Container Gardening

Now to all of you avid gardeners, I have a little disclaimer here: I am not what I what I would consider a true gardener. I have a garden, and enjoy working in it when I can. And I have high hopes that one day, I'll actually know what in the world I'm doing.

But at least for now, my friend across the street~ THE gardener in our neighborhood~ is kind enough to give me advice and even offers to work with me in my garden. So I bake cookies for her family. She thinks she is getting a better deal, but I know better. :)

So, all that said, when I can cut a bouquet of my own flowers, it definitely brings a smile to my face! I think hydrangeas are one of the most beautiful flowers...

I have planted one hydrangea bush so far, but plan on adding another to the back yard next year...

Sometimes when you buy a forgotten, unloved home, it can be difficult to know where to start! We have concentrated on the inside, because it needed all the time we could give it...but I have dreams of what the yard and garden will look like one day!

Meanwhile, I have discovered a deep and abiding love for the art of container gardening. Adding a few containers of varying kind and size in with your other flowers and shrubs allows you to mix it up a bit: plant spring bulbs in a pot, then remove it when it is done flowering. Replace it with a mix of annuals for the summer. For me, it is a way to have a little variety in my garden.

I love using galvanized buckets and bins, little red wheelbarrows, and of course, clay pots. Almost anything can be used to plant flowers in! :)

But my favorite "container" is the vintage washer I found for sale at my friend's store years back.

I have never EVER regretted this purchase! It makes me happy every time I see it! Every spring, my baby daffodils come up, and I plant petunias every summer. :)

Do you see the ivy to the right of the washer? This has been growing in a cedar planter for years, and I love it! It provides green all year! I get mixed opinions on ivy in general, but I am for it. I allow it to wrap behind and in front of the washer, because I like the way it looks. It's true that ivy is an invasive plant, though, and you have to keep an eye on it!

Growing up, I was always an "inside" girl. I never thought I'd have a garden. I didn't like working in the yard at all. Funny how owning this little house has changed that!

Well, that's all for me tonight! Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you all enjoy the weekend! :)

Blessings,

Jenni

Creating your own summer baskets

I have a penchant for hanging baskets, especially those filled with petunias. When my husband and I go away to celebrate our anniversary each year, we stay in the Bavarian themed town of Leavenworth. Every where we go, we find hanging baskets overflowing with petunias...I love it, and I would love to create a little of this look here at our nest!

BUT...have you seen the price tag on most of these baskets? (Yowzy!) Besides that, the containers themselves are nothing to write home about! SO...on my last trip to Lowe's, (how I love that store!) I found a basket I liked:

I put a little potting soil on the bottom, and added some white petunias, leaving some room for growth.





I added more potting soil around the flowers, and officially made my own hanging basket! Petunias spread quickly, so I know that soon this container will be overflowing with flowers!

And the cost?
$6.50~ basket
About $3.00~ flowers
And some potting soil I had on hand.

I am very happy with the cost AND the way it turned out! I am going to be making more of these!

I'm eventually going to put it above the back porch, but here it is by the front door for now. It is hanging up way too high, I know! Most of what you see is the basket itself, but I wanted to show a picture of it hung up, even if it's just its temporary home!





I hope this finds you doing well! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

Jenni


making . life . beautiful