It's A Fern Explosion In My Garden

One of my favorites---and the easiest to care for----plants in my garden are my ferns.  

I have both perennial ferns and annual ones that I purchase each year and 

place in different containers scattered all around the yard.  They all thrive.

These perennial ferns along my patio wall started out as four small plants. 

 In only a few years they spread out into an explosion along the wall.

Perennial Ferns Along My Patio Wall

They're a wonderful border for my garden path.

Perennial Ferns Line the Garden Path

Recently I divided them and added them to the garden bed on the opposite patio wall.

I always use architectural salvage to add interest to the beds.  

In the foreground is a piece from an old fountain.

Perennial Ferns in Another Bed and a Fountain Fragment in the Foreground

My annual ferns are pretty easy to plant and to maintain.  I don't even remove them from their pots.  

I just plop them into my containers.  No digging involved.

This one ended up in one of a pair of large urns at the foot of the path to the patio.

Annual Fern in an Urn

This other fern ended up inside a chimney pot.

At its base are perennial begonias.  Another of my favorite blooming ground covers.

Annual Fern in My Chimney Pot Surrounded by Perennial Begonias

The black lattice is a perfect back drop for another annual fern in another chimney pot.

Annual Fern in Front of Black Lattice on the Side of the Garage

My last annual fern rests on a tall planter inside an iron garden sphere.

Fern Inside an Iron Garden Sphere

I love my iron sphere.  I change it seasonally.  To see its other transformations, go here.

Fern Peeking Through My Iron Sphere

What plants do you have in your garden that never disappoint?

Kathy

Two years ago I shared the ways I incorporated architectural pieces into my garden.

If you missed it, please check it out here.

Lettuce Leaf Plates In My Pantry

Do you find something you really like and buy it every time you see it?  I do.

Several years ago I saw some lettuce leaf plates.  I was immediately attracted to them. 

 They reminded me of vintage Majolica.  In fact, this whole hoarding frenzy was started by this little majolica teapot that has served as our sugar bowl for many years.

My Lettuce Leaf Tea Pot, AKA Our Sugar Bowl

It grew into quite a collection.  I didn't want to hide them in a cabinet, so I stored them on a pot rack.  Originally this pot rack was in a restaurant, but it fit perfectly into the corner of my pantry/laundry.

The graduated shelves worked for my plates, bowls, and serving pieces.

Vertical Storage in My Pantry

This is the view looking into the pantry from the kitchen.  I have a low cabinet against the wall.
It's my pantry cupboard.  On top of the cabinet is an urn with a sphere, some books with architectural prints, and a lamp.  Hanging above are three framed over-sized architectural prints,

Looking Into the Pantry From the Kitchen

The plates stacked very nicely on the rack.

Stacked Dishes

The lamp originally was a coffee urn.   I love the spigot on it best.

Coffee Urn Lamp

I was able to find some white plates too.

White and Green Lettuce Leaf Plates

Bowls and Serving Pieces

Dinner Plates and Covered Serving Dish on the Bottom Shelf

I love using them when I host a party.
Notice the stacking dessert plates on the left and the candlesticks on the right.
Unfortunately they have to hide in a cupboard when not in use.

Summer Party on the Patio

I used the white lettuce leaf plates to set the table under the pergola
 I was able to find some lettuce leaf place mats too.

Dinner Under the Pergola

Do you have some favorite go to dishes?


I see that Tory Burch is reissuing the original lettuce leaf plates by Dodie Thayer.
Of course mine are all new knock offs, but that's okay.
To see Tory's collection, go here.

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We're Clearing Out the Barn

This sale is NOT to be missed.  It's our annual yard sale. 

We'll have marked down items inside the barn and even more outside. 

OUT WITH THE OLD

IN WITH THE NEW.

Here are some snippets of what I'll have.

If you've been considering buying something in my booth, get to this sale.

Of course I added some new items to the mix too .

Kathy

Another Dry Brush Technique

Recently I wrote about how I dry brush furniture.  All the pieces I've done so far have been on raw wood or metal.  I decided to experiment on a piece that was painted.  I had no idea if it would work or not, but I decided to give it a try.  I'm always up for a new discovery.
Here's how it turned out.

Dry Brushed Cabinet

Below is the original painted finish.
It's hard to see, but in all the grooves are some remaining hints of gold accents.

When I started, I was beginning to doubt myself.  On raw wood or metal the paint will collect in the grooves and create the mottled finish I love.  It wasn't happening.
 Of course I came up with a solution.  I always have a wet paper towel nearby when I paint.  I tend to send specks of paint to whatever is nearby, be it a car, a wall, or some other unfortunate piece that got too close to my workspace.  In fact, I'm usually totally speckled.
  I used the wet paper towel to wipe away some of the paint.
 It worked perfectly.

I randomly wiped away the paint with a wet paper towel.  So happy I was able to reveal some of the original gold accents.

I decided to not paint the hardware.

Original Hardware

Another View

I'm doing this again.


Kathy

To view my previous post on dry brushing, go here.