Hopeful Green Thumb

It's reassuring knowing that I didn't just generate those trashing-digging cravings on my own. My dad found both of these planters next to his condo's dumpster last year and brought them down on his most recent visit. The tiered planter (below) I scored at a garage sale a few years back for just $5. A few coats of brown and gold spray paint and $20 worth of plants from Lowes - and voila!

I finally got around to replanting my African Violet as well. I hop that along with those planters, my dad gave me some of his green thumb so I can keep all these lush babies alive!

#55 Replant African Violet

#76 Porch Planters

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to see my 92 To-Do's for this Summer - and to see the brave souls tackling their own lists!

#11: Plant Something

This was our year for yardwork. Last year when we moved into our house, it was already a little late to start too much serious work, but I gave it my best effort. This year we devised a plan and got started early in the Spring - in the cold and rain. We removed the stepping stones and decided to create a barrier between the rocks and grass, with the thought the grass would grow better and be easier to maintain. We then brought the rocks back about three feet. The rototiller we borrowed from a friend wouldn't start, so we dug up the entire backyard (yeah, it's only 200 square feet).

Last year after the "work" I did.

Bringing back the rocks and planting grass. And watering. A lot.

After a lot of research, and advice from the oldest most-outdoorsy guy I could find at Taylor Do-It, we mixed the soil with some manure and fertilizer, layered with grass seed and covered with peat moss. And watered it. Every day. Twice a day.

The tree out front coming down!

After the tree and before any of the work began.

But all of a sudden we had grass! We took our full-proof plan to the front yard where we had a half-dead tree removed (and bagged 20+ bags of tree mulch), and made the front flower bed half the size. I did some rearranging of the existing plants, which unfortunately killed our biggest bush, but planted daisies, salvia, tickseed and some other random on-sale bushes. The final touches were mulching and hanging baskets. For about $300 we got our yard under control for the Spring and early Summer. I know the crazy temps are just around the corner, so fingers crossed we can keep the momentum going for another few months!

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to read all about it and here to a see a gallery of pictures of everyone participating.  

Flora

While meandering around Asheville, we stumbled upon Flora. It reminds me a lot of Studio Posy, here in Norfolk, but a bit bigger. The Asheville shop is a full service florist that does weddings and everyday bouquets, but also offers gifts, such as jewelry, cards and decor.

The shop is just gorgeous! I love the clean and simple, yet rustic feel of the space. There is a lot of stuff to look at, but it doesn't feel cluttered at all. All the furniture seems antique or vintage, but since it has all be painted white and weathered it matches so well. Not to mention the great use of chalkboards (and painted drawers and doors to make chalkboards) within some of the display pieces.

I was immediately texting Glass Gardens with lots of ideas for new creations, including these cutie egg succulents. Haven't heard the verdict if it's worth all the trouble of carefully breaking eggs to create the "pot", or what you do with the leftover eggs...?

I love this idea of "Build A Bouquet"! I think it would be a fun addition to my felt flowers for a craft show, pop-up or even an idea for a class. I didn't find out if those prices are per stem...if so that's a pretty expensive bouquet - but great for sales :). If you're in the Asheville area, be sure to check out this gem. It's on your way to the Riverwalk Arts District, so you can't miss it!

#80: DIY Birdhouse

I bought it, filled it and hung it ALL MYSELF. That counts, right?

I'm participating in my third 92 Days of Summer challenge. Read about the project here.

#70: Yard Work

before

This has really been an up-hill battle for me all Summer long. Honestly, like an up-mountain battle. As a child, I spent an enormous amount of time on our deck and backyard, so having outdoor space is crucial for me. It made the "must-have" list during our house hunt and I was thrilled to find this house had it. What it didn't have was a bug-free, weeded, naturally lit, beautifully manicured lawn like the one my parents had growing up.

This ideal lawn comes at quite a toll, physically, mentally and financially. We've accumulated so many gadgets, you'd think we owned an acre of property. After our first Summer at the house we've bought:

grass seed, fertilizer and potting soil
plants (some of died and some have flourished)
a hand saw and clippers (in three sizes)
two rakes, which BOTH broke
a new, fully functioning rake
two regular shovels and a hand shovel
tiki torches and citronella oil
bug spray
ant killer
mosquito yard treatment
a Shepard's pole
a watering can, hose and spigot
work gloves
a push broom
black plastic yard bags, which the garbage men wouldn't take
brown paper yard bags, which the garbage men DID take
clear plastic yard bags, what we're supposed to have
60 bricks, which were 30 too many
a lawnmower
a power cord for the (electric) lawnmower

Grass can grow! The middle patch of grass was non-existent before!

