From the garden...

It's spring!  We've been having gorgeous spring weather here in Holland so I've been spending a lot of time in my garden the last few weeks.  The daffodils are flowering, the apple trees are about to bloom and several vegetable seedlings are starting to grow.  

In my miniature garden the seasons don't seem to matter.  Flowering daffodils at the same time as apples ready to harvest,  fresh radishes and flowering magnolia, no problem! In the miniature garden everything is possible.

At the DHN fair in Arnhem (yes, it's back in Arnhem again!) a few weeks ago, I found this wire mesh crate (a kit from Art of Mini).  These crates are used by bulb growers to store flower bulbs, but are also used for sprouting potatoes, drying or storing flowers and fruit, etc.  Or in this case, harvesting miniature radishes.  

Ilona Kraassenberg (MiniMumLoon) made this amazing dried sunflower.  

Ilona makes wonderful flowers and plants, mostly very pretty and looking very fresh ;-) But this one drew my attention immediately and I knew it would look great in the Hall of my first Canal House.   

In the Hall I have a bit of an autumnal theme developing, so the dried sunflower is perfect here.  As with many miniatures, it is even better when you can see it up close.  The back and underside of the flower are so good!  Below is a better photo taken in daylight conditions.  Perfect.  Love it!