Too Much Rain and Flower Deals

We've had way too much rain these past weeks, but my garden really responded.  Plus, my sister Claire and I hit the jackpot for annual flowers. They were wheeling out carts filled with marked-down plants just as we arrived.  Hanging baskets bursting with flowers, flats with vinca, dahlias, zinnias, celosia,  impatiens and begonias.  Needless to say we went crazy.  We could hardly wheel our overloaded carts through the aisle to get to the cashier.  It was a flower feeding frenzy.  We both spent all day Saturday planting in our yards.  It was quite a project but such fun.  Bargains are always fun. I wanted to share the results of too much rain and flower deals.

THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND SPRING GARDEN

FRONT PORCH CLOSE UP

I filled my Chippendale planter with zinnias and dahlias.

PLANTER WITH ZINNIAS AND DAHLIAS

I thought we were going to lose the Japanese Maple, but it seems to be recovering. 

 It used to thrive in the shade of our Bartlett Pear tree.  It is adjusting to a full sun garden

now that the pear tree is gone.

OUR RECOVERING JAPANESE MAPLE

I tucked some zinnias among the rocks that fill my garden.

ZINNIAS AMONG THE GARDEN ROCKS

I found another iron sphere for the garden and planted some zinnias in it too.

More rocks, this time with celosia and zinnias.

IRON SPHERE WITH ZINNIAS

I planted the portulaca in the basket of my garden statuary.

I'm hoping it spills out some more and spreads onto the rocks.
Did you know that you can put a coffee filter over the drainage hole in a pot
 and the soil won't clog the drain?

PORTULACA IN MY GARDEN STATUARY

These pink Dragon's Breath added color to the side yard.

SIDE YARD WITH DRAGON'S BREATH

I filled the bird bath with trailing vinca.

Did you know that vinca resembles impatiens but the deer don't eat it?

BIRD BATH WITH TRAILING VINCA

I planted clematis on my arbor and my trellis.  They're just starting to climb.  

I can't wait until they grow taller and bloom.

MY ARBOR AND MY TRELLIS WAITING FOR THE CLEMATIS TO CLIMB THEM

CLIMBING ROSES OUTSIDE MY KITCHEN WINDOW AND
A SNEAK PEEK AT THE CLEMATIS ON THE ARBOR

I divided some of my perennial ferns and planted them in the side garden.

PERENNIAL FERNS IN MY SIDE GARDEN NEXT TO MY NANDINA

Annuals are a great way to add color to your garden all summer.
How does your Spring garden grow?

Santos and Sparkle. Plaid, Paper Trees, and Peacocks. It's Our Holiday Open House!

It's time to get an early start on your holiday decor.   I just finished decorating my space for Christmas before I even put my Halloween candy in the bowl for the trick-or-treaters.  I'm hoping that my pics will put you in the holiday mood and you'll come shop with us.

SWEET CLOVER HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Nov. 5-8

10-5 each day

For some reason, after years of a love affair with silver and mercury glass, I've developed a fondness for gold.  You'll see my new favorite metal in my holiday decor.  

Santos, Gold, and  Peacock Feathers

Peacock Wrapping Paper as a Back Drop for My Holiday Display 

I wanted a way to display a selection of my ornaments, so I cut a triangle from the peacock wrapping paper I used as a back drop.  On the blank reverse side I randomly painted gold polka dots with the end of a foam paint roller dipped into gold craft paint.   I added some screws down the sides of the "tree" and  zigzagged from one side to the other with gold garland.

Gold Polka Dot "Tree"

Besides the glass jars, I used a large rectangular metal basket to hold the ornament overflow.
I lined it with gold-trimmed napkins and leopard ribbon.

Metal Tray Filled With Ornaments

I used a chippendale planter from my garden as a tree stand for my feather tree.

Feather Tree in a Planter from My Garden

Feather Tree Close Up

Santos With Crown and Wreath Necklace

Vintage Bottle Brush Wreath

 If you recall, last year I did my whole space in plaid. 

 It still seems to be very popular so I included some tartan again.

I hope to see you this weekend.
I'll be working Friday.

Please visit our Sweet Clover FB page for more pics of what we'll have.