Pink & Orange in the Garden....My Lowe's Challenge
Happy Monday! It was a busy weekend around here. About a week ago, I received my first Lowe's Garden Challenge in the mail. I did have advanced notice, via e-mail, about the topic....."Furniture Fun".
The Lowe's sponsored mission: To enhance your outdoor space with a new creative piece or even refurbish something you already have into something truly eye--catching.
Seriously? This is a no-brainer for me....remember when I told you about my tired adirondack chairs? Here they are
Yup, these babies have been piled up in the corner of my yard for the last....um, maybe 9 years?
This is good for the "refurbish" part of the challenge....but I want to create something new..TOO! A quick trip (ok, maybe several trips later) to Lowe's, and I came home with these:
2 small plant stands with (2) 11.5" ceramic saucer.
The Lowe's sponsored mission: To enhance your outdoor space with a new creative piece or even refurbish something you already have into something truly eye--catching.
Seriously? This is a no-brainer for me....remember when I told you about my tired adirondack chairs? Here they are
Wait, you need to see all the dirt close up
This is good for the "refurbish" part of the challenge....but I want to create something new..TOO! A quick trip (ok, maybe several trips later) to Lowe's, and I came home with these:
2 small plant stands with (2) 11.5" ceramic saucer.
4 Deck mounted metal Tiki Torches
And 2 bamboo Tiki Torches
Armed with my color palette and a mask....I began to create new pieces
First up, the saucer.....I primed and painted the bottom white
This was my second attempt, so the sides are pink....but this is the correct order. Using peel and stick letters, press your initials into the center of the dish, spray with pink paint, and remove letters
Spraying to plant stand green, and you have a monogram cocktail table. This would be perfect for a garden wedding.
Next, the deck mounted Tiki Torches....I don't have a deck. Using a hack saw, I cut off the bottom cleats and removed the metal caps along with the oil canister
A coat of spray paint....and you have a beverage holder for your yard
Lastly, just a simple coat of white paint for the bamboo Tiki Torches....you know how I love white in the garden
Put it all together....and this is how it looks
I hope this gives you a few ideas on ways to have "Furniture Fun" in your garden. For even more ideas, be sure to check out Lowe's Creative Ideas....or go here to subscribe. Next time, there will be a chance for you to win a Lowe's Gift Card!
Pool
Today, I am dreaming of the perfect pool. I have thought about this, often.....I have a pinboard dedicated to it. We came close to putting one in this summer....but I pulled the plug (pun intended). The timing wasn't right.....and if I have learned anything in life....don't force it! Here are the features I like in a pool.... long stirs that run the entire length of the shallow end
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An interesting approach to the pool deck
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I still think the Martha Stewart pool is perfect
What are you dreaming of?
When in Doubt...Go Up!
Last year, I decided to give my containers a bit of height...in a royal way. I picked these metal topiaries up from HomeGoods, and spray painted them a French Blue.
The structure added a support for an annual vine to climb on.
It also filled the vertical space in this corner
Of course I forgot to take an end-of-the-season shot! As the saying goes, "my garden was perfect, yesterday...wish you were here, then". What do you plant in your containers?
Friday's...in The Garden
Hello, and welcome to my new series inspired by her and her. Every Friday, I will share the good, the bad, and the ugly from my garden...any maybe others. I live in zone 6, and my garden is just starting to wake up.
Today, I am working on a spring clean-up in the garden. I do my own spring clean-up because my gardener does such an excellent fall cleaning...it isn't overwhelming. My property is just over 1 acre, and there is always something to do. Through the years, I have been trying to incorporate more perennials and ground covers to help decrease the need for excessive mulching. Let's get started.
Here is how I protect my manicure
Black plastic gloves that I get from the beauty supply store (the kind used for hair color). Then, I wear these
Gloves purchased at Home Depot...they come in packs of 5 (I think) and they are washable when they get totally filthy. Next, I use a pair of pruners
This is how I prepare my hostas, grasses, hardy geraniums, and any other perennial that does not grow on old stock. This example is a hardy geranium
Cut the dead stems and leaves off at the base
This will help the new growth get light and breathe
Next, my groundcover roses
This is a good time to examine plants for dead branches
A quick cut back to the healthy part
Here is the plant ready for some natural fertilizer (in the next few weeks)
This is my favorite ground-cover, Lambs Ear. However, not all Lambs Ear are created equal....I only like this kind. It never flowers...just beautiful, soft silvery-gray leaves. This will spread, so you will need to trim it back from time to time. It is also super easy to transplant...which I will be doing this season. This is what it looks like when it is waking up from winter
Gently remove the obviously dead leaves
Now it is ready to spread out
Soon, it will look like this
This is onion-grass...it is a weed, and needs to be removed from the bulb
Make sure to dig down deep, and scoop it up to the surface
It is not a success, unless you see this
That's it for this week. Do you garden? Have any tips to share?
Today, I am working on a spring clean-up in the garden. I do my own spring clean-up because my gardener does such an excellent fall cleaning...it isn't overwhelming. My property is just over 1 acre, and there is always something to do. Through the years, I have been trying to incorporate more perennials and ground covers to help decrease the need for excessive mulching. Let's get started.
Here is how I protect my manicure
Black plastic gloves that I get from the beauty supply store (the kind used for hair color). Then, I wear these
Gloves purchased at Home Depot...they come in packs of 5 (I think) and they are washable when they get totally filthy. Next, I use a pair of pruners
This is how I prepare my hostas, grasses, hardy geraniums, and any other perennial that does not grow on old stock. This example is a hardy geranium
Cut the dead stems and leaves off at the base
This will help the new growth get light and breathe
Next, my groundcover roses
The leaves that acted like a blanket in the winter, now need to be removed
This is a good time to examine plants for dead branches
A quick cut back to the healthy part
Here is the plant ready for some natural fertilizer (in the next few weeks)
This is my favorite ground-cover, Lambs Ear. However, not all Lambs Ear are created equal....I only like this kind. It never flowers...just beautiful, soft silvery-gray leaves. This will spread, so you will need to trim it back from time to time. It is also super easy to transplant...which I will be doing this season. This is what it looks like when it is waking up from winter
Gently remove the obviously dead leaves
Now it is ready to spread out
Soon, it will look like this
This is also the perfect time to start weeding. If you are going to mulch, here is a great way to do both. This weed is a big troublemaker. Those white flowers will soon dry out, and when you brush up against it...dozens of weed seeds will fly out.
Make sure to get the roots...otherwise, it will be back.
This is onion-grass...it is a weed, and needs to be removed from the bulb
Make sure to dig down deep, and scoop it up to the surface
It is not a success, unless you see this
That's it for this week. Do you garden? Have any tips to share?
A Japanese Garden
I love botanical gardens. In fact, I try to visit local botanical gardens whenever I travel somewhere new. I have not been that lucky lately....let's just say that the four of us can't seem to agree on how to spend our time when we travel. My favorite part of a botanical garden is the Japanese Garden Section....if there is one
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Lavender Fields
I was thinking about lavender the other day. I miss growing it. In California, it was easy to have an abundance of it. I have not had the same luck in New Jersey (zone 6 that acts like a 5). I am not sure if I miss the smell or the look more?
If you have had luck growing lavender in a colder climate, I would love to know about it.
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