A Vintage Flower Wagon

I've been seeing photos of some adorable vintage children's wagons being filled with flowers this Spring; some planted, others just holding the pots. I had this little guy, here, that I found a few years ago to fill with pumpkins and mums, but it was just sitting in the garage all forlorn, so I brought it out to the deck and decided to liven it up a little.

It's just not Summer without Red Geraniums, so I had to include a few of those, then Million Bells, Petunias, Lobelia and Marigolds. I wanted it to be bright and colorful, since the wagon itself is black.

It's not but just a few inches deep, so I had to use peat pots for the Geraniums and some of the others that were larger plants with more root base. Then I just filled the whole wagon with potting mix to help hold it all together. My husband drilled a few holes for drainage before starting, and that will help this Fall too, since water always collected in the bottom around the pumpkins.

My picket fence gate from the sunporch came out as a photo background.

Here it is last Fall on the front porch, and then a few others 

from my Pinterest Board, Wheelbarrows, Carts and Wagons.

LOVE the idea of using one for Herbs.

 I just have a few other things to get potted, 

most of it is done.

Now, I just get to wait and see them fill out.

I'll show you how it's growing in a few weeks.

Hopefully it will be spilling over the sides to cover up the pots.

It's been nice having more room on the deck now that the Monster Gas Grill has been adopted by the kids. We went to Academy Sports and Outdoors and found a little charcoal grill on sale yesterday. My husband said that he'd never thought of me as a "cheap date" until that purchase. Hey, doesn't take a lot to make me happy...sometimes.We grilled filets, and they were heavenly. But we've decided not to tell the kids that we went "cheapo" on the cooker. Bigger is better in their minds. Not me, I just want a steak that tastes like "steak".

joining in with these party gals:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Inspiration Exchange at Ella Claire

Share Your Cup Thursday at Mrs. Olson
Tips and Tutorials at Stone Gable
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch
Simple and Sweet at Rooted inThyme
Garden Party at Fishtail Cottage
Funky Junk
Blitzed on Pinterest

Hope you're start of Summer was a good one!

xoxo,

What's Growing On...

Between the late Spring and snow in early May, to the every other week out of town doctor visit trips for hubby, I'm way behind in getting plants potted and the deck and outdoors spiffed up. I was able to get a few containers put together for the deck this week, but it's been slow going. (so many of you have asked how he's doing and it's also been "slow going", but he's making improvement little by little. Thank you all so much for asking, and for your prayers)

I was able to winter one of my mint plants, and after cutting back the unusable winter growth, I'm just now getting some new leaves. I use mint every day in my green tea and lemonade or my new favorite Crystal Light Mojito, club soda, fresh lime and mint. So easy, tastes like it's alcoholic cousin, no calories, and creates a party in your mouth!

(angel vine)

My small urns are planted with variegated Impatiens...

always a favorite, and so easy.

We recently gave our humongous gas grill to our daughter and her husband. I'd never liked using it; I swear I could taste the "gas" on the steaks. (they don't notice it.) The deck is now 3 times as large without that eyesore taking up so much space, and we're on the hunt for a smaller charcoal grill. One that actually produces a great tasting meal. 

These are a couple of the new containers filled with Million Bells, Geraniums, and Verbena. I winter my Geraniums, but this year when we were gone for a week with my hubby's surgery, they became a salad bar for the rabbits...nibbled down to the stubbs. So getting them back will take a while.

In the front yard, Iris are blooming. I transplanted them from my m-i-l about 5 years ago, and they've not been much on blooms, but this year I have some beautiful ones.

I'm also having Peony blooms for the first year,

but the ants are loving them too.

A Knockout Rose that creates a little secret sanctuary for the bird bath.

The robins love it, and have a great time flopping, chirping, and cooling off.

This rose bush has gone nuts this year.

 A few just potted red Geraniums with "soon to be trailing"
Verbena next to the garage.

And more Impatiens in the twin urns on the front steps.

It looks pretty bare out here without color, 

hopefully, the Impatiens will add some soon.

