MY SUMMER GARDEN

Even though it has been an unbearably hot summer, my garden doesn't seem to mind.  I guess we've had enough late afternoon thunderstorms to keep the flowers happy.   

  

DOG IN MY SUMMER GARDEN

My French Bulldog sheltered on the porch this winter then rejoined the Vinca in the garden once the weather improved.

FRENCH BULLDOG IN THE VINCA

I always mix annuals with my perennials.  Their advantages are that they add color and bloom until frost.  I use Vinca and Lantana because the deer don't eat them.   They also don't seem to mind that I totally neglect giving them any care.

VINCA AND LANTANA ALONG MY GARDEN WALKWAY

Once I discovered Vinca, I never bought Impatiens.   

DEER RESISTANT VINCA

I like my Carly Rose grass, but it really grows quickly.  I have to divide it every other year.  If I had a do over I'd choose Fountain Grass instead.  It looks the same but stays more compact.

CARLY ROSE GRASS

Recently I wrote about my Dragon's Eye Pine and how its spikey branches contrast with the softness of the flowers and add texture too.  The Big Blue Fescue that outlines the stone wall adds sharpness and color.  You can see the Dragon's Eye Pine in the foreground.

BIG BLUE FESCUE FOLLOWING THE LINE OF THE STONE WALL

My Russian Sage never disappoints.

RUSSIAN SAGE

What's blooming in your garden?

To see my post about the Dragon's Eye Pine go here or click on the image below.

DRAGON'S EYE PINE IN MY GARDEN

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MY OTHER GARDEN FEATURE

I've written many posts about my absolute favorite garden feature, my Limelight Hydrangea.   My Dragon's Eye Pine is another centerpiece in my garden.  Its sharp spikey branches are the perfect contrast to the soft blooms of the hydrangea.   The texture and the color variations on the pine more than compensate for its lack of flowers.   Its branches stretch to the left over the slate walkway and create an appealing asymmetric design.   You can see the limelight hydrangea peeking out from the left corner of the image.  It's very close to full bloom.

 

DRAGON'S EYE PINE

ANOTHER ANGLE

AGAINST THE LAMP POST

CLOSE UP

ANOTHER CLOSE UP

Do you have a favorite garden feature?

Link to my post about my Limelight Hydrangea here.  Click on the highlighted word or on the image below to be directed to the post.

MY LIMELIGHT HYDRANGEA

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Design Musings: Layered Book Shelves

Last week I wrote about layering art and mirrors over windows.  I thought this post from 2016 was a good follow-up post, so sharing again.  (Link to last week's post at the end of this one.) 

I'm all about layering, especially when it involves book shelves.  It doesn't matter if it's a mirror or framed prints, I love the look when they are layered over a styled bookcase. 

This is my all time favorite.  The shelves, the books, the fabulous randomly placed prints.

The prints don't even have to match each other.

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This over-sized art consumes the shelves but it looks fabulous.  

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The art repeats all the colors in this boho chic room.

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Stacked vintage oils work too.

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Another block-the-bookcase art that makes the room.

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It even works on a small bookcase in a tiny bedroom nook.

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More mis-matched art in this mix and match fun room.

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I haven't forgotten about using mirrors in the same way as framed art.

The contrast of the white against the dark background makes these bookshelves and the room.

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A layered mirror works in a very traditional room.

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It works with bohemian too.

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What about a very small mirror?

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And last but not least, mirror and framed prints in a row.

I love that fabric on the sofa too.

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Do you think you'll give this look a try?

Prints? Mirrors? Large?  Tiny?  All?

Link to my post about layering art and mirrors over windows here.

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LAYERING WINDOWS

When I realized that I layer windows, my first thought was "Oh no!  I've run out of wall space and I've moved on to windows."  After I thought it through though, I realized that there were no blinds or draperies on these windows.  Whew!

I layered a sunburst mirror over the window in my dining room.   

MIRROR LAYERED OVER MY DINING ROOM WINDOW

 I used a ribbon to suspend it from the window latch.

MIRROR SUSPENDED WITH A RIBBON

You've recently seen my vintage bird print in my kitchen.  Again,  I suspended it with ribbon.  Can you see my giant Black-eyed Susans in the background?  My cottage garden is coming through for me again.

VINTAGE BIRD PRINT IN MY KITCHEN WINDOW

 There are large windows on three of the walls in our sun room.  Two have draperies, but the ones facing the back yard are drapery-free.  They were the perfect spot for me to suspend some sea life prints in mirrored frames.  

SEA LIFE PRINTS IN MIRRORED FRAMES

I attached the prints to the window frames with picture hooks.

SEA LIFE PRINTS ON WINDOW FRAMES

PRINTS ABOVE THE BAR CART

ROOM REFLECTIONS IN THE MIRRORED FRAME

Do you layer windows?

To see my post about how I layer my retail space, go here.

Or, click on the image below.

HOW I LAYER A RETAIL SPACE

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