AFTER A LONG WINTER INDOORS, IT'S TIME TO AIR OUT AND FILL Y0UR HOME WITH FRESH SPRING ELEMENTS.
LOOK FOR ACCENTS IN CHEERY SPRING COLORS LIKE DAFFODIL YELLOW, MOSS GREEN, AND LAKE BLUE; AND DON'T FORGET CREAMY WHITE!
WHEN YOUR FINISHED WITH THE INDOORS, PLAN YOUR OUTDOORS!
THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES WHEN IT COMES TO GARDENING. NURSERIES ARE FULL OF PLANTS THAT SCAMPER UP WALLS AND CLING TO HOUSES AND TWINE AROUND TRELLISES AND CASCADE OVER PERGOLAS.
SIX REASONS TO GARDEN ON THE VERTICAL:
1.CALL ATTENTION TO AN ENTRANCE.
2. ADD HEIGHT AND INTEREST TO A FLOWER BED.
3. PROVIDE PRIVACY.
4.FILL IN AND BRIGHTEN BLANK AREAS.
5. ADD ACCENTS OF COLOR.
6. CREATE A FOCAL POINT.
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRELLISES THAT WILL FIT INTO YOUR GARDENING SCHEME SUCH AS ARBORS THAT YOU COULD EASILY CONSTRUCT YOURSELF, OUT OF OLD ELEMENTS; SUCH AS LADDERS, DOORS AND FENCES. YOU CAN USE. OLD PORCH POSTS SUNK IN THE GROUND, AND BUILD AROUND THEM.
MY FAVORITE PICKS FOR GROWING ON THE VERTICAL:
SILVER LACE VINE
MORNING GLORY
CLEMATIS.
BLACK EYED SUSAN VINE.
HONEYSUCKLE
CARDINAL VINE
MOONFLOWER.
I WOULD ALSO INCLUDE CLIMBING ROSES BUT I'M ALLERGIC TO THEM!
AFTER YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR ARBORS AND VINES IN PLACE, YOU CAN START DECORATING AN AREA FOR OUTDOOR DINING AND A PLACE TO DREAM!
* USE AN OLD RETRO 50'S TABLECLOTH OR
A DECORATIVE SHEET.
* ADD FLOWERS ON THE TABLE IN AN OLD
TEA POT;
TIE THE NAPKINS WITH VINE OR RAFFIA.
* FILL A GLASS BOWL WITH FLOATING CANDLES AND WIND FAIRY LIGHTS AROUND AN UMBRELLA AND THE RAILING ON YOUR DECK OR A PICKET FENCE;
WHATEVER IS NEAR YOUR OUTDOOR DINING AREA THAT YOU WANT TO PROVIDE ATMOSPHERE.
YOUR "DREAMING" SECTION COULD BE A SHELTERED CORNER OF YOUR PROPERTY WHERE YOU CAN WATCH BUTTERFLIES FLUTTER BY, HEAR BIRDS SERENADE YOU AND BEES BUZZING BY; OR JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES AND RELAX!
STRUCTURES FOR DREAMING: (I HAVE SO MANY LOCATED IN THE HOUSE AND OUT THAT IT MAY TAKE MY HUSBAND A DAY TO FIND ME!)
* A GAZEBO; LATTICED IN BETTER YET IF IT'S HIDDEN WITH VINES.
* A GARDEN SHED
* A HAMMOCK
* OR THE SIMPLEST OF ALL THROW AN OLD BLANKET ON THE GROUND AND RELAX.
* A WEATHERED BENCH AND ADIRONDACK CHAIRS
DON'T FORGET TO PUT SEVERAL BIRDFEEDERS AROUND YOUR YARD AND ADD STATUARY AND A FOUNTAIN YOU CAN SEE FROM YOUR "SECRET" SPOT.
~WORDS TO PONDER~
* IF ONE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER DROWNS, DO THE REST HAVE TO DROWN, TOO?
* IF A COW LAUGHED, WOULD MILK COME OUT HER NOSE?
* WHAT'S ANOTHER WORD FOR SYNONYM?
* THE HUMAN HEART OPENS ONLY TO THE HEART THAT OPENS IN RETURN.
* WHAT DOES A BUTTERFLY GET IN ITS STOMACH WHEN IT IS NERVOUS?!
* IF A CAT CHOKES TO DEATH ON A MOUSE, WHO KILLED WHO?
* THE BEST ACCESSORY IS AN ATTITUDE. WEAR IT AS IF YOU MEAN IT!
* THE FOOLISH SEEK HAPPINESS OVER THE HORIZON; THE WISE FIND IT UNDER THEIR FEET.
HUMOR IS TRUTH ONLY FASTER.
.JPG)
