Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Outdoor Wednesday and a Porch and Patio Party






I am so glad to be back at my computer after a whirlwind couple of weeks with our daughter's wedding. In fact, I am so happy that I am going to link this to Susan's Outdoor Wednesday and to Barb's Porch and Patio Party. This is my first time to contribute to both. You can visit Susan at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/. Barb is having her Porch and Patio Party at http://gritsglamour.blogspot.com/. I hope you'll take time to visit them both!



I was really late getting my bedding plants in this year. Later than usual cool weather, frequent trips out of town, and wedding plans got in my way. The one thing I could not let slide was planting my pots! I love pot gardening! It is such an easy way to incorporate lots of different colors and textures into your outdoor living space. Another thing I love is the wide variety of plants and flowers it allows me. Most of my beds are shady, but I can move pots around to accomodate the needs of almost any plant. Another advantage is that I can try out new plants without as much labor or financial investment as flower beds require.



This is a very large pot filled each year with a tree form hibiscus. Unfortunately, hibiscus will not live year-round here. They are too big to move, so I am forced to replace it each year. I do keep variegated monkey grass (lariope) in year-round as a grassy backdrop and the variegated trailing ivy lives from season to season. I experimented this year for the first time with angelonia. That is the blueish purple plant as the base of the hibiscus. It is surrounded by pink and green polka dots and the green and white polka dots. Of course, these do not bloom, but the foliage makes a colorful and impressive show. Hot pink impatiens and dark leaf begonias with white blooms are also tucked in. With pots, I think the more, the better! I always add a trailing plant and sweet potato vine with either the green or dark leaf does well. Be careful; it will trail all over your patio or deck!





You may remember my 10 dollar flower boxes from Big Lots. The geraniums, verbena and impatiens have really taken off. I do have to make sure the impatiens gets enough water since this usually gets a lot of sun.





In the middle of all the wedding plans, Beloved decided we should completely "redo" the deck furniture. I have plans to show all of it to you later, but I wanted you to see this pot of caladiums. I love the red stripes of the leaves with my new cushions!




This wicker chair has been more colors than I care to remember---ahhh, the magic of spray paint! A good friend found this cute red polka dot pot and thought it was perfect for my deck. I think so too!

Finally, I just had to show you the newest member of our family and he IS outdoors! This is Charlie. Charlie, a springer spaniel is a gift for our youngest son from his girlfriend. Tomorrow "the baby" will be 23!! Charlie will not live with us, but I am sure he will be a frequent visitor.

Now head on over to visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer and Barb at Grits and Glamour! I know there is a lot more to see!

39 comments:

  1. All your plants look so pretty and Charlie is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your plants look so healthy and pretty. I hope you have a lot of relaxing moments after being on the run with your daughter's wedding!! Our youngest is 23, too...

    ReplyDelete
  3. You have done such a great job on your pots. They are lovely. Little Charlie is adorable. I'm sure he will bring great joy to you!

    Christi

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are right, the caladiums just set off those gorgeous cushions and I love the pop of the red pillow. Your pots and flower boxes look lovely. I planted some angelonia for the first time this year, and I have been impressed with how well they stand up to this Florida heat. Little Charlie is adorable and he and Jessie can be good buddies! It's all so lovely Susan.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your plantings look so healthy and well cared for. Now that the wedding is behind you you'll have some time to sit back and enjoy them. At least I hope so :-). Have a wonderful day.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The black, red, and white are so crisp for summer. It looks wonderful. And about that Charlie - how cute!

    Thank you fo sharing.

    Charla

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Susan,
    Your potted plants are simply stunning, You have displayed them beautifully too. I was late getting all my plants potted and planted in the ground.Thank you or sharing. Just love Charlie! Please wish your son a very happy Birthday .
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations to your daughter and son in law, your pots look wonderful and you little doggie is adorable, happy summer days, Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  9. OMG, your puppy is adorable!!! I love all the pretty potted plants and I would love to find that polka dot pot, it's so me! Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your containers and what you have done! Happy OW!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your plants are beautiful. I planted my pots early and had to deal with temp. drops in April, then with the constant heavy rains we had for a while, I ended losing some and some are still struggling. Congratulations and best wishes to the Bride and Groom. Ck. your email.
    Glenda

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gorgeous plants. I have never been able to keep flowers alive, but have decided to try again this year. I am so envious of all the beautiful yards. Your is so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Charlie is adorable.. I love the new chair cushions pattern!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am so glad you visited Blue Creek Home. How cute is Charlie??? You have a wonderful outdoor area-beautiful flowers and I love the black, white, and red colors. Rhonda

