Busy Busy Busy!

So I've been busy working in the garden and other projects around the house plus going back to school for Horticulture so I've been kind of busy!

But here are a couple images from my garden!



I love love love my allium and blood grass!

 







Earlier this year we transplanted my climbing rose bushes and weren't sure they were going to  make it but  there strong and beautiful!!!





New to me Chairs!

   Hey guy i know its been a while! The weathers been beautiful outside and I've been super busy! Here is one of my little projects.


I bought these vintage chairs for $5 at a yard sale! They were in perfect condition they just needed a little paint!



Why i chose blue i have no idea, I think its that theres nothing else in my home blue and thought it might be neat to have them kind of stand out! The great thing with these chairs is there super easy to paint and re-assemble so i can change the colors as often as I change my mood! 



DIY Bird Fedders!

I hate throwing away things so when I saw this I knew I had to do it, best of all  I just cut a orange in half give it to the chicken and 15 minutes later the orange is completely cleaned out and with no mess!!! Also there light weight so they won't weigh down your tree branch's!

You can find step by step directions here

http://www.hgtv.com/gardening/natural-handmade-bird-feeders/index.html

Climbers

    I recently purchased a clematis vine that needs a home to grow on i don't want to just buy any old trellis thought since its going to be in the front yard I'm debating on just building one... So to get some ideas i set out on a search, heres a couple ideas...

the-grackle.blogspot.com

This is the one that I'm Leaning towards, one because i like the modern clean lines and i because i think i can make this!

I like the modern craftsman design of these ones best thing is you can find them at Lowes pre-made!

loudonperryanderson.com

Now I love this one i just don't know if it would go with the exterior design of the home!

DIY weedkiller

I like using thing i already have at home to do things it less expensive and this recipe is safer for the environment, i found this recipe in one of my favorite gardening books Garden Any were by Alys Fowler


All you need is:

4 Cups of vinegar
Half a cup of Salt
A couple Tbsp's of dish soap

Once the salt is completely dissolved you can either spray or wipe it on the leave of the weeds, now be careful can be deadly to surrounding plants. It also works best in sunny conditions.

Living Wall



This is my first attempt at a living wall i just used all old material i  had laying around the house.



I used a old picture frame i had in my shed for the frame. I covered the top in moss to keep moister in the soil and to hide the nylons hopefully the plants will fill in so i won't need it anymore.

                



 

Under the moss i used old nylons to keep the soil more in tacked, I used chicks and hen and 2 other typed of succulents i had from my garden.




I used some gardening mesh and a layer or phone book paper for the back. I'm going to cover the back with a plastic to keep the moister off the wall. I have to give the succulents a couple weeks to root before i hang it.



Sowing Seeds

I have finally begun sowing seeds indoors this season so far i have cabbage that will soon be transplanted out side and cilantro! I like reusing container these are planted in yogurt cups, Now not all seeds like to be sow inside some prefer to be sow direct in to the ground.
Here are a couple of examples.


 Directly in the ground:
Carrots, beets, & radish

Sow either in containers trays or directly in the ground:
 Lettuce,peas, beans,squash,zucchini & melons

Sow only in containers or trays:
Tomatoes,cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, onions and basil

 .

Molding

  Now I'm on  a search to find the perfect size and type of molding for the exterior of our house, all i know is i want it to look some what craftsman and simple... So of course i have been searching online, theres so many options!



thisoldhouse.com
I Love this house!




doorsbydecora.net

Like the detail on the top of the molding and the beautiful craftsman door!





tarpapercrane.comCute! We have to do our pillar too and I think this is how were going to do it!

 


teamaguilar.com

Like this one beacuse its a thick molding and super simple!



Update

So we have finished painting the body of the house, greys are difficult!!! Some times the house looks grey and some times tan, either way its better then it started. I now just have to finish with adding the trim and painting the new shutters. Once i'm completely done i'll show you some before and afters.

Another Force bloom

I tried another option for more force blooms Its a great idea to do it through out the spring growing season with different shrubs and trees to bring  a little color to your home. This time i used a purple leaf plum shrub and a branch from my red bud tree.

There still at the early stages, not fully bloomed yet!

Beautiful pink flowers from the plum shrub.

Cross your fingers!

