It feels like forever since we posted about any gardening we’ve done (over a month, actually), but that doesn’t mean nothing’s happened. We’re just a little behind on writing about it (I like to think that we were waiting for things to fill in a bit so we could snap some pics for ya). So let’s play catch up. Remember when we transplanted some bushes to perk up the area behind our patio?
Well, that was all fine and good for that side of the patio. But it left this big empty, ugly spot in its wake.
So a couple of weeks ago we got our hydrangea on again (thanks to a pair we picked up at Home Depot – along with a pot of petunias) and decided to breathe some life back into that side of the patio.
While it certainly was an improvement to have flowers and fresh mulch over there, we hoped the hydrangeas would fill things in a bit more over time. And thankfully…
… they did!
Fast-forward to this week and the area is already looking a lot better thanks to some blooms in full force and the addition of a ceramic garden friend (Sherry found him at HomeGoods). You’ll also notice that we FINALLY got rid of all of the garden stones that had been sitting on those brick steps for over a year. Some friends down the street bought them from us for their garden so we made about $90 in the process!
The turtle was $16 and I didn’t even put up a fight about it, since our outdoor ceramic animal collection is pretty much zero at this point. Actually, when we first toured this house before putting in an offer, there was a white stone turtle in the back that Sherry loved (he was gone when we moved in though, so Sherry argued that we needed to replace him with this green guy). Clara loves him. Almost as much as my 30 year old wife.
The hydrangeas didn’t waste any time getting their color (we thought they were both going to be blue – but something funny must have happened with the soil under one of them to make it more purple).
I know you can only see so many soft-focus shots of flowers before your eyes start to glaze over, but I had to include this one since a certain someone blurry-photo-bombed the background.
He was busy hunting his newest prey best friend, a tiny lizard that suns on those brick steps but hides as soon as Burger is near. Poor Burger. You’ll get to hang out with him someday, buddy. Okay, probably not.
Perhaps Burger should starting hunting turtles. I’d venture a guess that this one would be pretty easy to catch.
Sprucing up that little patio nook hasn’t been all that we’ve tackled. We also decided to address these random black planters that have been migrating around the patio area since we moved. It’s been a miracle that the boxwoods we planted in them back at our old house are still going strong!
But since those hearty boxwoods weren’t doing us much good back there – and since Katherine The Landscape Gal had recommended some boxwoods for the empty planters flanking our front door (which had previously held some seasonal mums) – it seemed like it was meant to be.
So we carefully extracted the boxwood from each of the planters…
…and replanted them on the front porch.
Now here’s hoping that move wasn’t a death sentence, since so far those wooden planters have not treated plants all that well (like how I’m deflecting blame and putting it on the planters?). We promise to water them this time.
As for the now-empty black planters? We picked up a couple more of those white petunias from Home Depot and plopped ’em in there.
Nothing terribly special, but at least now they’re providing a smidge of flower-age to this otherwise flower-less side of the patio.
And since I don’t think we’ve filled our dreamy flower photo quota yet for this post, here’s one last shot for good measure.
What about you guys? Are you still in full outdoor sprucing mode? Or are you starting to lose momentum now that we’re dancing on the edge of summer?
Lindsay says
I have three large hydrangea bushes planted fairly close together. Two are blue and one (was) pink. I could not figure out what was going on! Turns out my husband was peeing on one when he was too lazy to go inside.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- no way!
xo,
s
Angela says
My interest is totally waning with the onset of summer. We’re having highs of 95 degrees so it might as well be summer. I started sprucing up the front yard in February, we live in S. Texas, by completely redoing one flower bed and decided to add native plants. Less work = happy husband.
We’re going to wait until next year to work on the next flower bed. It looks like a mess, but hey these things takes time.
Love the turtle. It’s a nice addition that you don’t have to water.