Probably not legal within city limits, but what else can I do with left over bricks?

Look what happened to her! At the beginning of the Summer.

This was after a good rainfall and some heavy winds...don't mind the foliage!

And after our first Summer at the house, I feel like we're only about five steps further than where we were when we bought the place. But, it's five steps in the right direction. We managed to rid the ant problem (ish) and grow (some) grass in the shade! I didn't kill my wandering Jew plant and I even managed to grow some herbs. Blueprints are already in the works for next Summer...!

I'm participating in my third annual 92 Days of Summer challenge. Read about the project here.

#33: Make a Terrarium

Mike and I planned on making a pirate-themed terrarium, but I can't seem to locate any little pirate or sea creature figurines. I decided to go forth with a more traditional terrarium until we track down our perfect ocean scape. Glass Gardens gave me lots of advice, ideas and some succulents to get started.

I purchased the birds, moss and rocks from the dollar store, the cutest snail figurines from Eggleston Garden Center and the popsicle  sticks, rocks and glass vase I had laying around home.

Now, I am no professional at this so I would contact Glass Gardens for further information for your specific project. All containers are different, so what works for me, might not work for you! I actually over watered and made my terrarium into a dirt and stone soup, so I had to dump it all out. I also had much better luck with my second one as I pre-planned in my head a little as to what I wanted it to look like.

I was thinking that these would make the cutest centerpieces for a wedding, then guests could take them home at the end of the evening. In total materials I spent less than $10 and still have a lot of leftovers (the plants would be the most expensive part, but I know a guy ;). I had a fun couple of hours finding the materials and building the terrarium. Can't wait for the next one!

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. To learn more about it, click here.

Monday Musebles: Berry Picking

Last year I liked going berry picking so much, I had to add it to the list again. Virginia Beach has so many farms to go 'pick-your-own' you couldn't cover them all in a day anyway. This year I decided I wanted to go blueberry picking and found a few farms that offered it. Apple Berry Manor was the closest farm in Virginia Beach, so that was my first stop.

The rules are simple: 1. Pick blueberries. 2. Leave what you think is a reasonable payment in the milk box at the front door. Or, leave half of what you pick and take them for free. How sweet is that? The big old house is quite lovely and on a long windy street of horse farms and training facilities. After driving down the long gravel driveway, you'll find the blueberry trees behind the house to the left.

I think I was a little early still. There were definitely enough for me to pick, but give it another week and the fruit will be overflowing from the trees. I picked about a pints worth of berries and left $5. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with them yet...Mike has requested blueberry muffins. Although these look pretty delicious.

After I finished up at the farm, I decided to drive further down the road. I noticed it was a dead end, although had signs for a marina - that certainly sounded tempting! Sure enough, there was the West Landing Marina. Quaint little place with a place to put your boat in the water, kayak and canoe rentals, picnic tables and great views of the Intracoastal Waterway.

I stopped at Cullipher Farms Market and Vaughan's Farm Market and scored some beautiful sunflowers and zinnias, which I am determined to have growing in the garden next summer!

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Read about the project here.

#11: Greenhouse

 

I have yet to find a greenhouse like the ones I grew up with in Ohio. The biggest difference is that back home, they are actually greenhouses. Here there might have a small greenhouse the size of a shed, but it's more like a park with mulched pathways. I understand that is because the climate is very different here, but there is nothing that says plant shopping like walking into that plastic box with that earthy smell and fans blowing around the hot, damp air. There would be hundreds of plants and flowers, a section for trees, a whole indoor store where you could buy planters and other garden accessories.

I won't say the garden shops I've been to recently are bad, because they aren't! Carter's, which is right in Ghent on 21st Street, is a fabulous place. Growing every year and reasonable prices. Eggleston Garden Center is very nice and they have a decent selection of shade plants. I stopped at Virginia Feed and Seed today during lunch and they have a good selection of unique planters (and randomly a huge collection of sports memorabilia).

I'm still in search of that one giant greenhouse, nursery or garden center, that's in the middle of nowhere with plants and trees abound. Can you tell me where this place exists?

#11 is off the list! I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Read about it here.