Happy Lunar New Year!
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Hi ,
In Seattle we have a huge Asian community and every Lunar New Year and I've kicked myself for many years for not pulling together a little celebration in the miniature garden. Well, this year it finally came together - albeit at the last minute. I've put notes under the close-up photos below for reference. Not one accessory was bought intentionally for this shot, they just all came together - read-on for more
details.
ABOUT THOSE DIPS IN TEMPERATURES: If you're area is getting sudden dips in temperatures like Florida did this past week. Here are some quick tips. Note that it's not the always the hardiness of the plant that is the consideration - it's the sudden change of temperature that the plants and trees might not like. All of our plants can probably withstand the temperature dips but if you have any
questions, let us know.
To safe guard your plants - if you see it coming that is - here are some tips:
- - Cover the plants or miniature garden with fallen boughs, burlap, or at least a plastic bag at night. You can use sheets, blankets or sheets of plastic too. This will keep the heat inside the pot stable enough for the duration. Remove in the morning to let the plants breathe, replace at night.
- - Move the pot along-side the house, up on a covered porch, or tuck it just inside the door or garage for the night. If the pot is too big/heavy, use the tip above.
- - If the freezes continue, make sure to keep the soil watered, (you should have drainage holes to get rid of any excess water.) And if you moved it where it can't get the rain, make sure it's getting watered.
- - Plants are resilient, for the most-part, and will/can bounce back as long as they aren't kept in that high-stress-state so be patient if they falter - and get in touch if you have any questions.
- - Some plants will fuss, like the Baby Tears, but they'll come back. For example the Baby Tears will turn black if they get too cold, but it will recover in a couple of weeks. You should start seeing the little green new shoots within a couple of weeks.
- - Remember, if you lose a plant or a tree - not to worry because they grow on trees! Or wait, they are trees... but you know what I mean.
- - Remember that even the best gardeners lose plants, they just don't tell you. :o)
ICYMI + Wonderful Comments: My Miniature Garden
Manifesto - aka my "public declaration of my policies and aims." Checkout the wonderful comments from our fellow Miniature Gardeners and I've included all the emailed ones too - (first name or initial credit only.) Read it here, up on my Mini Garden Guru blog. Let me know what you think in the comments on the blog or hit the reply.
Thank you for reading!
Whatever you do make it fun,
ABOVE: Celebrating the Lunar New Year in the Miniature Garden.
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PS - A big mini-garden THANK YOU to Ian, Joan and Sandra, fellow MGs who “bought us coffees” this week. Thank you for thinking of us! <3
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The bench was repaired, then painted gold. I was keeping it for a Christmas scene but the gold was perfect for this! The wee pillow I found at a local dollhouse show. The vase to the left of the bench was a thrift store find. The birdhouse is from
our online store.
The big tree behind the bench is the Loowit Japanese Hemlock, hardy to -20F. The groundcover-rosettes are Dwarf Saxifrage which I think are hardy to -20F too.
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From the Mini Garden Guru Archives:
A 101 Beginner Series Starts Here!
The Lunar New Year is also known as the Spring Festival and carries-on over 15 days with different activities each day that ends with the Lantern Festival. (Which means there is still time for YOU to create your own little celebration in your miniature garden. :o)
People write down their wishes on the side of paper lanterns and let them fly to the heavens. My miniature lantern one turned out a bit crooked but I still happy with it. I need to work on my wire-wrapping skills! I was going to make a lantern out of polymer clay, but realized (a) I'm out of practice and it would take a week to make one that was "up to snuff," and (b) that I would just be making a
bead! Lol! So I tapped my bead collection, rummaged through my stash for gold-bits and Voila! A miniature Chinese lantern! :o)
Yes, someone needs to tell Martha of my skills. Lol! :o)
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New and Back in Stock!
Click on them to see the photos...
Search for Plants & Trees
by your Zone in the search bar!
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This alone is why checking-in with your local antique store is a MUST! I found this up in Anacortes, Wa., last summer while touring with a friend that was visiting from Georgia. I can't believe I balked at the $17
dollars it cost! It's awesome at 3 ¾" long. Pipe cleaners, pieces of wood, wire, a rope, some paper... I just want to quit my job and try to make one now... Lol!
QUICK TIP: If you don't have a lot of time to peruse an entire antique mall, look for the glass showcases or shelves closest to, or behind, the cashier. That's where you'll find the miniatures.
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I'M JANIT CALVO, YOUR FELLOW MINIATURE GARDENER (YFMG)
Thank you for reading!
CONTACT US ~ OTHER WAYS TO ORDER FROM OUR STORE
~> Via Email - hit reply, (don't email any credit card info!)
-> Via Phone - 206-352-0494 ~ We are in Seattle, 3 hours behind east coast time.
We no longer have regular office hours, please leave a message if we miss you!
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITES:
ABOUT OUR SHIPPING: We ship internationally (- but not the plants!) All shipping costs are checked by Steve and we refund any savings promptly because of our wide range of unique inventory: we ship tiny miniatures, heavy patio materials and living plants, sometimes the automatic shipping
calculator "packs" the order in multiple boxes which costs more. Steve can pack better than any online shipping calculator can - if we can save you money on shipping, we will.
REMINDER: This email is not spam. You are receiving this because you signed up for it and then you confirmed your subscription through your email. If you do not want this newsletter, we'll be sad to see you go, you will miss out on a lot of upcoming fun with this new hobby, and you'll have a hard time finding a better hobby, but please unsubscribe using the link
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