Welcome to the House Fur blog about living happily with pets and plants! I share my tips for living healthy and happy with dogs, cats, and over 100 houseplants.
This time, we looked for some great elements for landscape design and these succulent landscape design ideas are no exception.
We recently spruced up our front porch. The exterior of our house has been a work in progress for the past year or so and the porch really needed a little boost. Last fall, we replaced our old shutters with custom built (by me) cedar shutters. I built them from cedar fence boards, sanded and stained them with MinWax Provincial stain and then two coats of MinWax Helmsman Spar Urethane. They really changed the overall look of the house. I wish I had taken a "before" photograph of the porch, but the one above is the best I could come up with. You can see the traditional white columns just weren't cutting it with the new stained shutters, so our next project was to replace them with stained posts and porch brackets. We priced cedar posts and they were pretty expensive. My dad suggested we use treated pine posts. Good move. The four 6"x6" treated posts were around $20 each. We ended up purchasing two additional 6"x6" posts that my Dad used to make the porch brackets. After we installed them, we let them "dry out" for a month or so before we stained and sealed them the same way we did the shutters. I built this table from 2"x3" boards for the base and 2"x6" boards for the top. It was my first furniture build and was fairly simple. I love the way it filled the space to the right of the front door. I filled these great planters I found at T.J. Maxx with variegated ivy and geraniums. I've always wanted a haint blue porch ceiling, so we repainted the bead board with Benjamin Moore's Palladian Blue (HC-144). We also added patio string lights at are from Wal-Mart's Better Homes & Gardens line. These planters aren't technically on the porch, but the side of the house, but I couldn't exclude them. I found these really big containers at Big Lots and filled them with sun ferns, variegated ivy, geraniums and sweet potato vine. And finally, we also gave our old mailbox a redo too! I stripped the paint from the post and stained it to match the shutters and porch posts. I gave the mailbox a fresh coat of black paint and added brushed nickel house numbers to the post. Then a sun fern and variegated ivy in a pot finished it up.
Flower Container Gardening Ideas that are beautiful and lush. Easy to grow flower planters that will inspire your home's flower container gardening ideas.
With spring here and summer not far behind, now is the time to get your outdoor area tidy and clutter free - perfect for entertaining friends and family!
The sun is out, the birds are singing and my thumb is getting greener by the day. It has been absolutely gorgeous the past few days and I have been using any excuse to be outside and stay ou…
Basing this planter’s design on so many red plants makes an impressive impact. The diverse shapes let each red plant hold its own, while creeping Jenny and ‘Lineatum’ New Zealand […]
How to Make the Perfect DIY Artificial Succulent Arrangement
If you’re short on space outdoors but still have a green thumb, than a container garden is ideal for you. You can use a pot or deep container to grow your favorite plants in. Container gardens can be grown indoors or outside. They just need a warm sunny spot so your plants can flourish. Some…Read more →
I was starting from scratch this year when it came to getting containers planted. Up until last year, I had Geraniums that were 5 and 6 years old, as I would winter them in our basement. So last week I went looking for some container pot inspiration. I was mostly interested in plant varieties that would work for full sun. I do have some shady spaces that I will get to later, but my first round has been for the deck, lower patio, and a large concrete container for the front courtyard. When I'm hunting for inspiration, the first place I head is Pinterest. You'll find all the sources for these beautiful plantings on my Pinterest Board, Flowers, Plants, and Containers I really love this mix of pinks and yellows with Lantana, Million Bells, and Trailing Geraniums. These next three are from Yvonne at Stone Gable. Love the wonderful, colorful mix! I like to use Geraniums as the main attraction, then fill in with plants that will be trailing. Having a variety of containers makes it more fun. This oversized galvanized vintage tub, is perfect for a large selection. The formula for a balanced container planting is for "Thriller, Filler, and Spiller". That would be something that's upright and attention grabbing, then a "filler" for the midsection, and then the "spiller", which would be the trailing varieties. Using "shades" of pinks, reds, and purples are fun, but this year I chose to use a varied assortment of crazy color. Love this urn with a variety of Geraniums, Creeping Charlie, and Verbena. Here is one pot that I worked on last week. It looks a little bare in spots, but once they start growing, it will quickly fill in. Please Pin any pics from my Pinterest Board, (thanks a bunch) I'll be back on Friday to share what I've been working on, See you tomorrow evening for joining in at Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style Share Your Style at Common Ground Treasure Hunt at From My Front Porch to Yours Share Your Cup at Mrs. Olson's xoxo,
A few weeks ago I designed some planters for the entrance of a “sophisticated comfort” food store on a busy street in Ottawa. Although their signature colour is red, I decided to avoi…
Looking to grow clematis in hanging baskets? In this interview with internationally renowned clematis grower Ray Evison, we look at 3 varieties of clematis suitable for hanging planters.
