IT'S TIME TO RELAX ON THE PORCH

SUN WASHED, SCREENED PORCHES ARE MAKING A
REAPPEARANCE IN ELEGANT HOMES AS WELL AS MODEST ONES. A SCREENED PORCH MAKES A HOME MORE WELCOMING; AND IT ALSO ADDS ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR ENTERTAINING. IT ALSO BRINGS A WELCOME RELIEF TO THE END OF A BUSY DAY, TO GO SIT AND ENJOY THE SUNSET, THE SOUNDS OF BIRDS OR A FOUNTAIN NEARBY .
•• TO GIVE WICKER A FRESHER LOOK IN THE SPRING, WASH IT WITH SOAP AND WATER AND REPAINT
•• MUSTY ODORS ON OUTDOOR FURNITURE FROM PROLONGED STORAGE WILL DISSIPATE WHEN AIRED OUTDOORS .
•• EXPAND YOUR HOMES LIVING SPACE BY TREATING THE PORCH AS A ROOM THAT'S OUTDOORS .
•• OUTFITTED WITH A STURDY TABLE AND CHAIRS, THE PORCH FUNCTIONS AS A DINING ROOM .
•• A PORCH UNDER COVER IS A GOOD PLACE TO PUT A POTTING TABLE FOR RAINY DAYS; JUST SWEEP AWAY THE MESS AND THERE IS NO TRACKING IT INSIDE
•• YOUR YARD AND GARDEN NEED DECORATION JUST AS THE INSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE DOES AS IF TO SAY" COME ON OVER"
* IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE GRAND; SMALLER IS OFTEN MORE EFFECTIVE.
* DECORATING THE PORCH OFFERS MANY LIFESTYLE OPTIONS. USE CREATIVITY INSTEAD OF CASH BY PUTTING SALVAGED ITEMS INTO NEW SERVICE.
* IT TAKES VERY LITTLE TO SET UP AN OPEN-AIR OFFICE, KEEP IT SIMPLE, A TABLE AND A CHAIR ARE ALL YOU NEED.
* A RELAXING SETEE COVERED IN OUTDOOR FABRIC MAKES A PERFECT SPOT TO READ OR DAYDREAM.



GARDEN TIPS

Create depth with a hedge border by placing a six foot gate in it and a flagstone path
leading to it.

* ENJOY THE GLOWING CONTRAST OF WHITE FLOWERS AGAINST DARK FOLIAGE AND REMEMBER SINCE WHITE RECEDES, PLANTED AT THE END OF A GARDEN WILL MAKE IT APPEAR LONGER.
* WHITE FURNITURE CAN BLEND WITH ANY GARDEN SETTING AND IT'S EASY TO WHITEWASH
ANY OBJECT.
* GROW SPEARMINT, PEPPERMINT, CATNIP, LEMON VERBENA, CHAMOMILE, AND SAGE FOR SWEET AROMAS CLOSE TO YOUR BACK DOOR; EASY TO GRAB FOR TEA OR COOKING. ALTHOUGH YOU MAY WANT TO BE CAREFUL PLANTING CATNIP, AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD CATS WILL PLOP RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT!
* BUY LARGE, FLOWERING PLANTS WITH lOTS OF BUDS TO GIVE YOUR CONTAINERS INSTANT IMPACT OR BUY HANGING BASKETS .

.•• WHEN YOU STEP INTO A WELL PLANNED GARDEN THERE IS A SENSE OF PLEASURE, COMFORT AND OF "BEING AT HOME". WHETHER YOU'RE INTERESTED IN UPGRADING THE APPEARANCE OF YOUR HOME OR INCREASING THE PROPERTY VALUE, THERE IS NO MORE AN EFFICIENT WAY THAN BY REPLACING FOUNDATION PLANTING AND TRANSFORMING YOUR YARD OR GARDEN INTO A FRIENDLY ENTICING SPACE.

* THE SMALL GARDEN NEEDS A FOCAL POINT OR SOMETHING TO DRAW THE EYE TOWARD AN ARBOR, FOUNTAIN, STATUE OR SITTING BENCH WILL DO THAT.

* USE A SMALL SPACE OF LAWN TO CREATE A KITCHEN GARDEN TO GROW HERBS. CHOOSE A SPOT THAT IS CLOSE TO THE KITCHEN DOOR SO YOU W'ON'T HAVE TO LUG YOUR PRODUCE TOO FAR. GROWING YOUR OWN PRODUCE WILL NOT ONLY TRIM THE FOOD BUDGET BUT WILL PROVIDE HOURS OF GARDENING PLEASURE .

.•. ADD COLOR BENEATH YOUR TALL TREES BY UNDERPLANTING THEM WITH 4 INCH ANNUAL PLANTS.

". CONCRETE STAIN CAN GIVE A WALKWAY OR PATIO A NEW LOOK.

,.. CREATE A TABLE FOR YOUR PATIO OR DECK BY TURNING A LARGE TERRA COTTA POT UPSIDE DOWN AND ADDING A SLATE TOP OR OLD WINDOIW

"SPRINKLE TALCUM POWDER AND WHITE PEPPER INTO THE CRACKS AND CREVICES OR WHEREVER ANTS INVADE.

THE CUTTING GARDEN

FLOWER GARDENS TODAY ARE CREATED TO BEAUTIFY THE SURROUNDINGS OF YOUR YARD AND HOME, BUT THE CUTTING GARDEN IS SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SNIPPING AWAY BOUQUETS FOR INDOORS OR PATlO OR PORCH.
HAVING YOUR OWN CUTTING GARDEN IS AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO ENJOY CUT FLOWERS ALL YEAR LONG; THE PERK IS THAT YOU WON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE MARKET FOR A
LAST MINUTE BOUQUET; JUST STEP OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR!
YOUR GARDEN CAN PRODUCE BLOOMS FROM EARLY SPRING TO THE FIRST FROST. CHOOSE A SUNNY SPOT NEAR THE HOUSE BUT NOT TOO VISIBLE AS YOU WILL BE CUTTING A LOT AND IT WILL START TO LOOK SPARSE. YOU SHOULD WAIT UNTIL ALL THREAT OF FROST IS PAST, BUT IF YOU'RE LIKE ME I PLANT AT THE END OF APRIL AND THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND; I'M TOO ANTSY; I WANT TO PLAY IN THE DIRT! YOU CAN ALSO START PLANTS INDOORS, BUT I'M NO GOOD AT THAT.
PLANTS FOR YOUR CUTTING GARDEN:
ZINNIAS BACHELOR BUTTONS
DAHLIAS BLACK EYED SUSANS
LILIES DAISIES
TULIPS IRIS
THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS, ANYTHING WITH LONGER STEMS.
WORDS TO PONDER:

IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY. THANK YOU!