I was so busy making grammatical errors in the last post that I completely forgot to mention I did a tiny amount of planting in the backyard as well.
We actually have a small but pretty evergreen (read: near impossible to kill) garden on the ground level. I can't find a recent photo of it but you can see a glimpse in
this post from last year. You'll have to take my word for it but its very much alive and well.
But the deck was seriously lacking in foliage. Once again admiting my lack of skills in this department, I went with something really simple. I got some rail mounts and two long boxes and filled them with white petunias.
Unlike my front yard, this back area gets full southern sun so its going to require I actually remember to water these things. Its not perfect - wooden or zinc boxes would have been much prettier, it could use some trailing vines to add some interest, etc. But its something. Lets see if I can keep these poor guys alive for long.
I did go off the rails a little bit while plant shopping. Behind the rows of other things, I found a single container of Ranunculus - one of my favorite flowers of all time. I searched high and low for more but found just this one.
I planted it in a white pot and put it on the marble table. It won't last long but its my new favorite thing.
Speaking of not being perfect, I really need to spray paint my candle chandelier. I thought I could get away with it just like this but its rusting a bit already so something must be done. I'm torn on the color - should I do white or more of a fun pop color?
Hmmm..i think I've reached my max capacity for garden posts. I'm a bit at a loss of what to post about next. So for anyone still reading - I'm taking requests. What would you like to see next?
You are telling us about all the "warts" in your pictures, but all I see is pretty! I just love your little patio set and those pretty petunias. I would love to sit and have a lunch or supper there. YOur patio is really very very beautiful. YOu are so blessed to have a nice area in your yard. I am so happy I visited today!
ReplyDeleteYvonne
Good luck with the south facing flowers, I kill loads every year in our front garden. I would love to see a post on how you organise your clothes. I am imagining a lovely dressing room with everything just so?
ReplyDeleteWe are about to plant 200 ranunculus so I am with you on those. Hope I don't kill them before spring!! The chandelier is lovely in white. (but that maybe because I can see such a pretty face in it in that shot!!!!) You know how you can look at something and see something else? Well the face has big eyes, sticky out ears and has a pointed hat, the mouth is the windowsill of the building in the background!!!!! I'm not really mad!!!!! May I borrow the image?
ReplyDeletePetunias are easy to grow. Just pinch off the dead flowers and give them some water. Your backyard is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteNice, love the flowers! I was hoping you could post a how to on the Blurb book. I was inspired to finish the gift for my husband I was telling you about thanks to your post, so I got to work yesterday. Originally I was doing layouts of Photoshop and just adding them to each page, but thanks to your book I decided to add pages like yours where all the pictures touch, but I can't find a layout that allows me to do that with the Blurb book. Help, please?
ReplyDeleteWell you veritable garden gal, you!
ReplyDeleteTake a pic of your stained glass window....and show us.(thoughts for a post)
Linda: I don't have a stained glass window. Are you mixing me up with someone else?
ReplyDeleteMillie: Most of the layouts are already in the Blurb software. (Look under picture layouts). Where I needed to, I made my own templates but its very simple (click edit). I'll let you know what I think of the book when it arrives.
Julienne: No clue what you are seeing but borrow away.
Amy: Oh no, I am the most disorganized person when it comes to my closets. Imagine piles of random clothes everywhere with old clothing stuffed on mismatched hangers. Trust me - nothing you ever want to see.
Definitely a color on your candle chandelier!
ReplyDeleteLove the planting. You are doing a great job. So have no fear. Just water the plants (particularly the petunias with that southern exposure) regularly. And pinch off the dead blossoms on the petunias and they'll look great all summer. If you get the "wave petunia" variety they will grow and fall softly over the edge of the planter boxer. They really can be quite pretty and easy to care for which is always a plus in my book. We bought a home with almost 3/4 acre. So we are learning the hard way about lawns, weeds, flower planting and invasive plants as well (our property backs up to a wetland)! I sometimes wonder why we did it but the rewards of a pretty garden is sure worth it. Enjoy the fruits of your labor, Mrs. Limestone. It looks BEAUTIFUL!!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like I read somewhere (Apartment Therapy, maybe?) that paying more for bigger, established plants offers more success for porch plantings. It makes sense and might be worth pondering...
ReplyDeleteFor future posts I'd love to see more Brooklyn areas you love - restaurants, markets, hotels, front stoops/yards you wish you had, etc. Your photos often capture points of view not often seen or noticed. Also, maybe posts on how you make every-day stuff special (fancy dinner settings, Sunday coffee alfresco, a pedicure with rhinestone butterflies, making the cat wear a hat...). Finally, I think it might be fun for you to do a random daily photo similar to that book where the two ladies on opposite coasts took a photo each morning(http://search.barnesandnoble.com/A-Year-of-Mornings/Maria-Vettese/e/9781568987842/?itm=1&USRI=a+year+of+mornings). You could maybe even ask some of your favorite bloggers to participate!