Michelle says
Uggg your hydrangeas look amazing! Can you share what kind of sun it gets? I was under the impression that they were a fairly easy plant to take care of and grow in both shade and sun and the spot I put mine in gets afternoon sun and they’re no longer white…they turned brown and are slowly dying. I know I should just end it for them and stop the pain but it hurts too badly! I want gorgeous hydrangeas to cut and put in a pretty vase in my house. Argh! I’m depressed now
YoungHouseLove says
That side of the house gets part sun I think. They used to die at our old house (the soil seemed dryer or more like clay there, so maybe the richer more damp soil here helps?).
xo,
s
Annie says
Love the Hydrangeas! I have found a sweet little old lady at the Petersburg Farmers market in Old town who sell beautiful hydrangeas for only $15! They are beautiful mature plants! Also lots of other vendors selling all sorts of perennials for much less than Lowes or Home Depot. Come on down to my neck of the woods and check it out! Also, my lil yorkie is a lizard hunter as well! He sits on the back of the couch looking out the window at our back patio just waiting for one to make an appearance and goes nuts when one does! Gotta love the family dog!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome. Love the tip! And your yorkie sounds adorable! Haha.
xo,
s
Erica says
Love it. I can never get Hydrangeas to grow which is a bummer since they are my favorite
This past weekend was my birthday, most celebrate by resting or doing something relaxing. Not me, I dug up a whole new flower bed running along the back side of my house. I can’t wait to get the mulch so I can take my before after pictures.
I will garden till I can’t do it anymore. Usually by the end of June I am whipped and have to quit.
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! Sounds like you got so much done! Happy late birthday!
xo,
s
Elle says
Where do those brick steps lead to? From the photos they look like steps to nowhere, they seem to just end against your home’s siding.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes, nowhere! They used to lead to a porch when that room was a porch but they converted it to a sunroom and left the steps (huh?!) so we plan to add some tiered planter boxes to them someday!
xo,
s
Michelle @ Lifewithacrazypup says
It looks great John and Sherry! I’m sure it was hard work too! — Planting can be such a pain sometimes!
A few weeks ago my husband and I planted a Japanese Maple for our one year wedding anniversary. Then we planted a brand new flower bed surrounding the tree. It took all day — but we’re loving it so far.
http://lifewithacrazypup.com/2012/04/21/curb-appeal/
We’ve also been mulching like crazy over the last few weekends. Thankfully, we’ve been laying weed blocker down first — hopefully that will cut down on all our weed pulling this summer!
http://lifewithacrazypup.com/2012/05/10/mulchin-mania/
YoungHouseLove says
So cute! And I love the pup pics!
xo,
s
Jane says
Just thought I’d share this, but I just recently discovered that hydrangeas contain trace amounts of cyanide that might be bad for dogs and cats. Here’s more info:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150247115654632
.
I think if Burger is mostly an indoors dog, you’re in good shape, but I wanted to pass this along just in case!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the tip! Thankfully Burger doesn’t eat leaves or plants or anything (he will chew on random sticks and acorns but never swallows them). He’s a food snob! Haha.
xo,
s
Christa says
I’ve been working on my flower beds for about a month. A little here and there mostly during my daughter’s nap time. I’m in the home stretch and feeling burned out. I’ve been blogging about it along the way which makes me stick to it and not give up. I love the way your patio looks and how things are filling in nicely with all the blooms. Great job!
Stephanie says
I just love Hydrangeas. They may be my absolute favorite flower.
I got super dorky excited when I realized I have a small flower bed next to the stairs to my front door at my new townhouse. I’ve already attempted to rope my mom into helping me plant stuff.
Of course, this all needs to wait until after I’m done doing the practical stuff. Boo. :(
JoAnna says
We have about 15 hydrangea bushes in our yard and this year they have really gone pale, from the more strikingly beautiful blue that they were before. I’m going to try this (no, I’m not affiliated with HD or fertilizer of any sort!), and I hope it works. It might for yours.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-203192757/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=hydrangea+fertilizer&storeId=10051
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh, looks fun!
xo,
s
Liz says
LOL poor Burger! He’s all, “Daaaaaaddddd get the lizard for me!”
Love the boxwoods by the front door! There’s an idea. As for the hydrangeas–it’s the soil acidity! Plants are so cool that way :)
Cassie says
We just finished perking up our urban garden, with some planters we built and a bunch of vegetables and a drip irrigation system. If you’re having trouble remember to water the front planters it could help – it is super easy to do and very inexpensive. When you add a timer and a fertilizer dispenser it can totally change your gardening situation! We get our supplies from dripdepot.com but Amazon has some starter kits for super cheap. The 1/2″ poly tubing is usually available at more rural Home Depots (the ones here in NYC don’t carry it). Not sure if links are enabled in comments but here is our patio garden; this is our roof deck at our old apartment last year. None of which would have been possible without the irrigation :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the tip Cassie!
xo,
s
Jen@The Decor Scene says
Love the little new garden areas. Gorgeous Hydrangea’s. We are waiting for ours to bloom up here in NY. Our bush is about 5 years old and it is huge and there are going to be so many blooms this year, that I will finally get to bring them inside and in a vase. Free cut flowers are the best. ;)
We are still trying to clean up in our backyard, but the front yard is ready. We still have to put up the gazebo, clean off all the furniture and replant some bushes that are just to big where they are now. Hopefully we get that done over the nice long weekend that is coming up. ;)
MarT says
Here’s how you take care of those boxwood.
