Flowering Crabapple Branches

A friend gifted me these flowering branches from the prettiest crabapple tree growing in her front yard.  Although spring has come and gone, I decided to share the way the branches accented my home.

 I displayed them in a farmhouse-style vase from Target, creating a tall centerpiece.

I enjoyed the added interest to my kitchen.

 The branches lasted eight days, by changing the water regularly.  As the flowers lost their petals, the dried blooms created a natural confetti.  My kids teased that we were living in a forest! Ha!

  I love decorating with natural elements.

 White, yellow, green and shades of pink create a fresh color palette.

 I hope this inspires you to bring the outdoors in.

Buying Hydrangeas on Clearance

As the growing season comes to an end, now is great time to stop in your local garden center to save money on flowering perennials, trees and shrubs.

I recently went to Home Depot to return an item.  Before heading back home, I decided to quickly walk through the garden center.  Towards the end of the aisle I noticed a few yellow price tags and became very excited!

  Limelight hydrangeas were on sale for half off, as well as a few other varieties.

I grabbed an empty shopping cart and began loading up.  

Limelight hydrangeas are a beautiful shrub.  They are a type of Panicle Hydrangea.  The flower heads can grow up to 12 inches long.  The flowers start off lime green, then a creamy white.  

In the fall, they gradually turn pink.  I have the perfect spot for them in my yard.

I plan to plant four of them in a row, to create a hedge full of beautiful blooms outside of our fence.

I purchased three more of another variety.

Not quite sure where they will land, but the price was too good to pass up.

Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers.  They make such a statement in any garden.  I love walking outside with my pruners in the morning to clip a few and create a simple arrangement.  

Here's a look at the hydrangeas I have planted in my front flower bed.  They have really evolved over the years.

2014

2016

 2017

 2019

Be sure to always check the clearance racks.  Consider these tips when shopping for discounted flowers...

I usually avoid purchasing annuals, no matter how cheap they are.  I prefer to pot healthy annuals in the spring, so I can enjoy them throughout the growing season.  

Don't be discouraged by the look of the scraggly leaves.  With a little TLC they'll come back beautifully next season.  

Inspect the flowers for bugs.  Spraying with an insecticidal soap can help eliminate an infestation.  

Also, think about where the flowers will be planted and select flowers according to their sun/shade requirements.  

Lastly--have fun, relax and enjoy the process.  You don't have to have a "green thumb" to start a garden.  I learned a lot by trial and error.  Every time I've killed a flower it inspires me to do better next time.  Happy Gardening!

Natchez Glen Rose Workshop- Franklin, TN

Over the past few years I've developed a passion for gardening.  I've always enjoyed filling my home with indoor plants, but gardening outdoors was something I struggled with.


I dreamed of having my own cutting garden and enhancing the look of my yard.  So I took that dream and began researching the internet.  The internet is filled with forums to help you grow successfully.  


I found blogs to follow and lots of inspiration on Instagram.  Then one day I stumbled across Steve, from Natchez Glen.


Natchez Glen is located minutes from downtown Franklin,TN.  Steve the owner is an enthusiastic gardening expert.  He is very knowledgeable and happily answers your gardening questions.
  

Earlier this summer, my daughter and I drove from Atlanta to attend one of his rose workshops.  We learned about planting, pruning, how to control pests and tips to grow beautiful roses.


Steve grows roses and dahlias, as well as hundreds of unique and spectacular trees.


The property is beautiful; imagine picturesque rolling hills, blue skies and lush green grass.


If you're local, you can make a reservation to cut flowers into late October.


My daughter and I had such a wonderful weekend in Tennessee.  It was so neat to meet Steve and his family after following each other on Instagram.

  
To learn more about Natchez Glen, please visit the website.  You can also follow along on Instagram @natchezglenhouse.

Anemone Black & White

I enjoy shopping for flowers while in the grocery store.  But I always dreamed of having a cutting garden, where I could walk out to my yard and cut fresh flowers to bring into the house.  Growing your own feels so rewarding.  It's something I've always admired from afar.

A few seasons ago, I decided to get serious about gardening.  I put together a list of the flowers I wanted to grow, then shortened that list to the flowers that grew best in my area; zone 7b.  My favorite black-eyed beauty anemones were at the top of that list.

I ordered bulbs in the fall, thinking I'd plant them around my mailbox, where I'd be sure to see them as I pulled into the driveway.  Each year since, they've put on a show.  I was completely surprised they bloomed the first year I planted them.  Their satin-like petals and long stems are truly my favorite.  They're the first flower to bloom in my yard, as early as February.     

I ordered my bulbs from Floret Flower Farm and found the tips shared on the planting guide to be very helpful.

  

This season I added a few more varieties and I'm anxious to see them blossom.  

Anemones are simply stunning and easy to grow.  I hope this post inspires you to grow your own!

Summer in Style Outdoor Edition

Today I'm joining a talented bunch of bloggers for a Summer in Style Outdoor Edition- blog hop, hosted by Chic Little House.  We're all sharing our favorite outdoor spaces and I hope you enjoy the tour.

Ahh, summer!  It's such a beautiful time of the year.  I love spending time outdoors, sitting here on the porch as the sun comes up.  I also enjoy sitting on the porch watching the rain.  It's very soothing to me.

Our small porch area is also a nice spot to enjoy breakfast, before it gets too hot during the day.

This area used to be our garage.  We recently had it converted to a living space.  We added shutters to the windows to create a cohesive look.

I have always loved the charming look of window planters.  They make a great first impression as we pull into the driveway.

I planted a combination of white vincas, ajuga(carpet bugleweed) and Sprenger's asparagus fern.  Hopefully they'll continue to fill in nicely as the season progresses.
   

Our front door is painted Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball(matched to Sherwin Williams paint).  It's such a welcoming color.

The porch is accented with planters on either side of the door.  I've had these planters for years.  I gave them a fresh, new look with spray paint.


Every year I switch out the annuals planted around the dwarf cedar.


This year I planted a mix of white vincas, ornamental cabbage, dusty miller and Mexican Heather.  Healthy plants really brighten up the porch.

I tossed my dingy old door mat and replaced it with a new one.  I love the layered look.

My hydrangeas are blooming!  I'm looking forward to cutting a few to bring inside.

That concludes my tour.  I hope you enjoyed your visit.  Please continue the blog hop by visiting Newlywoodwards.  The rest of the ladies are tagged below. Be sure to stop by their blogs to be inspired.

MONDAY 6/5 Chic Little House and Cuckoo for Design 

 TUESDAY 6/6 Newlywoodwards and Don’t Disturb This Groove 

 WEDNESDAY 6/7 Cassie Bustamante and Seeking Alexi 

 THURSDAY 6/8 SG Style, Chippasunshine and Live Pretty on a Penny 

 FRIDAY 6/9 White House Black Shutters and Effortless Style Blog