Kaseys Korner

made for shade

Back to containers this AM.  I have six containers in my front yard and six in the back.  This is a very workable number for me.  I've had many more some years and I've decided fewer are better (at least for now).  I also prefer bigger containers, small pots sitting around are not my thing and I like to mix up the contents every year (with the exception of this 'black magic' elephant ear ~ he's one of my "regulars").  My planting mantra is, "the more the merrier".  Although this must be a bad angle because it doesn't look like I stuffed so much into the container pictured.  It's a case of looks being deceiving, you'll just have to trust me.  I will be posting additional photos further into the season because none of my containers has "peaked" yet.  This one will be enormous by Sept. ~ check out the photo below of a previous years version.  I think it spanned about 4 feet??  Back to the 2008 model tho, I started with a 16" wide container, my 'black magic' stand-by was planted in the center, then a croton (houseplant most of the time) nestled next to it, after that, (around the outside) I added 'Sweet Caroline Bronze" potato vine (Ipomoea), 'Creme Brulee' Coral Bells (Heuchera), 'Rustic Orange' coleus, New Guinea impatiens (which recently replaced non-performing mimulus) and another Lime green potato vine.  Okay that's not so much, is it?  I have learned to examine my pots mid summer, pull out whatever isn't working and replace (usually catching the 50% off sales).  There's still time left for the new plants to fill in and for the container to achieve "spectacular" status.  That's what I aim for, don't you?

just......can't......stop....

painting, that is.  lol  What did you think I was going to say?!  In the last few days, I've started photographing some of my containers ~ as I was snapping one of this little pedestal combo, I realized it's also another one of my painting projects.  Oops.  Thought I had posted all of those!  I am a maniac with a spray can, I'm telling you.  I bought a cheap pedestal (from Hobby Lobby for those familiar with the store ~ love that place!), then primed and sprayed it glossy black to match the container I already had.  It looks like the two came as an elegant set now, doesn't it?  It sits on my front step and is my version of the stunning "blue & yellow" cover on Fine Gardenings "Container gardening" special issue (although there is not much blue showing at the moment).  I'll have to revisit this container as the saliva begins to bloom and give you a detailing of the plants included.  For now, just check out my handiwork!!

splotches of color

Hurray ~ all the painting is done.  I had two additional projects to scrape and repaint and I've finally finished them up and can share them.  The first one is my rocker.  As you can see, I did not take a new photo ~ how could it get any better than this one with my cat all in a huff??  For the record, he was majorly annoyed with me because I hauled him out of a comfortable position in the house to plop him on the seat (thinking he would make the photo more interesting).  Ha.  Never, ever, ever decide where a cat is best suited (or use them as a photo prop if it isn't their idea).   Not cool.  Any who, back to the rocker ~ I repainted it the same "eggplant" color (since it was also peeling) ~ isn't it pretty especially with my containers as a backdrop??   Now that I've used the oil based primer, I'm hoping painting the chairs won't be a yearly chore but can extend to every several years?? 

Lastly, my vintage toolbox got a once over with "sunshine" yellow spray.  It looks so cheery now, much better than the plain wood & metal it was.  I really did a terrible job preparing it for paint ~ as in ~ nothing.(no sanding, no priming, etc.)  Just plain lazy spraying.  I figure if it peels it will just contribute to that "aged" look that's so popular now.  So there you have it, these, combined with my key lime chairs, complete my garden painting (at least for this season). 

vintage joy

There's been some major "happy dancing" happening around our house in the last 24 hours.  All because I had the good fortune to "happen upon" the coolest thing for my yard yesterday.  I'm still pinching myself!  (and making hundreds of trips outside to "ooh" and "aah" over it)  Please don't hold it against me ~ I know how it feels to wonder why I don't stumble across neat stuff ~ but I can't say that anymore!  Okay, are you ready?  I mean really ready???  (it's just that fantastic!!)  drum roll, please.......

Ta Da!!!!!!!!  Isn't it absolutely, positively, the most beautiful vintage birdfeeder EVER??   If it's possible to be in love with an inanimate object, then I'm 100% completely smitten.  As in head over heels.  Woo hoo. 

love me a big brother

I've been working furiously in my garage today, trying to clean out and get ready for a tag sale all at the same time.  (How does so much "stuff" accumulate in such a short period of time)??  As I was sorting and creating new piles I thought of a lesson I learned in childhood, compliments of my older brother.  My parents had assigned all four of us (children) the task of cleaning up the yard after a windstorm or tree trimming event??  Not sure what happened anymore ~ I just remember tons & tons of branches strewn all over the place.  We were supposed to cut them down into wood piles, kindling piles, etc.  I also remember standing in the middle of the mess thinking we were never, EVER, in our whole entire lives, going to finish this chore and get to play again.  We might have been 10, 8, 6 & 4 yrs of age at the time??  Anyway (here's where the lesson occurred), in a flash of brillance, our older brother directed us to haul all the branches into a few big piles.  Once we had done that, it created the effect that we had made tremendous progress and we were showered with praise for working so hard at the dinner table that evening (as much as praise was showered in our family).  I have never forgotten that first exposure to reorganization.  Since that day, I've employed that technique many times with the same success (probably why I thought of it today) wondering if it might help?!!!  I don't think so (I think it's going to take more than moving stuff around this time) but a belated thank you Joe (he's the one on the left).  I betcha never knew you taught me that!!