Just get Clara a cute watering can (like from her ‘goody bag,’) or the great.colorful OXO small watering cans with the folding spouts (been seeing them at Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, so probably at HomeGoods too. Make sure it’s a small one or else it will be way too heavy for her to carry.
She will gladly water those boxwood with 4-5 watering cans of water each every single day. She will probably want to water them more than they need to be watered…
YoungHouseLove says
So cute! Love that.
xo,
s
Rebecca says
What’s your taking-care-of-plants method? Do you guys have a drip irrigation system or do you go outside and hose everything down? I’m trying to convince my husband that a drip irrigation system is the only way we’ll manage to keep plants alive in our yard!
YoungHouseLove says
For the most part we just let nature do the work – especially during the rainy spring season we get around here. But if ti’s been particularly dry we break out an old school watering can and use water from our rain barrel.
-John
Sarah says
Unless you have a rain barrel which is a GREAT idea, drip irrigation is great for getting water to plants without wasting it…especially if you are able to bury it where the water won’t evaporate. You don’t even need to get the fancy hoses…just get a bunch of old hoses and use a nail or a small drill bit and make holes yourself. People are always trying to get ride of “old” hoses. My parents are going to do this for their veggie garden this year and see if it helps with water savings.
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip Sarah!
xo,
s
Lynn @ SafeBeauty says
Hydrangeas huh? Who knew? I certainly didn’t, but I really like them alot. And your ornamental turtle. Them together reminded me of the YouTube video “It’s A Dad Life” by a group called COTM. John you might like it. This post reminds me that I need to go water my plant. Peace.
My best, Lynn
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- we love that video!
xo,
s
Heidi P. says
I just started my old job again at one of the nurseries here, and have quickly been using up my meager paycheck to buy plants with my discount. :) Last time I worked there, I tried to save and buy all the plants at once. Bad idea. Lots of it didn’t get planted in time for winter and died. So this time I’m buying a little at a time and planting as I go. I’ve gotten red euphorbia and emerald gaiety euonymous and angelina sedum in so far. And this week I’ll be planting in the shady spots some hicks yews and my favorite – dwarf hinoki cypress. Oh and I’ve been digging out the giant patches of daylilies I have everywhere.
YoungHouseLove says
So smart! I want to work at a nursery. So much fun – and I bet you learn awesome planting/shrub tips!
xo,
s
kathy says
so over it – but I was never really into it to begin with haha…. every weekend I’ve been saying I need to clear out the other flower bed on the right side of our house front.. but I’ve always found something better to do!
I think I’m at the point where I just call the tree people and have them rip it all out for me and then start fresh,
Ashleigh P says
Hi guys! Someone may have already said this so forgive me if I’m sounding a bit like a parrot but…you can change the color of your hydrangeas by adding a little dolomitic lime to the soil to turn them more pink or adding aluminium sulfate to turn them more blue. I seem to kill every other plant I have ever planted, but hydrangeas seem to be my thing (must be because they don’t require much). Also, make sure to trim them back each spring (just clip each branch just above the newest growth) and they will bloom like crazy! Happy planting!!
