Sunday, March 15, 2015

Yard Art

I first published this post in July of 2011.  First of all, how crazy is it that I've been at this whole blogging thing for almost four years?!  Anyway, I came across it when I was trolling my Pinterest boards for garden inspiration.  It has a photo of that little corner area that I just revamped last week.  So you can see the little boxwood island that I converted into a bed.  A lot of the things have been changed, or rearranged, but its fun to look back at one version of summer in the yard, as well as how small some plants were just a few years ago.  Or how many I've yanked or moved to a new home since then.  Plus, all the "yard art" that has either met its demise (the yellow chair) or moved to a new location.  And, hopefully, my photo taking and editing skills have improved over the years.  ;)

First off, I wanted to let you know that our fun new metal project got rained out yesterday.  Grrrrr.  The Dad needed to cut a few more pieces and it just wasn't gonna happen in the pouring down rain.  I promise I will post pics of what it has become as soon as it's done.  I'm so anxious to see it finished!

In a comment to that post, I was asked to show some close-ups of my fence deco.  I kinda had to laugh a little, 'cause most of the stuff in my yard that isn't growing, either belongs in a garbage, or literally came out of one.  I seriously have a lot of junk in my garden.  Am I the only one who finds it nearly impossible to throw anything away?

Several of you also mentioned the deck area.  I've posted some before, but I took more pictures of how it looks today, as well as the patio.  Things have actually grown quite a bit, considering the worthless summer we've had so far.

So here goes....a visual tour of my yard art, aka, crap that should be in a dumpster.

My brother-in-law found this yellow chair on the side of the road.  
My mom and I fought over it.  
I won.
(tee hee)



 This is a metal window frame with sedum planted in it.


This crock always had a plant in it, but it froze and broke in half last winter.
So now it's just laying there.  With no purpose in life.


Here's the other half.


My mom made me this bird feeder.  




It's hanging next to a purple ladder I found on the side of the road.
Two of my clematis are currently fighting over it.


On the same fence is a bird feeder my brother-in-law made for The Girl for her birthday.


An old rusty, cracked candle holder.


The old gate we switched out when we extended the fence.


And the cot springs The Dad dug out of the dumpster at work for me.


On the other side of this pathway is the house.  
I've got planters hanging under all the windows and a pot hanging from the arbor over the gate.







Coming back around the corner to the backyard is another planter hanging off the house.
You can see it in the first yellow chair picture.
This one has a fuchsia in it.


All of the windows on the back of the house have planters under them as well.




In an attempt to corral the kid toys outside, I put an outdoor storage bench up against the fence.
One of my old windows, that I recently went after with the paint, is hanging above it.


I made a frame out of scraps of wood and stapled chicken wire behind it to hang from the side of the shed.
I planted a climbing hydrangea on it, in hopes that it would someday hide the ugly metal.
It's not movin' very fast.


The neighbor gave me the scraps he had cut off the ends of an old metal fence when he made our side gate.
I stuck them both in the ground by the hydrangea.


The mailbox is screwed to a 4x4 that I just buried deep enough to stabilize it.
It holds my hand tools.


No, this is not yard art.
This is proof that men leave their socks EVERYWHERE.


This is another one of my old windows.
And a bird feeder my sister gave me years ago. 
I keep meaning to plant a little sedum in it.



Wire baskets that I lined and planted.


A clock/thermometer.


Another framed piece of chicken wire.
This one has a clematis growing on it that my mom just gave me a piece of this spring.


This table top is the bottom of an old wine barrel that fell apart.
The feet came from a base of an old chiminea that fell apart years ago.


A giant ceramic ball and a bunny.
Both are tucked down into the big wooden planter on the the deck.



A bell from my mom and a broken finial off of a curtain rod.
(I told you I can't throw things away)


More hanging pots by the french doors on the patio.


A neighbor was throwing away this basket.
I, of course, brought it home and planted it.


The Dad made me this for Christmas two years ago.
I love it.


Random pot on a post.


Also on the patio is a bakers rack and a shelf made out of scraps.



And, of course, the bathroom cabinet that I still haven't gotten around to putting the legs on yet.


Here are a few pics of the whole patio, looking out from my bedroom door.




And from the deck.



And here's the deck.
Don't mind my woodaloo coffee table.
It's another thing I pulled from the neighbors junk pile and that one board warps every time it rains.
I've been talking about putting screws in it for months.






So there it is.  All my treasures.  
Okay, maybe not all of them.  
But I'm sure you didn't want to sit there all night.
By a show of hands, how many volunteers in the crowd would like to come haul it all in this fall?
Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller?  Bueller?