updating 123

Today seems like a good solid day for updates.  At least that's what I woke up thinking for some crazy reason.  Remember these chairs from an earlier post??  Well, I am happy (and relieved) to report that I will be painting said chairs today.  Whew.  After what seems like countless miserable hours spent scraping, sanding, scraping, sanding, scraping, sanding, (you get the picture) I have gotten *most* of the key lime color removed and am ready to prime and repaint.  I discovered the reason they peeled in the first place was because I used a water based primer instead of an oil based primer.  Learn from my mistakes friends!  You definitely don't want to spend your precious summer hours doing what I've been doing.  BUT, now the fun begins.  I am thinking *watermelon* is the new color.  Although looking at this picture, the key lime was very pretty.  ugh.  to stay with key lime??  or switch to watermelon??  or use the four cans of *marigold* I already purchased before changing my mind the thousandth time?   Whatever the color it has to coordinate with the pillows pictured because I refuse to buy new ones again.  Those are the perimeters.  Limiting my options is a good thing else the decision would be even harder and likely drag on forever!  Primer is definitely going on today tho, paint color will most likely be determined at the home improvement store.....

A second exciting update ~ the bloom spikes on the foxtail lilies are finally big enough to reveal a hint at their color.  It's either white or yellow.  I'm thinking yellow...

The final update of the day, my baby robins have all left the nest.  They left in stages.  I think just to add additional stress to their already exhausted parents (adolescents are like that, aren't they?).  Two wobbled out on Sunday, the third on Tuesday and the final baby took a deep breath and teetered off the ledge this morning.  I hope I see at least one of them back in my yard soon.

purple and orange

Sharing a teensy view of my garden this morning.  This is what you see as you come around the north side of the house toward the front step.  Planted in the black container is my prized salmon Brugmansia (I hope it blooms earlier than it did last year), lime potato vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Marguerita'), and a purple verbena.  My red hot pokers (Kniphofia) are beginning to bloom in the background and the Zauschneria arizonica foliage is intermingled there also.  The latter won't bloom until later in the summer but it looks like my purple/orange color scheme will be perpetuated.  I didn't even consciously plan that which makes it all the better.  Gazing at the photo (as I'm posting) I think it could be an even better composition if the background pot were a bolder color instead of blending so closely with my house.  Something to work towards.  We gardeners always need that, right?! 

being neighborly

Doncha just love a great neighbor???  On my evening walk last night, I stopped to smell one of my neighbors peony bushes (hers are fully open, mine just starting) and just like magic, she came out the front door, scissors in one hand, a bunch of lilacs in the other.  A few snips later, I was headed home with a gorgeous, completely unexpected, peony/lilac bouquet!  How sweet was that?   This morning I am lovin' the way my great room is being perfumed by her beautiful flowers.  That simple act of kindness, sure did spread a lot of joy.  A lesson to remember.

Soul Music

Weekend project.  Just my speed ~ completed in under an hour!  I decided there was no way I could ever move this gorgeous monster pot around if I filled it with potting soil so I opted to convert it into a fountain instead.  It was the easiest thing ever to do.  I have another pot (cheap plastic) inside this one filled with water & housing the pump.  I cut a 3" hole in the middle of the plastic saucer to connect the pump & spray head and to allow the water to drain down and recirculate.  Because I didn't want to drill a hole in my clay pot, I just ran the electric cord out the side of the saucer.  Lastly the river rock was added (to help conceal some of that plastic and for sound effects).  I wish I could claim the clever idea as my own invention but alas, I copied it after seeing one on a garden tour quite a few years back.  I've had a version of it ever since, housed in different containers, but this is hands down the most attractive yet.  It's (unfortunately) my only water feature but definitely one of the best things I've ever added to my yard.  It's the perfect balm for a crazy world, a combination of soothing but energizing sound.   Plug and play.  Aaaahhhhhh.   

Refreshing Friday

After violent weather yesterday, (a tornado touched down & caused tremendous destruction very nearby) it's nice to start the holiday weekend off on a calmer note.  Skies are blue and cloudless, hopefully the atmosphere is more stable too.  I have finally gotten all my plants (well, there are a few stragglers but that won't take long to remedy) settled in the ground or in containers.  Now I'm hoping to enjoy a quiet Memorial Day weekend.   Enjoy!