Our Outdoor Living Space

It's the end of summer and today I'm sharing our outdoor living space because it's where I've been devoting so many projects since we moved into our fixer upper. It's also where we spend most of our time during the very short summers we have. You may remember my Spring post earlier so this is a follow up tour.

The front entrance was once a deplorable wooden porch of poor construction and water damage. From the day we moved in my first vision was to have a stone siding and a heavy wood door. After removing the walls and porch, here is what has become of the nightmare. 

It's now a garden entrance with a little pond and waterfalls. It gets decorated for each holiday, but summer flower arranging is my favorite kind of creating here. 

Especially when I include blue hydrangeas. I think they are my favorite.

I don't usually put pinks into the theme, but I did this year because this hydrangea is so vibrant.

I like tucking in a little rock garden with succulents. 

While at the garden entrance, a glimpse of the side gardens are showing. It exhibits rhododendrons, lilies, a few varieties of sedum, lavender, bridal wreath, trumpet vines and plenty of evergreen. It also contains my toy horse to garden sculpture project.

The landscaping extends all the way into the backyard with hostas, azaleas, mountain laurel, and wielgia

... and, never ending weeding ...

I planted this mountain ash tree a couple of years ago and love it when the berries turn a deep orange. It's turning now.

When we first moved here, the entire front was exposed to the road. As you can see the evergreens have grown tall enough to make the property cozy and more private. They were all just small containers of trees, shrubs and perennials. Now they are maturing so much that I need to shape them and split up some of the flowers. Sometimes I can't believe I put all of this in because the grounds are transformed entirely different from what we first had. 

The growing quote is always true with perennials: "First year, sleep. Second year, creep. Third year, leap!"  

The hostas and shrubs are choking out the Stella lilies, so I'll move that little splash of sunshine into the front of the area and they will thrive again.

While I have been landscaping and adding more to the property each summer, my husband and I have been working on the wrap around deck and patio together. The backyard is a huge living space. We added the area for entertaining and our own personal enjoyment. Sometimes I refer to it as our "staycation". When I first started this gigantic project my husband couldn't understand why. Once I told him why not enjoy where you live after working so hard? It didn't take him long to agree when he needed to just sit and actually relax.

Sometimes he falls asleep somewhere back here.

Re-siding the house is on the "to do" list. The current pale yellow is disturbing me. I tried some staining and painting techniques on it. 

Epic fail! 

Would you agree with me that stone siding is best to go with the timber and decking? 

This section is what I refer to as the "Barbecue Throne".  I built the area using 4x4's, concrete blocks and five lattice panels connected together. Then I topped them with solar lights. It looks awesome at night. This summer I planted wisteria at the lattice. I can't wait to see it growing over the pergola with draping flowers.

The grills are on poured concrete while adjoining the deck because I intend to change the area into an outdoor kitchen with layered stone. It will be complete with a mini fridge and small sink. 

It's a nice spot to sit and relax in my makeover chairs.  By having three patio tables and plenty of chairs there is room for grilling and mingling with guests.

The fan I transformed from indoors to outdoors is a nice touch on the pergola. 

I finished this solar light wall this year. It's a room divider that had votive candles. I switched them all out for cut wine bottles and inserted solar lights. I'll add that post some time. You can find all of my solar light projects here.

The garden pond provides a relaxing view. I get to enjoy it all year long because I put it in this spot to see it from the kitchen table as well.

This larger area of the deck is more like a living room.  

It's complete with a solar light chandelier that I put together.

The area is also a pass through to the hot tub deck.

After a soak in the spa tub (remember that project?), lunch can be found at this bar I built. It holds a mini refrigerator, sunblock and bug repellents.

I didn't plan on squeezing any perennials in here, but for some reason I couldn't resist. 

I planted these Asiatic lilies in pots in the ground. After losing about 25 of them our first year, I've learned to find a way to keep the moles away. (Now if there is a way to keep the rabbits from eating the liatris and tulips... )

I love using the bright yellows, oranges and reds to keep the place bright and cheery.

The cone flowers are red and yellow too.

Variegated hostas also brighten up the grass as a border.

No "staycation" is complete without lounge chairs and a fire-pit.

Summertime also brings tall blooms on the hostas and yucca bushes. I only keep them for a few days then cut them off.

I like how yucca stays green in the winter and the blooms are amazing for the short time they are around. They look like mini hanging tulips.

It's lovely how flowering plants and landscaping brings so much pleasure to outdoor spaces.  The backyard was always under some kind of construction. Now that it's come together, it's a matter of some paint, stain and regular maintenance to keep it enjoyable. Oh... and that new siding would be nice!

I hope you like our cozy outdoor living space. Thank you for visiting! 

Summer Home Tours Series 2015 Guest

Hello friends! I'm so thrilled to be visiting Michele's blog today! She always has clever and beautiful home decorating ideas to share. It's so exciting to join other talented bloggers on her Summer Home Tour Series.

Hello friends! I'm so thrilled to be visiting Michele's blog today! She always has clever and beautiful home decorating ideas to share. It's so exciting to join other talented bloggers on her Summer Home Tour Series.

Today I'm sharing our outdoor living space because it's where I've been devoting so many home projects since we moved into our fixer upper home. It's also where we spend most of our time in the very short summers here in the Saratoga area of New York. 

Here's a sneak peek of my outdoor living space: 

I hope you go visit my entire outdoor living space tour at Michele's!

Be sure to see all of the homes shared all summer long! There are so many beautiful and inspiring decorating ideas! 

