Garden Ornaments...Are You Cute or Sexy?

I treat garden ornaments like I do jewelry.  It should compliment without being overwhelming.  Let me preface that, the following is just my preferences, tastes....simply my opinion.  I think gardens ( like interior decor) are the reflection of its owner.   I, typically, categorize ornaments into two categories....cute or sexy.  There are varieties of both..like classic or fun.  For the most part, I prefer "sexy" over cute.  This is me having a bit of fun, for the record..

Some garden ornaments were given to me like this one.  It had wings but they broke off.  For the record, I typically do NOT like anything wings..but there are exceptions.

A few months back my sister-in-law came to visit, unexpectedly.   Her husband is an architect (I believe she works there as well) and they, also, do interior design.  I really like their style.  They have a blog to show what I mean..Click HERE.  So I respect her opinion.  She mentioned to my husband that the property was "whimsical".    Not the tone I was going for, but after thinking about it..I see why she said it.

There are hanging solar lanterns along a driveway that is almost a quarter of a mile long.  Most people only see them when driving by so it has been how I define the place.  You can't see the house.  This particular one gives an errie blue at night.  But I think it has stopped glowing.  Sexy?

This ornament was also given to me.  It's by the creek and relatively hidden.  I define it as cute.

More solar lanterns.  Sexy?

Lanterns along the drive.  I want to redo the lanterns in all white as I had last year but these were left over from the holidays...I am definitely bordering into cute zone when I wanted sexy.  Cute...

The arches in the front solidified my concept that my sister in law was right about whimsical.  These arches will not remain arches.  I am trying to make a living "wall" with walkways.  Sexy?

Basket someone gave me....yep, I think I am definitely in the cute zone...at least at the front of the property.

Creekside has a simple bench at the bend creek.  Sexy

Sighs, another cute ornament.  I like wind chimes so I try to bury them.

Some of my ornaments were too cool to not look at...like this one in the library.  Sexy

This garden gnome is in a bathroom.  I don't like gnomes.  Sugary cute

Before you get to the house, you see Savannah Bird Girl...she is sexy

Below here is a fountain/pond.  Sexy

Them as a whole.

This one was given to me.  I use to have wings but they broke off.  I am starting to wonder if I am purposefully doing it.  Cute

I am trying to go more "sexy"  This was a spitting seahorse that was there last year.

 I replaced him with Aurora...Goddess of the Dawn.  Definitely sexy

Vases..sexy

Auburn birdhouse, cute

Outdoor abstract art and fountain..sexy..

Sexy?

Subdued dragonfly (yes, it has wings I haven't broken off) I like the wings..I bought it.  Cute?

Windchimes ...Sexy?

Almost forgot, sundial.....sexy

Wordless Wednesday

Journal..Concreting plinths, Digging holes, and Tornado Clouds

This post I realized kinda of showed a day in my life, lately.  Very foggy dawn.

I underestimated how grass is needed and is the backdrop of a garden.  When it is as deadlooking as it is, it really takes away from it.

Rye grass had finally died and the drought kinda of stopped new grass from growing, so watering it.

Mr. Lincoln's flower buds were limp even though the rose to appeared and felt as though it had water.  It was fine in the morning but the heat, humidity and UV makes it horrible.  When I water it it perks up?  Why does it do this?  Sometimes I wonder if the heat makes the water in the roots hot?  I will need to look this up.  My hydras do this too but they perk up in the evening.  Roses typically do not.

My wonderful husband is finishing the stone plinth of the sundial.  Many of my garden ornaments are expensive so I usually insist they be unmovable.  This one is essentially concreted into the ground and at the correct time, no less.  He is smoothing out the rocks underneath the plinth.

Adding water to concrete

He mixes the concrete in the tractor's bucket and then plaster's it onto the plinth. (I think he is so handsome :) )

Anyway, I will not have the rocky look it once had but it will have a smoothe look.  He said let vines grow on it.  I said, "No worries, they will"

Replaced JFK rose.  I did a faux pas by putting the rose in the same hole the old one was.  BUT I did notice something.  This was one of those bare root roses that were in the peat pot.  I noticed I left it in the peat pot when I planted it.  Note to self....don't leave in the peat pot.  I did the same with the Queen Elizabeth roses, and they fared well.....so, moral of the story...don't leave plants in peat pots when planting.  I did cut the edges to the base but apparently not good enough.

The roses are struggling that aren't screen.  They get watered farely often but the heat is incredible.  The weeds are not helping because I do notice that once screen they do better.

