Architectural Salvage in the Garden

Recently, I wrote a post about using Architectural Salvage in the home. 

As I was putting it together, I realized I had enough architectural pieces
in the garden and on the patio to write a separate post. 

As they do inside your home, salvaged pieces add texture, warmth 

and a sense of history to your garden and patio. 

This widow's walk railing evokes stories of a woman
watching the harbor for her husband's return from atop her house.

One of my favorite salvaged pieces is this rusty metal arch linking the patio and the garden. 

With solar twinkly lights, it makes the garden feel magical. 

Purchased on a road trip through Oklahoma, I like to imagine
what kind of garden it might have come from.

This ornate fireplace screen adds a historic touch to the patio

while the cement angel is a lovely accessory. 

Old salvaged doors make great outdoor screens.

(This one, an alley find, is hiding the fuse box). 

These metal sconces were electrified at one time.
We removed the wiring and now they hold candles on our patio fence.

I love the look of rusted metal fencing in the garden.

Sometimes, reproduction pieces look just as good as the real thing. 

Old windows are handy inside and out.
Here, I've used one as backing on my potting bench.

This old chimney stone was from my Dad's garden.
I don't know how it came to live in his garden
but now it lives in mine.

Architectural salvaged pieces bring a unique elegance to the garden and patio
with their steadfast beauty from days gone by.

***

If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.
Thank you!!!

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Little Farmstead, Our Southern Home, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style,
Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, 21 Rosemary Lane, Petite Haus, French Country Cottage

Favorite French Country Posts for 2017

Slipping into a new year, I thought it would be fun to look back at 2017 

at some of my favorite French Country posts.
So, please join me as we view my Top 10 picks from the year of 2017.

To read more about each post, just click on the link.

1.  French Country: Romancing the Home

A romantic home has a feeling of being transported to another era.

2.  French Country's Friend: Ironstone

Ironstone is the perfect accessory for a French Country look --

that timeworn feeling of simple comfortable elegance.

3.  French Wine Crate Find

Who knew this French wine went for up to $3,500 a bottle!

Definitely one of my favorite finds!

4.  French Country Farmhouse

This white rooster . . . love at first sight.

5.  Cafe Bleu Reveal

Before & After -- a private French Country retreat.

6.  French Country Garden: Pretty in Pink

My June garden is so pretty, it's blushing! I'm yearning for Spring.

7.  Romantic French Farmhouse

Here are some simple tips to set a romantic mood.

8.  French Country: A Quiet Transition into Fall

Inspiring Fall touches to quietly complement the season.

9.  French Country: Get Galvanized for Fall

That rusty patina captured my heart!

10.  A French Country Christmas Dining Room

A simple French Country look for Christmas without a tree!

Looking back recaptures fond memories and teaches us a few lessons along the way 

while looking forward brings exciting new challenges and fresh ideas. 

I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog this past year
and hope you stay tuned for a fun year in 2018.

***

If you enjoyed this look back, I hope you'll follow me in 2018.

Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.

You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.

Thank you for a wonderful year and I wish you a happy and peaceful New Year.

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style,
A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Designthusiasm, 21 Rosemary Lane,
Petite Haus, French Country Cottage

French Country Garden: Endless Summer

Just when I thought summer was over, 

a new flush of late-blooming flowers burst upon the scene in my French Country garden.

Is it the slightly cooler weather and a bit more rain that gave my garden a second wind?

After an afternoon shower, everything is fresh, dust bathed away and stale air cleansed.

Pools of watery crystal beads lie on a rose bush leaf like a broken string of pearls.

Whatever the reason, gorgeous flowers are sprinkled throughout the garden
that I thought had run out of gas. 

They're even sprouting in the cracks in the sidewalk.

I'd just finished cutting some perennials down to their fresh basal growth 

when I noticed this unexpected flush of flowers.

(The tall pink flower is agastache, my favorite perennial.)

These yellow flowers have popped up everywhere.

Good thing I like them!

(Rudbeckia are easy to grow and reseed themselves.)

I have big trees in my yard so my garden is quite shady.

I don't get masses of flowers
which may be why I appreciate each singular flower more.

(White flowers are garlic chives in bloom.)

The potted plants have taken off too.

These urns have never looked so lush and full.

Can you spot my little garden assistant, never too far away?

Hopefully, my late-bloomers will last through September 

when golden hues paint the aspen trees 

and asters add a soft shade of purple to the garden.

I have learned many life lessons from Mother Nature and I think this time
she is telling me when you feel like you've run out of gas and are ready to quit,

think about these late-bloomers and don't give up. Your season isn't over yet.

Draw on your inner strength and you may get another chance to bloom again.

(Japanese anemone buds ready to bloom).

I'm grateful for this endless summer in the garden. 

Truly a blessing.

Thinking of our friends in Texas, Florida and the Northwest. 

***

If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see my favorite photos.
Thank you!!

***

Linking with:
Little Farmstead, Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch,
Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style, A Delightsome Life,
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane, Katherine's Corner, My Thrift Store Addiction,
French Country Cottage

French Country Patio Reveal!

It seems like I've been waiting for months to show you my French Country patio.
And, even though Colorado skies are still leaden and drippy, I say enough already!
I can't wait another minute. It is June after all. 

Please come on in!

Although the patio is small, it's inviting and comfortable,
a place we spend a lot of time in warm weather.
I'm embracing a black and white palette this year, a classic French look.

This rusty arch came over from the front yard garden to the flagstone patio 

to transform the patio's appearance. 

Now the patio has a more defined boundary and a more formal entry point into the garden. 

Two big ceramic pots planted with boxwood and white alyssum flank the arch.

Here's how it looked before moving the arch.

We purchased these copper solar string lights this year from Home Depot to wrap around the arch after squirrels devoured out heavy-duty lights last year. 

We've since learned that those thick strings contain soy and 

apparently are quite delicious to hungry squirrels. So far, they have left the copper strings alone.

The delicate lights have a blue cast and look magical in the evening.

Since I moved the bistro table and chairs to another location in the garden, 

I brought my old black patio set back to the main patio. 

Ron says these chairs are more comfortable and the table holds more food and drinks.
Love that these cushions from WalMart are reversible. 

I'm looking for a small black or off-white patio umbrella but they're all too big for this small space. 

Patio accessories include black lanterns, concrete urns, and lots of pink and white flowers 

in terracotta pots. (The plants are still small; please check back to see them grow.) 

The wooden trellises give the patio a French flavor with plants winding through them. 

A few touches of rusty metal objects add a sense of age.

These Bonne Maman preserve jars are just right for votive candles on the fence.

A baker's rack alley find provides a perfect stage for my growing collection
of galvanized watering cans and buckets.

A tall fence ensures privacy with a peek at the garden in a curvy mirror.

It almost looks like there's a hole in the fence.

A trickling recirculating fountain next to the patio provides a soothing natural sound, 

masking traffic noises and creating a calm setting in the city.

The patio has a quiet ambience of being connected to nature
where I almost feel I should whisper.

***

If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see my favorite photos.
Thank you!

***

Linking with:
Little Farmstead, Vintage Chic, Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm,
Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style, A Delightsome Life,
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane, Peonies and Orange Blossoms,
Adirondack Girl at Heart, French Country Cottage