    For the next couple of days me and my dear friend Elise's are going to re-paint the exterior of my home, Were crossing our fingers we have never done this before! I'll have picture once were done if everything goes as planned!

Were using a light grey on the house its graceful gray by behr.

The Front doors going to be a mustard yellow with bright white trim.

April's Garden To Do's



Our dog Rex thinks he's momma!

1. Prepare your garden beds, with peat moss or compost.

2. Plant herbs.

3. Feed your lawn.

4. Begin mowing the lawn. 

5. Sow seeds out doors like lettuce, kale and cabbage.

6. Begin cleaning and prepare surfaces that need painting.



Rainy Day

  Today and well all week has been a rainy day...and well its hard to look your best when your soaked to the bone but with a couple of these basic items your  one step closer!

This super cute raincoat is from Anthropologie, it comes in other colors too!!!

Free people umbrellas amazing!

I have and love these boots super comfy and fun, there Merona's I got mine from Target last season!

Ducklings

Today we brought home three new family members, there ducklings and there amazingly sweet! The yellow one is Opal the grey one is Chuck and the stripped on is Howard the duck.


Hi!



In their new home for a couple of weeks!




Long Day!



Flower Show

  This weekend i went to the annual flower and garden show, While there i noticed they had a bonsai and orchid exhibit, they were all gorgeous! So I thought i might share some with you!

I thought this was cute a succulent bonsai!

They had a large selection of orchids all gorgeous!

Japanese maple tree bonsai, It was about 30 years old!

Natures amazing!

Japanese Maple tree again, They were teaching classes on bonsai's as well! This one was 20 yrs old!

Spider Orchid!

Force Blooming,

  A great way to bring fresh spring color into the house before spring does is, force blooming with branchs.. It tricks the branchs into things its spring.  Simple!

Red Twig dog wood in our vintage glass milk jug we found under our house.

Once you choose and cut your branchs bring them indoors and placing the stem ends immediately in water. I used a old glass milk jug but anything will work.

Next you want to make sure the branchs get plenty of water the best method is to make a slit or two in the bottom of the stem before placing in the water. You can place alittle plant for in the water to help cocks the plant out, make sure you keep the water clean often.

Then place the branchs in bright, but indirect, light.

Some branchs you can use are Hawthorns, Honeysuckle shrub, Forsythia, Apple, Cherry or Peach trees and Lilacs. I Used a red twig Dogwood. Just experiment and have fun!

Small Garden Ideas

photoshelter.com
This is a great idea when you have a small garden, think vertical!



Sunset.com
Super cute love the color the vegetable bring to the garden space!



motiqonline.com
Very modern! Love the tiles for the patio!

Chocoretto.com
Classic country style would make a great court yard!






Thesmartset.org
This is a beautiful home and the backyard is as equaly great. love the sitting area.



A notch in a Log.

I enjoy succulents and have a couple different varieties growing in the yard, So i was thinking of some ideas were i could use them in unique ways so here is one of them.



I found this log while going threw our fire wood pile, to think we would have burned this little gem!




I filled the opening with succulent soil
 (surprisingly stays in well) then planted the succulents and covered with moss. Easy.. 



Bohemian style.

I've been doing some research online to try and get some ideas this spring for my patio! While i was on there i noticed a large amount of bohemian styles, I think i might take some notes!

@inspirebohemia.com
This one is both bohemian and feminine!

@theyellowcottage.com
This one is my favorite i love all the different textiles and how they work together! I would love to spend hours in here with the sun on my face!!!

@theyellowcottage.com
This is great! Love the plants! If only i had a sun room! Ahh in a perfect world!!

@costalliving.com
This one just has a hint of bohemian with out completely committing to the bohemian look! Love the view!

Woo Hooo!

Party its the weekend!!!!

Hangin around...

  My latest project is my hanging succulent planters. There super easy and super cheap!

First pick the succulents you want to work with i bought mine from Home Depot they were $2.89... I think.

Next i put succulent soil in a old nylon, You don't have to do this but i didn't want the soil loose in the glass container.

After I filled the nylon i placed the succulent in there.

Next since the nylons isn't very pretty i covered it with moss.

Lastly i placed it all in the glass drops i got at the craft warehouse which i think were $ 4.89 each! Super cute and super easy! They still need to be hung by the window, but I'll post that once its done!