I hate to torture you again with photos of spring, especially since most of us are still a ways away from sunny skies and 70 degree weather, but I just couldn’t help it today. I am longing for slightly warmer weather so I can grab a shovel and de-wilderness our backyard weed flower bed.
I’m almost tempted to throw a coat on this weekend and start chiseling away at the frozen dirt…I then remind myself that my energies would probably be better spent elsewhere – like perhaps tackling one of the (705) unfinished projects indoors.
Want to dream with me about landscaping, though? Okay, lets.
I love, love, love the look of lush gardens. I would love to have flower beds filled with hydrangeas, peonies, lilies of the valley, lavender (…and all those other lush flowers that I don’t know the names of).
The thing is, I know myself. I know my schedule (and limited time to tend to a garden), and I know that I’d take painting a room over working in the yard ANY DAY (can I get an “Amen” from anyone else out there?). Sooo…until I’m ready to commit to regular garden maintenance, I think I need to stick to something pretty but low maintenance (and by low maintenance I mean like zero maintenance…again, because I know myself a little too well).
I think I need to aim for something like this: hardy (yet lovely) shrubs and weed inhibiting mulch.
And here’s one of my all time favorite patio photos. It’s from Cottage Living (of course). I love the chairs, the brick patio, and the plethora of rounded, manicured boxwoods. Oooh, so pretty.
What about you? What’s your flower bed philosophy?
24 Suburbanites Said:
Hi.
I live in an old Victorian farmhouse and we are surrounded by commercial flower farmers - peonies, glads and dahlias! I love my gardens and would take a day in the dirt and sunshine over anything else -- except when killer saber toothed green head flies are out. But, for now the gardens are just a memory, since winter is not letting up anytime soon.
Love your blog and will be returning.
Deborah
If you get shrubs and bushes, make sure you get a dwarf variety. They grow much more slowly than standard varieties, keeping the cutting-back process to a minimum. I hate seeing huge shrubs that overtake the front of a house!
I'm longing for spring too...
In the Pacific Northwest we've had a very mild winter. It was actually 60 degrees and sunny all last week! Unheard of! I love treating each little nook like an outdoor room to decorate. It brings me so much joy to take the indoor philosophy of decorating to the outside world. Thanks for your blog. You and your bloggy friends have inspired me to start my own!
I am probably very oppostie about gardening. I LOVE to work in the yard! Hard manuel labor work and just picking weeds here and there work. Anything outdoors makes me happy, whether I am sweating in the 100 degree weather or not. I love it! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy decorating, but the yard is my first love. I have a half acre full of plants that need a lot of tending too. I have 3 little ones and 2 dogs so I am quite busy in the summer, but I sure do love it! Did I say I love it?!
Deborah and Sunshine - Can I be you when I grow up? I love the idea of gardening, but I just can't love it the way I love painting. It might have something to do with strange insects and worms...yes it definitely has something to do with worms. I still squeal everytime I see one (such a whimp).
I love gardening. From May to July I'm out there daily getting my hands dirty. BUT . . . Once the end of July comes around I get taried of and and let it go a couple weeks before I do anything.
The past couple years I been trying to make things easy on myself by using lots of mulch and adding different types of flowering shrubs and everblooming roses.
Now I have more time and still have a garden I like.
Oh I love that Cottage Living photo--I have the issue with that feature in it and the whole house is totally fab. As for me, I'm actually a gardener first and decorator second. Which is probably why my house never looks as good as yours! :-) But anyway, I'm all about the flowers, and I love that first photo. More, more, more!
~Angela
I must be opposite of you. I would rather be out in the dirt all day rather than painting inside. I have a 1929 foursquare with a white picket fence so of course I want the cottage garden. Each year I add more and more to it and increase it in size- hopefully one day having no grass out front :) I love hydrangeas, peonies, zinnia, coneflowers, roses, lavender, rosemary, gardenias, lanatana- the more the merrier I say.
