Scarecrow-a-day #8 – Pink Hat

Kids love kid sized scarecrows. We’ll see how many they make tomorrow at Pioneer Days in Elk Grove. Traditionally, we make about 100 scarecrows, and we’ve got the materials for that many this time too.

Scarecrow-a-day #7 – Anna T And Friend

So who’s cuter, Anna or her friend? Anna!!!!

Scarecrow-a-day #6 – Allium hair from Cathy

Remember those alliums you had in the garden earlier this year? Cathy’s got a great shot of them here. They’ve been repurposed as scarecrow hair. Thanks for sending in this picture!

Scarecrow-a-day #5 – Kid Ghost Scarecrows

These cuties were seen perching on an Elk Grove Village porch.

Scarecrow-a-day #4 – Orange hair makes it

Sometimes all it takes is a little color to make your scarecrow unique. The orange hair does it for this ladie’s scarecrow.

Scarecrow-a-day #3 – The Broomstick

Gotta love the creativity in the design of this Door County scarecrow.

How we attract hummingbirds

We are really enjoying the hummingbirds this year. The hummingbird feeder is right outside the window, and they don’t seem to mind us being around. How do we get hummingbirds to come to our yard?

We’re thinking it’s the red visuals – two huge planters full of million bells on one side of the porch, and orangie-red cannas on the other side.

Ah, and then there is the nectar. Ever-so-sweet and enticing nectar. We boil 1 ½ cups of water and add ½ cup of sugar. Some goes in the feeder. The rest goes in the fridge to be used in 2-3 days. Please change yours often too!

We’ve tried before to attract hummingbirds to this same area without success in past years. We never planted red there before. So we’re figuring it’s not a rumor – red appeals to hummingbirds since they are around so much.

And for your viewing pleasure (till you get your own hummingbirds) here is the rescue of a baby hummingbird on U-tube, as sent to me from Lynn:

Scarecrow-a-day #2 – The Sign

Here’s a cute kid with a cute scarecrow by a cute sign. Look for the sign again this year. Certainly we’ll have scarecrows. And maybe even the kid!

And watch for the green T-shirted workers. Like Mike and Dawn below, they’ll also be wearing smiles.

Pioneer Days and Scarecrow-a-day #1

I have to admit it. Fall is here, even if the calendar doesn’t quite say so. I know because the Elk Grove Garden Club is gearing up to make 100 scarecrows next weekend. We are part of the village’s Pioneer Day Festival, and our scarecrow making is always a hit. Its as much fun for us as it is for the families making the scarecrows.

Join us at Pioneer Days on Sunday, September 19th, from noon to 4 PM. The event is held at the Elk Grove Farm House Museum, 399 Biesterfield Road. For more info, www.elkgroveparks.org.

Here’s the deal – I’ll try to post another scarecrow picture every day from now till October 31st if you’ll try to come back regularly to look at them. Deal? Deal!

It’s Dahlia time!

This is the time of year that the Dahlias are prime. But you probably guessed that looking at the lovely picture of today’s picks. Mike probably has 100 plants, and they bloom from mid-July to frost.

It wasn’t always like this. Some 10 years ago, we ran into Frank Campise at Friendship Gardens. Frank was tending the huge Dahlia garden that was there at the time. Life hasn’t been the same since. Frank and the other members of the Central States Dahlia Club have helped Mike to become the addicted Dahlia grower he has become. And I love it this time of year when there are beautiful blossoms everywhere!

The 8 Dahlias is this picture are Alfred Grill, Peaches and Cream, Blackberry Ripple, Jessie G, Colorado Classic, Kiara Pompadour, Gloriosa, and Safari Sunset.