Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers June 7/13 & (Back Yard Renovation Part 2)

WELCOME!

Do you know what day it is???

It’s Friday !!!! 

Friday is a BIG day for us here at Tootsie Time…(ok, just me…there is no one else here…lol)  It’s a big deal because it means it’s PARTY TIME!!!!
Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!

If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”
Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends:

If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like.

The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing!

You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, but if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly!

All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or a link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted.

So?????....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos...
 
This week I am going to share the beginnings of my back yard.  I shared the first part a few days ago and have been working like a bugger to get far enough along in the project to share another installment with you!
 
I also have been busy working on a very challenging garden for a client.  I have never done a yard/gardens without using flowers before.   Mostly I am re-purposing a few items, transplanting and relocating some perennial foliage plants and designing vignettes in different spaces in the yard.  I haven’t been home much the last week or so, and I can honestly say that when I do make it home, I am pooped!   This is most of the reason that I have only made it around to 1/2 of the party people from last week!  I am so sorry guys…I need a clone of me to do everything I need to do every day before I collapse of exhaustion!   I am so grateful that my kids have been so good about doing chores and making life a little easier for their old mom.
 
Anyways…I am excited to share my own garden with you today…it’s not finished yet…but take a look!
 

If you remember, we ripped down this rotten old shed…
 

Which left me with this mess of dead grass from the neighbors dogs, and from the shed being there. 
 

We also moved this little tin shed…
 

To a temporary position on the gravel pad…
 

Which left me with this mess…
 

And all the mess that goes along with the move.  LOOK at the piles of junk just sitting there!
I was overwhelmed by the stuff sitting there at first…
 

As I was sitting on the back steps staring at this pile of  “stuff” trying to figure out where I would even start…I had an idea!  There was inspiration in this pile of junk!!!
 

I set my sights on the big empty space… all dead and ugly… layed my garden hose out as an approximate guide…and got to work.
 

Before I knew it, I had a shape…and a very big flower bed!   I salvaged what sod was any good…(as you know, I need all the green grass I can get at this point…)
I worked up the soil and got my edges dug out. 
 

I then put some old plastic garden edging across the back side to hold my soil inside the fence line.  
I am READY to create!
 

I started out by moving the pile of  “stuff” into separate  places…to get it off my lawn and to sort through it a bit.   This wood is garbage wood.  It is just horrible!  It will not burn no matter what you do.  It just sits in the fire and does NOTHING!   It would never be burned…but it does have a certain appeal…so I used it…and a lot of other things that most people would consider trash! 
 

I took that stack of wood…and sorted out what would never be burned…and stacked it in the corner of the flower bed.   I put a large stump in behind that pile of wood and set a pot on top of it.  I hung a few hooks on the fence posts and added hanging baskets, and the rest was easy!
 

I needed a way to walk into this huge flower bed to get to the pots I put on the fence and in the basket of the iron bike I added to the scene.  so…I used some of the wood logs!  I just dug them into the soil so that they are all even and level to step on.  I like it!
 

You will notice that I used another old tree stump and that rusted out old iron headboard.  I also brought in a very rusted out wash tub and a sign to accessorize a little bit.  I am not ready to break out the annuals!!!
 

In just a couple of hours this bed was PLANTED!  I have a little of this and a little of that in here…everything from alyssum and pansy to dahlia and geranium….If I had it in the greenhouse, it seems to have made it into this bed!
 

 

 

I needed to turn my attention to the ugly dead grass in front of my new  “Rust-ic Flower Bed”
 
 
I leveled and pieced and seeded the lawn…I watered and nursed and waited and waited… and WAITED…
Today…I am STILL waiting…
 

…Not only are the flowers catching and starting to grow…
 

…but my grass seed has started to sprout…and things are looking MUCH greener!   I am excited to see how this bed will progress and what it will look like in a few weeks!
 
I still have a huge project growing on with the rest of the ugly spaces that were left behind when we moved the shed…but that…I will save for another day.  
 
My Flaunt for today is done…so now it’s YOUR TURN! 
 
This brings us to the end of my flaunt for this week…and YOU know what that means!!!

That means…I can’t wait to see what you have!

Well…what are you waiting for???

GO!!!

Get your flaunt on!!!

I wish all of you hugs and smiles, and safe and happy weekend plans!

Thank you all so much for dropping in today, and to those that faithfully link in to this party…and who are patient while waiting for me to FINALLY visit you…it seems there are not enough hours in a day anymore...THANK YOU!

Until Next Time... Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)   The true colors of a person comes out when no one is watching, those who are willing to join you in lies and deception  will help to corrode your soul.

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

All of my house and garden plants are planted in Sunshine potting mediums.  

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Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers May 31/13

WELCOME!

