Kid Fun

The Pinter family is hosting Pizza on the Farm again this year. On Friday, July 20th and August 17th, Pinter’s Gardens & Pumpkins will open the playground from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. for Pizza on the Farm. Spend three hours of outdoor family fun with your family.

Pinter’s playground is acres of family fun with games for all ages. Family fun games include the bouncing pillow, mega slide, garden size checkers and chess, sandbox, pedal karts, bag tossing, ball zone, bocci ball pits, tractor and tire swing sets, tire maze, and old fashioned tetherball. The playground is also the summer home to Pinter’s four-legged fuzzy friends. The cost to enter the playground is $6 per person for kids over three, youth, and adults. Kids 3 and under are free.

No need to worry about making dinner before heading out to the farm. The Pinter family will be on hand to bake homemade pizzas with ultra-thin crust in their outdoor brick oven. Pizzas are only $10 each and easily serve 2 adults and 2 children. The author’s favorite pizza is double cheese. Other toppings are available. The wait is not as long as it only takes 90 seconds to bake. Make sure to stay around and watch your pizza bake. Before you call it a night. Check out the bakery and try a delicious homemade cupcake or tasty homemade fudge. If you are looking for something that is not sweet, try a bag of flavored popcorn made onsite. Hint: Purchase a six-pack of fudge to take home with you or give as a gift.

If you are like the author and don’t have any kids to bring with you, don’t let that stop you. Invite your friends or family to join you on the patio surrounded by beautiful gardens while enjoying a freshly baked pizza. Wine and soft drinks are available for sale.

The garden center and gift shop will be open during regular hours and will remain open during Pizza on the Farm so plan on including the time to shop. Or come early to do your shopping so you don’t miss out on any fun.

Pinter’s Gardens & Pumpkins is located 4 miles west of Decorah on State Hwy. 9. Advance tickets for the playground can be purchased online at EventBrite.com. If you have any questions, contact Pinter’s at 563-382-0010 or info@pintersmail.com.

Daylilies Now My Favorite Flower

Last July, I was introduced to nearby Oak Hill Farm after seeing their ad in Inspire(d) Magazine They are locally known for the beautiful daylilies they grow on the family farm. Almost immediately after seeing the ad, I saw a friend's post on Facebook describing her trip to purchase daylilies. After reading her post and seeing her pictures, I was anxious for the weekend so that we could visit the farm. On Saturday, Tony and I took a quick trip across the border to  Preston, MN, to visit Oak Hill Farm and tour their flower beds. The farm was easy to find as it located on State Highway 52, 4 miles south of Preston. Watch for the large welcome sign on the west side of the road if you plan to visit.

As I drove down the driveway surrounded by cornfields, we rounded the corner and came upon a historic stone farmhouse and two rustic barns. The home and farm buildings surrounded by manicured lawns and spectacular flower beds greeted us. Tony and I spent the afternoon chatting with the owners, walking among the flowers while drinking a cold drink provided free by the owners, and taking pictures made for a relaxing afternoon. Not only did Tony and I tour the gardens, but we also went home with three healthy plants. 

The pictures above are the result of our efforts last July. After removing rocks and weeds, we added fertilized enhance soil and watered the new plants every morning during the hot Iowa summer weather. After crossing our fingers all winter and spring that they would survive, we are pleased with the results. The plants are healthy, and the blooms are large and brightly colored.

It is time to plan another trip to Oak Hill Farm for this year's purchase. The big questions are how many and what colors.