Where did you get those fabulous chairs?! (Or did you already cover that?)
ReplyDeleteI vote for a pop of color on the chandy. I don't know why, but I can't stop thinking eggplant or blue-ish green?
Kelly
I kinda have to tip toe into gardening, too. I never know if I'll remember to water and what to plant for our dry heat. But at first glance, those planters look lovely!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm pretty organized and tidy, but always looking for suggestions. My biggest problems seem to be the everyday stuff that accumulates. What do you do with the everyday stuff? handbags, keys, wallets, shoes, socks, jackets. Are these things ever randomly lying around your house?
ReplyDeleteAlso interested in your everyday cooking. You feature a lot of parties and get togethers, but are there any favorite recipes or things you make on weeknights for just the two of you?
I am obsessed with ranunculas!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your blog! I'm a fellow Brooklynite too (we live a little north from you, closer to Target). This might be kinda weird, but any chance you will be interested in a beautiful Bombay & Co wrought/scroll iron shelf? Your chandy has a similar look so I thought maybe you'll be interested. You'll have to spray-paint it to use it outdoors, but it'll be really cute to display more potted plants (I have faith in you!) :) You can contact me for pics. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love your "out back"!
ReplyDeleteAwesome back porch/yard. Very well done.
ReplyDeleteI always like your DIY or art posts, so that's what I'd request :)
I love your design work with invitations, etc and would love to more of those items.
ReplyDeleteI love white petunias!
ReplyDeleteBetween the peonies, ranuculus and lilacs out right now, I am in heaven! Though I just like to arrange flowers...not grow em! :)
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! Something about flowers that puts a big smile on your face! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKristinXO
I like your garden posts...it makes me feel good that I'm at least thinking about my garden, if not working in it! I say keep doing what you're doing - we all love reading it! As for specific requests, how about outdoor rugs. I'm having the worst time finding great ones!
ReplyDeleteFlowers make everything better, huh?!!? What do you think about a bold shade of blue for the chandelier?
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to quickly leave a message and tell you that my boyfriend and I did your Brooklyn tour today and really loved it! The best part was that, after walking through Prospect Park, we stumbled on your house! Ofcourse we (I) couldn't resist and rang your doorbell. A very surprised Luke opened the door and invited us in to see the house 'live'. It was such a great experience and your husband was so nice to us, I just had to let you know!
Thanks again for the wonderful tour. The only thing that we found slightly inconvenient was the way you directed us to the Promenade. We found s shortcut from Old Fulham to Henry St which was a shorter walk and our feet were very thankful!
That's it!
XX Anne Floor (and Frits) from Holland
The flowers look lovely! I hung ferns in our 1800's farmhouse that we just moved into...talk about not perfect. Haha!
ReplyDeleteLovely back yard. I like the table and chairs.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see a post on your cat. I have not heard about the cat since you made him the cat bed but I could have missed a post here and there.
Paint the chandy a color! White is nice, but color says summer fun. All of your posts are so wonderful, I couldn't begin to suggest the next one. Although, I always love seeing photos of you and your hubby! It's nice to see the person behind the post on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteI love your back yard and deck and am so glad you posted pics! I never grow tired of seeing photos of your home, how you decorate each room and DIY projects. Your home is so beautiful! :-)
ReplyDeleteI think it looks really lovely. But... if you would like some inspiration for your containers, I got this book by the editors at Fine Gardening Magazine last year and it helped a ton!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_19?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=container+gardening+250+design+ideas+%26+step-by-step+techniques&sprefix=Container+Gardening
You can see a picture of what I was able to achieve in this post:
http://40daysof.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/7-quick-takes-friday-4/
How about some pots of geraniums? They tolerate lack of watering quite well.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog through design sponge. Love it! I wish I could do a remodel like that, but I can live vicariously through you! One thought on the planter boxes. I would say add more (the idea about the wave petunias was great and you don't have to dead head them), but I would hang the boxes on the other side of the rail. That way you get the flowers, but you won't have to see the planters or bump into them. Either way...keep up the great work.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear how hard it is living with the marble in your bath. Do you worry about stains? What do you use to clean it?
ReplyDeleteWe are getting marble for our bath but I'm scared I'll ruin it.
Ranunculus are my fav, too!! I had a vase of orange ones mixed with white tulips a few weeks ago, it was such a pretty sight!!
ReplyDeleteAhhh gorgeous! Where'd you get that white bench in the top pic? it's so pretty! If you're interested, Gilt Home is having an Alfresco themed Room of the Month contest on their FB page. The winner gets their pic on Gilt Home's Facebook and $250 Gilt Credit. Here's a link to the contest (http://on.fb.me/k1fJQH). Great job!
ReplyDeleteGardener's Supply (gardeners.com) sells self-watering window boxes, hanging pots, and planters. Since I live in Colorado, I need to water every day when the temperature is 80° or higher. I've read of gardeners in wetter climates finding that once a week works. These could be your answer.
ReplyDelete