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy Outdoor Wednesday Susan! I am glad you are back.. I missed you! I usually get a hibiscus every year too... they are so pretty! I love caladium too! Thanks for sharing your photos.~ Susan

    ReplyDelete
  16. All your blooms are beautiful - love the hibiscus!! Like the look of your outdoor furniture..can't wair for my caladium to sproyt up!
    Charlie is adorable...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your outdoor furniture is beautiful! And congrats on the Grandpuppy!
    Have a great rest of the week!
    ~Really Rainey~

    ReplyDelete
  18. your blooms are pretty especially the hibiscus.. I have few hibiscus in my garden.. they always blooming non stop.. how great are they rite? Happy OS

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love your patio ! Love the black and those cushions - I want some ! The flowers are beautiful and I really need to buy more myself !
    Love your new grandpuppy !
    Hugs ~ Kammy

    ReplyDelete
  20. I especially love that wicker chair - and the window box from Big Lots turned out beautifully! Love all the flowers! Linda

    ReplyDelete
  21. Charlie is adorable!

    Your potted plants are so very pretty.
    Sounds like maybe things will slow down
    a bit now?

    Have a great day!
    Becky K.
    Hospitality Lane

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your planters all look soooooo pretty. I love all the various plants you mix together. The colors are so pretty and I love all the different textures of the leaves. I need to do more container gardening. It is so hot here that I'm usually looking for shade, but containers would allow me to do that. Great idea. It was so great to hear from you. I hope to see you Friday at the cloche party. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Susan, your pictures are lovely and your little puppy is adorable!!

    Happy Outdoor Wednesday.

    Barb

    ReplyDelete
  24. You have done such a wonderful job with your flowers. They look lovely. I love your planters.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Loved seeing your containers. The good thing about Potato Vine is when it starts trailing, you can snip off a piece, wet it, dip it in root compound, stick it in soil and it will start a new plant. This is good because the first plant is a little expensive for an annual.
    I like the new cushion colors. I'm happy to hear the wedding went well despite the storm.
    Mama Bear

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Susan! So glad to hear from you! Your patio plantings are gorgeous! I love those cushions too! I hope the storms didn't interfere with the wedding! I was thinking about ya! God Bless you today! Lauralu :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oops! forgot to mention how pecious that puppy is!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. aren't pots the BEST! Love your new family member, hopefully he won't like pots.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I think I'm going to get my bedding plants today - better late than never - right?...

    ReplyDelete
  30. Your plants are so pretty and colorful! I am dying for your black and white damask cushions. Oh my, I love it. I have a purse in the same pattern. I haven't seen it before and it's just so beautiful. Love it with the red pillow. Such a pretty retreat and congrats on your daughter's wedding. How much fun must that have been?

    Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
  31. What a nice garden !!!

    I love it!

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  32. Got your comment! Oh my gosh girl! Thank the Lord for His presence! I was worried about that electricity thing! I will be working most all of next week cause everyone else has gone on vacation!!! So I'll be here every morning next week and Sat. and Wed. night! So come by or call 624-1333 and we are gonna plan our outing! Can't wait! Lauralu :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love the black wicker chair with the red polk a dot planter. And I love, love, love your cushions. And the flowers look good too. And the puppy is just too cute.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oooh! I love the wicker chair! I want one! The flowers are stunning as is Charlie!
    Blessings,
    Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  35. Love your hibiscus in the pot! It's not really warm enough here for them to go too crazy. I really do like the black and white cushions on your patio furniture! The new addition is just beautiful. I have a friend who breeds and shows springer spaniels. They are such a pretty breed. I have to comment on Jessie too! I have a little Shih Tzu named Jigs :-) Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  36. LOVE that lounge... that is where you would find me if I had that!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Your flowers are so pretty! I absolutley love hibiscus! We have a form of it in our five Rose of Sharon Bushes. Your furniture is beautiful and your your precious little fur baby so charming! Charlie is lucky to have found a home as wonderful as yours!
    Thanks for visiting Niki!

    Beth~♥

    ReplyDelete
  38. The flowers are beautiful but Charlie is definitely the cutest :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. Susan, those outdoor cushions are the prettiest I've ever seen! Ooops! I was supposed to be looking at the flowers. They are all so pretty, and Charlie just stole my heart! laurie

    ReplyDelete