In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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October 12, 2007

Solar lantern

I love exploring nurseries, especially ones along back roads or in new cities.

One I've passed by many times, but not had time to stop and explore is the Flower Farm Nursery on the corner of Auburn Folsom Road and Horseshoe Bar Road in Loomis. You’ll recognize it instantly because of the wooden water wheel in the front as well as the masses of flowers blooming in the fields. There’s a bed and breakfast on the property, and a new coffee shop. The owners even have a library of gardening books you can peruse while taking a break from shopping, and some are available to borrow.

I was recently touring the nursery as part of media day for the Placer County Farm and Barn Tour (which happens Sunday, Oct. 14 and the nursery is on the tour) and I came across this hanging lantern. Usually they’re made of paper, but this one is make of a durable, weather-resistant material and it’s solar powered!

I chose a green one, although it comes in several other colors, and it sells for $15.99. I hung it up almost as soon as I got home, and that evening, as the sun finally fell below the horizon, the lantern came on. I’m thinking of buying several more and hanging them from the arbor that leads to the front door.

What a nice welcome that would be!

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