YoungHouseLove says
Love that tip Ashleigh!
xo
s
Kelly G. says
My dog Murphy (a 4 year old Shih-Tzu) loved watching that video of Burger!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, tell Murphy that Burgs says hi!
xo,
s
April says
I totally had a dream about BURGER last night! Is that weird? – absolutely! But was it kind fun too? Sheesh yeah!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahah I love it.
xo,
s
Rena says
Thanks for sharing your outside update! I was wondering how you’re keeping your hydrangeas alive? I can’t seem to do it. I’ve been through many. I have to keep mine in the pot since I live in a condo. I need help and I’ve Google’d ways but no luck. Any advice would be great. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We tried hydrangeas at our first house and they all died and it seemed sunnier and dryer (the soil itself) so this area is partially shaded and the soil seems pretty moist (I also water twice a week if it doesn’t rain).
xo,
s
Rena says
Thanks for the help Sherry! I should probably water more (:
YoungHouseLove says
Good luck Rena!
xo,
s
jeannette says
NOW i understand what those steps are for. they’re a lizard-viewing pavilion.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, exaaaactly!
xo,
s
T-La says
It’s actually World Turtle Day today (May 23) so awesome timing of this post (for me in Australia at least)
Also, poor Burgs, his whining is completely heartbreaking!
YoungHouseLove says
No way! I can’t believe it’s World Turtle Day! Hooray for turtles!
xo,
s
Christine Witt (Brush Dance) says
We moved into our new home a year ago – getting settled in is definitely a process. Our biggest outdoor project will be figuring out what to do with the huge hill in the backyard – thinking about hiring a landscape person for a consult like you did.
shannon says
What lens did you use for your flower and close-up turtle photos? They look great!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks! We have a 50 mm that we usually just use for Clara pics (it’s great for movement in low light) but we broke it out for the flowers!
xo,
s
Tricia says
I LOVE the yellow door. LOVE. I just finished painting our door red, and it’s sooo much better than the original white.
I also REALLY enjoyed your walk-through the store. Please do that again! It made me want to go shopping. :D
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Tricia! You’re sweet!
xo,
s
Joanna says
No gardening this week…just stripping paint. Worst — idea — ever. It took probably 10 hours for 45 feet and it still isn’t done.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, I hope it’s amazing when it’s done! I know how much work that is!
xo,
s
Katelyn says
hahha! Oh man my dog gave me some major head turns while I was watching the video of burger.. apparently she’s concerned for his little lizard friend as well ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha, so cute!
xo,
s
EngineerMom says
For Mother’s Day, my mom paid for 10 flats of annuals – 2 flats white impatiens, 2 flats red impatiens, 2 flats pink-white impatiens, 1 flat white alyssum, 1 flat orange zinnias, 1 flat yellow zinnias, and 1 flat yellow marigolds.
I managed to get 8 1/2 flats planted last week (1 1/2 flats left, made up of leftovers), which was a miracle with 2 small kids! They filled in spaces in three of my 6 garden beds left by finished tulip, daffodil, hyacinth, and muscari bulbs, plus the one area I have devoted to annuals every year and three pots to put on the porch.
I usually only get a few annuals, and just cover the finished bulbs with a bit of mulch. Those gardens look so much prettier this year with all the color – white/red/pink on a narrow bed between two pink rose bushes near the street, a carpet of white alyssum near my daylillies, and the bright zinnias and marigolds on either side of our front porch. Love it!
The other three beds are in the backyard and filled with perennials. One bed needs weeding, another needs trimming (I couldn’t get to it for 2 months while we were waiting for the grass to fill in), and the last one up against the house looks amazing. It’s full of hostas, daylilies, a rose bush, English daisies, and clematis, so it pretty much beats out weeds all by itself.
YoungHouseLove says
You were so busy!!! Hope it all looks lovely!
xo,
s
betterOutdoorLivingatHome says
The boxwood in the planters are a nice look – very classic.
Nancy says
To get your hydrangeas blue- they need more acidic soil. You can get fertilizer (blue container) or I have heard put a few rush nails in the soil…
Hope that helps
YoungHouseLove says
Love the rusty nail tip guys!
xo,
s
Kara J says
This is so hilarious. This post reminds me of this funny dad life video. The 3rd verse or so. Hydrangeas, Begonias, Crepe Murtle…..ORNAMENTAL TURTLE. Check it out.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah, love that video!
xo,
s
Debbie says
I loved the camera shopping spree at Target! Gave me some wonderful idea’s…. I can’t wait now to get out there and pick up some treasures… I hope my Target has them.
Thank you! Debbie from the Northwest
Jenni T says
Looks good! This post reminded me of a video I saw on You Tube titled Dad’s Life http://youtu.be/iUaCOxTk9KA. It has a scene with “ornamental turtles”. I think you will get a kick out of it. Clara will like dancing to it. :)
Jenni T says
Opps! I guess I should read other peoples post before posting my own! Glad you have already viewed it!
