Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts

Friday, September 23, 2011

Mexican Sage


Fall must be near, because my Mexican Sage is beginning to bloom. I'm really not in the correct climate for it to flourish (or so the guy at the garden center tells me), but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about it spilling over a brick path and being all purple and soft and wonderful.

Happy Weekend!

* Photo info here.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

May Backyard Progress


In addition to our deck, we've been sprucing up a little spot of the backyard. Our house only opens to the yard from the kitchen into the carport, so we moved the fence and gate into the carport (from the edge of the concrete you see here). It seemed a little strange at first, but there is still plenty of room to maneuver around a car, and it's nice to be able to leave the back door open when we are in and out without fear that Maddie will escape.

We also planted a little sod, moved three hydrangea to the inside of the fence (and added a fourth) and planted a few hosta. This part of the yard gets basically no sun, which is nice when sitting on the deck, but makes flower-planting challenging.

Still left to do here: add some stepping stones to the deck and the stairs that lead down into the yard, plant a few more shade-friendly plants (impatiens and ferns), and replace the top of the cinder-block wall with more attractive brick (which we dug out of various places in the yard). Oh, and finish the deck railing, but I'm still in no hurry for that.


I had lofty dreams of a small garden, but we really don't get enough sun for that (boo!). But my little herb garden -- planted in a galvanized tub we drilled holes in and placed in the sun in the middle of the deck -- is doing beautifully! I think it's about time to eat some basil.



They hydrangeas seem to like their new spot, as the fence shades them from the hot afternoon sun. They don't have quite as many buds as I'd hoped -- perhaps they need a good feeding?


The new set-up with the fence makes outdoor-dog washing a breeze! My bathroom drain and I are very thankful, as this girl is one hairy beast. I think I might have to get over my vanity and shave her this summer! Eeek.


For a dog who loves to swim, she sure does hate getting a bath. Here she is expressing her displeasure at being photographed instead of toweled off, brought inside, and given a treat for decent bathtime behavior.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Day 1042's pretty


Our backyard was basically a blank slate (with a crumbling retaining wall) when we moved in, and we've slowly been taking it back from nature and restoring a little order. But we still have ways to go. I think this bench would really help, don't you?

Happy Weekend!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Day 983's sign of Spring


I promise I'm not trying to brag to those of you still in winter, but the daffodils are blooming here in central Alabama. They are the first real sign that Spring is on its way in (though we had our only measurable snow while they were in bloom last year).


These guys are blooming around my office, which reminds me, I need to start taking lunch out on the patio before the temps get unbearably warm!


If daisies are the friendliest flower (name that movie!), don't you think daffodils are the happiest?


This has me wishing I'd planted about eight bajillion of them. Maybe next year.


Our own daffodils are little behind. I was starting to get worried, as they came to our house in an unusual way: my dad dug them out of a hillside on his Tennessee farm and I separated them and planted them last spring. But they seem to be doing fine, and I can't wait until they bloom.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Day 828: fall flowers


I never quite made it to the farmers' market to look for sunflowers on Saturday morning. Instead, I spent three hours on the patio at my favorite Starbucks catching up with two friends (and hanging out with Maddie). Better than an even trade, I think.


But I did get to add some pretty fall flowers to the house. Goldenrod is blooming all over the place, and I cut these from behind the pizza place near our house (side-of-the-road weeds are my favorite!).


They're so fluffy, and I love the burnt-yellow color. I've been pleasantly surprised to find that they haven't shed a bit while sitting in the vase. Best of all, they are f-r-e-e.


The same hydrangeas that were blue in the summer are now green with red-purple tips.


This is a great time to cut them for drying. They hold their color well when picked late in the season, when the petals feel papery. The method that has worked best for me is to leave them in the vase until the water evaporates. Doesn't get much easier than that.


And I was so thrilled to find some of the beautiful flowers that I admired on a trip to California in May. Erica helped me i.d. them last week, and I was thisclose to ordering them online when I spotted a few plants at a local garden shop.


I've been obsessed with Mexican sage since I spotted it here, at a hillside hotel along Highway One near Big Sur. It was so huge, and has a romantic, cottage-garden feel to it. It's also drought-resistant, which is great for the sunny beds on the front of our house.


I especially love the velvety flowers. What did you do this weekend?

Friday, October 2, 2009

Day 825's pretty


Positively dying over these beautiful sunflowers from Eddie Ross'upstate New York garden. And they're in a pretty pewter pitcher, too boot.


