Outdoor Summer Tour

Last week the kiddos, my mom, and I had a little friendly competition.  The front flower border needed to be weeded badly.  We broke up into two teams and in about two hours we got it all spruced up for summer!  There are a few pine shrubs, barberry bushes, and two flowering bushes that I can't identify. 

I transplanted some peony bushes last summer and they didn't do too well then, but they look better this year.

I also planted a few rose bushes and mums last year and I didn't think they had made it through winter.  They are looking pretty good!  I just need to put my weed mat down and put some mulch out there and it'll be lovely!  I also have a dream to have a stone border there in front, too, but I have to find some stones for that project! 

Meijer had a really good sale last week on hanging baskets for $5.99!  I had picked out a bunch of flowers to pot in my large pots for the front step, but just for one pot it would have cost me over $12!  So I had a wonderful light bulb moment!  I decided to put the flowers back and get a few hanging baskets to re-pot into the large pots. What ya think?

I bought some moisture control potting mix and it was worth it!  I planted some impatiens in pots with that soil the other day and they are not only doing very well, but I don't have to water them every evening!

This is the front porch.  I think I'm done decorating it, unless I can find a cheap large metal watering can to add to the decorations. (Oh and you'll notice my Americana jug of sun tea. I ran out and I can't wait for another cold glass! --it's Lipton Decaff, by the way.)

The chair was an old one from the dining set that we bought used when we were first married.  I spray painted it and the star on the door colonial red.  The white basket was a 25 cent garage sale find that I spray painted white.  I bought some red geranium bushes from JoAnn's fabrics in the spring when they were half price. On the red chair is a pot with white New Guinea Impatiens.  I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out.  Next year I hope to add more to decorate the front porch. 

As you come around the side of the house to the side porch you will find another peony bush, a few hostas, and a hanging basket.  I also have a little Americana yard stake there.  Love my Americana decor!  I hope to add some more perennials next year. 

This is the side porch.  I have some revamping to do here, but for now it'll work.  *smile*  Hubby is going to re-do our old glider rocker for me and we'll put it here on the porch. I can't wait to sit on the porch, drink my sun tea and watch the kiddos play!

I love the little bench with flowers in it.  I found it years ago and put it out every year.  The irises have really doubled in size this year!  We brought them with us from our previous house when we moved in three years ago. I plan to divide them up for next year so they can span the whole front of the porch banister!

This side flower bed is full of beautiful perennials!  Hosta, mini irises, lambs ear, and a few other things I have no clue what they are but they look great!  *smile*  Of course there's another hanging basket another Americana flag!

There's a lot of Columbine, too!  I have a few Hostas that I can't wait to divide up next spring.  I think I'll be putting more of them around the Catalpa tree.

Our Catalpa tree is home to a bee hive.  See the dark spot to the left of the bear's head?  They go in and out there.  So thankful they are there to pollinate our flowers and fruit trees!

This little chair holds an Impatien to welcome you at the back door entry.  See the dark box there to the left? That was the coal chute when they used a coal stove to heat the house many years ago.  I have a few more ideas for this little area, but they may have to wait until next year.  Maybe I could put some of my divided Hostas here?

Well that's it for now on our tour.  I have a garden section on the other side of the house with lilacs, coneflowers, a potting shed (an old outhouse converted) and all sorts of other pretties to share with you but they need some sprucing up a bit before they are camera worthy.  *smile*