Kaseys Korner

Flower Pot Garden Party Invites

or placecards ~ from your prodigal blogger. 

My apologies for the long unexplained absence.  My niece arrived on the 18th & left last night (28th) ~ it's been a whirlwind!  I should have given you some advanced warning but I got caught up in party planning beforehand and ran out of time. 

For so many years I've had the dream of hosting a garden party.  Partly a romantic notion but mostly because why do all this work & keep it to yourself???  Might as well share the labor of love with friends & neighbors, right??  A month ago, I decided THIS was the year (can you believe it??  Our hottest, driest year & August to boot!)  Call me crazy but host one is exactly what I've been up to!

It started a couple weeks ago with the invitations ~ flower pot assemblages created to hand out with the details:

Not too many supplies required to pull this look off. 

Here's a detailed supply list:

1 1/2" Clay Flower Pots (pkgs of six @ Hobby Lobby), Small styrofoam balls to fit inside pots, 'Chartreuse' Spanish Moss, Pkg of Memo Pins (by Tim Holtz also found at Hobby Lobby), Paper Flowers (these were by Akasha, purchased at JoAnn's), 'You're invited' Stamp (Martha Stewart), Black Inkpad, Cream cardstock, Styrofoam Glue (by Beacon)

Begin by gluing the Styrofoam balls into the flower pots:

Next, glue the spanish moss to the tops of the balls.  (I let the moss dry overnight before continuing to the next step.)

Poke a memo pin thru a paper flower then insert pin into top of moss-covered ball:

Ink the 'You're invited' Stamp using the Black Inkpad & stamp images onto cream cardstock.

I used a scalloped edge square punch around each image for a fancier look but you could also just cut the stamped images out. 

Insert stamped squares into tops of memo pins!! 

So simple I made 42!!!!

and approx 40 guests showed up!!  That was a BIG turnout for my little garden but it sure was FUN.

Party lights were strung from a gutter to the birdhouse tuteur & back to the arbor:

"Aerial" view above.   (Discovered this view totally by accident when up on the ladder clipping the lights to the gutter.)

Here's a look down the main pathway with the lights draped above the yews:

The lights were the perfect festive touch for evening (party was from 6 to 9 PM.)  People wandered about between the front & back gardens.  We served Peach Bellini's (fresh peaches pureed with Italian sparkling wine) & small finger foods. 

I have to say it was a wonderful time & I encourage any of you (who've thought of doing the same) to just do it!  You already have the beautiful gardens.  You won't regret it & I know you'll inspire your guests as well.  I'm hoping I've turned some of mine into new/more serious gardeners!! 

 

Dahlia 'Apple Blossom'

I've been waiting all summer to see you ~ favorite Dahlia of mine:

There is just something compelling about this soft color pairing.

I've tried many, many other Dahlia tubers and not a single one has stolen my heart like 'Apple Blossom:'

If I fail to winter it over, I always try to buy another. 

These are the first photos of the first bloom this year but you know they won't be the last!

p.s.  'Apple Blossom' is a collarette Dahlia (my personal tuber preference) that grows approx 4' tall.  If you are lovin' it as I do, Swan Island Dahlias is where you can get your "fix!"

July ends in the garden

Today I wanted to share a few photos of the back garden with you, taken before the start of August. 

I haven't been participating in the once a month photo meme but I realized (as I was loading the photos) maybe I actually have (unofficially) since I took some of these same shots at the end of June??

Below, view standing underneath the arbor (at the entrance to the garden:)

Reversing the view ~ standing in front of the birdhouse tuteur bed, looking back toward arbor:

The white cords you see in the photos (outlining the pathways) are white rope lights.  I turn them on at night to illuminate the garden.  It creates a beautiful (somewhat magical) effect that encourages night time viewing/visiting!  The heat this summer has made me even happier I installed them with after dark (and early mornings) being the only bearable times outdoors.

Below, same view as in photo above but at a more elevated angle:

You can see my small garden is segmented by pathways.  I'm sure many people would not find this look appealing but I LOVE the redesign (and so, might I add, do the bees, butterflies & birds!)  Since I read somewhere recently "the garden you should love the most, is your own" ~ I'd say it's working.  I never used to love my garden the most AT ALL but I am working my way in that direction now!

Below, standing behind the birdhouse tuteur looking toward the north bed (you can see the 5' spires of Agastache 'Blue Fortune' just beginning to bloom:)

Same view, moving a little closer:

I should have cleaned the birdbath before photographing! 

Below ~ view from the pathway on the opposite side of birdhouse tuteur bed:

Someone else who loves the pathway system (and thinks they were installed for him!:)

The newest bed ~ installed this spring was intended to have the Lilac standard as a focal point (it's hard to even find it below but it's behind the birdcage, if that helps.) 

As you can see, the tomato plants have more or less taken over.  My idea of mixing veggies with blooms possibly needed a bigger bed to be successful because this tangle of foliage was not what I envisioned!

At least it all appears to be happy & maybe that's all that matters??  

I feel like I've been neglecting my front garden this year (have I even shared ANY photos of it??!) but I can't seem to help it.  I like the back garden so much more ~ maybe it's time for a redesign out there??!!