Happy summer days!!!! 

Hello Spring and Summer Living

The snow has melted away and spring arrived late. Unfortunately, the spring blooms come and go too quickly and now we are looking at summer living. 

You're welcome to come take a look around our outdoor space. Just don't mind the mess while I pull things together. Each year, I try to improve and expand as I work on the outdoor spaces. With so many plans and so little time, I get overwhelmed while wishing there are 10 of me. 

This crab apple tree bloomed and the winds blew away most of the petals the short week it sported its beauty. I'm glad I got a photo of it while I worked upstairs and thought of it. 

The havoc of winter means a lot of spring clean up around here. So that is what I'm doing this week. And next week too, I'm sure.  

Draining and cleaning the pond is always the worst job, especially this time of year. The leaves and microorganisms that laid under ice and snow are... quite frankly... gross! 

The frogs don't think so. This one won't budge while I clean. He's obviously claimed his territory.

Putting this monster sized fountain back together is a task that takes two of us. Hubby helped me with it on Monday. It's a "cleaning out the home gift" from hubby's Uncle Fred a few years ago when he sold his house after his beloved wife passed. We lost him too, just recently, which makes this garden piece more special to us now. I call it the Fred and Joanne fountain.

The never ending deck and backyard projects are getting put together to welcome summer. I pressure washed everything and will freshen up the wood with new paint. I usually shade the top of the pergola with these drapes that I sewed together. That technically means I use a ladder to juggle myself while straightening out the fabric the entire length and width of the structure before securing it to the beams.

It's got to be comical if anyone is watching.

Undetermined at this time is a section of the long deck. I'm contemplating a screened off section for our birds to join us while we enjoy the outdoors. Being tropical Amazons, they love humidity and the summery temperatures outside lately has been very healthy for them. Keeping them protected from the sun and predators means more custom deck work. For now, they use their cages. So it's another unexpected project in the works. They always pop up. Don't they?

I've been planning a poured concrete and rock garden pool in the back corner section of the huge yard. That plan has been a dream since we moved here. Now that the kiddie pools, jungle gym, fort and swing-set are all outgrown and given away, it can be a reality. We have the equipment; it's a matter of getting it done or at least started. I can hear the water falls already... splashing from a pump disguised behind a tall rock wall. Landscaping... shallow walk in pool... spitting water sides... lounge chairs... night lighting... I've planned it and sketched it on paper. Ok, back to reality.

In the meantime, it's snowing maple seeds everywhere.

The advantage to that is, the chipmunks love them! They fill their cheeks as they munch out the seeds and leave those whirly jig casings all about.

While I work around the outdoors, the one thing I truly enjoy are the plants and blooms.  It's my absolute favorite seasonal passion! I swear I fall in love each time I look at them. The rebirth of nature in the spring time is so beautiful. Getting excited over plants and flowers is something that takes over me. When sharing them, I kinda feel stupid with the males of the house because it's not their thing. But it's certainly mine! I already missed the hyacinths and crocuses under the snow. The tulips didn't even have a chance...
again this year...
because we have wild life friends who enjoy them before I do...
and last year it was a deer.

This year it was...

a rabbit!

Who is still hanging around; and now with two babies. At least I feel good about contributing to a needy family.

So, before I get all lost in projects, it's time to stop and smell the flowers. Take in the beauty.

Like this gorgeous Shooting Stars hydrangea that  I planted in a pot at the front entrance.

Along with this Strawberries and Cream hydrangea, in the same planter.

I totally dumpster dived the planter. When I saw it on the top of the pile, peeking out at the world, it completely screamed "save me"!!!! Quite large and heavy, hubby helped haul it and asked "you sure you want it? It looks like a crack on the side." I responded with "drainage is good for plants". Son and Husband shook their heads no while they smiled. And here it lives. All's well that ends well. 

And that crack is hidden, while making all 4 hydrangea plants happy and healthy. 

And there are the irises in full bloom at the garden pond in the back yard. All in their blue/purple glory.

I'm loving the colors of this "red" rhododendron. Lucky to have planted two bushes, I can't wait to see them mature over time. Crazy beautiful, aren't they?

Purple and Pink rhododendrons are here and there on the premises. I have several that seem to tolerate the horrific winters we endure. This particular bush blooms quite full with lots of velvety petal puffs.

And here is a spring time perfume. Living on the shade side of the house, it's the Lily of the Valley.  

Hmm.. the greens of these lilies look a bit chomped here and there. I wonder... 

Lilacs, Lily of the Valley, Hyacinths, Violets and Peonies always give off a sweet aroma. They intoxicate the floral tour.  ( I need some lilacs and violets! ) I did plant Wisteria this year while not sure if it will bloom and can't wait to see what next year brings! That baby is sitting at the grilling throne. (You've got to see that brain storm!) It's where my best outside restaurant reviews come from.

Aw, and here are the hardy,  mysteriously beautiful, Hen and Chicks.

I love succulents. My mom gave me some from her gardens way up north. I planted them in rocks. These new species are riding in a flea market find. Even if this iron trike rusts it will look awesome with the patina.

So much to take in. So much to do. So much to enjoy.

These plantings and outdoor projects are my spring and summers. The wrap around the house deck is finished. The patio and fire pit are set;  dining at the garden pond is a joy; the hot tub is getting opened up and the front entrance is getting all inviting like. Every start from scratch project took a lot of hard work. But, every aching bone part of it has been worth it.

I love spring and summer!

I'll post the finished and "in use" next time and hope you'll stop by to visit.

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