The way to start Gardening For Beginners is using planters. How to tips on where to place planters, what plants to look for, and how to arrange them.
Do your planters look sad and tired when the dog days of summer arrive? We’ve got 6 simple tricks to keep your containers looking their best all season.
Flowing flowers, placed in pots or planters can be the ideal solution because they beautify windows, walls, stairs and generally outdoor spaces, giving them life.
Check out these photos of showstopping garden accents invented by Pamela Crawford! Color impact that is unsurpassed in container gardens.
The keynote speaker at this year's Wisconsin state Master Gardener Conference was Dan Heims, president of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., a ...
Spring is coming, slowly but surely. I can’t wait for the good weather so I can get outside and tackle my gardens!! Adam & I spent the whole weekend cleaning out our garage and storage ro…
Explore mortman33's 34 photos on Flickr!
There is not enough space for some pretty planters at home? Don’t worry. Hanging planter ideas can help you out. Hanging small planters is one of the creative ways to save the space for your home. It is one of the pretty decorations for your place as well. Today, prettydesigns
Enjoy blooms all season long with our best container garden ideas and plant suggestions. Find beautiful inspirations to adorn your porches and patios.
This reader always wows with her wonderful container combinations. Check out some of her designs for fantastic container ideas.
It seems incomprehensible to me that I have given basically no thought to container plantings this year. By this time of the year I usually know exactly what I’ll be doing in all of my containers, but I’m just first starting to think about it now. Certainly the weather is partly to blame, but I’ve […]
Whoah...Where does the time go?? Spring sprung and Summer swiftly sizzled away. I know we have been absent on our blog, but we have been busy as bees for the past few months!! Enjoy some pictures below of some of our work from spring plantings. As the dog days of summer are winding down, we know that container and flower bed plantings can start to look tired. We can refresh with warm weather annuals to last until the first frost, or we can prep and give your pots a rest until fall annuals are ready in late September or early October. It's just too hot for mums, pansies, and violas (try to ignore them when you see them in retail stores!!) Shady awesomeness...Ferns, Angel Wing Begonias, Miss Muffet Caladiums, Torenia Ivy Topiaries and Torenia Sasanqua Camellia, Heuchera, and Angel Wings Loving that Kimberly Queen Ferns take SUNSHINE! Color explosion with Mandevilla vine, Verbena, Petunias, and Calibrachoa Fantastic Boxwood 3-ball Topiaries Love, love, love replanting this every season. Ferns and Ivy stay year round and allow enough room for seasonal color. I'll have my boxwood topiary with a view of downtown and Stone Mountain, please! Loving Torenia this year!! Torenia and New Guinea Impatiens loving this raised garden! Sleepy Boykin Spaniels My most favorite hanging basket every year!
Growing amaryllis in glass jars on a window sill is one way to keep the spirit of the garden going on in the winter months. That said, gardeners like me are hard to persuade. Those who insist that the garden is over at that moment we have a hard frost are selling their
Get creative with these outdoor garden container pot combinations and tips including the best dirt and fertilizers to use and plant combination suggestions.
Create beautiful shade garden pots with easy shade loving plants & flowers. 16 colorful mixed container plant lists & great design ideas for shade gardens!
