My mom had the cute idea to plant a collection of dianthus in different shades and patterns in a section of her garden. It's a little bit blurred now from growth, but can you see how the variety of colors and patterns look like a quilt?
She wants you to know that it is not finished; her plan is to expand it around the edges with more plants. So cute!
I've thought about doing the same thing with herbs. I normally plant mine in a strawberry pot, but would love to plant an area with stripes and squares of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. The height and color variations would make a lovely pattern.
I think it is important to always be on the lookout for opportunities that delight. I read about the Amish Quilt Gardens in Elkhart, Indiana and I'm hoping to photograph them sometime when I drive over to see my friend, Barb. (Are you listening Barb? Put on your thinking cap!)
Have you heard about gardens designed to look like quilt blocks? There are gardens planted in quilt patterns all over Elkhart and they are open to the public to tour and photograph for free from June - October. I think it is a delightful way to have fun with annuals, don't you?
I was on board the minute Barb mentioned Lemon Meringue pie. Long before she started describing the 12-inch high meringue peaks and the gorgeous lemon filling. I love lemons and I was ready for something sweet.
Would you believe me if I told you that I ate half of my "to go" piece before we got back to the car? You see earlier in the day we had a nice homemade lunch at the Blue Gate Restaurant, and Barb showed us their famous lemon meringue pie in the bakery case next door on our way out. I was a goner.
After a full day of wandering in and out of the shops in Shipshewana, we did eventually stop back at the Blue Gate Bakery for a slice. And Barb bought a whole pie to take back to her family - it is magnificent in person.
Sometimes my blog posts just fall into my lap. I mean really, as a candy lover, could I make up anything more interesting to show you? Not a chance.
I was in Aunt Millie's Candy Shop in the Davis Mercantile (same building as the Lolly's Fabrics) in Shipshewana when I saw him. A beautiful statue of a Native American man wearing a full headdress of feather lollipops. It was as beautiful as it was unexpected. I was so taken with the overall effect of the display that I didn't buy a handful of feathers.
What was I thinking? They would look so beautiful grouped on a Thanksgiving buffet. Or as a treat for kids who didn't want pumpkin pie? I did include a link (click "feather lollipops" above) where you can buy an entire box of them online. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? If you want to split a box, let me know!
Amish cows are fabulous. Can you see the brown beauty that started walking toward me when we pulled off the road? She "moo-ed" so much it sounded like she was trying to chit-chat and I'm sure she thought I could stay and gossip over the fence. But alas, my friends were waiting in the car, so I took a few photographs of her picturesque farm and went on my way.
I had spotted this dairy farm on the way into Shipshewana and put it on our "must photograph" list for the day. On weekends, Amish shops are only open on Saturday and they close promptly at five o'clock, so we needed to prioritize shops over cows. Luckily the weather held and after a wonderful day wandering Shipshewana, I was able to capture the cows in the long shadows of afternoon sunlight.
Photos like this are the souvenirs that I treasure.
