Front yard make over ...

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Very early this spring it was decided to give a little attention to the long neglected front porch and yard. The front door was painted red and a new red cushion was purchased for the bench.

Patty brought over a wonderful green metal framed mirror. She previously donated the original oil painting framed with grape vines on the right. Linda M gave me the pillows ...

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I painted the shutters, pots, and two benches ...

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Other pots were touched up ...

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It took some intestinal fortitude to paint the chairs red when nobody in the family thought it was a good idea ...

But everybody liked them after they were painted!

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Lastly Bob painted the overhang to match the shutters ...

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Red hued plants cooperated ...

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The puya came on board late in the game with its recent red flowers ... ;-)

Patty gave me the little clay turtle in the lower right hand of the photo.

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I find it pretty amazing what a little paint and plant selection can do. What do y'all think?

Featured Answer

User

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Oh, the yellow pots really pop nicely! You are obviously quite knowledgeable about plant life, so I need to hang out here more and pick your brain! During all of the "stay-at-home" time we've had this spring/summer, we decided to create a few little "islands" in our backyard. We're in a zero lot line community, so as you can, we're very close to our neighbors (our property line runs all the way to the brick of their house), and even though we have such a small and confined space in which to work, it's been eye-opening how long it actually takes to get anything done! We eventually want to remove the Zoysia turf and fill in with rock instead. I know that'll be a lot of hardscaping, but I'm just so "over" grass! We've mulched the very back area completely, and until we determine how (or if) to use that space, it suffices as it currently is. The planted area right off the patio is what I like to call my "secret garden." I spend a lot of time out here.

I want to add something -- a planter or garden art in the empty space in the bed beneath this tree. As you can see, we are very enamored with the Shoal Creek Vitex trees and have several. They don't look so hot when they lose their leaves in the winter, but in the spring and summer when they bloom? Heaven.

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Comments (10)

Lesli Neubauer (South central TX zone 8b/9)
6 years ago
I love it!!
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked Lesli Neubauer (South central TX zone 8b/9)
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
6 years ago
The upright EEs (alocasia macrorrhiza?) have grown a lot since the above photo. Next year the “tea cup“ colocasias will join them in the front.
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castro_gardener
6 years ago
I just love the uprights !! They are the only elephant ears I will keep! Ragna, no, those are not the same bromeliad/billbergia. Will send picture shortly.
User
6 years ago
I absolutely love your inspired and artistic garden! I'm especially enamored with your use of rock to create a xeriscaped vibe. That's what I'm working towards at my house, and your creation is a great motivator! Oh, and those red chairs? To die for!
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked User
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Thanks to everyone for commenting!

Ida, I'm very happy to hear that you're inspired by what I'm trying to accomplish in my front yard!

I'm using yellow accents as well as red. The Arroya sweetwood is doing its part showing off the yellow seed pods which last for several months after it blooms in spring ...

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Agave lophantha ’Quadricolor‘ in yellow painted pots is coming along,,,

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Here they are under a “flying dragon” citrus tree...

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What -- an unpainted pot! Can you believe??? LOL

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So what’s going on in your yards?
castro_gardener
6 years ago
You can do a lot with small spaces, IdaClaire! Yep, you can learn a lot from her....I know I have! Much of her garden is in mine, and mine in hers.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked castro_gardener
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Ida, your yard is beautiful! Thanks for the photos.

As you know I'm trying to make my yard easier care while keeping a sense of style and balance. This very hot and dry season is the time of year I tell myself to remember when spring comes ... LOL

My home is in a very dry area. San Antonio may get as much rain yearly as Austin and New Braunfels, but my observation is that their rain is more evenly spaced. My area of San Antonio may not have rain for a month and then get 5 inches in a few hours which quickly runs off.

I get a lot of ideas from looking at garden blogs that I subscribe to.

Keep us posted on how things are going for you.
sabalmatt_tejas
6 years ago
Very nice results!! I love the puya!
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked sabalmatt_tejas
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Matt, the puya is a wonderful plant that you don't see in nurseries. Yucca Do offered it at one time, but I bought mine years ago from Chip (who is now retired) at his Hill Country Gardens in New Braunfels.

I had three of them. But if you water it -- it dies! I've got one left. I treasure it. However, I have a confession ... :-)

These are the usual flowers:

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Very unusually colored ...

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They stay a nice color for a long time, but with the heat they had faded to tan. Loppers in hand, I was ready to cut off the dried, tan colored bloom stalk. But I thought -- wait! Maybe I can prolong the it's beauty even more. So out came the red spray can, the only color I had that might look real, and with a pretty darn good effect, Whoo hoo! It goes along with the front yard red theme.

Whatdaya think? Is that gilding the lily gone overboard? I did the post with a wink. Oh well, my excuse is -- the heat got to me ... LOL