Tag Archives: nature

Progress Made

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In the midst of clearing papers, I came across some old photos of my yard.  Boy have I made some serious progress over the years. When we first moved into the house I really knew nothing about gardening.  I was a city girl and loved looking at beautiful landscapes but while living in Jersey, I didn’t do any yard work.  When we moved to S.C.  the yard had a clean slate and I figure I’d let my imagination take over.  I have to admit – I’d forgotten how dull and lifeless the yard was, but after looking back at all the hard work put into it, these pictures made me realize how much progress I really made over the years.   Perusing countless garden magazines proved to be worthwhile in helping to inspire me.  Just thought I’d share my progress made with you…   (try not to laugh at the before too much).  My husband preferred it that way because it was easy to cut the grass (mind you he hated moving what little objects there were..)

BEFORE

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AFTER

 

 

 

 

 

 

By gradually taking each section at a time progress was made.. so you know alot of gardening therapy took place out here.  The back breaking agony I went through was all worth it.   The best part about the beds is they’re 80% perennials.  Yes,  I learned real quick over the years to get garden smart.  🙂   So much progress was made and yet – more to still make.  Thankfully I have you to follow along with me to share the journey.   TTYL,

Stay with me in the Yellow

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I have to admit, Yellow was one of the colors I strayed away from.  Not because I didn’t like it but because it was bright.  The irony is  I love the sun, sunflowers, and lemons

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All of which are yellow.  So I have to ask why don’t I stay in the yellow.  Then I heard this song by my favorite artist India Arie and was truly inspired by YELLOW.  So here’s the fun of yellow in home decor to get inspired.

You can choose the soft yellow as the room color and accent with a variety shades of grey as done with this room

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Or you can switch it up to use yellow as the accent color which breaks up the black and grey tones.

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How about incorporating a little accent piece in the room such as a chair reupholstered with a fab yellow fabric like this:

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Or even paint a dresser for the pop of color

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I could imagine how happy my feet would be wiggling my toes on a yellow rug

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Or when I lay my head on this cozy little accent pillow

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Yellow, yellow, kiss a fellow…. ahhhhh the days of being outside – dancing and prancing..and long evenings ..  I see it all around

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Even to wake up on glorious sunny morning to enter into a beautiful bath such as this to begin your day

Imagine how delicious breakfast would be with a touch of sunshine yellow facing you in this kitchen

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Can you image how beautiful your floral arrangement would be in a yellow vase

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Or if you don’t have flowers,  you can even have these to display

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So whether it’s indoors or outdoors, bring in the cheerful color and stay with me in the YELLOW

After listening to her song, tapping your feet, and maybe even doing a happy dance – go get your Yellow   🙂

Holding on to the Hydrangea

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The blossoms of the hydrangea plant are so beautiful.  I’m not sure at what point in my life I decided this was my favorite plant, but it was definitely before I moved south.  I’m a “Jersey” girl transplant “Carolina Girl” and when I moved to the beautiful state of So. Carolina I discovered these plants were everywhere – almost as if it were the southern tradition to have one in every yard.   In fact that was partly the selling point of my house.  “Wow” – I thought – now let’s hope the inside looks good – chuckles… and it did.  I had a plant in my yard and planted several others – needless to say some died, some lasted.  The rain this year made the do very well and I was quite happy about the blossoms this year.

As summer is dwindling away  I have to say “ta-ta” to the beloved blossoms.  I read a post on how to dry them and decided to give it a try.  Years ago I would get them when they were beige but I’d prefer to have had them when they were the beautiful chartreuse color.  I find that such a pleasing palette color to the eye.  I clipped the blooms just before they were turning the “aged” beige color and put the stem in about 1/4 inch of water and let the water slowly evaporate.  The flower will slowly dry out with the exisiting color.  So I decided to give it a try.  This one came really good. I’ve been checking it and it’s slowly drying out and the color still remains.

So i clipped a few more and these are doing well also, in fact, they’re dried completely but I still left them in the water until it completely evaporates.

      

Now I can enjoy the blooms all year long.

Green Thumb Gene

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It’s been such a pleasue sharing my garden pictures and stories with you, not to mention, sharing a neighbor’s yard in one of my posts, as well.  This post is my dedication to a few other gardens I admire.   I’m starting to believe that gardening is in my genes.  I remember my grandmothers having beautiful plants and often wondered “how” come her plants always look healthy. My aunts have green thumbs and are so creative in their gardens.  In this post I’d like to pay tribute to “The Green Thumb Gene” that flows in my blood.

This garden belongs my aunt “Pookie”.  I’ve always admired her yard and house plants.  Come take this tour with me threw her lovely garden oasis that’s filled with bunches of eye candy.

As you enter, you are greeted with the bird bath and her creative use for the vintage step ladder.

          The frog holding the flower arrangement is another little cutey   that sits nearby.  The mailman won’t deliver to this mailbox planter that’s neatly tucked in a flower bed.     

Mr. Bunny is on stand-by looking to watch..      Traveling around the path  brings you to another creative rocky sight ,  The hungry Aligator was made from an assortment of rocks she found.      And lastly, as you go further across the yard,    you’ll see the best creative idea…The Outdoor Fireplace planter.  Taking advantage of the old saying “One man’s junk”… she saved this from heading to the dumpster.. another great find.  Here she has it in the garden.

Now how creative was that????  I say, it’s two thumbs up for Pookie’s Paradise Garden…

          

Next up is my aunt “Bernie’s” yard.  Her yard, though small, packs a big punch of excitement.  The first burst of garden glory your eyes will see once  upon entering her sanctuary, is this life-size mural she drew on the garage wall.  With a love for sunflowers, her vision came from basking in the joy of having a field sunflowers.  The bed of hostas that bloomed underneath are so large and healthy, they just add to the mural giving it a 3D effect.

As you proceed into her yard, you hear the enchanting,

trickling sound of her wonderful fountain

Which leads to another of her creations… She became inspired by this mural with a vision of how her grandfather was in his garden

I just love how the Black-eyed Susans are surrounding the mural, making it appear that Granddad is actually sowing his garden.  So here you have it, after seeing the creativity flowing in these two ladies, I can’t help but believe – it’s in the genes,  I hope you enjoyed the journey through two of my favorite gardens.  I’ll be posting a few more “Garden Delites” before the beauty of summer ends

Porch Dreaming

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There’s something special about a porch. As I sit and watch the cars ride by, people taking strolls, sipping on the beverage of the day, thoughts just pondering in my head. Sometimes, I’ll have music playing and other times, just sit and listen to the nature sounds. A butterfly may whisker by, a bee my come buzzing, but I have to realize, I’m sharing their space so I’ll leave them alone as long as they leave me alone :). Creating the perfect outdoor space can have my mind flowing in so many directions. My porch is the next outdoor space I’m working to create. Summertime is approaching and that means the porch is getting some attention. I found some inspiration photos to get the ball rolling in my mind. Hope theses help you to create the perfect porch for you.

I like having the outdoor curtains flowing in the air.. They bring a bit of softeness to the porch..
            

The painted floors on these porches give them an inviting look

   

Deciding on a bench or rockers is always tough, but these two lovely porches makes a bench hands down as an easy pick