 I have decided that the deadline for the backyard project will be August 1.  If you haven't followed this blog, I have been working on this since New Year's Day.  I have planted literally hundreds of plants and I probably have over 100 to go.  July 1 is my deadline to have things in the ground.  If you want to see how much work this all took, I have a pictorial page Building a Large Rose Garden Pictorial

Last fall, I was very burnt out and felt I would never plant another plant again.  But I knew spring fever would get the best of me and it did.  Many times I have thought, "Oh God, what was I thinking!"  In any event, at a certain juncture, I am just digging holes.  It's not that I am lazy or don't know any better, but if I waited for things to be optimal, the plants would die.  The reason I purchased so many is because a nursery closed and I got plants for pennies on the dollar.  The plants would have retailed in the tens of thousands but my plant purchases averaged about a dollar a plant.  The roses (about 80) were purchased with gift cards won from work.  The reason why I am saying all this because I have started digging holes.  I have no choice.  Many will die but most will live.  And one day HOPEFULLY the garden will be beautiful and I will be smarter.

I have tons of ornamentals that need to be planted.  Mostly camellias.  So at the back end of the rose garden, I opted to plant them for several reason.  Wind blockage, frame the garden, winter interest.

Also, at the back of the "future" guard dog pen.

I used the auger that I used to regret purchasing but decided that it was a wise investment.  My husband has to use it, however.  He dug 20 holes for me.

I planted an ailing hibiscus, gardenia, two mystery roses, calla lilies, azaleas, sky pencils, tulip trees and camellias.

 While planting these plants I heard a small plane above, like a Cessna?  I heard it's engines stall out twice!  Then I saw this plane do flips.  Whoever was in that plane ( I thought) was an idiot.  I don't know much about planes but if my engine shut down twice! in mid air, I'd be inclined to land it.  While looking at the plane, I noticed this cloud.  Great! I thought.  I don't know what will get me first, a tornado or a falling airplane.  Forgive my ignorance, if I am being severe, but I refuse to believe that stalling planes is a good thing.

I have learned that if a cloud is tall and shaped like an anvil, this is a potential tornado cloud.  If it has a base (called a Wall Cloud) that is what causes tornadoes.  None occurred.  Sure would love rain though.  I make sure that our safe room is ready to occupy when I see these.

Plinth complete

Need to finishing screening and irrigating.

Mom did not know what kind of rose this was, only that it is a climber and makes small yellow roses.  It is woody but I have learned that can be normal as her mystery roses she gave me this spring were also woody and are faring very well.

This hibiscus was in a pot the did not have enough holes and thus was dying.  It's still alive but I will have to either dig it back up in the fall or let it die during the winter.

I had intended to screen before planting but they need to go in the ground.  Many plants are suffering being in the pots as long as they have.  But I am smart enough to know I will screen them.

Done.

I, also, have been redecorating the interior of the home which is conversely dark (Mom calls the term gloomy) but I consider it the colors rich and classic.  This is my new tapestry in the library.

Great Poolside Container Plants

First, I am not a green thumb, as the subtitle suggests.  Secondly, I am even worse at container plants.  So when something works for me, I feel like it can work for anyone.  Container plants by the pool, in the South can be a big challenge.  Because it's hot as hell.

The plants I am talking about are Moss Roses.  Now, I am not an expert but I have two? types.  One has pointy leaves and one has fatter leaves.  I have both and the fatter leaves works much better for me.

These are the flowers they produce.  They aren't really roses.  I believe they are succulents.  They open when the sun hits them and then close for the day.  BUT, they are okay with the heat.  The concrete, also, increases the heat to the plants so if these girls can deal with it, kudos to them.  I water them but most container plants I have had here will dry up in about an hour.  So, my suggestion is to try moss roses.  They aren't winter hardy...so you either have to replant them or move them inside during the winter.

The pool is on the northside of the house so they do get some morning shade.  But make no mistake, I couldn't sit out there all day on that spot.  Could you?

The long containers have the other type of moss roses.  They are doing okay, but they aren't near as hardy.

This is the second type.  Sometimes, I think they would prefer more shade.

Other container plants

I have a porch that gets very little sun, as it is the North side of the house but I have some other heat tolerant plants (and shade) that seem to be doing okay.  This is a thorned begonia.  It may, also, be called a winged begonia that is doing quite nicely.

Around the pool, I also have Mexican Heather.  But you may notice a irrigation tube going to it.  It will tolerate heat but needs more water than the moss roses.  However, it stays in constant bloom and can be very tidy looking.

Mexican Heather close up.  Oh, and the bees love them.

 There are some plants that get no sun at all, but it's very bright here.  Here is a Macho Fern, Snake and Ivy plant (also, call Mother In Laws Tongue)

Under the covered porch, they never receive any sun but as you can see how very bright it is.  Here you see, ferns, begonias, and a jude plant.

 This Thorned Begonia has really thrived in this spot.

Close-up of the waxed begonia.  Oh by the way, I put them in a horrible spot last year.  I put them in the green house.  This particular plant had MAYBE two leaves on it.  Point is they are pretty resilient and forgiving.