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Celebrating National Gardening Month

April 1, 2015 By Shelley 6 Comments

Decorating the Front Door for Spring

Hello Spring!

We’ve been not so patiently waiting for you for a long time now…

If you are a gardener, the month of March in the Great Lakes area can be just short of torturous.

A few warm days make you think spring has arrived! Yipee…

And then winter slaps you hard with a week of snow again.

Today is the first of April and its sure looking like spring…

And it is the kick off for National Gardening Month!

National Garden Month Activities

Here is a sneak peek of everything I’m working on and will be sharing on the blog this month:

Container Gardening – Think Beyond the Pot

Blue Bike in the Garden

My family teases me that nothing is from getting a flower planted in it during spring and summer months.

So true. I plant in old salad bowls, bar glasses, our old blender, boots, bicycles and more.

I’m lining up my containers and plotting what to go in them!

Mr. McGregor’s Garden in a Container

Next week for spring break, my peeps and I will be creating Mr. McGregor’s garden in a galvanized container.

I whipped up some pottery veggies for them to paint and we’ll be adding a few farm items I just didn’t have time to make on my own.

And…of course…planting a little lettuce!

I’ll share more soon…

Creating Mr. McGregors Garden in a Container

Pottery Veggies for Mr McGregor's Garden

New Window Boxes on the Way!

While I loved my old window boxes, the last two winters haven’t been kind to them.

Whimsical Windowboxes on Old house

They are falling off the house.

Since it looks like our move north has been postponed a year or two, I decided to bite the bullet and have more made.

Luckily, my handy Pops said he could handle this job himself!

Here’s a sneak peek at what is coming…

New Window Boxes for an Historic Home

 I bought some Jack Frost pansies to plant in them. I’m also making a few bird houses to help liven things up until it is warm enough for geraniums, vincas, lantana and others to join the party!

I need to finish the bird houses up and seal them while the window boxes are under construction.

Promise to share both projects when they are done!

Don’t you just love Mod Podge?

Bird Houses and Window Boxes

Spring pansies for the garden

Other Fun April Garden Projects

Too many projects going on at once is why the dining room and sunroom look like a Michael’s Craft Store exploded inside our home…

Creating a Garden Hose Wreath

I’m finally going to make one of those fun garden wreaths I’ve been eyeing for years on Pinterest!

Creating a fun garden hose wreath

Mirrors in the Garden

I love adding mirrors to the garden!

The ones I had literally fell apart last summer. Found them in pieces in my shade garden.

I had been hanging on to them and trying everything to make them last since I thought this past summer would be my last one to garden in this old ‘burg. Now it looks like I won’t be moving for another year or two. So I hit Kirklands and Target. A little spray paint and these will be garden treasures in no time!

Using Mirrors in the Garden

Starting Sweet Peas Indoors

I have these fun wicker teepees that I haven’t used in years. I decided this would be the year I grow try to grow sweet peas on them!

My garden center pals tell me starting them indoors is best in our chilly climate.

I’ve never attempted this before.

Stay tuned…

Starting Sweet Peas Indoors

Weatherproofing Art and Wooden Shelves for the Garden

And I’m trying to figure out how to weather proof a few fun things I picked up to use in the garden this year.

I want to hang this on our secret porch….

Weatherproofing art for the garden

And use this little chalkboard planter shelves I picked up on sale at Kirklands for my Salad Station.

Salad Station Container Garden

Sheesh! I better stop typing and get busy right?

What do you have planned to celebrate Spring and National Gardening Month?

 XO

Shelley

Celebrating National Garden Month

 

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Comments

  1. 1

    Tina m says

    April 23, 2015 at 12:39 am

    That front door color is beautiful? What color is it? Would love it for our house at the lake!

    Reply
    • 2

      Shelley says

      April 23, 2015 at 1:01 pm

      Thanks, Tina! It is from Benjamin Moore. It is their ADVANCE line of paint. Really great for high gloss on exterior doors. The color is called Blushing Red. I get so many compliments on it.

      Reply
  2. 3

    Barbara says

    April 23, 2015 at 12:40 am

    I love that idea for a project with kids! Did you make those pieces or buy them somewhere?

    Reply
    • 4

      Shelley says

      April 23, 2015 at 12:59 pm

      I made the carrots, lettuce and bunnies. Fortunate enough to have a great pottery studio two blocks from me that allows open time at very reasonable rates. The barn and tractor I bought from Hoen’s Garden Center. They are in a suburb of Toledo and one of my favorite spots!

      Reply
  3. 5

    Stacey says

    April 23, 2015 at 12:43 am

    Your blue bike is beautiful! I saw a doormat ith a blue bike on it at Kirklands the other day that you might want to track down since it looks like you like bikes!

    Reply
    • 6

      Shelley says

      April 23, 2015 at 12:56 pm

      Thanks for the tip! I tried to track one down around here to use for my porch door and no luck… Sold out online too. But so cute. You are right though. It has my name all over it!

      Reply

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Hi there, I’m Shelley!

The Meaning Behind Roots North and South This blog reflects my love of the "North" and all things "Great Lakes" that comes from my dear little Mother's side of the family. It also pays tribute to all ... [ Read More ]

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