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| 2011 News Update |
| Between celebrations, we anticipate fun times with our little granddaughters as they explore the gardens, chase butterflies and pick bouquets for Grandma! The gardens will be a playground of opportunity with peels of laughter and moments of wonderment…so much to look forward to! As the garden season commences, we wish you garden blessings of your own. Appreciate the beauty around you and don’t forget to take time to smell the flowers! |
| Proud Partners with the Sac County Barn Quilt project: Sac County Barn Quilts established in 2005 with a spirit of community cooperation and rural pride. As a county-wide approach to tourism, it combines a desire to promote tourism while preserving Iowa¹s agricultural architecture with the homespun charm of quilting. Fifty-five barn quilts now cover the county and we are proud to have the Double Aster pattern on the south end of our Sears and Roebuck barn. For more information about the SacCounty Barn Quilt project, go to: http://www.barnquilts.com. |
| The Iowa Gardener’s Travel Guide is a cumulative directory to Iowa’s gardening establishments, including retail garden centers, nurseries, greenhouses and public gardens. The first of its kind, the guide assembles contact information and unbiased commentary for 106 of Iowa¹s retail horticultural establishments (including our garden). The cover shot will look familiar – it’s a photograph of the Prairie Pedlar! We are happy to be part of Kelly’s publication and encourage you to get a copy for yourself. We have them at the shop, or review the book at: http://www.lulu.com/content/3325086 |
| Go to www.odebolt.net to discover why we are proud to call Odebolt home! Grab a lunch in town and bring it to the garden, fill up for gas, or visit our community for the annual Creek Days celebration in June. You will quickly discover it is a special place to live. |
| Read at his Celebration of Life Service on September 11th |
| Since his retirement 18 years ago Dad has spent nearly every sunny day with us at the Prairie Pedlar. There¹s surely a part of him in every corner of the garden and we will cherish his memory at every turn. We¹ll feel the warmth of his love in the sweltering summer sun. Dad liked it hot. The hotter the better. He insisted the weeds died better when the temperatures sizzled near the century mark and it was not unusual for him to be dripping wet when he finally came to the barn for a break. We¹ll see Dad's smiles and twinkling blue eyes in the faces of all the flowers because he was always happy. Dad¹s positive attitude taught us all to appreciate life and family time. He garden. Dad cherished working along side his grandchildren at the garden and delighted in teasing the PP staff to remember to plant "green side up". We¹ll hear his hearty laugh in the sound of the tumbling waterfalls. Dad¹s laughter rolled easily from him and was contagious. His good nature and friendly demeanor made everyone who knew him feel good. We¹ll remember his roar of laughter that echoed as loudly as the clanging bell in the wedding gazebo. We¹ll sense his humor when we remember his funny stories and teasing ways. We¹ll find his rock solid faith in the massive stone boulders that edge the gardens. His love of Christ was evident in the way he lived his life and loved others. We¹ll rediscover his patience in the steady rhythm of the falling leaves. We were so lucky to be able to count on Dad¹s reliable presence, dependable assistance and unwavering encouragement on a daily basis. We¹ll appreciate Dad¹s handyman talents that are evident on all kinds of building and repair projects that he completed at the garden. |
| Dad's love for chocolate and willingness to be the first to taste-test anything homemade. His sweet tooth will make for sweet memories each time we gather for a meal. Dad was truly a daily blessing to our lives. He grew deep family roots and planted seeds of inspiration seasons, all chores and all people. If there is a garden in Heaven, I¹m sure Gramps has already sharpened his trusty hoe! |
| 2012 News Update As another growing season springs forward, we are blessed with the addition of two beautiful grandchildren to our family. Our third granddaughter was born in October and will just be ready to crawl when summer arrives. We expect the grass to tickle her fancy in the garden as she explores the boundaries of Nature. We also welcomed our first grandson in January and look forward to adventures involving wiggly worms, warty toads, and splashy mud puddles in the years to come. Each new beginning is a reminder of the miracle of life and the precious gift that grandchildren are! We’re wishing for warm spring rains to replenish the dry conditions of late last summer and to rehydrate the thirsty plants that endured Iowa’s wintery mix of thaws and freezes. The calendar is full of events at the Prairie Pedlar and we look forward to the busy schedule that keeps us weeding and watering in between hours of planting and mowing. It is during these simple chores that we daydream endlessly of new garden musings that make the Prairie Pedlar our dream come true! And we wish you a similar sense of peace and satisfaction in your own backyard as you celebrate the success that comes from hard work and a bit of imagination! |