YoungHouseLove says
No worries!!
xo,
s
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha- that’s so funny. We love that video!
xo,
s
Brynn says
fyi if you want the hydrangeas to match, you can try this
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20593892_21157325,00.html
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Brynn!
xo,
s
Missy says
Did you paint the rain barrel? ORB it Sherry!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- haven’t done that yet. I’m actually debating the whole embrace the bright blue thing, since there’s a happy blue birdhouse out there too. Haha.
xo,
s
Zou Zou says
Hi guys! Read your blog every day from sunny Dubai and love it!
Just wanted to pass along some info about your thriving boxwoods. Apparently alot of plants thrive because they are in plastic pots, they like bei g snuggled up in the plastic that retains their water a d keeps them quasi-warm. Since youve transferred them it might be a good idea to perhaps line the wooden containers with plastic bags to keep them happy and erm, alive?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a great tip! The old pots were terracotta and not plastic, but maybe they were still slick somehow like plastic? Will have to try that if they look like they’re floundering!
xo,
s
Megan says
You don’t mind the smell of boxwoods? I love the look but the smell drives me and my hubby crazy. We won’t ever put them anywhere due to it.
Love the turtle. He’s definitely a keeper!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Smell? We haven’t noticed any smell- even when we’re digging them up and transplanting. Maybe only certain varieties or certain soil in different regions have a smell?
xo,
s
Susan says
Looking good guys! Until this series of images, I never noticed you had a built-in AC unit (at least I think that’s what I thought I saw close to the ground). I’m curious whether you try to camouflage it or somehow decorate around it? That can be a decorating challenge for some so I’m curious how you tackled that. And what room is that?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh that’s just the heating/cooling system for the sunroom since that’s not connected to our central air. I think we’d love for the hydranges to grow to obscure it a bit (and to potentially paint it to match the side of the house) but we don’t want to block it too much with plants for air-flow reasons!
xo,
s
Jenny says
I’m not sure if someone already posted this (I didn’t read through all of the comments), but I read some where if you toss a few pennies into your garden, it will turn your hydrangeas blue. I have no idea if this works, but I guess it’s worth a try. ;-)
Your home is absolutely beautiful, BTW. I love following your blog!
~ Jenny
YoungHouseLove says
Love that idea!
xo
s
Jen says
Love all the plants – especially the hydrangeas! Funny how they can be right next to each other and such different colors.
Loni says
I know this post was all about the plants (I love the way the box woods frame the door, they look great!) but I’ve got to say my favorite part was Burger! His tale was so sweet as it wagged side to side happily thinking about the lizard that got away! We have a Chihuahua, Lucy, who I’m sure would love to spend time hanging out with Burger in the garden, she too loves to go after other critters. The casa is looking good, keep up the good work! :)
Tara says
You should set a repeating reminder on your phone to water all the pot-plants. That’s what I do. Then you make a habit out of walking around to check on them all too :)
YoungHouseLove says
Smart!
xo,
s
Betsy says
Just some hydrangea thoughts..I love them. I was wondering how big that beautiful arced space is. Not sure how big you wanted them there but in CT they grow super huge.
I actually created a space similar and now it’s waaaay too small for two and they are fighting for space and light and not growing correctly.
I put them in to create a hydrangea bed along the driveway. They share with an amazing lacecap hydrangea which was “burger/Clara” size when I put it in 7 yrs. ago (I am 5’10”) is now up to my neck. They are amazingly beautiful…
http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/shrubs/hydrangea.html.
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that’s huge! We have some really old established ones on the other side of the patio that can get to around 4′ tall, but if we cut them back after they bloom, the next year they’re less leggy/large (like 2-3 ft). We hope we can control them there so they get bigger to fill things in more – but not too big!
xo,
s
how2home says
Nice yard! Besides planting gorgeous flowers in your yard, are you thinking about building a home made herbs garden? that’ll look really nice in your yard for sure and its going to be all organic….nothing better than that!
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love to do a raised bed next spring! We missed it for this season here in Richmond (too hot for planting now).
xo,
s
how2home says
not quite sure if you like having links posted but i thought this (www.eieihome.com/blog/how-to-plan-and-plant-your-own-herb-garden.html) could be helpful for doing a raised bed next spring. Keep us posted !
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the link! Off to check it out!
xo,
s