Potting Plants In Paint Pails

I really need to give my outdoor decor a lift. Disappointed that my cucumbers did not grow this year put me into a gardening depression so I started to ignore my back yard. But, I do have some ideas on how to give it a little face lift so I can enjoy it a bit more. So, I started with a little creative potting. I love succulents, can't get enough of them. Plus, you don't have to water them everyday and they are very heat tolerant which I appreciate living in Texas.  There is a succulent/sedum nursery in town I just found. I plan to drag Mr. Lucas there next weekend. I want to plant one of those HUGE Agave Americana plants, my neighbor has one and I am jealous. I figure digging hers up in the middle of the night would be inappropriate. But...enough of my love for cacti. Here is my very simple and cute little project.

Materials Needed:

*Empty Paint Pail-you can find them at your local hardware store for about $5.00

*Soil

*Succulents/Cacti-several to arrange in your pail

*Hammer

*Large Nail

*Tongs-to handle those pesky cacti!

First, you will need to make holes in the bottom of the pail so when you water the soil it will drain. Take the hammer and nail and make several holes.

Fill your pail about 3/4 of the way (or a little less). Arrange your succulents and then fill to the top with soil so the plants are well secure.

Give it a little water and tah-dah, your done! You can make it your centerpiece for your backyard table or hang it like I did.

Happy potting. Cheers! 

Lizards, yarn, and columbines

I have a little lizard friend. He likes my kitchen window garden but it seems that he also likes my patio! He was just chilling out on the patio today. He is really big too! This picture does not do him justice.

I have been spinning my roving stash. This is the Sangria on the Huron roving that I purchased a while back. It has been a bit challenging to work with but...I am getting the hang of it. This is all apart of my secret spinning project which will be revealed in October!

My columbines have been blooming. They did not bloom last year but it was worth the wait! They are really beautiful!

Happy Sunday! Cheers!

The Sun Is Shining, The Weather Is Sweet...

It was a beautiful weekend this weekend! I did a bit of work in my kitchen window garden. We had a pretty cold winter here so the garden was looking a little rough. I pruned all the dead leaves and what not, pulled up weeds that were starting to peek through last years mulch, and laid down a fresh layer of mulch. Things are thriving very nicely!

My Mexican oregano, tarragon, rose geranium, daisies, lime verbena and orange mint are all growing back. My sister gave me a tomato plant which I have put in the ground. I need to go get bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, basil, and a few other things to make it complete out there.

Now I just need more diatomaceous earth to get rid of those pesky ants!

Cheers!

Spring Has Arrived!

This has been a beautiful weekend! It is hard to believe that last weekend we had snow! I think Spring is finally here. So, today I took advantage of the beautiful weather to get my front yard garden in order. I raked out the old leaves and mulch, laid down compost soil, and added new mulch. It is all ready for new plants!

It is even starting to bloom!

I need to make my plant list and map how I am going to place them in the garden. The Botanic Gardens Herb Fest is coming up in May. I can't wait to get plants from the fest to put in the ground! I think I am going to make a veggie garden out of my kitchen window garden. I need to give that garden a bit of love next weekend!


Cheers!

Birthday

Jeff is creeping closer to the big 3-0! He turned 29 on Saturday. My sister has been in town visiting and she got up early to decorate the table. I decorated the chalkboard as it only seemed fitting!

We grilled chicken with Stubbs marinade and Stubbs BBQ sauce. Oh, how we love Stubbs. If you are ever in Austin, you must, absolutely must stop by Stubbs. Hands down, the best BBQ anywhere! Stubbs is also a live music venue. So, really, you just can't beat a little BBQ and live music. We had BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, and potato salad from Red Hot and Blue! Just like Stubbs has the best BBQ, Red Hot and Blue has the best potato salad.

I had the table all set and then,

It was time to eat!!!!

I also tried my hand at baking a very special cake. My mother grew up going over to a friends house and eating strawberry cake after school. It really is a cute little story! So, one day, after she was all married and grown up, she got that special strawberry cake recipe. There was lots of pressure to get this right because my mom has been making it ever since I can remember and when my sister grew up and had Violet, she started making it. So, it was my turn,

Might I say, that was a darn good cake!!



On Sunday, after all the festivities, Jeff and I did yard work.





I finally finished the kitchen window flower bed!

Before:




After:





I took an idea from Our Thyme Garden and put my old San Pellegrino bottles in the dirt as a border along with some tree branches.



I can't wait for the plants to start growing! I just recently planted jumbo jalapeno peppers and bell peppers. Yum!


I have a baby birdie update, they hatched! There are 2 of them. These are the biggest baby birdies I have ever seen! The mama bird is sitting next to them.




They are growing rather quickly and will leave the nest soon!


In other exciting news (for me anyway), I will be leaving for Santa Fe on Saturday!! Stay tuned for the first Santa Fe post of 2009!