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.  

Creeping and Crawiling and Climbing All Over...Just The Way We Want Them To!

When it comes to vines...there are no limits...



oh my!!!  ...here is a dream of mine....



Oh!!! … and here is another...TOOTSIE!!! QUIT DAYDREAMING AND GET TO IT!

Climbing plants bring height to our gardens. They offer us attractive alternatives to the view of our gardens AND offer a feeling of lusciousness that other plants do not. They also help us hide some of the less attractive areas of the garden. Any vertical surface will offer a place of support for climbers to grow on.
 

 
Yep! This vine is one that I grew myself.  This was my house!…before the move.

There are climbers that will support themselves, such as the Trumpet Vine, the Ivy's such as Hedra Helix, Virginia Creeper, Climbing Hydrangea, and Boston Ivy to name a few. These plants will require a little bit of help in the beginning, but once established, will cling to pretty much any surface they come into contact with. Others will require constant help to stay in the upright position. This is where the Trellis comes into play.



great idea....

Trellis's come in a variety of styles. There are the ones that offer an attractive backdrop until the vine has covered it up...these might be made of wood, wire or even plastic. The choice of trellis will depend on your location, taste and the type of plant you will be using on it. They come in virtually any shape or size to cover almost any surface imaginable! You can even be creative and make your own to suit your exact needs.
 


okay...this might be a little over the top...but you get the point.

A trellis that is attached to a wall or fence should be done in such a way that as much air can circulate behind it as possible. This can be achieved by putting a piece of wood attached to the structure or wall and attaching the trellis to that wood. Another thing to consider when attaching a trellis to a wall or a fence is structure maintenance. Make the trellis easily removable...so that when the time comes to paint or repair the support...you can do it easily by removing the trellis and laying it down during the repair, and re-attaching it afterward.
 


…fun for the kids to do!  They can play inside this trellis after it fills in!



I'm in love with this idea...

When you have decided on the location for your climbing plants...you can start to think about the type of plant you will want to purchase for this area. Make sure you do your homework before you choose the plant...so that you will be guaranteed a better chance at success.
 
If you want to see an ever changing view...annual vines are a good choice. You can change them each year and see something different. Morning Glory and Sweet Pea are good suggestions.
 

 
I used to plant morning glory on my little greenhouse to hide it in the summer months...
 

 
...Once I got all the seedlings planted into the garden...it was used as garden storage.  The vines did a great job of camouflaging what was inside.
 
If you have a flag pole, or telephone pole you want to hide…
 

 
Don’t forget to dress up the top of the pole…ha ha…like I did to my parent’s (Grammie and Grampie’s) flag pole…I added a garden gnome as a joke…and they love it!
 


If you are going to be planting in a shaded area...Chocolate Vine, American Bittersweet, Clematis (some varieties), Hydrangea, Boston Ivy and Honeysuckle are good choices.

If your climber is to be planted in a sunny area, you might consider Kiwi, Blue Passion Flower, Jasmine, Grape Vines, or Wisteria.
 


What if you are looking for a sweet smelling plant? Try Clematis Armandii, Clematis Montana, Japanese Honeysuckle, Rose bushes, or Wisteria.

When you have selected the perfect plant for your location...you will need to practice a few simple rules when you plant:
 
1. Do not plant the vine any closer than 18 inches from the wall or fence. This distance will help make the drying effects of the wall or house less of a problem. Structures are often less hospitable for plantings as they tend to be sheltered from the moisture of rains etc. You will need to remember to add water to the area at regular intervals.
 
2. Young plants will require a little help in the training process. This means you may need to tie the branches of the vines to the trellis for the first little bit until they become established.
 
3. Follow planting directions for each plant species. Clematis for example likes to be planted fairly deep. This will guarantee you a better chance for a healthy plant, as all plants have particular likes and dislikes.
 
4. After you have dug yourself the initial hole for the plant, angle it at about a 45 degree angle toward the trellis. This way the plant will be inclined to grow toward the structure instead of away, or straight up.
 
5. Remove the support that comes with your plant from the nursery BEFORE you plant it in your garden. It is much easier to remove before rather than after you plant them. Trust me on this one...I know all too well...
 
6. Cut back to a healthy place. Remove any damaged or unhealthy looking stems as soon as possible. This gives your plant a better survival rate. If you plant it with damaged or broken stems, the plant will concentrate on those rather than on establishing new growth.
 
7. Dead head and prune regularly. Remove spent blooms as soon as they show signs of wear, to encourage more blooms to appear. If you leave spent blooms on the vine, they will become seed pods and your plant will think it is finished for the season...not to mention look rather icky. Cutting back your vines a little at the appropriate time of year (for each plant this might vary) will encourage new growth and more branching.
 
By starting out with a good and healthy plant, of good quality and characteristics appropriate for your location, you are sure to be rewarded with plenty of new growth and a lovely display on your trellis.
 
So, that's it in a nutshell, that is all I know …at least for today!   Long enough post for ya?  :)
 
If I have missed discussing  anything here...please let me know. After all....I have never claimed to be a professional...and I admit I am self taught. All I know how to tell you is what has worked for me!
 
I look forward to seeing you all again …hopefully within in the next day or two with some of the progress I have made on my home decorating projects!

You will notice in the comments that there are some dated from 2009.  That is because I had originally written this post WAY back then.  I have since learned a few things, and had some great photos to add and some more experience to contribute!  Thank you for taking the time to stick around if you have already read it!

 


Until Next Time…Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)   Be with somebody because they make you want to be a better person, NOT because that somebody wants to make you into their version of a better person!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com
 
***I apologize, that I did not have the credits for the origins of the photos that are not watermarked in this post. I had collected them years ago ....before pintrest..and I do not know who to credit.   I believe most of them were just a simple Google search.   ***