Project Organized Home~Flower Bed

Well, I spent all week telling you what I've done inside the house to make it more organized and suit our families needs. So, today I'll have to share with you what I did outside! I finally finished the flower bed by the mailbox. When we first moved here, I could tell the they had something planted there, because they had pine straw lay around the mailbox...done here in the south, to keep moisture in the ground. So, I brought my Arizona red rock off the moving truck, and placed it around the outside edge in the grass. That's how it stayed for a really long time! But slowly, I planted some mums last fall, and some tulips this spring. I need to pick out one more annual for the other side of the mailbox, but I haven't made up my mind yet. Anyhow, last weekend, I finally went and got some edging rocks from a friends house, two bags of colored mulch from Walmart, and some newspaper from someone who can't read our house numbers. (We don't have a subscription, but ever so often, they deliver to us anyway) I pulled all the weeds I could pull, and then lay down the newspaper everywhere but where my perennials are planted. I put in all the edging rocks and then lay down the mulch. I can't believe the difference that it makes. When you drive down the street, your eyes are drawn right to it. It will be really pretty when my other two mums start blooming. I'll have to show you an updated picture when they do. I'm so happy to have it done, and now I just need to sweep up around the driveway edge. I'd like to clean up the mailbox too, but that's really a job for hubby. I think wire brushed and chemicals will have to be involved.

I had a nice annual planted in the ground last year, but this year I opted to put in a shepherds hook and plant my annuals in a hanging basket. It really adds something nice, and now I don't have to worry about continually digging up the ground around the mulch. Only perennials are in the ground now. Isn't the purple and pink verbena growing in nicely? I think it's a great color combination!

While we are on the subject of flowers, I thought I'd show you the one's I have on my front porch. These impatients are wonderful! They are the only flower I have found that will take these shallow pots, be in almost all shade and still give me great color! I put in a dracenda spike this year to add interest....I like it! Yes, I know I still need to paint the rest of the rails in the background, and the deck. You don't need to tell me, my husband reminds me at least twice a week! But, these pots will be amazing when the impatients grow in more!

This one is my all time favorite this year. I've never gotten two of the plants in this pot before. The tall green one with pink blooms is a dogear begonia. I've always had begonias every year that I can remember. They aren't my favorite flower, but they do great with heat and sun, and they bloom all summer into the fall, so I've always had them for those features. But this year, I stumbled across this, and instantly fell in love! These things are HUGE. The pots they're in are almost 2 feet tall, and they are almost two feet tall themselves, already! And the blooms seem to be endless! I am so in love with these plants. Every day when I water them, I smile! The purple one's are new to me, and I can't remember what they are called. But I really like them! They are growing fast, and I may end up having to move one. They get these tiny little lavender colored blooms on them and they only bloom early in the day, and then that's it. I just love the color contrast that they provide! And then there's some old vinca vine in here from last year for some hanging effect.

This one has the other dogear begonia in it, and it's got a whole bunch of ivy! It doesn't get cold enough here to kill the ivy in the winter, so I keep it in the pot and just replace the annual each spring. This ivy is going on it's 3rd year now, and I may have to move some of it too, or I won't have room for an annual next year! It's beautiful ivy though. I think I may replace the vinca vine with it. So, there you have it. I may show you some of my other flowers later in the season, but these are my favorites. They make a home look more inviting and welcoming from the outside and they bring me such happiness!

Have you done anything this week to make your place a more clean, organized or happy home?