Starting to change my gardens...

Let me just say it has been years since we did the flower beds or foundation plantings in front of our home. We are working on a complete re do. The plant delivery is scheduled for July 11th. Now I know I should have taken more pictures this morning before we started to clean out the old....Hubby removed four scruffy old shrubs that had seen better days. It looks so much better like this. To all my peeps who helped answer shutters or no shutters? Notice they are not back on! Thanks for helping me. I like it better without too.

 I pulled so many plants from here. Potted about twenty large pots and threw so, so many out. Garden slugs that just fill up space, although pretty at times.

 What a clear view.

The shrubs we had before. Bye bye.

 and I can always fill a space quickly. It won't stay like this, but for now.

Now this is one thing that won't change. My son built this arbor and I have his great grandmother's roses climbing over it. It smells heavenly.
So, stay tuned for more changes over the month of July.




 

Shutters or no shutters?

I know I have been missing in action....my camera is giving me troubles and I need to shop for a new one. I have no desire to do so. Anyway I squeaked out a couple new shots of the front of the house. We just had it painted and while the painters had the shutters down I asked them leave them off.  So now I look to you my peeps. Keep in mind we are tearing out the shrubs in front and putting in new lower plantings. What do you think Shutters?

                                                                           or no shutters

Seeing they were the same color as the trim it is not a huge difference, but I think the house will show more once the overgrown shrubs are gone. The lawn will be reseeded too. We need an overall face lift
I will post some pictures when the shrubs are gone and then when it is finished. It has rained since the painting has been done and my work has been busy, love the work, but love my social life too.

So if I can get opinions please.....shutters or no shutters?

Some touches of Spring

This is where you enter my home. The windows change out to screens, but this time of year with the windows still in the porch warms up nicely. ~Then I can leave the kitchen door open~

Here are a couple of projects that I have been working on. This little old table was made by my grandfather. Aren't the square pegs neat? I brought it home from my Mom's about 10yrs. ago. It has been sitting up in the attic of my garage. I love the Reclaim paint I have used before. So I painted it up. The pegs show quite well now that it is painted. The I found this candle holder at Pier 1. Love it outside for summer.

 

 

Here is my next little project I have three of these lanterns. The green never really looked well, so I found this multicolor textured paint by Rust-oleum. First I primer them, then I sprayed them with the brown paint.

I love how they came out.

 

 

 

So the gardens are just starting to pop up. It is still early here and the trees have not opened yet, but they are close. Time to bring out the fairy house and get it nestled in.

 

Time to put the pansys in the window boxes. 

I also got a couple of beautiful red geraniums. I always get so anxious for the season to start. Winter felt so long.......

 

 

 

 

What a beautiful day...

The sun is shining and it is about 70 degrees...quick open the windows, put out some cushions. I ran to the greenhouse for some pansy's for the window boxes and the yard cleanup continues.

 My Easter cactus blooms at Christmas and Easter...go figure. It just makes me realize Spring is really coming.

 Maybe a lemon tart for dessert? I don't know why I just think of lemon in the spring.

I started some cannas roots in the basement, just for an early start. Love the red blooms. They looks so tropical. So if I start them early we can enjoy them a bit longer. Today is one of the first real tastes of spring around here so I am off to enjoy it while I can.

Spring?

Here is to hoping spring is right around the corner...I need it so.

 

My front hall

As we get yet another late snowstorm I have added a bit of spring for my front hall. I was in Home Goods last week and found this Ralph Lauren distressed dresser. I knew right away it was a piece I could love and where it would go. The antique mirror I have had for years...most of which it has lived in the basement. I have always loved it. I haven't always had a place for it. Until now.

So while I sit at my desk watching the snow come down, I dream of spring.



 

What did the groundhog say???

This does not look like Spring to me. We had been with out power for 2 and a half days....no water, no heat, except our fireplace which did a great job on the downstairs. Upstairs I had a nice down comforter for warmth. The gas stove worked so we were lucky there.To keep things cold and frozen I put lots of food out on the porch, but we threw lots out too. We had five people here a hyper dog and my two kitties. The teenage boys used the bathroom a lot and the tub, that I had filled with water was soon empty. I read two books and heard I am bored too many times to mention. Reading is a wonderful way to spend a quiet snowy weekend.

There are some broken trees and many branches and lots of clean up to do. The rain yesterday and the warmer days are helping to create mud....so mix mud and hyper Husky dog! Get a mess.

 Our only source of heat. I brought in lots of firewood the day before the storm and we went through it all.

 My over sized cat! He thinks he can hide his toys from the dog...of course he also thinks he still fits in this bed.

So I only hope that this is the last of the snow. We had not had much of it at all this year. I can't wait for Spring!

I hope everyone else is safe, warm and dry!

(Did I mention how great the hot shower felt when the power came back on?)