beautiful pictures and want to wish you a happy birthday! What a fun idea to do a garden grab bag giveaway. I would love to win one, as I am a brand new gardener! I'm finding a lot of great ideas online. I found a book entitled Gardening Made Easy that has some great ideas. Have a beautiful spring!

Christine B. said...

Giving away gifts on your own birthday? You must be part hobbit;)

Christine in Alaska

Tootsie said...

Oh honey what a wonderful idea!!! sort of wish I thought of it first!!! I am so curious to see what's in that box...come on...just a little whisper...I won't tell anyone! lol
Oh please enter my name in the mix...I need a little excitement around here...have you had bilbo yet? Want him? he's kinda fun to play with ...lol
enter and let me know if you ...but not before you enter me in this cool draw!
I also need now to hear about that bear...you got me thinking!

Patsy said...

I would like to grab a chance at a bag with goods in it.
Patsy

Kay said...

What beautiful flowers.

Terri said...

What a fun giveaway! :) I loved grab bags when I was a child, too. Please, please, please tell us the bear story! I have a similar lion story (yes, a LION - I don't know what my mother was thinking) and it is a great tale.

Kimberly said...

Lona, great post! Fun memories...a baby bear?!?! REALLY?! I MUST hear this story! That should be the prize!! And what a sweet way to celebrate your birthday..to give a surprise to a friend. Happy Birthday, Lona!!!

Debby said...

I saw the Hocking Hills and knew you had to be from O H I O. Me too. The weather is gorgeous isn't it. Hmmmmm what could be in that box.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Lona, boy do I remember those family vacations. I'll bet I saw a thousand 'visit Rock City' signs. Kids nowdays with their video players in cars don't know how lucky they are:)

Love your bleeding hearts!

Hmmm, I'll bet the box contains something garden related. Let's see, a tool or a book or a picture. Too big for gloves and probably too big for a book. Not big enough for a tool. I'm guessing a picture.
Marnie

Helen said...

I remember "See Rock City" being painted on Barn tops. Beautiful flowers you have there. Now my X mother in law used to buy big grab bags of stuff. Helen

pogonip said...

I distinctly remember complaining about too many glaciers on one vacation through B.C.--that's right, global warming is MY fault :)

Love vacation souvenirs--grab bags rock!

Happy@Home said...

Curiousity is getting the best of me, not to mention the words garden and giveaway go very well together in my book. :-). I'm happy to help you celebrate your birthday too because I will also be having a birthday in April.
Thanks for offering this fun giveaway.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Lona, all I hope is that it is something that will fit in my yard!
What a great story, I always loved grab bags.

Eileen

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

If it has anything to do with gardens or surprises...count me in! Wait...you mean that's all there is to this? Well...I'm posting THIS giveaway on my blog whether I have to or not. I mean, it's only right. Right? :)
Hugs,
Mona

Lona said...

RR: Thank you. It looks prettier opened with its red and white stripes.

Barbara: I hear you girl about the dust. No air conditioning back then so you ate dirt and bugs and got stung occasionally.LOL!

DP: Busy lady you are in the garden. You know I am going to put you in the drawing.

Maybelline:Hot, hot. But I could grow stuff all year LOL! Thanks for dropping by.

Bonnie: Oh, I like the story about the seeds and you and your brother growing a row.Thanks for stopping in.

Noelle: Not a good pet at all LOL! The box would look pretty in your yard too. ;-)

MollY: I saw that book and was curious.If they get a flower gardening for Dummies book out I am in.LOL! Thanks for dropping by.

Christine: I am right partial to hobbits. Loved all of the movies LOL!

Tootsie: That Bilbo is such a ham. I well be over. Your names in girl.

Patsy: Okay Patsy your little name is in the drawing. The Bennie might like it too. LOL!

Kay: Now you know I am adding in your name whether you asked or not.LOL!

Terri: Now you know I have to say it. "Lion, Tigers and bears, oh my"! Okay I think I feel safer with Hobo.I am glad you dropped in.

Kimberly: Riding home with a bear in the back of the station wagon was different. LOL! Thank you, I am getting so old I have to do something fun.

Debby: Well howdy fellow Buckeye! I cannot tell you what it is because a grab bag LOL! Thanks for dropping in.

Marnie: Kids now would think it was roughing it. LOL! Yeah, it is garden related.

Helen: I think there are still a few around Helen. The grab bags kept me busy for a while if it was a book or toy. ;-)

Pogonip: I wondered who started this global warming thing. Your not related to Al are you? LOL! Glaciers would have been different although I was fascinated about the snow in the Rocky Mountains in June. Seen one glacier seen them all.LOL!

Happy @ Home: Well happy Birthday to you too girl. Curiosity is getting to you huh? LOL!

Eileen: It would look very good in your garden. Have to wait and see.I am awful LOL!

Mona: Hey, you know I will add your name to the bowl.
Hey, good luck!

Now this is getting really fun Gang!

Jennifer AKA keewee said...