(If the brick looks wonky, it's because I "cloned" out the house number plaque)

Last year this Hydrangea was all but dead. The drought and temps in the low 100's almost everyday caused it to wilt and killed the blooms. It was so disheartening. No matter how much I watered it, the bush just couldn't take the heat. But I started treating it with coffee grounds, and it rallied late in the season.

Now, it's covered in little immature blooms...

and I'm so excited.

This may be it's year!!

joining in with these parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

The Scoop at Cedar-Hill Ranch

A Stroll Thru Life

Knick of Time

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Savvy Southern Style

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend,

xoxo,

Organizing the Potting Bench and other backyard business...

This cold Spring has really put me behind in getting things cleaned up and functional outdoors. It's been the "domino effect" around here with chores and projects. Get the yard people out to do the Spring "clean-up" and shrub trimming, then a big job of painting our pool deck which my sis and nephew helped me do. I can't do much more until we open the pool, which is usually around Mother's Day. (If it doesn't warm up it might be the 4th of July!) Then, all the real work (and fun) will start.

So... under the deck, where we house all our patio furniture, (and the potting bench) looks a little like a bunch of homeless hillbillies have been taking up winter residence. But I did manage to get the potting bench scrubbed down and put in a little bit of order.

I'm just getting started, and I'm looking forward to a visit to the nursery for some cheery blooms. But right now the potting bench is just a clean slate, emphasis on "clean". Hubbs and I put this together a couple of years ago. I'd been looking for ways to create a place to organize my flower pots, plantings, garden tools, and soil storage. I ended up with this great worktable that had been used for a tool bench and an old bookshelf. I properly "married them", and it's been fun having everything organized together within easy reach.

In lieu of purchased plants, I did find a small patch of wild violets along the fence to use as a stand-in until I can get my hands on some storebought blooms.

just a sweet little gift from nature in an old McCoy planter

Here's my vintage garden cart that I also put together a couple of years ago. I just love creeping phlox, but I've never been able to keep it going in a bed or border. I'm not sure why, maybe not enough water throughout the year, but in here it's taken off like gangbusters.

This little area will get more attention when the white garden chair gets decked out with geraniums and some other annuals join in on the fun. It's still a little bare around here, especially since we've hovered around 32 degrees several times this last week.

Here it is when I first planted it two years ago. My husband had threatened to haul it out to the curb for the trash man if I didn't do something useful with it.

How could you pitch this little garden cutie?

OK, sometimes we don't ask those rhetorical questions,

for fear of an honest answer...

I'm really looking forward to have the time to get everything in shape.
Next to Fall, this is my favorite time of the year...
Has the weather been cooperating with your outdoor plans?

joining in for these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Swing Into Spring at DIY by Design
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage
Tips and Tutorials at Stone Gable
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home
Rooted in Thyme
Jennifer Rizzo
From My Front Porch to Yours
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

xoxo,

Tea Cup Garden

Do you ever need a little gift in a hurry...

Something that's sweet and thoughtful and not fussy?

Just take a minute and put together a Tea Cup Garden

It's so easy to pick up orphan cups, sugars, and creamers when your out at the fleas. They usually are just a few dollars, and when combined with a little green plant or posie they convey a sweet and thoughtful sentiment.

I always like to give my girlies a little something for Easter, and since they aren't fans of candy, I try to come up with something that they can enjoy beyond the moment.

I found these little pint sized creeping figs, but in a pinch you could just divide a little Swedish or English Ivy, Angel Vine, or any houseplant that you may have on hand. Grabbing a little moss from a shady outdoor spot works too. Just make sure not to over water, since there isn't any drainage. A little something living and green that will brighten any windowsill or counter.

I have this one sitting on an iron pedestal with a bunny box

on the buffet in the Dining Room.

Don't you love the logo on the plant tag?

Rabbit Shadow

Keeping a little stash of small containers

 will give you the ability to say "Thank You", "You're Special",

"Happy Birthday" or "Just Because".

An easy and thrifty way to share the love...

joining these weekly parties:

Share Your Style Spring Blog Hop

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

The Scoop at  Cedar Hill Ranch

Knick of Time Tuesday

Inspire Me at A Stroll Thru Life

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend.

xoxo