Do you know what day it is???

It’s Friday !!!! 

Friday is a BIG day for us here at Tootsie Time…(ok, just me…there is no one else here…lol)  It’s a big deal because it means it’s PARTY TIME!!!!

Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!

If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”
Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends:

If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like.

The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing!

You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, but if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly!

All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or a link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted.

So?????....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos...

Today's post is going up a little early today because I am going to be away all weekend.
 
OH MY WORD YOU GUYS!!!  

I have been super busy this week!!!  

There seems to be no time to post or do much of anything but scrub the dirt off myself!!!   There have been some LONG days in the garden this week…and I have a lot of pain in my arms because of it…I have been having trouble using the computer as my hands are painful when my shoulders and arms are inflamed…but…here I am to flaunt for you…and to host the party that shares the MOST gorgeous people and gardens ever!

Lets get started!

Today I am sharing a project that Grampie and I did yesterday!
 

There is this UGLY space in my side yard.  I just hate that it is so messy looking all the time.   When Grampie presented me with his idea…I jumped at it right away.  I was excited to start, especially since I got to raid some of his junk stash! 
 

Grampie offered me some of the cinder blocks that he has out at the farm!   Hey…he doesn’t often OFFER to share his stash….he usually guards it against people like me…ha ha…He even helped me get the project done!


I loaded 39 cinder blocks into the box of my truck and two large tubs of soil.   Grampie brought the plants and some soil in his truck and we got busy!  The blocks were placed, leveled and straightened.
We got rained out just as we were finishing placing the blocks and had to stop for an hour or more.  That thunderstorm brought hail, heavy rain and it was not fun!

Once the rain stopped, we got busy!~


I planted one little Cotton Easter shrub  in each hole of the blocks…


We had exactly enough plants!!!   How lucky are we??  haha!


It looks amazing!!!  Just as I finished planting the last little plant, it once again started to rain!   It was at that point that Grampie had had enough!   He called it a day and took off.


I decided that I needed to finish…besides a little water wouldn’t hurt this dirty girl…


I pruned these little plants back to help them to adjust and to level them off a little bit.  By the time I was finished…I was soaked right through…and had to stop!
No...I am not wearing knee pads....that is mud...yes...I do tend to look like this a lot in the summer.  :)


It looks MUCH better…I don’t really mind the jungle look, but a hedge isn’t really a good place to create that style!  This is a narrow area, and I need to keep this neat and crisp! 
This hedge will be filled in and thick in no time flat!



I also need to paint the blocks.  Not really loving the old colors right now.  These blocks bring back a lot of memories for me…they are cast off blocks from the elementary school I attended when I was a child.  They renovated and re-built parts of the school, and my mom and dad got to have as many of the blocks as they wanted!  So…not only did I reclaim part of my child hood…but I repurposed the cement blocks instead of them ending up in the local landfill!
I had a great day working on this project.  Not only did I get to make an ugly space look much better, I got to hang out with my Dad.  I am excited to see this area finished and growing nicely…but this is where I am for today!
Stay tuned for part two of the back yard renovation!!!  I have lots of things to share!  I might even include a flower or two!  haha!

This brings us to the end of my flaunt for this week…and YOU know what that means!!!

That means…I can’t wait to see what you have!

Well…what are you waiting for???

GO!!!

Get your flaunt on!!!

I wish all of you hugs and smiles, and safe and happy weekend plans!

Thank you all so much for dropping in today, and to those that faithfully link in to this party…and who are patient while waiting for me to FINALLY visit you…it seems there are not enough hours in a day anymore...THANK YOU!

Until Next Time... Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)   Surround your self with people who love you enough to tell you the truth.  It doesn't take long for a liar to be found out....and left behind!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.www.tootsietime.com

All of my house and garden plants are planted in Sunshine potting mediums.  

Tea Party For The Birds! (and a how-to)

Over the winter my tea pot bird bath sustained some damage. While assessing said damages, I remembered all the photos I took while making this adorable bird bath. 



There have been many many requests for me to do a show and tell-how to make my tea pot bird baths.  I thought maybe it would be a little easier just to re-share the post, rather than sending a link to everyone.  It also will give my new followers the opportunity to see too!

The photo above is my tea pot bird bath made with a ceramic/terra cotta pot tray...I am not so happy with the terra cotta, as it is porous, and does not hold the water...it s all seeping into the ceramic vase I have it sitting on...(and I sealed it to the vase..gross)

Below is the very first one that I ever made...it is on a plastic tray. I had it until last spring when I knocked it over and broke it! Luckily I had another one in the garage ready to go! I have made 8 of these in this style...(roses) They have all gone to friends that were very excited to have one.