33 comments:

  1. BEAUTIFUL! i wish i had space in my backyard to do something like this :( who am i kidding i wish i HAD backyard! lol

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  2. Your yard looks AMAZING! I love the window boxes but my most favorite thing is the mailbox that holds your hand tools. Pure genius!

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  3. I love your style! Would you come and do my garden?! Your "junk" are such treasures!

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  4. LOVE IT!!!! Great pictures! My favorite is the mailbox for gardening tools....no wait, its the men's socks, lol. I have that problem too:( Thanks for posting the pics. Good job!

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  5. Your patio and deck and the whole garden are just beautiful. You must spend a lot of time watering, deadheading and fertilizing containers! But you know, it is so worth it to be able to hang out in such a lovely area for the summer--I love it! (And I, too, grab old baskets that people are throwing away and use them as planters!)

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  6. Fabulous! Love what you did with the crock!
    What a wonderful outdoor setting you've created!

    Have a great day.
    Barb

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  7. Wow, thanks everyone!

    @Athena: Yes, much to The Dad's dismay, there is A LOT of watering that goes on - especially in August. If it doesn't stop pouring soon, there won't be anything left to deadhead!

    @Shasta: I hope I didn't miss anything you were wanting to check out up close. Let me know if I did.

    Thanks again ladies for all the sweet comments!

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  8. There's so much I love but that mailbox for your hand tools is brilliant!! Love the table from the wine/chiminea parts - awesome! Do you have to handwater the hanging pots daily? We do here so I have only 4. I know,....compared to your beautiful jungle, lol. Thanks for sharing this - so many cool ideas.

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  9. So many new things to explore....

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  10. Your patio is so cute! I love all the things on your fence - I'm going to have to look for some cot springs (or an an old cot).

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  11. Thanks Manuela. I actually have two of them. Can't get rid of anything that a plant will grow on. :o)

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  12. Oh my- seriously beautiful1 Fun and quirky. :-) But also A LOT of watering- how long does it take to water all your pots?

    Thanks for sharing at the TGP!

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  13. Wow! Love what you've done. Ha Ha on the socks thing.

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  14. how cooool. im really diggin it. i hear ya about taking stuff in. ive kinda got the same thing goin on but on a smaller scale:) i have to find places for my stuff i seem to accumulate. but it sure looks neat in season huh. id come help, but im sure ive got enough to keep me busy as its going to be pool closing time b4 i know it, and hate it totally shuts down my back, which makes me very sad. hoping to find my perfect home soon, then ill have a yard to enjoy. good luck with your put away time.

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  15. This is really cool looking metal yard art. Where can I get some?

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  16. Hey girl, you have just the kind of junk I love! From dump to treasures if you ask me. I wish I found that much cool stuff along the side of the road or in someones junk pile. I usually find mine at thrift type stores or yard sales. I have yard art throughout my gardens. Yes, I have a hard time throwing anything away. Visiting from the garden party. Now a new follower.

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  17. Absolutely Gorgeous!!! Love everything about your outdoor space!

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  18. This is absolutely gorgeous!! I am so in love with every little bit of it...can't even pick out one thing over the rest to dote on!! Have to follow you to see what else you are up to!!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Maggie
    www.thehellonheelshousewife.blogspot.com

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  19. I don't see any junk - just fabulous treasures and an amazing backyard!!
    Kelly

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  20. I love it all...

    Visiting from Thrifty Decor Chick

    stephany

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  21. Mindy...I love every single solitary thing you are showing here. Just adorable. Such a great place to hang out...and your kids have a good place to play. Love it.:)
    xo

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  22. Oh my goodness! BJ@Sweet Nothings just sent me over. What a beautiful, beautiful yard. Your plants are amazing and so is your outdoor room. But you really had me at Mindy....that is my daughter's name, too! I am your newest follower- xo Diana

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  23. I love your backyard and porch! I love how you've combined all your found treasures and made them work for you! I hope you are enjoying the space!

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  24. A yard art is probably the best I could do with my place. It seems to need a lawn care badly.

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    Replies
    1. LOL - well throw some "junk" in there and you can call it artsy! :) Thank for visiting!

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  25. I love your yard! I'm a new follower. Come by and visit me at Home In Douglas.

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  26. Have you ever thought of opening a nursery?
    Just love everything about your backyard garden! You're quite gifted Miss Mindy :0)
    I hope you had a great weekend!
    Suzanne

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  27. I just want to sit and stare at all your photos all day long. Your garden is so cool, then and now.

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  28. Wow, you did good here! Your garden has so many fun and eclectic upcycled pieces. It's very cool! I'm really going to have to keep my eyes open when I'm out and about now. I didn't see the metal containers that you had in the background of the willow tree in your next post. They were hanging on the fence. Maybe you explained those and I probably missed it because that is what I kinda sorta do. Have a great day!

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