-

 A quick porch clean-up update.  I didn't take proper "before" pictures, well because this wasn't a plan and who wants pictures of their mess?  

When I moved the couch out, so MUCH had blown back there - leaves, spiders, lots of cobwebs.  *Ivan and Sophia designing a lovely manzanita branch with various air plants.  Some air plants I had inside (incredibly neglected during the summer when my focus is definitely OUTSIDE).  And a few of the bigger healthier specimens from Casper's garden in Oakland.  I haven't had the pleasure of visiting Casper's garden, but through Ivan & Sophia it is just a phone call away.  I really look forward to it.  Casper's garden was featured (if I'm not mistaken) on Succulents and More blog in November, 2020.    I'm thankful for the gift through their friendship with him!

All of this spurred a cleaning frenzy of the porch.  After dragging everything off the porch and  hanging the staghorn ferns that were remounted by Ivan & Sophia.  I knew everything deserved a refresh and I did a cleaning/degreasing of the concrete floor.  Here I'm washing away the first semi transparent stain I tried.  I thought it would be a lovely brown, no it was brick RED and more like paint.  Not good with the navy - bad, bad bad.
After a consultation with Olivia, my 2nd daughter who is home from college, she immediately picked "Cattail" as the correct color.  Two coats later and I think it feels nice and freshened. And worthy of the new staghorn ferns gracing the walls!  Not a huge change I guess, but it feels like a nice spring clean all around.


Close-up on the air plants.  I do have a hose pot on the way to hide the orange hose.  

From Casper's garden.

The fern mounted on the palm branch is a favorite.  I like how it wraps around the corner.


I need to shop for a new doormat, and a small table for packages. 



*From Sophia the next day, during a walk in Berkeley she spotted a different kind of porch makeover.  


Also, this happened.  In the 2 minutes I walked around the house to go in the back door.  I decided to keep it.
I mean, it's in the name.  
Hope everyone is staying cool, what kind of projects do you have going on?  Or are you in the midst of the summer heat and letting things lay low?

Comments

  1. Kris PetersonJuly 27, 2023 at 10:30 AM

    Your patio refresh looks marvelous, tz. The paw prints are a nice touch too ;) I did something similar with Tillandsias wired to a branch in my lath house and I still love it (even if I forget to mist it as often as I should).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 28, 2023 at 8:50 AM

      Oh, your lath house is a perfect home. I'll need to move these inside during the colder months, I imagine Dec-Feb? Thank you!

      Delete
  2. danger gardenJuly 28, 2023 at 10:07 AM

    Excellent porch makeover!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 28, 2023 at 11:54 AM

      Thank you, a cleaning always feels so good. Now if I could just make myself do the inside.

      Delete
  3. Beth at PlantPostingsJuly 28, 2023 at 12:27 PM

    That's a big project. The seating areas look comfy and the plants are awesome. I cleaned the front porch in a similar way recently, but I really need to tackle the back screened porch. One of these days...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tz_gardenJuly 28, 2023 at 2:54 PM

      I feel you, this may be the only tidy area in or out right now!

      Delete

Post a Comment

I'd love to hear from you, ~Tracy

Popular posts from this blog

-
Image
 Looks like we are headed into a nice drying out period.  Livermore didn't get too overloaded with rain, thankfully.  I'm going to share some more pictures of the Aloes that are beginning to wake up, some of these blooming for me for the first time! Aloe mutabilis  Aloe ferox x capitata -blooms a little damaged from being moved/planted but still that nice fluffy capitata look. It's raining now, but these are so bright it's joyful to look out the kitchen window and see the blooms.  Aloe munchii a little behind but should be open soon - along with A. tangerine  I like this little vignette (by the AC unit) - this area used to hold a too big for the planting bed Bay Laurel.  I liked the laurel, but too tight quarters.  I planted it, I'm the problem it's me.  Ivan helped me get the base of the hefty roots out.  Although I'm seeing the pedilanthus is absolutely NOT taking off against the house.  Which is ridiculous, this is a sweet spot. A. Tatangerine's have
Read more

Spring energy!

-
Image
 Hello!  Livermore was the recipient of 1.5" of rain over the weekend, which is great.  However, I am READY for the warmer weather.  Next week it is predicted to be in the 70's all week! Below is a beautiful cold hardy orchid Sophia & Ivan gifted a few years back and is blooming right on schedule.   The front perennial garden is getting there.  I'll do a post in a couple weeks when things are in their glory. Blue honeywort is blooming everywhere, I find it hard to get a good picture of these.   Beautiful almost turquoise blue Corydalis flexuosa 'porcelain blue' is happy in a shaded spot in the slope.  I wish I had ordered more, now they are out of stock at Annie's Annuals.  Succulent blooms. Banksia petiolaris is pushing out new growth, I'm always thrilled when the crazy Australian plants live.  The new growth is a striking pinky red quickly turning gold then finally green.  Very fuzzy leaves. Ozothanus diosmifolius 'pink' is beginning a nice lo
Read more
-
Image
  A glance at the new plantings in the backyard, I think it's looking pretty good in just a couple months time.  I'm posting this as I'm curious to the difference in a year's time.    This will be useful for comparing. Have been lucky here in Livermore, none of the June gloom that has hit other areas in CA.  Sunny, 75-80- I could really get used to this!  It's typically much hotter in June.  Hovering near 90 most days.  In the front, I trimmed back the purple smoke bush.  I like it shorter, and to be able to see the sidewalk  when I pull out of the garage.  There is a fire lane next to our house, no vehicles can go through but we get lots of walkers, bikers coming through. And after.  Ahhh, I can see again! The hebe is usually a bit scorched by now, this is the best it's looked in late June.  The daylilies are starting to show off. In non-related garden news, I've been working on my costume for Harefest in Canby, Oregon.  Billed as the Mother of All Tribute
Read more