| We look forward to the 2011 growing season with an energy and enthusiasm that is as perennial as the flowers that sprout in the garden. Spring will kick off with a fury of scurry! Greenhouse tasks mixed with retail responsibilities and building projects will fill each day to and we are anxious to share our gardens with the couples who have chosen to be married in our garden sanctuary. As we make ready for each celebration, we are reminded of the holiness of the occasion, and we trust that at each “I Do” moment, the hearts of each couple are “nearer to God in the garden than anywhere else on earth.” |
| NE Barn Project Straightening a barn roof is no easy task. Our son, Tyler, and son-in-law, Adam, could have been construction engineers. They made it look easy as they winched, jacked, and braced the roof back into place. Covered with steel, it will now preserve the integrity of the barn for years to come. Barn siding and pouring lots of cement are next on the agenda when time and weather permits. |
| P. Buckley Moss Paints Prairie Pedlar! |
| Another garden blessing has come to be! Renown artist, P. Buckley Moss, has just completed a limited edition print of the Prairie Pedlar, entitled "Bouquets of Love". It's been a very exciting process to watch the artwork evolve this fall! We are thankful and thrilled that Pat caught both the spirit and beauty of the garden with her charming and distinct style. "Bouquets of Love" would make a lovely Christmas gift for a gardener and an extra-special anniversary gift for anyone who has been married at the garden! Additional thanks also goes to Susan Rix, proprietor of the Finishing Touch Gallery in Carroll, for submitting Prairie Pedlar photos for artist considerations. Susan celebrates her 26th year in the framing business this season, and throughout those years she has become a prominent Moss dealer in western Iowa. Susan will welcome Pat to her gallery on November 10th for a print signing. Moss enthusiasts can purchase a print and have it autographed and personalized by the artist at the same time. We look forward to meeting Ms. Moss on November 10th. Join in the fun and get some early Christmas shopping done, too! The giclee print has a limited run of 250 prints - the image measures approximately 8 x 14 inches long and retails for $90.00 plus tax ($6.30). Susan is taking orders for the print now. Payment is needed to reserve a giclee. Check or cash are accepted. If you want it signed by Pat when she is here on the 10th, Susan will hold it for you to pick up that day. To reserve your print, stop by the Finishing Touch Gallery at 715 N Court Street in Carroll or call Susan at 712-792-6665. |
| 2013 News Update 2013 proved to be another challenging growing season. A spring time of consistent weekend rain showers kept us from getting flowers planted in a timely fashion. Those showers also dampened the first few wedding celebrations on the calendar but those were definitely weddings to remember! The moisture was a welcome reprieve from the drought conditions we endured last summer and fall so we let the puddles soak in and waited for the sun to return - and it did - in searing fashion! Rains were sparse for the rest of the summer and we ran sprinklers 24 hours per day to keep the grass green and gardens looking pretty. Our weekends were devoted to marriage celebrations as we hosted 21 garden weddings from June 1 through October 12th. In between weekends, we mowed, watered and weeded but we especially enjoyed visits from our grandchildren (and their parents). We are up to five now with our newest grandson arriving last December. That makes five under the age of four and they are all growing like weeds! We celebrated my Mom's 80th birthday at the garden in July and enjoyed extra family members home then, too. We feel so blessed that we can mix in family time with our busy garden schedule. We look forward to sharing the joy of gardening with our little ones as soon as they can dig a hole and plant a flower! There are, indeed, many life lessons to be gleaned in the garden and we can hardly wait to plant some seeds of faith and optimism in them, too! |
| More 2012 News Ready! Set! Grow! We’re off and running as the 2012 garden season gets underway. Early sprouts and a mild March makes for a bustling start to our 27th year in business. (And we’re hoping this weather is not a false start to spring!) Watch for the Prairie Pedlar in numerous spring magazines: Flea Market Gardens, Vintage Style, AAA Magazine, Hobby Farm Home magazine, and the Iowan. We appreciate all of the coverage and look forward to new prospects that the publicity may generate. We are excited to have a straightened roof line on the NE barn and look forward to more improvements on that structure this season. Our 8-sized granary is nearing completion with a new wrap-around porch and great recycled windows that are currently being installed. This grand garden entrance is a welcome addition to the retail setting and we can hardly wait to utilize it this spring. Our son, Tyler, has been the main handyman and we appreciate his hard work and long hours of service. The greenhouse benches are full and growing – Deb is working her magic with hanging baskets and inspiring containers, and the gift shops are filling with new and re-purposed merchandise. The calendar is marked with many annual garden festivities and numerous weddings. As we aim to make the Prairie Pedlar a picture perfect place for magazine photography and marriage celebrations, we count our blessings and relish in the grand opportunities that our garden has provided for us. Get ready - set - race you to the garden! |
