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Sunday, September 26, 2010

Backyard Deck

The Last of Summer
I know Summer is over but no one has told my backyard deck. 
I just love sweet potato vines. I planted just three little plants in each corner planter - two of coleus and one of sweet potato and look at how it's grown over the summer!
Usually, I plant sweet potato vines in the front flower beds too 
but didn't this year because I knew I was going to get a new roof and didn't want them trampled. 
But these survived just fine...so perhaps I should have.
 A new follower of my blog, Janet of The Gardners Cottage read my last post where I was
 contemplating what to do about the landscaping at the front of the house. 
She directed me over to 
Tara Dillard's blog.

I'm so glad she did. It's full of wonderful garden and landscaping ideas. 
I will definitely be reading through all of it. I'm hoping it will help me get my front landscape together.
I realize my back deck is kind of wild and out of hand. 
I'm not saying it's perfection in anyway shape or form. 
If I had some patio furniture...this plant life would have to get under control 
but since I don't have any furniture because I haven't been able to afford any...
I think it's fine to let it get all wild and jungle-y.

sharing at

14 comments:

A Whole Lotta Magic said...

I think you back deck IS perfection; I love how lush it looks.

Hope you had a perfect weekend.

S
xo

Chrissie said...

I would definantly say you have a green thumb! My yard doesn't know it's fall either. Today is the first day it has not been close to 90 outside. Beautiful!

Erin said...

Hey Nita! Thanks for the heads up on Tara's blog(became a follower), too, my husband was asking me about a plant yesterday and I couldn't think of the name. Here you are with it, coleus, just escaped me, lol! So double thanks!

Nita Stacy said...

Thanks everyone for your nice comments.
Chrissie -
Actually, I don't consider myself to have much of a green thumb at all. I've just found things that work on my back deck with little maintenance.

This is on the northside of my house so it only gets morning sun. Ferns do great and I do keep a big pot of herbs that you'd think would not get enough light but they have done fine every year for 6 years. So I guess the morning sun is enough.

A friend gave me the Hibiscus and I'm surprised I'm able to keep it going. I water everything once a day, usually at night although its better to water in the morning. Although the Hibiscus I water every other day. It was losing buds when I watered it every day. It is also sitting in the sunniest spot. It needs probably a little more sun than its getting.

When the weather starts to cool...I water every other day.

If only I could get things to grow as well on the front side of my house which is on the south. Everything except boxwoods seem to burn up. I have other things like dwarf nandina and hydrangea but they struggle when its summer.

I planted an oak tree close to the road and a maple in the yard hoping to gain shade so that I could switch it to a shade garden....but so far there is still broiling sun most of the day on the front of my house.

Robyn said...

HI Nita! You may want to pop over to Whimages...the blog and check things out! ;-)

Lisa ~Suburban Retreat~ said...

Dear Nita: I love the untamed look of your back deck. Very english cottagey style! Your sweet potatoe vine has flourished under your green thumb!
Lisa@SuburbanRetreat

Melanie {The Tiny Tudor} said...

I love your deck! I have a little back deck and it is just pathetic- no flowers at all. I will have to try sweet potato vine. Thanks for sharing Tara's blog- I need all the landscaping help I can get! I will be heading over there for inspiration. We pulled out ALL the landscaping from our yard and I had to start from scrath. I do not have a green thumb at all. I would love for my deck to look like your picture. When you post outside pics again, you must take a close up of that garden furniture. I looks like it's really pretty iron scrollwork...

V I N T A G E O L O G I E said...

Ahhhhh ... how refreshing to see some GREEN!! What a serene area you've created ... encourages me that Spring will show up and I will plant sweet potato vine ... thank you for sharing and passing along all that encouragement!

Thanks for visiting with all of us on the porch this am ; )

xo
Jill

Julie Marie said...

Hi there... so enjoyed visiting your porch today... love those potato vines, they just keep growing!... xoxo Julie Marie

Brenda Pruitt said...

I think it's absolutely beautiful! So full and lush. Gotta love those sweet potato vines. Gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Tara is extremely talented.
Brenda

Unknown said...

I love the look of your backyard deck, I'm hopping over from the Porch Club, I will be planting a sweet potato vine for sure, I love the look! Blessings and Hugs Marilou

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hi Nita,

Your deck is fabulous....oh so green and it looks like summer time at your house!

I need to try the sweet potato vines..they really are pretty.

I'm visiting for Porch Club Monday...I'd love to have you drop by my porch when you have a moment.

I discovered your blog a few weeks ago and I've added one of your buttons to my "kind and creative souls" page.

Hugs,
Stephanie ♥

Gypsy Fish said...

Seems like the perfect "jungle" to relax in...just gorgeous.
hugs
Beth

Claudia said...

I love sweet potato vines, too. I always have some in my planters and they grow like crazy. Your back deck is charming.