I didn't make these out of my head from scratch! I found the idea in a magazine years ago....it was in an advertisement and was VERY pricey. I fell in love with the idea of them almost immediately.

I kept it in the back of my mind for several years....then one day I decided to make one from what I remembered it to look like….It doesn’t look anything like the one I remembered…but…it is mine…and …this...is another "Tootsie Original!”

So...? Is everyone ready to make one? GOOD!

Here's what you will need...




One ceramic tea pot

Two tea cups to match or co-ordinate

One plastic plant pot saucer (to scale with your pot and cup)

One 4-5 inch piece of doweling (for the project I am about to demonstrate...a concrete anchor)

4 washers (if you use the threaded anchor)

 4 nuts (for anchor)

some wire (for added support)

One smaller bolt /two washers and a nut to fit. (to hold tea cup)

marine goop or silicone sealant (must be waterproof)

a masonry drill bit to match the size of your doweling or rod

drill

masking tape

colored plastic bits, or rocks

spoon

clear liquid resin and the active ingredient (to make the faux tea)

First you need to gather all materials

got them?

 good...

Lets get started!

1. drill hole in the bottom of the tea pot just below the spout. This hole needs to be large enough to fit the dowel.

TIP: putting a piece of masking tape on the ceramic will prevent the drill from slipping and chipping.





2. Drill the same size hole in the rim of the large plastic saucer



3. Attach the doweling ( or in this case threaded rod) to the tea pot (drilled hole) and add the washer and nut to the inside...and the outside.

Tighten and set aside.



4. Drill a hole in the tea cup and saucer to fit the size of screw you will use to hold the tea cup and saucer onto the larger saucer.

Drill same size hole in the bottom of the plastic saucer.

Secure with washers and nuts to fit. Go in through the bottom, that way the nut won't make your base sit all wobbly.




5. Using your wire and the remaining nuts...place the tea pot onto the plastic saucer.

Secure with nuts. One on the top of the plastic saucer and one under the rim ...and use the wire for added support to help hold the pot in place and not fall forward. We will hide it later.




6. Using the marine goop...seal all nuts, screws and wire....also seal the opening to the tea pot spout to insure that it doesn't become a home to some bugs, or fill with stagnant water...









7. Using the marine goop sealant....attach the lid to the tea pot (so it does not fall off ) and fill the spout of the pot with sealant as well.

(this prevents it from becoming a home for pests such as wasps etc. as well as making sure it doesn't fall off and break!)



8. This step is optional: Following the directions on the resin solution you have purchased....fill cup 1/2 way with colored rocks or gravel....and fill with the epoxy resin (the stuff they sell in craft stores to make paperweights out of ) put spoon in before it hardens, allow to set...and you have a cup filled with tea. (may want to add coloring if you don't have the right color of rocks (also at craft stores))

Filling the tea cup will help weigh the whole thing down, and hold the bolt that holds the cup and saucer in place on the tray.




Once you have filled your cup with "tea" set aside and allow to set.




Have you noticed that it is a cabbage? lol....seriously cute for the garden isn't it?

9. After all is set and secured to your satisfaction place on base that you have chosen....large old vase, pedestal, table, tree stump...etc...and viola! your done!

You don't have to fill the cup with the resin....you could use it as a feeder, by adding a little bird seed... or you could fill it with water.

Waiting to see what I suggest for that second tea cup and saucer on the list?

You can drill hole same size as a screw that is about 1 1/2 inches long....in the cup and the saucer...secure cup and saucer to long piece of doweling or post with screw...fill with seed and you have a feeder to place in the flower bed where ever you want....or fill with water...and have a butterfly bath!



So? How did we do?

Wanna see our finished product?
 
Okay...you convinced me...here it is!



WAIT!!!!

It's missing something!

... hold on....I know what I forgot!....



I couldn't let it go without the raffia ribbon I bought to hide my work!



Okay! That wasn't so hard now was it? And it sure did not cost us a lot of money...the entire project cost me about $40....and that included the resin that we did not use all of!

We can make more if we want to! The one I saw in the magazine was at least 3 times that much!
So...not only did we save money...but making it ourselves makes it mean more!



This one was shipped as part of a giveaway I did back in 2008. It went all the way to Texas!

So? Are you going to make one?

 What theme is your tea pot?

 There are so many wonderful shapes out there…the possibilities are endless!

That’s all for me today…should anyone have a question about the instructions...please feel free to ask...I will get an answer out to you as soon as I can!

Until Next Time…Happy Garden Decorating!

*)*)*)    Imperfection is beauty~ Marilyn Monroe



(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.


www.tootsietime.com

I am linking into...
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Under $100 Linky party  Wednesday
Frugal Friday 
Be Inspired Linky (tuesday)
Show Me What Ya Got
One Project at a Time
Open House Party Thursdays