Challenge Taken part 2. Birdbath’s Corner.

Hey!   Glad you popped by!   I am just about to share the second installment of the Challenge I took to Tootsie around in a farm yard with little to no flowers!

If you missed the first part about the Bike the Cream Can and the Tree,  you really should go back and have a look…it tells the entire story of how I ended up taking this challenging project in the first place.  Click here if you wish to start on part one!


This is where I left you…and I showed the view of the next space to be done.


Things here are simple and plain. Nothing to draw the eye and there is much potential in it’s “bones”.   I had direction from Mrs. P to do “something…anything” to make it pretty!

Lets take a closer look:


This is not a big space..The little fence was put up years ago to keep their son from driving his quad through the trees to get to the house.  There is a little bit of gravel and some shards from an old clay pot that bit the biscuit years back.   I stared at it for a while…and got an idea!


In my discussions with Mrs. P, I learned that Mr. P loves to have birds of all kinds in his yard.   I recalled seeing a birdbath in the stash of  things I was given access to use anywhere I saw fit.   I grabbed it…and popped it right in the middle of the alcove.   I then went to my truck and grabbed the two honeysuckle vines that I had picked up in town on my way out here that morning.   I then threw in another clay pot, arranged the broken shards and stood back. 

 It still doesn’t seem finished!


That is MUCH better!   I know Mrs.P likes her solar lights and there were a few in my truck…along with a pot of Dusty Miller that I planted in the greenhouse this spring.   I just needed to re-arrange things a little bit and this space is DONE!  

The vines will attract humming birds and butterflies…they will grow up and use the Karagana bushes as support…the birdbath is in a sheltered area and creates a focal point for this otherwise bland space! 

When I showed it to Mrs. P.    She was very happy…she loves it!

She also loves the “accidental” placement of an old window…


In my travels back and forth from the shed with different items to try to use in this space, this old window fell off the wheel barrow.   I didn’t want anyone to step on it, but didn’t need it at the time, so I just popped it in here and left it for a bit.   The old window now has a home right where I popped it!  haha!   What a happy accident!

The second space was complete and the next space was screaming for my attention.  


I affectionately named this space Willow Corner…What do you think I will do here????

Stay tuned…You will probably be surprised at the finished project!

That’s it for me today…I have to keep things down to a dull roar…somewhere along the line the last two weeks I managed to over do it on my arms…and inflamed my shoulder injury…my arms are numb (sleeping) and my fingers hurt like crazy to use…so for now…that’s it…that’s all!

Until Next Time…Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)   In order to appreciate your successes you must first appreciate your struggles.
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com
Did you miss part 1?

Part one of challenge taken:  The Bike, the Cream Can and the Tree.

A Challenge Taken. Part 1: The Bike, the Cream Can and the Tree.

A while back, Grammie  (my Mom for those who are not familiar with this site yet)  decided that Tootsie needed to put some business cards for Tootsie Time on the counter at the store she owns, so that people can see this site.

I made some up and set them on the counter for her customers to pick up as they paid for their shoes, and that is where today’s story will begin.

A little more than a week ago, a regular customer, and VERY nice lady was in buying a pair of shoes.  ( we will refer to her and her hubby as Mr. and Mrs. P )  She picked up my Tootsie Time card and took it home.  That evening, she had a little bit of spare time, so she decided to take a peek at what goes on here!   As it turns out, she loved what she saw enough to email me and ask me to come out and “Tootsie” up the joint a bit!  Needless to say, I graciously accepted.


A few days after her email, I drove myself out to the family farm where she and her husband live.   We met, chatted and toured around their home site, discussing a few areas that she would like me to Tootsify.   Normally being asked to do my thing in someone else’s yard is a huge undertaking, but it is not it the challenge of my skills that this task was going to be.  Mrs. P wants me to Tootsie around in her yard, wants her “junk” placed into vignettes that I am to create, she and wants it all low maintenance…with no flowers.  
Did she say NO FLOWERS?????   