Having been in the design business; garden/exterior/interior...and what-ever-else-i-can-put-on-my-plate, .... for 23 years, I thought it would be fun to take you through garden design process. I will be guiding you as I would a client. Principles can be gleaned from this series wether you are re-doing your grounds, starting from scratch or dressing up a bed or two. Here is my Geneva, Il. shop, Scentimental Gardens, as we found it. I had to have driven past this building thousands of times, really.......but, I never "saw" it. Dark, overgrown yews, blah. All the lawn and all the yews were removed, walkways were added, fencing, flowers.......Oh yes, and painted. Please note I would never recommend this color scheme to a client, but to gain attention on a busy street, it does the trick! So where do we begin? Always with the exterior of the home, always. Potential clients are surprised when they call and one of my first questions is "What is the architectural style of your home?" It matters. It sets a tone for the direction of the design. It's existing colors matter and certain architectural elements matter. And that is the key; the home and the garden should blend and compliment one another. The home above does not have a defining architectural style......so, we can give it one. This home and garden could go Cottage, Nantucket, Arts & Crafts, Tudor, to name a few. Being "Exterior Stylists", we can explore how shutters, lighting, new windows, a door, and such, can transform a home, should that be desired. Let's look at some distinct styles and their complimentary gardens Shingle. Originating in mid coastal New England. The grounds say beach. There may not be a beach but the gardens reflect the typical setting Source: acquiredobjects.blogspot.com via Debra on Pinterest French. The lamps, the stone, and the colors are reflected in the containers and the plantings. Always keeping in mind that this is a more feminine style. In other words......NO ORNAMENTAL GRASSES! Cottage. The grounds are informal and seemingly haphazard, multiple containers, and the path to the door is equally informal and color appropriate Pueblo. Indigenous plants found in the southwest, including deep colors, otherwise the home would fade. The crunch of gravel, the steppers blend with the stucco. Nothing formal should be present here. Southern Colonial. Colorful, the sound of water, the lighting is appropriately sized, formality and informality. Another example is studying the lines of the home. See the elliptical curves on the windows? Those curves are repeated in the hardscape and planting lines An excellent example of a well done design; -the front door is the symmetrical focal point. -the bit players are perfect; shutters and containers match. -back to the containers; their style replicates the door. The boxwoods repeats what is in the ground -the lanterns are again perfect in size -the brick......and the mortar, yes even that small detail, blend with the homes colors. What garden style do you like? Here is an example of tailored informal. Source: Uploaded by user via Debra on Pinterest Formal Source: houzz.com via Debra on Pinterest A blend; formally sheared boxwood and a relaxed style of flowers Colors? All one colored flowers Source: pinkpersimmon.tumblr.com via Debra on Pinterest An all green garden Source: blogs.courant.com via Debra on Pinterest Riots of color You are mad about pruning? Then I could plan this for you! Take a look at the shutters and door, they exemplify the varying shades of green. The pea gravel path goes with the brick Source: search.har.com via Debra on Pinterest List your favorite plants. Shrubs, trees, flowers, groundcover......... When is the bloom time? If everything blooms in mid-summer only, there is a problem. Source: flickr.com via Debra on Pinterest Grasses.......And think about your hardscape choices. What do you like? What would compliment your home by repeating a stone or color on the ground? In the rear garden how will you use your space? Would you envision decking? Entertain frequently? Seeking an intimate conversation area Source: gardenofflowers.tumblr.com via Debra on Pinterest Do you envision your space to be a "living" area? Source: Uploaded by user via Debra on Pinterest Containers......oh the possibilities! Again, the size, color & style and the type of plants should be complimentary. If a container worked at your last home, it may not in your new home. Multiple containers? (say yes) Where can we place them? The possibilities are fun and creative Source: dyingofcute.tumblr.com via Debra on Pinterest And lastly, the accessories, those items that reinforce the style, that reflect your personality, that sets your garden apart...........stay tuned......... Source: charlottetrounce.co.uk via Debra on Pinterest If I can ever be of assistance, we can come to your home, irregardless of where you live (New Zealand would be lovely!) and/or we can provide a design and assistance on line. Want to come? We would love to have you join us. Click the link below for information Fondly, Debra http://5thandstate.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-03-08T13:44:00-06:00&max-results=7
deborahsilver With fall just around the corner and most summer containers looking a little more than tired, now is the perfect time to revamp, refurbish and refresh for fall. To the ever popular mum display, try working in a new plant or combination of plants to add subtle color variations as well as texture, or go completely big and bold with a wonderful array to reds and oranges, all available in some of the late flowering annuals and perennials still for sale. pocketfullofposeys photobucket nationalbureau cmrinteriors cmrintereiors pocketfullofposeys deborahsilver flowergardengirl bunnings golden creeping jenny commons Coleus Orange Sunset container gardening Coral Bells Amethyst Myst containergardening Ornamental Kale farmacre Moneywort or Creeping Jenny Hostas Direct Amber Waves staticflicker Persian Shield greenfusephotos Ornamental Burgandy Millet provenwinners Licorice Plant loghouseplnts Coleus rockwallgardens sedum timberpress sedum burrito imagejuicy Dusty Miller swbiodiversity Gomphrena wetravelandeat Gold Feather Celosa allthingsplnats Celosa If interested in replicating any of these wonderful container designs, drop me a line and I will gladly walk you through it. If you would like to add a more Classical feel to your garden please contact me for further information at [email protected]
