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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Potting Shed & Backyard

Many of you have emailed asking to see more of the outdoor spaces around our home.  Well . . . here ya go. 

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Several years ago we built this multi-functional Potting Shed in the backyard.  We love the look of the cedar shakes!  We store bird seed behind the red doors.  Clay pots & soil are kept handy for transplanting on the handy top surface above the doors. Rakes & long handled tools are stored in the barrel inside the opening.  

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We attach leather straps to our favorite tools and keep them handy by hanging them from an old Tobacco Stick drying rack.

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Since our property is mostly ledge, raised beds are a necessity.  Here we have beds for Runner Beans, Cukes, Zucchini, Squash, Peppers & Tomatoes. 

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We recently reworked Sasha’s Garden with old brick around the beds.  The backdrop is Quince, which produces gorgeous salmon colored flowers in the Spring.  Nestled in the beds are Peonies, Coral Bells, Wild Irises, Chocolate plants & Catmint.  Self seeding Forget-Me-Nots & thyme spread between the bricks. 

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Two Cherry trees mark the entrance to the raised beds.  Inside ~ White Irises, Dianthus, Columbine, False Indigo, Bee Balm & Catmint are in bloom.  You will notice that at the base of the trees we made a ring of old bricks to make trimming & weeding easier.  Inside the ring we planted Forget-Me-Nots. 

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In the center of the raised beds a cement birdbath entices birds on hot days for a drink or a dip in the “pool.”  The fan tailed pigeon statuary is one of our favorites and in winter, rather than stow it away we bring it inside to admire.   

Monday, July 6, 2009

Garden Delights

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Clockwise from the upper left hand corner –

A curious cement mouse sits atop the weathered Adirondack chair that is nestled amongst the ferns. 

The Potting Shed is centrally located and stocked with pots & tools for planting.

This terra cotta Rooster pokes its head out from the flowering Catmint.

Tomatoes ripen on the vine in one of the many cedar barrels in the backyard.

Bittersweet winds it way up the post to find this antique birdhouse.

A metal wagon wheel rests in front of the lichen covered rocks surrounding the secret garden.

Dipper gourds are drilled and transformed into birdhouses.

A recycled white picket fence holds back the quince in Sasha’s garden.

The stone birdbath gives the birds a place to bathe & cool off on hot days.

Hollyhocks, in shades of white, cream & light pink make a wonderful backdrop in Sable’s herb garden.

Black-eyed Susans add a splash of color throughout the raised beds.