NO FLOWERS!!!!

How on earth am I going to pull this off with NO FLOWERS???

Never in history has there been a Tootsie project done that didn’t include flowers!!!


This is a beautiful yard.  Simple, Mature and very clean.  There are a million beautiful little spots that could become fabulous here!   Mrs. P has chosen just a few of these special areas to be spruced up…just a little.  This tree line is one of those spaces. 

During my tour of the yard, Mrs. P showed me her stash of special “junk” that she had saved over the years.  There were old windows, antique cream cans, little nick- naks and best of all…her pride and joy…a lovely old bicycle.   I was instantly inspired to get busy!

The next morning bright and early I got myself out of town and onto the hi-way to begin my new project.   I had lots of time to collect my thoughts on the way there because it is approximately 40 minutes from home.   This was perfect…I could make a bit more of a plan on the way there.   There is just one little thing I am very nervous about…HOW on earth will I make this work with NO FLOWERS????

I arrived…and was instantly greeted by a very excited Mrs.P.   She could hardly wait to add a little bit of new interest to her yard spaces!   She chatted a little bit and then I went off to do my “thing”

This yard is rather large…and I needed to make some pretty happen along the drive way up to the house…as she was concerned that it was too “boring”.  

I got into the shed where the “good stuff” was stored…and pulled that wonderful old bike out.   Mrs. P adores her old bike.  She really wanted it to stand out and have a special place in the garden.   Fortunately, I have a big imagination, and a plan already formulated.   I dragged the old bike down from the back of the yard all the way to the beginning of the drive way, stood back and looked at where I originally wanted to put it…and HATED IT!


I wanted to place it here!   Under a tree!   I looked horrible there!   Think Tootsie …THINK!   As I stood there looking at the bike, trying to realize a new plan, I looked to my right…and saw the most beautiful spot.


What a beautiful old tree!!!   The dappled shade and all the surrounding shrubs and trees make this space PERFECT for the wonderful old bicycle!   I literally was giddy with excitement!  It is a darned good thing Mrs. P was busy doing other things, she would have thought me insane with the way I was talking to myself!

I grabbed the bike…placed it up against the tree…and zipped myself up to the back of the yard for some more “junk” and a piece of firewood I spotted in the wood shed during my tour.

Ta-Da!!!!   This is what I ended up with!   I added the cream can, old wooden pot, and that tree stump.   I also raided another area of the  yard for a few maiden hair ferns.   I LOVE IT!!!!  The ambiance of this area is perfect to just BE.   So…


I added a chair!

Now that’s more like it!

I just needed to talk Mrs. P into a few flowers…just a couple…and I will be finished here.

Even if she says no to the flowers, This space will still be wonderful…but…I am Tootsie…and Tootsie NEEDS flowers, like she needs air…so…I offered a few small flowers…and…


She graciously accepted.

WHEW!

That was close..ha ha…  Not as many flowers as I usually add to things, but hey…it’s a start.   I will eventually turn this sweet lady into a flower fiend like me!  



Mrs. P LOVES the little vignette!

If you are wondering what the bright green rectangle off to the upper right of the photo is, it is a little touch of humor that we added from her stash of things she wanted to use in the garden.


Isn’t it cute?   It just added a little fun to this space.


I love the feeling this space gives as one looks at it. 


Peaceful, Graceful, Calm…just what Mrs. P wanted!

So far so good…I managed to Tootsie with almost no flowers…

Off to the next space in the yard!


What ever did I do here?  

Stay tuned…I will reveal the Tootsi-fied look tomorrow!

What?   You didn’t think I was going to share it all today did you???   What fun would that be?  :) 

Thanks for popping in today…I can’t hardly wait to share what this little space looks like after I played with it!   See you here tomorrow…!

Until Next Time…Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)   The common 'eye' only sees what's visible on the outside, and judges by that. The loving eye pierces through the visible and reads the heart and the soul.

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

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.  

Loading InLinkz ...

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.