Friday's In the Garden....Contain Yourself

Hello everyone, and welcome back. This week I managed to get some of my containers planted.

I spent Mother's Day in my garden. It is exactly where I wanted to be. My family was great...they washed my car (seems like an annual event), got my favorite breakfast sandwich, and some lovely cards along with a few gifts. The day ended with sushi! It was perfect. Here are some of my container choices this season

In the black self-watering container, I transplanted some Lambs Ear

For this small container...just a few different coleus

Again, I put in Lambs ear (it will perk up soon). I also transplanted a blue hosta and more coleus

 For the window boxes...every year I can't decide (remember the waffle). 

I went with a purple striped wave petunia and some chartreuse potato vines. I also mixed in a blue columnar juniper flanked by variegated boxwood's. Those three will live over the winter, so next year should be easier (who am I kidding?).

I only bought a hanging arrangement once...maybe twice...and each year I replant the basket with the colors of my current season. I have more to plant, so I am off. What are you doing in your containers? 

If you love window boxes, you may enjoy some of my window box posts here.

Industrial Holiday Decorating...with Whimsy

This year, I wanted to think outside the window box. So, I took a stroll down the industrial aisles of the hardware store. You know the aisles I’m talking about, the ones in the way back of the store....the ones you never go down! Carefully looking at each and every item, I found myself imagining the limitless combinations and possibilities for all this “stuff”. 

Here is what I came home with

Although I could not tell you the intended use for most of this stuff….I will show you how I intend on using it...

First, spray prime all of it with this

Next, inspired by the peacock

 Here is my color pallet

After everything is primed, start painting….and have fun! Remember, there are no rules in whimsy

Shape the objects to your liking

...paint some more

Once everything is to your satisfaction, give it a quick couple of coats 

Spray glitter & sealer

To assemble the industrial ornaments, pre-drill the dowel 

...and sheet metal

Attach everything with screws

Then, style your window boxes

They are more "glittery" in person! Hope you have an Industrial Holiday Season! 


Joining the Link Party at Serenity Now! ; Debbidoos

Winter Window Boxes

It"s Winter Window Box time! I love looking at window boxes, and I am lucky enough to have two boxes. In the summer, I always have a great debate (with myself) for color combinations. I will share with you, that my window box plants are so much happier because of the drip irrigation I installed.

This year, Fall came and went fast....other than mums....I did not do the Fall Window Boxes I was planning.

So, I'm am going to plan and dream for winter with these inspirational images

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Do you have a favorite? What is your window box style?

**Here are my current winter window boxes**

I have a crazy fun post coming later this month for "out of the box" Holiday Window Boxes! Please join me, e-mail me your favorite picture(s) of Holiday planters, boxes or front porches.... and I will share them with everyone!

******UPDATE< HOLIDAY WINDOW BOXES********

Fall Window Boxes

The weather is starting to change. You can feel the slightly cooler mornings and the less oppressive heat in the evenings. I'm starting to think about Fall. Once school starts......Fall comes fast! This year, I would like to decorate my window boxes. Here are some BEAUTIFUL images I found on Pinterest and Google Images

               ********* Update - go here for Winter Window Boxes **********
           
                **************** go here for Holiday Window Boxes *********

 

Do you take the time to decorate for Fall?


               ********** Update - go here for Winter Window Boxes **********

Drip Irrigation

This week, I have been working on #6 of my TTD list. I love to figure out the plant combinations for the window boxes. This year, I planted roses in them. The containers take a bit more time to get them just right. However, remembering to water them is not as easy for me. I get busy with the kids...and it's HOT!

So, since I am lucky enough to have a sprinkler system, I have decided to install drip irrigation into all of my containers (did you catch that it is not even on the TTD list?).  That is another story for another day.

Here are two great tutorials on how I did this (thank you YOUTUBE).

This one is more complete

This isn't exactly how I "hacked" into my sprinkler system...but you can get the idea from this

...and now my plants will be happy this Summer!

Marblehead, MA

I love Marblehead, MA. In another life, I would live there. On a recent trip, I took some photos that make me smile. Hope you like them

 

Yes, I could live there!