Tag Archives: garden

08.08.13

Early this spring Tim and I declared the desire to be more self-sufficient.

One of the ways we decided to “make it happen” was to attempt to build some raised planters over our bomb shelter, just kidding.  Wanted to make sure you were still with me.  Raised, obviously, so I can avoid worms.  Yes, I know how good they are for your garden but I prefer not to be curled up in the fetal position soaked in sweat and tears.  In case you don’t know how weird I am, read this.

We weren’t quite sure where to start.  I told Tim I would love something that gained character as it aged, something rustic and made of real wood.  I wanted our veggies to feel like they were on a real farm.  I also didn’t want to bend, and can I get a ledge?  That sweet boy just smiled and nodded.

  So we wandered the aisles of our favorite blue store and gathered lots of different materials to experiment with.  Wood and screws and stain and tin and heavier wood and posts.  Then this happened.

Remember way back when, we hinted that we were building something.  Now you get the full picture, but don’t let that video fool you….he wasn’t doing it all alone.  I helped a lot, we just don’t have a third trigger man to capture those teamwork moments.  We are now accepting live in interns that also clean, cook, and sew.

When we call the project a wrap we had a perfectly imperfect rustic garden bed.  I love things that I don’t have to worry about keeping in pristine condition, because let’s face it I am not very good at that sort of thing.  I think these bad boys are only going to get better with age.  See how it’s already weathering, meow. diy-rustic-raised-planters The funny thing is, we had a beautiful garden for about three weeks.  Here I will prove it. our-garden-goodies Don’t those look tasty?  Then, this thing called Haven happened.  A whirlwind of mass chaos between preparing and attending left our garden, ahem, unattended.  Which also means unwatered.  And unpruned. watch-our-garden-grow Holy tomato growth.  It’s basically a jungle on the one side and a barren corn desert on the other.  When I came home from Haven, I couldn’t help but laugh at the tomato tree we had. diy-raised-garden-bed I know more than a few of you all are practically professionals at this, so help a sister out.  Do we cut those tomatoes back?  Is there any saving that corn?  Who wants to send me “watering reminders” every day?

Have you ever built a garden bed?
What do you grow each year?
Wanna come play in the tomato jungle?

Written by Christina and Tim
05.21.13

We have been planting fools lately… polka dot planters Every chance we get we are throwing some plants in the ground.  New bushes in the front, herbs and flowers in the back like a landscaping mullet. planting fools I am really cautious about flowers in the backyard, because I have this thing with bees.  I am not afraid of them or anything, but if there is one within a twenty-foot radius…they feel the need to call my body their stomping grounds.  I have avoided planting anything that blooms until this year.

This year I am making a change, but a small one.  I am planting blooming flowers in pots, just in case they start calling all of their buzzing buddies.  Easily relocated, so they don’t wind up squished under a shovel later.

When I saw my friend Janelle’s cute terracotta planters, I started dreaming of a yard covered in overflowing pots full of sweet blooms.  Then I started dreaming of painted pots.  Then I bought pots, duh. paint your planters Painting them was unbelievably fast.  The terracotta soaked up that paint quicker than Lindsay checks out of rehab.  After just two coats of Pantone’s color of the year, these pots were ready for some spunk. making the planters polks dots I wanted these pots to be free-spirited since they would be outside getting filthy.  In other words, I didn’t want perfect polka dots that I would have to “spruce up” every time they got a little dirty.  To get that worn look I used the end of a foam roller.  You can find these in the paint section of your hardware stores, they usually say “for doors and cabinets” on them.  Soon they will say “for perfectly-imperfect polka dots”.

I let them dry overnight and then had a photo shoot of course. polka dot planters with no plants After my exhausting shoot with Giselle and Marissa, I told the pool boy to grab me a lemonade and got to planting.  Ahhhh sweet dreams, but I did plant. throw some dirt in your planter Thankfully, Tim de-wormed all the plants for me.  Kidding, but I didn’t find any so I’ll just tuck that panic attack away for later.

Once I had both plants comfy in their new little home I found a spot far, far away from anywhere I sit.  Come at me bees.  Just kidding, please stay away…save yourself. a pretty plante Aren’t they just the cutest?  I am so happy to be bringing oodles of bright summery color into our backyard.

Speaking of additions to our backyard, we got to dogsit this weekend.
Meet Whiskey. whiskey True Story:  When my dad “retired” he decided to go back to school, to dog school.  He spent a few months living away from home while training dogs to do things like track narcotics and run agility.  I’m super proud of him, and even prouder of that pup up there for being the most well-behaved dog in history.  I guess that’s what happens when you train a dog for hours upon hours.  Tim wants to steal him, and I wouldn’t be mad about it but my dad knows where we live.

Want to know what Whiskey was gawking at…. asti What a little prissy pants.

Have you been planting lately?
Deathly afraid of worms too?
Want to go to dog school?

Written by Christina and Tim