fantasy art and tree chatter of aquariann

I have been a busy, busy bee, growing Ogre's Grove and collaborating with other artists and small business owners. Recently I was invited to tour the Mansion Farm Inn in Milton, Delaware. I'll be writing more about that exciting experience at my Photography Field of Flowers blog on BeachPaper.com later this month. For now, I just wanted to assure all of my fellow flower fans that I am still stopping to smell the ... mandevillas! Featured Flower Picks: Mandevilla Macro • Mandevilla Vine • Mandevilla Bouquet

After the wicked way winter started, I was in desperate need of some flower therapy. Fortunately, First State Comic Con was only 20 minutes away from Longwood Gardens, so Ogre took me there for lunch last Sunday. We had a marvelous meal at The Terrace Café, then strolled around the conservatory before heading back to the comic convention. I posted a profile photo at facebook.com/Aquariann , peering at this fluffy flower. It was my first time meeting this type of adorable blossom, so all I knew about it came from the plaque beside it that read: Scarlet Powder-Puff-Tree, Calliandra haematocephala , Bean Family, Bolivia. My friends were quick to point out that it was from a Mimosa tree, which is also a fun name to say. Featured Flower Picks: Double Pink Blossoms • Hellebores • Pink Simplicity Rose

EDIT: Giveaway is officially over. Congratulations to Amanda Stovall for submitting the randomly-chosen 568th entry. Please email me back within 72 hours to claim your prize. A week into winter in our new, very old house and the pipes have already frozen. It was a summer home for years, and our area rarely gets and stays this cold for so long. Even ice is forming on the Delaware Bay ! Just so my nails wouldn't feel left out in the cold, I chose a jamicure that fits into the rest of the cool surroundings. Then I skated into the Jeepers! It's January Giveaway Hop. I'm sharing half a nail art sheet of Snow and Ice, a Jamberry Junior design that retired several seasons ago. If you don't have a little girl and would rather use them yourself, I'm also including two of the largest Sapphire wraps that can be cut down into at least four adult-size thumb nail wraps. If you haven't ever tried Jamberry nail wraps, read my Jamberry Nail Wraps Tutorial on my friend K...

I started blogging in 2001 (high fives to the early LiveJournalers out there), whenever something in my life begged me to write about it. My blog fever hit full force in 2010. Then finally broke in 2018, when my blog entries dropped drastically, from a few times a week to very rarely. Now the best way to follow and contact me is through instagram.com/aquariannart .

Rarely does it snow in December in Delaware ... but it did last Friday, just in time for the Milton Holly Festival . After the snow stopped, I pranced around in the park taking photographs. Featured Photo Picks: Scabiosa 'Red Velvet' Macro • Waxwings • Hosta Leaves How To Plant Your Own Post for Flower Friday: The only rule to play is that you can only add one link per week! The post doesn't even have to mention flowers, but only ones that do will be eligible for being picked as a feature next week. I will be sharing my flower image on other blog hops, namely Floral Friday Fotos and Wordless Wednesday , and welcome all family-friendly links from fellow bloggers. Crafters can even link up an Etsy listing or other shop product! But if you want to promote a prize, please add it to my Giveaway Chest Linky instead to entice more treasure hunters. Please follow my blog through any of the social media icons in the upper right sidebar to receive ...

What's better than red glitter on my nails? Red glitter on my Christmas tree! I've been eying Katie Crafts' handmade ornaments since I saw her Santa Cam on Instagram last year. Now that I have Ogre's Grove to stock, I was able to order glittery goods for my fellow geeks to gawk over. Deadpool, Flash, Punisher and Darth Vader ornaments arrived in time to take a set to Ocean City Comic Con this Saturday, Dec. 9 - that is, unless Katie's creations sell out at 129 Union St. in Milton, Delaware first! And we're still days away from Friday, but I am wearing Jamberry's Tinsel Poinsettia design as an accent nail, so I hope you'll linky up some flowers anyway!

I am thankful my readers have still been checking into my hop, despite how inconsistent my blogging has been now that I have a brick and mortar business to grow! It's exciting to have a Fairy Corner in Ogre's Grove to display my handmade trove. The beautiful bracelet I'm wearing with my Thanksgiving manicure is designed by Sarah Artisan Jewelry , who has a mermaid shell necklace and earring set available to buy at 129 Union St. in Milton, Delaware. I'm also getting to share my love of nail art at the Grove! Last month, my friend Janet Stoy came to the shop to demonstrate how to apply Color Street nail polish strips for Halloween. And of course I had to gather up delightful designs for myself. I saved Autumn Harvest to wear until today. I hope your Thanksgiving is stuffed with what you love about life, too!