Making it Lovely

Category: Outside

  • Peonies

    Peonies

    I haven’t done much to the garden since my initial effort in 2008, but it has rewarded my neglect by growing with wild abandon. It’s really not such a bad thing.

    The Backyard, September 2008
    The Backyard, June 2011

    The peonies used to be out front. There were four of them when we moved in, but they weren’t getting enough sun so I decided to move them to the back. In the process, the four peonies accidentally became 12, but forging ahead, we planted all 12. Now, for about five days each June, my garden bursts with peonies. My favorite flower.

    I would love to make some changes and additions to the yard, but that’s pretty low in my priorities right now. Enjoying the garden though, that ranks quite a bit higher.

  • Our Eastern Redbud is Dying

    Our Eastern Redbud is Dying

    Only a third of the tree has leaves. It was a birthday present from Brandon in 2008, and I wanted to see it grow to full-size. So sad!

    Brandon thinks it can be saved, but I’m less hopeful. There are deep fissures on the trunk in several places. The neighbor said that I should just chop off the dead parts and keep the rest of the tree, but I think that would look awful. No more awful than the jungle of weeds beneath the tree, but theoretically I can get rid of those. You know, if I actually had time these days to garden.

    Maybe it caught some sort of tree disease from my other neighbor’s dying redbud? She has one against the fence that used to shade my egg chair.

    The Backyard, 2008

    It hasn’t been doing very well for the last couple of years. (The bush next to the egg chair however, that is thriving. Along with more weeds.)

    The Backyard, 2011 (The egg chair’s cushions are in the wash.)

    Do you think we can save it? I want to replace it with a different tree as soon as possible if it’s a lost cause.

  • Well-Traveled Outdoor Space

    Well-Traveled Outdoor Space

    My thoughts always turn to outdoor spaces the minute the weather starts to warm up. We’re still a little chilly here in Chicago, but it will be nice out soon enough.

    I imagine this as a tucked away corner in a lush garden, up against a wall covered by plants growing in wooly pockets. The bench looks weathered and modern at the same time, and I’d use a ceramic garden stool or two as extra seating or a place to set a drink. Candles in lanterns overhead and an outdoor rug define the space and add to the traveled feeling.

  • Woodpecker Door Knocker

    Woodpecker Door Knocker

    I hung up our new woodpecker door knocker yesterday.

    Brandon’s response: “I don’t hate it.”

    Score!

  • Spooky Halloween Front Porch for BHG

    Spooky Halloween Front Porch for BHG

    My fourth and final project for Better Homes & Gardens can finally be revealed! I decorated our front porch for Halloween with 2D and 3D spooky crows on twisted branches. My porch is up against the other three bloggers’ projects, so please vote for your favorite at bhg.com.

    In addition to the crows, several rats can also be found cavorting about. Even Bernard the monkey (I picked him up on clearance over the summer at Z Gallerie) has found a small furry friend.

    The project was pretty straightforward, but here’s how I did it…

    Supplies

    • black construction paper or poster board
    • scissors
    • pencil
    • transparent tape
    • large branches (the gnarlier, the better)
    • black spray paint (optional)
    • fake crows
    • wire (if your crows do not have it already)
    • planters and bricks/rocks for bases

    Instructions

    • Sketch a barren tree and a couple of crows onto your black paper.
    • Cut out your shapes and affix them to your door or window with transparent tape.
    • If you need to darken your branches, spray them with a bit of black paint and let them dry.
    • Fill your planters with rocks or bricks and insert your branches.
    • Perch your birds in the branches and secure them with wire (my birds’ feet had wire built-in for this purpose).

    I also took off our screen door (it was blocking the view of the silhouetted birds), and I made new curtains for the front door and window.

    Remember, you can vote every day until Halloween for your favorite project at bhg.com. Now I can’t wait to answer the door for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters on Sunday…

  • Front Porch Sources

    Front Porch Sources

    I’ve created a new page on the blog to list all of the sources for the front porch throughout its various stages. Below is the design board for the current look, but check out the full page to see more.