Summer on the front porch

I am a little late with the annual front porch pics, but 2021 has been a HOT summer and shook up the growing season for my potted plants. We had 3 unusual days of SW desert heat here in Oregon-108f, 112f, 117f at the end of June.

 My hydrangea were burned so badly that they will not recover until next season. Camelia shrubs were badly burnt too. As for the potted flowers and plants, they went into dormancy for about 10 days, but with some water, fertilizer, and love they have rebounded quite nicely. 

A few pics from the back Patio

Summertime patio is ready!

With our glorious late May early June weather here in Oregon I was able to get our back patio ready for some outdoor enjoyment! We are planning on more entertainment with friends and family this season as it was awfully lonely last year.

I divided into 3 zones with the addition of the pergola last summer. Above is just as you step out the patio door.

second zone is our dining area. I have solar edison style lights to give a soft ambiance in the evening. I added the flower cart this year, it had been on my front porch and it fit perfectly here.  I plan on painting it mint green later this summer so stay tuned for that update!

 Above is zone 3 which is a simple sitting area. My husband and I enjoy this spot in the mornings for coffee and often for an afternoon drink.

and lastly my "garden junk" with a new fountain this year--it is lighted and so pretty at night.

Next up is the front porch I am working on now.

I should clean my house!

and this really is how my life has been!

I have a few pics to share, I have been so busy in the yard.

We have had some glorious weather here in Oregon and my cottage gardens and roses are soooo happy!

This is late spring peak in the cottage garden. Can you believe I started with FOUR columbine plants, TWO geum plants, and and SIX foxglove? This garden is 16 years old and I still struggle with full summer color, mainly in August. The hollyhocks will be up be next.

Popcorn rose

It really does look like popcorn!

These dry really nice for potpourri

Peonies are in full bloom too! 

 

Refreshed and repaired, my old ladder sign is back in the flowerbed

Updated and refreshed metal patio bench!

The challenging flower bed

 For the last 10 summers we have lived in this house, I have had this little narrow flower bed on the back patio that has always been a challenge. Shady most of the day, but the late hot afternoon sun beats down on it. Nothing would grow well planted on the ground, so I started using it as my little garden decorating area and dress it up a little differently each each year....the pic below is the early spring when I set the "bones" for this little bed. I have changed things up a bit since then, always adding new finds!

 Here it is now a bit more filled out. 

 since nothing is growing "up" the trellis, I opted to have a few treasures falling "down"

 My favorite wood ladder I painted last summer, just positioned a little differently this season

 a new find this summer, a chippy cement bird. When my husband set him on the ground he said "the eagle has landed" LOL, maybe more fitting would be "the seagull has landed". Also note the ladybugs. That was a spring painting project with my little granddaughters. They had fun placing them in the garden as we painted several.

 More fun finds sprinkled. A broken china plate I glued back together still has life in the garden, a wheel from a broken wheel barrow planter, a rusty shovel and colander too.

 the trellis is probably my favorite piece. I have used this in many different places in the garden over the years.

this old wire chair is a perfect plant stand.

 Hope you enjoyed this little tour of the little challenge garden!