I use weed blocking fabric under my raised beds in front of my fence and then just plant bulbs when I am outside spray painting something in the fall. Then mulch in the summer. No weeds AND pretty flowers that come up as soon as it's warm :)
Will probably add some shrubs sometime but I tore out a bunch because they were weird looking and LOADED with spiders. LOADED. haha
I love being in the garden... but my first passion and love is decorating!! I live in the Bay Area (east) in California and we had a warm spell last week.. man I ran to the garden center and started planting things... OOOOOOH. Love Love LOVE looking out and seeing things in the garden.. my other plants are starting to bloom as well... day lilies are coming up.. my maple is starting to have buds... hydrangeas are sprouting new growth.... all my other bulbs are peeking out of the soil... LOVE IT! Now off to work on some inside projects.. raining again! =(
That last picture sure caught my eye. I still have that issue of CL (well all the issues for that matter). It is one of my favorite little gardens. The boxwood, the peach colored fabric, the weathered furniture, and the cute little couple. It's just all so charming.
love x3 that last photo... we have a slate patio off of our den and I'm going to load up on pots this spring and do this look. Plant tall shrubs, and surround the entire patio with groups of potted plants. Thx!
OH! I love the garden photos, but you are killing me! I am wondering about starting some indoor stuff I can replant later this spring!!!
Gardens are great...but they take a huge time commitment or you will live to regret it. I know this first hand. Don't think for one minute that Martha does all that gardening on her own..I doubt she gets into the dirt more than a few times a year..lets be real here. If you know your time limitations..go simple and low maint. Small and well kept is always better than large and overrun with weeds ;-)
How about we trade favors?! You can paint for me and I will garden for you! I love gardening... even went to college for it but we moved before I got my degree.
Our gardens were always a form of whimsy and practicality(limited gardening while in Alaska) as I incorporated flowers, herbs, and vegetables all in the same gardens. This is due to my love of gardening being second to my love of cooking!! It will be so exciting to put in a small garden this spring and then plant bulbs this fall!
You can see my priorities, right.. cooking, gardening, decorating. No frills here, just a love of all things simple and elegant with a touch of earthiness!
Shrubs can be nice as long as they don't overtake your landscape... Like Sarah said go w/ a dwarf variety... Depending on your climate something that flowers would be nice as well plus a few perenials. lilies-of-the-valley always look lovely peeking out from under shaded areas. (be careful as they are poisonous... so don't eat them. :) )
We have lots of boxwoods and I put out annuals every year - as much or as little as I am willing to deal with. I am planning on putting in 2-3 lilacs this year - little maintanence with those beauties! We have a major rabbit problem so I am very limited with what I can do. I love gardening - can't wait to see your spring pictures!
Danielle
We live in the woods and boxwoods and hostas seem to do best. I am planning on lining our rock paths with hostas this spring in order to add depth to the already 30 year old boxwoods.
I live on the Gulf Coast so most of my landscaping is tropical and OLD SOUTH! I luv to work in my yard...MR.CC calls me "DIRT LADY"...that guy is soooo SILLY! I'm with you...can't wait to see green grass and feel warm temps:) I'm having a CASH GIVEAWAY...come by and check it out...I think you will like it!
Blessings,
Linda
I wanted to let you know that my blog has moved. I am working my way through everyone, letting them know.
I love those houses both are perfect, and the shrubs too.
I still follow you-com on by and I would love to have you follow me at the new site.
Cheri at www.itssoverycheri.com
I am so ready for spring and done with all the snow and cold. Loved the garden pictures...very inspiring and make the longing for spring even worse.
It's true that gardening can be a big commitment! W/ 2 kids I try to keep things simple and manageable. I have a small garden - we usually only do tomatoes. I pot most of my plants so they are easy to maintain. I go for hardy stuff - in case I get busy & forget to water them {{giggle}} My faves are geraniums, hostas, marigolds, and NG impatiens. I like to stick to reds & whites. Hopefully we will have a better crop of tomatoes - last year there was a blight on North East plants. Happy planting!!
This is the first year I'll have to do my own landscaping and I'm freaked out! I have a black thumb! DH found some plants today at the store that looked pretty, but I'm afraid I;ll kill them!
This blog is really wonderful and very interesting. It catched my attention since the first time.
But when i read the word bed my imagination flies to another place.I love the cozy and big bed and enjoy the soft mattress with a boy. All of this after to buy viagra to get the bet performance.
what a beautiful house you have.
- Singapore Florist
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