Lona, curiosity killed the cat, but in this case it is curiosity killed Keewee. I love surprises, please enter me in the giveaway.
Thank you.

marmee said...

lona,
thanks for coming by to visit my blog. i just put up a photo of bleeding hearts too...they are so beautiful. a grab bag giveaway sounds delightful.
i hope you have a wonderful birthday month(great month to be born in.)
happy spring days.

Jean Campbell said...

Happy Spring, Lona. I can hardly wait to see what is in the box.

Jim Groble said...

Wonderful pictures. The tulip and primrose are just so cool. Your tulip pic is perfect. jim

A Garden of Threads said...

Are you sure we are not sisters from another life, I spent all my summer vacations as a youngster just as you do, travelling around the country. Sleeping on the back seat was a must. Wow, the grab bags at the souvenir shop confirmed we are from the same era,LOL. Have a great day:)

Amy said...

You have me wondering what is inside that box...:) Fun post!

Anonymous said...

Well Lona~~ Happy Birthday, girl friend! Your fond memories are endearing indeed. [Say that five times real fast.]

Love the coloring on that primrose! Very unusual.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely flowers to share!

Would love to be a part of grab!:)

The Idiot said...

I haven't got a notion what a garb bag is! As for the box, my bet would be an elephant.

Close?

Lona said...

KeeWee: You are so in on the surprise gardening grab bag.

Marmee: Isn't Spring wonderful. It is so good to see all of the flowers and trees in bloom.Green instead of white. LOL!

NellJean:It is a fairly large box too. Interesting LOL!

Jim: Hey, I am putting you and Pat in the drawing.

A Garden of Threads: It must have been the in thing back then.We must be from the same era indeed.

Amy: Hey girl you are in. I hope everyone will like what is in the box.

Grace: That primrose was just one of two that I finally got from seeds.I have such a poor seed germinating record.LOL! Would you call it a bright bloom? LOL!

Zindagi: Hey, your wish is my command and I will add in your name.

The Idiot Gardener: Now that is the kind of answer we would expect from you fella. Elephant! LOL! It is really sad though that you do not know what a grab bag is. LOL!

Darla said...

Bought a Bear? What in the world? We need to read that story...love grab bags!

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Okay, when do we get to hear about Hobo?! I do remember those grab bags at souvenir shops, but I always bought the little plastic box of rocks of all different colors.
I'm glad your Bleeding Hearts are blooming, great pictures!
Happy Birthday!! Hope it was fun :)

Lona said...

Darla: You would have had to been there to believe it.Different times back then. Your so in the drawing for the Grab Bag.

Catherine: I remember the colored rocks. The things they had at those old shops were fascinating to a child.

Ginger said...

How intriguing!!! Thanks for the chance to win.


Gorgeous bleeding heart photos. I haven't had much luck growing them here, but always enjoy them in the blogging world.

Lona said...

Ginger: Glad you dropped by and your name is in the hat.

Brenda Pruitt said...

I really enjoyed this post, following your childhood memories. I think we tend to "show our pretties" and forget to tell our stories. What makes us who we are. I know I do. Curious about that bear!
Brenda

Anonymous said...

WOuld love to share my strawberries with you!!!

Thanks for adding my name!

Balisha said...

What's in the box...I want to know.
Oh, Lona do not tease me so.
Is there a plant or garden tool?
Oh, please don't make me be a fool.
My curiosity is peaked you know..
The 21st is when you'll show...
What's in your pretty cardboard box..
You are so sly...just like a fox.
I guess that I can wait and see..
Although the suspense is killing me.

Balisha

Debby said...

Hi Lona. What a beautiful name. Your pictures are amazing. I love a beautiful flower garden but either I have a brown thumb or the deer are just too hungry.
Country Living May came yesterday. There is an advertisement - 2 full pages - on Hocking Hills. Also alot of Ohio articles. So much fun to read them an know the people. The Keegans live in Granville. He is a contributing editor. Have a beautiful day....hey, the sun is shining.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Your bleeding hearts are just beautiful. They don't grow down here so I'll just have to enjoy them in yours and others gardens. They always are a joy to see.

I'd like to be entered into your grab bag drawing too.

Thank you and Happy Birthday.

FlowerLady

Lona said...

Brenda: Hi and glad you dropped by. Not the best pet in the world I will admit. LOL! Your name has been added.

FlowerLady: That is too bad they will not grow there. Must be too hot for the little gems. Your name has been gladly added.

Debby: Well forever more I use to get Country Living. Now I wish I had it to see what it says about Hocking County.Maybe on line? It is a constant fight with the deers here. I have tried all of the trick aside from the shot gun but shooting in the air may be an option yet. LOL! I am always open to all the tricks to keep them away. They won the fight last fall which makes me more determined this year ;-)

Lona said...

Balisha: Hey girl you know I have to put this poem on my page. LOL!

Cathy M~(checkitoff) said...

How fun! What a great idea! I garden in North Central Ohio so I hope it is something I can use in the upcoming months!

Lona said...

Cathy: Hi and glad you dropped by. I will add your name to the drawing.