2014 News Update Keep Calm and Garden On! While there seems to be challenges already mounting on the 2014 gardening season that hasn¹t even started, we have not lost heart. One of my favorite anonymous quotes is "He who plants a seed, Beneath the sod; And waits to see Believes in God." Unwavering optimism is common ground among gardeners and we intend to press ahead despite growing conditions that may be less than ideal. Mother Nature manages to even things out eventually and while we were shorted with rain from July until the ground froze, we imagine there will be spring rains that will quench the thirst of trees, shrubs and perennials that have endured a dry and bitterly cold winter season. This is, after all, Iowa, and this state has very unpredictable weather patterns. We've learned to take what we get, be thankful for all of those blessings that only God can provide, and assist Mother Nature wherever we can. One thing is for sure a garden is worth the work, and the rewards far outweigh the difficulties it takes to get to the end result: a bit of Heaven on earth! |
| 2015 News Update 2015 is Here! Traditionally, the swapping out of calendars allows a moment of reflecting and celebrating what has been, while at the same time looking forward to the possibilities of the year to come. It's the bridge between the past and present, where what has been accomplished is in the memory books, and what is in store appears as promising as ever. One thing is for sure: it’s going to be a season of change at the Prairie Pedlar and we are stirred with feelings of both disappointment and gratitude, mixed with great joy and anticipation of the many opportunities that are before us. Much to our regret, Deb Bettin has chosen to spend her spring time with her family. She is a busy wife, mother and grandma, and she shoulders much responsibility in their farming operation, her church and community. We cannot thank Deb enough for the nine years she devoted to our greenhouse business. Her talents and design work will be sorely missed, not to mention her pleasant demeanor and loving spirit that welcomed many customers each spring. What’s more, Deb is a dear friend and we don’t anticipate that will ever change. Thankfully, we have had many years to observe, take notes, and glean from Deb’s talent as a container expert. It is our intention to continue creating stunning container combos and creative floral work at the Prairie Pedlar. This spring, more than 100 new varieties of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs will complement the favorites we grow each season. 2015 is bound to be a year full of adjustments as we are at the threshold of new duties and routines without Deb’s assistance. While we are disappointed that the doorway that she has graced for so long is closing, we’re certain that the Prairie Pedlar will find creative new ways to flourish. On a much happier note, what is truly a window of opportunity for our business and family opened last August. It is with great joy that we welcome our daughter, Janna, and her family back to the area. Janna, her husband, Adam, and their two little girls, Clara (6) and Nora (3) are taking up permanent residence at the garden! If you drive by to see what’s new on the horizon, you can’t miss the 3-story Victorian Painted Lady house that has been moved twenty-five miles to the acreage. Renovation is underway and the family hopes to be living there by springtime. More importantly, Janna’s horticulture background is a welcome bonus to the business and she will continue to keep our plants healthy and flourishing, just as she has done for the past several years from a distance. Her passion for plants is contagious and her energy and enthusiasm is unrivaled. But perhaps the best part of this deal is the ‘presents’ of two granddaughters in the neighborhood - a blessing beyond measure! Also to be noted: *Our wedding calendar is nearly full for 2015. Each weekend celebration is an opportunity to share our gardens with wedding guests who might not otherwise visit the Prairie Pedlar, and outdoor ceremonies are a great chance to dazzle and delight visitors. *The Prairie Pedlar will receive mention in AAA Living Magazine that offers tourists and travelers recommendations of must-see attractions. We are humbled to be included among their Iowa garden reviews. *It is impossible to determine how effective our social media presence is but we were thrilled to receive an email last summer from a trade publication, Independent Garden Centers. The magazine's associate editor stated: “We came across photos of your garden center on your website and Facebook page, and we thought your beautiful store would be perfect for our ‘Merchandising With Style’ feature. Your eye for merchandising would no doubt inspire our readers!” We are looking forward to photo opportunities this spring and eventual publicity in another magazine! |