Think I'm going to have to hit the farmers' market this weekend, and hunt for a few to fill my own pewter pitcher (above), and make a mental note to scope out a spot in my yard for some sunflowers. Thanks for always inspiring, Eddie!

Happy Weekend!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Day 684's lovely party


Check out Martha's beautiful peony gardens. Can you imagine?!


Last year she hosted a garden party to celebrate their arrival. Beautiful!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Day 676's thought

Photo by Erika Powell

Apple crates (though perhaps these are more like barrels) as planters. Of course, I'd need something inside to hold the actual plant, but that could be inexpensive, and they wouldn't have to look good, or match.


Photo via Brilliant Asylum

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Day 675's new additions


My love for hydrangeas is well-documented, but until this weekend, I didn't have any of my own. I scoped out a spot for them almost the instant we moved in, but it needed a little prep work before I brought home any prized specimens.


I was running post-yard sale errands with my mom on Saturday, when we came across a sidewalk plant sale at the mom-and-pop grocery in Mt. Laurel. They had dozens of them, and unlike the ones I've seen this year at the big-box stores, they looked healthy, and the price was right. I bought three 'Nikko Blues' and planted them (during a tornado warning!) safely out of Maddie's reach.


I had hoped to make some more progress in what will one day be my little shade garden, but the weather hasn't been cooperative. The English Ivy we pulled up last summer is back with a vengeance, and the random mounds of monkey grass need a more well-defined home. Add it to the list! But the progress is good, and now I'm much closer to my dream of a picket fence with hydrangeas spilling over ... sigh.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Day 639: front yard progress


The weatherman was calling for torrential downpours and and dangerous thunderstorms on Saturday, and it's a good thing he was wrong, because this is what the back of our car looked like after an hour in Lowe's.

Spring 2009

And after several hours of fun with a shovel, this (above) is what the front of the house looks like. Let's review at bit, shall we?


Spring 2008

This is what the front of the house looked like about this time last year. Since then we:
  • pulled up the overgrown boxwoods

  • spent hours picking 1970s-style "landscape rocks" out of the beds (though we still found a bucket-full this weekend!)

  • removed the gas lantern (it didn't work) and an old tree stump underneath it (read about it here)

  • removed the iron storm door

  • painted the front door

  • reconfigured the porch lighting (read about it here)



  • In front of the porch, we planted 9 small pyramid holly bushes and 3 small white azaleas. We wanted this round of plantings to be neat, small and easily maintained, and to form an evergreen backdrop for annuals and perennials to be added with time. We planted in groups of three to lend a little order to the facade. Maybe now I won't notice that the "columns" aren't spaced evenly.

    I originally wanted boxwoods, but quickly realized that would either cost a small fortune, or leave us with plants so immature that we'd likely be looking at twigs for the rest of our time in the house. These holly cost about a third of what the boxwoods of the same size cost, so we got essentially the same look for a fraction of the price. We also saved about $45 by skipping the "name brand" 3-gallon azaleas and buying the off-brand versions that also happened to be on sale. Since Lowe's offers a 1-year warranty on all its plants, we didn't mind scrimping a little.

    We also planted two crepe myrtles between the porch and the office window, but that side still needs a little work before its Internet debut.




    We still need to get some pine straw to finish the beds, and as summer gets closer I'm hoping to put some annuals on either side of steps. We'll have a front porch fit for sittin' in no time!

    Thursday, March 19, 2009

    Day 628: more garden shop fun


    I found more than oversized planters and boxwoods at Leaf & Petal. I love to stop in after work (especially when the weather is so nice) because they always have pretty plants to admire (like those orchids above) and fun little seasonal things, too.


    I went in search of a little fern for my new old milk glass urn, but all of these were just a little too big. Which is probably for the best -- I don't have the best record with small, fragile ferns. I bought a succulent instead.


    There is always a plethora of moss-covered things. I forced some paperwhites in a mossy pot in the fall, and I think the baskets would be so adorable on a table set for Easter brunch! We usually go out of town for Easter, or I would have snatched on myself (they're affordable, too -- about $6, I think).


    Pretty little hydrangeas. As much as I love cut flowers, these make great gifts for Mother's Day and such holidays. As long as mother has a place to plant it!


    And more fun Easter wares -- I love the moss bunnies and am still kicking myself for not buying the moss angels at Christmastime (apparently I have a thing for moss). Oh well.


    Still on the hunt for a pretty planter, I headed to K-Mart to check out Martha's outdoor living collection. Some pretty pots, but nothing really big enough for the porch.


    I did love this little red bench -- it reminded me of the one I spotted at Scott's in January.


