Quite a change! This shows the kitchen windows, shot from a different angle. Look for Bobo under the kitchen windows, peeking out from behind a pot of marigolds.
Among other things, I planted a trumpet vine plant in hopes of covering up that huge ugly bare wall. (There should be a law against aluminum siding.) I experimented with different vines, and Will even hand-made an enormous rope net for me, which he suspended from the upstairs windows to support them.
The trumpet vine turned out to be the best bet for this spot. It took a few frustrating years for it to get established but now it's very happy. From spring to fall, it produces big plump orange-red blossoms that hummingbirds really love. After a hard rain, I find dropped blossoms draped over the bushes, covering the ground, and dotting the beds. Sometimes I gather them up and bring them indoors to float in a bowl of water, so I may enjoy their perfect serenity.
This next one shows how the front door has been dressed up. If we owned this place, I'd probably replace the front door entirely. But since we only rent, I opted for cheap solutions. Lots of containers help to distract the eye.
The beds are fairly full now, so I've been collecting all kinds of "tchotchkas" to make things merrier. There are numerous wind-chimes and bird-houses throughout, as well as some outdoor sculptures and topiary plants. There is a pair of Pans (as in the Greek god, not your kitchenwear) flanking the archway. The Uncle Sam sitting in the whiskey barrel container is a small whirligig. As I don't want to frighten the birds, I've only used it ornamentally, instead of mounting it on a pole.
Since this picture was taken, a few more playful accents have been added, including a large wrought-iron pig flying a kite. If I do another update this summer, I'll make sure to get close-ups of the dozen or so odd creatures who now share the garden with us.
Copyright ©1999
Gloria
Glickstein Brame
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