Outdoor topiaries made simple-- spirals and balls

The crystal blue sky, temps in the 70s, and low humidity were calling me outdoors today. So, I decided to declare it Trim Up Topiaries Day!


Last fall, we purchased two dwarf spiral Alberta Spruces. I planted them in pots to flank our garage, but decided not to cut them until this spring. You can see how they looked last October here~ pretty scrawny-looking. They have grown quite a bit over the last seven months. The photo below shows how one looked today before I gave it a cut. 

Spiral Alberta Spruce
BEFORE

This was my first experience shaping a spiral variety. I looked at some videos by professional landscape artists to give me more confidence. They used power tools, but my choice is my trusty hand trimmers. 

I was careful to cut only small amounts at a time. This is how the plants look now.

Spiral Alberta Spruces
AFTER

And here they are guarding the garage.

Next I moved on to my ball topiaries on the front porch. You can see and read the back history on them here. They are also dwarf Alberta Spruces. Below he is all ready for a cut with a sheet placed to catch the clippings.

BEFORE

And here the evergreens are in their places on the porch. 

(I couldn't resist including my coral bells.) 

I do not claim to be an expert, but I do enjoy working with topiaries so much! 

I encourage you to give it a try if you have interest! 

Just have fun with it!  :)

Attracting butterflies with Sedum

An easy way to see lots of these butterflies in late summer and fall...

...is to plant "Autumn Joy" Sedum now! (The photos above were taken in the fall.)


There are many types of Sedum, but this is the one I have found that is easy to grow and never fails to lure butterflies to my garden. In late summer and fall, the blooms come out and the butterflies love it! I have simply snipped a cutting of the foliage in the spring or summer and placed it in a hole poked with a stick. Although I did not find it necessary, I have read that dipping the cutting in rooting hormone helps insure more successful results. Below is the result of one of my starts.

This is another one that was also started with the above method. This one gets lots of sun and has formed a nice mound shape. They grow larger over the years. Another plus: these plants are succulents, so they are drought-tolerant.

When blooms appear late summer, they will literally be covered with butterflies. At the end of autumn, I simply cut the perennial back to the ground...it will reappear the next spring and grow even larger! No green thumb required! 

Updated re-style for my china cabinet

Our dining room has two traditional built-in corner china cabinets. They are great for adding storage and flair to the space. When I recently received these Thomas Paul dishes in a giveaway sponsored by Barb at KNACK, I was inspired to work on a styling update. 

 Here's how they looked BEFORE.

On one corner of the room I have my bone china and glassware. 

In the other corner, I had some vintage red glassware and a platter and black mugs. 

I decided to replace these contents with the Thomas Paul Luddite Collection dishes. When I first laid my eyes on them, I loved their artsy look. This way I could enjoy them visually even when I was not using them. 

Here's the NEW LOOK. 

...and now a view without the reflection distraction:

Better?

Now on to organizing what is behind those lower doors that you can't see! 

;)

Joining Primp Your Stuff!

Mowing...and Art

If you have been reading my blog or know me, it is evident how much I enjoy bonding with the outdoors via my mower. My friend Jane even painted my portrait with "Big Red!" 

Here's some views of the fun I've been having lately with "Big Red!"

Sometimes the creative muse whispers "curvy and undulating"....  

And other days, "straight lines" are the inspiration. 

As was pondered here, is mowing a sport or an art?

I think BOTH. 

;)

"Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and more."

~Vincent van Gogh

Ivy topiary tune up

Remember the ivy topiary I purchased at my grocery store back in February? I'm happy to report that it is still alive and thriving.

As you can see, it was growing well, getting out of shape, and in need of a little nip and tuck and trim. 

So I took it out on the patio to neaten it up. This is a close-up of of the orb after I wove the new growth into the form and trimmed some of the larger leaves and ones that did not look healthy. 

Here it is back inside with my "fake topiary" beside of it.

REAL is a lot more fun!

:)

Linking to Nesting Place's "Planty Party" ~ click over to see lots of great plant ideas!

Sunshine inspiration and word art

Previously, I was craving some shine and hoping the sun would also come out. Well, it did... I got inspired to add some yellow to my living room's neutral palette. I painted and lightly distressed this frame weeks ago and prepared a canvas. (Both had been sitting in the corner waiting for me to get inspired.) I placed vinyl letters on the surface, then painted the background with a couple shades of yellow. Next I removed the letters and accented them with Behr's "Popped Corn" paint left over from my Eleanore chair.

.

I didn't over think this project. I just enjoyed the exercise of brushing the paint onto the canvas and had fun pretending I was an artist. I call it art therapy. ;)

I also like the way the yellow transitions to the dining room, which is yellow.

There is just a peek of it seen from the living room.

Now I can imagine the sun is out even on days when it's cloudy!

Seashells and platinum

It was a cloudy morning...and I must have been craving some shine! I was also itching to paint something!

Seashells are a favorite of mine...I have collected many. What do you get when you have a bottle of platinum leafing finish with these treasures from the sea? You guessed it!

For variety, I decided to leave the shells numbered 1, 2, 3 natural because they had a silver tint already. These other small ones were more brown-beige colors.

Just plopped them in an egg cup...

Then I had some fun playing around with tablescapes. 

The sun better come out soon! 

;)