    Also loved these hurricane lanterns, which reminded me of the terra cotta versions at The Product Gallery (but at $24.99, were more my speed). Might have to go pick one or two of these up. Can you tell I've got spring fever?!

    Wednesday, March 18, 2009

    Day 627's inspiration from the blogosphere


    Now that spring seems to have settled in here in the Deep South (I spotted some Azaleas starting to bloom today!), I'm dying to get some of our outdoor spaces in order. The backyard is basically a blank slate, with about ten mature hardwoods and a (falling) retaining wall, so we're taking it pretty slowly and trying to do things as we can.

    We've also been working on our curb appeal, and when Joni of Cote de Texas posted this image (above) earlier in the week, I was in love. Don't worry, I'm not going repaint the door, but those square planters and boxwoods did catch my eye.


    A quick trip to a favorite local garden shop, and I found something that would fit the bill. Aren't these great? Too bad even the smallest size is much too large for our porch.


    Plenty of boxwoods, too. Some round and some shaped into neat little cones. By the way, I love how boxwood green looks with pale blues and grays -- it reminds me of this room.


    Is a project ever really done? It doesn't seem that way around here. Nathan of Laurel Street had a little fun with our front door, adding some trim to give it a little more presence (like he did with his cabinet doors). We were going to do this if we stripped and restained it, but it would look great painted, too.


    After my whining about the $100 price tag of the ring door knockers I found online, sweet Brittny of Design Champagne pointed me to Restoration Hardware's version -- at much a much more easily swallowed $35 each.

    Thursday, February 26, 2009

    Day 607: door details


    Thanks for all of the compliments on our front door project. It really was fun (as much fun as DIY home improvements can be!) and we're pleased to have finally gotten it done. Well, done is relative -- there are still a couple of things I'd like to do.

    Ann Ever asked if we'd considered adding a door knocker, and yes, actually, the first thing I did when I saw Keller Donovan's gorgeous one was check the inventory at MyKnobs.com. I found a pretty version from Omnia, but wasn't expecting the $100 price tag. Ouch. It'll go on the wish list, for now.

    I'd also kind of like a kick plate, just to dress the door up a little. It'd be nice for practical reasons too (like pups who impatiently paw at the door when they want to come inside).

    Star noticed that both of our inspiration doors had topiaries on either side, and asked if we planned to do the same. We have had two footed pots on the porch in the past. You may remember that Maddie pulled everything out of them this summer, and I had yellow mums in them in the fall. I would like to put them back out, and now that Maddie's contained in the new backyard fence, what ever we plant will be safe.

    Many of you seem interested in our little column project -- are you in similar situations? We've definitely tossed some ideas around and consulted with Wes' dad, who is a construction guru, now it's just a matter of getting down to it. And, of course, funding it, though we don't plan to spend much (fingers crossed on that one).


    And finally, Amanda asked about choosing a front door color for her red brick rancher. I'm no color expert (in fact, I fully admit that landing on Cafe on the Riviera was a matter of divine intervention!), so my best advice is to try a few things out. The good thing about this project is that it doesn't have to be much of a commitment of time or money. If it doesn't work the first time it can be easily changed.

    One thing I like to do for inspiration is take Saturday walks through pretty neighborhoods, and we've got a quite a neighborhood online, too. So, let's help Amanda out! What color is your front door?

    (Eek, I hate to post an image without a credit. Do you recognize this one? I couldn't resist though -- another great ring door knocker!)

    Monday, September 29, 2008

    Day 457's fun


    Wes had to be out of town over the weekend for work, so he left Maddie and me to our own devices, and we had some fun girly time. We headed to Auburn on Friday night to celebrate my sister's 23rd birthday and tailgate with friends and family before the Auburn-Tennessee game. Both of my sisters have pups that are just a but younger than Maddie, so she really enjoys hanging out with them (and is still pooped two days later!).

    On Sunday I piddled around the house decorating for fall. I'm always moving things around so it'll probably change before Halloween, but I like it so far. All it took to spruce up the living room was a fun blue-green-gray pumpkin on a cake stand, and a couple of white pitchers from my small collection (probably inspired by this).


    The front of our house is seriously lacking in curb appeal, and I was amazed at how much better it looked with the easy additions of two urns filled with yellow mums and a couple of pumpkins!


    We bought these urns at the end of the summer last year, but haven't made much use of them (though not for lack of trying). The cement color was getting a little lost against the gray-green of our siding, so I took care of that with a little black spraypaint. I love the graphic statement they make.

    Now if we can just do something with all of that wrought iron ...