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December 31, 2021

5 Family Friendly Outdoor Activities

Getting outdoors to enjoy some fresh air, to get a little exercise, and to find something beautiful in nature that makes us smile can be so important. So gather up your family and get outdoors! Try one of these five outdoor activities to explore your backyard, your neighborhood, or just about anywhere! 1. Become a citizen scientist and explore the animals and plants in your backyard Your backyard is full of creatures and plants – birds, … [Read more...]

/ Butterflies, Projects and Ideas, Tips

December 28, 2021

New Trellis for The Front of Our House

The Trellis next to two windows

2020 was the year for home renovations, wasn't it? We had the siding replaced and removed a fireplace that we never used. And many of our neighbors had remodeling work done too. We had to severely trim down the azaleas at the front of the house so that the contractors could reach the fireplace and the siding. We made the decision to remove the bushes entirely and create a new design for this spot. I was fine with removing these … [Read more...]

/ Projects and Ideas

July 11, 2017

Add Structure, Style, & Color to Your Garden with a Trellis & Flowering Vine

This content includes affiliate links. I get a small percentage of the sale for purchases made through links in this post. However, I use each product I review and only recommend those that I like and have worked well. Read my disclosure for more information. When I decided that the raised bed in my front yard needed a little height to give it added structure and color, my first though was some sort of permanent structure, whether it be … [Read more...]

/ Projects and Ideas, Reviews / container garden, projects and ideas, raised beds, reviews, vines

July 8, 2017

Landscape Solutions for the Base of Trees

These hostas look great - but you'd have to have decent soil and adequate water

Updated: July 8, 2017 Leaving the base of the tree bare can often look unkempt or out of place since it's not easy to mow right up to the edge of a tree or to even weed-eat around it carefully. Plantings or mulching around the base of the tree trunk can not only help protect roots from the mower's blades, but also make your existing trees a part of the landscape design and reduce the amount of weed-eating that is necessary. Here are some of my … [Read more...]

/ Featured, Projects and Ideas, Trees / part shade, projects and ideas, trees

June 20, 2017

Gecko Succulent Wall Planter

Gecko Succulent Wall Planter

Succulents make great living wall plants because they don't require a lot of water or care. If you pick the right succulents for your particular light conditions, you'll have a cute and interesting vertical garden on your wall! These two succulent wall planters fit the bill perfectly. I found them at the Jack Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Gecko planters at a zoo - perfect! The succulents are nested in a wire frame and rooted in peat moss … [Read more...]

/ Projects and Ideas

June 6, 2017

A Living Wall of Shade Plants in a Colorful Pattern

Living Wall at the Zoo

You never know where you will come across amazing gardening ideas or unique plants. I wouldn't necessarily think a zoo is a great place to find gardening ideas, but on a recent trip to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I came across this gorgeous display of functional landscaping. In a shady corner, near the otters and turtles, the retaining wall has been created out of shade plants in a diagonal pattern planted between the concrete … [Read more...]

/ Garden Tours, Projects and Ideas / part shade, projects and ideas, shade plants

May 27, 2017

Don’t Throw Out that Old Bird Bath! Make It a Planter

One of my neighbors recently sold their house and as the new owner was cleaning out some debris from the yard, I walked over to introduce myself.  I noticed he had an old, chipped, worn concrete bird bath in the trash pile, so, of course, I asked if I could have it. He even helped me load it into my hatchback! Upcycle An Old Bird Bath: How to Convert Your Bird Bath into a Planter When your bird bath can no longer hold water for the birds to … [Read more...]

/ Container Gardening, Projects and Ideas / DIY projects, flowers, full sun, succulents, upcycle

November 8, 2016

Painted Pine Cone Table Decoration

Pine cone table decoration

This is a fun, pretty, and surprisingly easy project that makes a great table decoration. You can make it to match your decor for year-round use or you can pick colors that are holiday-themed. My living room has teal, lime green, and white colors in it, so I selected paint that would coordinate well with my furniture and decorations. I had fun making this and it was near-instant gratification. The project only takes about 20-30 minutes to … [Read more...]

/ Projects and Ideas / DIY projects, pine cones

February 16, 2016

Got Bad Soil? Go With A Container Garden

Post Updated: November 8, 2016 The soil around my parents' house is pretty much Mississippi clay. When it rains, it holds the water for a long time, but it dries out to a hard shell in the sun. This makes it difficult to grow eye-catching plants around the house. They don't want to work too much with the soil because plants that are so close to the house can also trap moisture against the sides of the house and cause rotting problems. This … [Read more...]

/ Container Gardening, Projects and Ideas

December 23, 2015

Restore metal outdoor furniture to “like new”

Removing rust and loose paint with steel wool

A few years ago, I bought a really cute patio furniture set which was composed of a small metal table and two matching metal chairs. I put them on the front porch under the arbor. They were great for sitting and drinking a cup of tea and watching the hummingbirds feed at the cross vine. When I moved into my new house, I put them on the lawn in the backyard. Unfortunately my backyard is a haven for mosquitoes, so for the year that I’ve lived … [Read more...]

/ Projects and Ideas, Tips

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About Me

Welcome! My name is Kathy and I live in Georgia Zone 7B. Gardening has always relaxed and rooted me (literally!). It's my happy place. With more than 25 years of gardening, I am far from an expert, but I learn from all my experiments. This blog talks about the plants, backyard critters, and more that have made my garden special. Read More

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