G’day, welcome to Good Life Wednesday!
Lovely bright Australian sunshine is out to play in my garden, woohoo.
I am about half way through, probs a bit more with the things I wanted to do with this area….so I thought I’d show you the progress…
We still have plants to put in all along the back…we just weren’t up to any further bed digging over the weekend just gone…I have a few hardy plants to put in there…
Once I got to thinking about it with this area I decided that, actually, what I really wanted out here was citrus-y, fragranc-y, lavender-y rather than tropical-y.
So we dug a bed to the front of Ugly Concrete Area as you can see and on the back row we planted citrus trees….my neighbour, who moved in at the same time as we did, has had great success with her citrus trees which she just plonked in the ground and hoped for the best, so with the same sandy (though mucho blood and boned and fertilised now) soil I thought that these would work here hopefully, especially given the heat and sunshine in this spot…
…in there is a lemon tree (on the right), a lime and a mandarin…I am assuming that if they like it here and grow there may not be enough room eventually… but for now we’ll see how it goes…
In the pots I used red cordylines and lavender…
This is Italian lavender…I fell in love with the petals, if indeed that is what these are called…I am hoping it is as hardy as the French lavender I recently planted that is thriving…
I wanted the lavender for the smell and the bees…it’s worked already…and we are attracting butterflies to this little spot too, I have no idea whatsoever if lavender = butterflies, but it is here and I am not complaining :-)
I did a bit of foofing out here ;-) , I have been collecting little bits and pieces along the way when I have seen them with long, lounging, summer days, under a big floppy hat and reading my Summer Reading List in mind…the paper straws I love and I came across them in a store in Perth that had them on sale for half price…I about snapped them up….
the bottles I got at one of those factory outlet centres but I think they were originally from Freedom…
The other weekend we went to the local tapas bar, which if I am very honest is not a real tapas bar, I mean not like Madrid tapas, but seeing as we are slap bang in the middle of the other side of the world, it’s kinda hitting the spot…(I mean what kinda tapas bar removes your plates after your first dish?? for that matter what kinda tapas bar gives you plates??)…anyway….in this tapas bar there is one thing they do extremely well…ambiance…the mood lighting is like really really really good…dotted everywhere are little lanterns, tea lights and candles…it’s dark and cosy and sparkly…
When we sat down and ordered some drinks, I said to Mr BC, that this is the kinda feeling I wanted to feel outside on the Ugly Patio Area in the evening, …shed loads of lanterns and tea lights casting a lovely dancing glow all around…
So these are the start of that and for sure I have enough lanterns around here to sit out here in sparkly lantern heaven…
It’ll be nice here in the early evening too with some friends…up until now we have kinda stayed on the deck when people come over…
The chairs & lounger as you remember were a mismatch of for-the-dump jumble that I wanted to save and put to good use for an area that we can make the most of the Spring sun
I painted them with Wattyl outdoor paint…it’s meant to be suited to the Aussie sun…I’ve used it so far quite a bit around here and on one of the Adirondacks and it’s holding up well…
The white paint did what I had hoped of unifying these old chairs I think
I shopped the house for most of the pots and we now have a new baby, ooops I mean another Adirondack addition to the place…I think you might have gathered that I love these…I hunted high and low for these until I found ones that didn’t cost the earth and were chunky but still mega-comfortable…these are just that…I sat here in that said chair, with a glass of lemonade this morning soaking it up and reading the local paper after the mania of getting everyone to the right schools with the right uniform at the right time with the right equipment…
with the scent of lavender in the air
I stumbled upon an umbrella yesterday at my local Bunnings, after be-moaning my experience with their stock…
This umbrella makes me feel extremely nostalgic for England…not quite sure why or where that is coming from…I just know out there this morning I was very very nostalgic for that lovely land….I mean England is not particularly known for either its need for shade (there ain’t that much sunshine baby) or its making of sun umbrellas as far as I know, but as I started cranking this up I was hit with a huge, and I mean huge, wave of nostalgia for the first garden that I tended and loved when we only had Honeymoon Baby and life was oh-so-very sweet…
I guess it’s because I had a very similar umbrella on my patio back then…only that one was a rain shelter too hahaha…we loved that garden and our little babies toddling around in it…..it faced South to South West (which in England means you are one seriously lucky little flock of ducks) and as early as Easter we could get the outdoor furniture out, set it up in the sun trap that was sheltered from the wind and just love love love being outside after a dreary drizzly British Winter…and I moan about Winter here now…ahem…
One time, in early Summer (please note that reads Summer) we had a bbq…we set up said patio umbrella and table with a little bit of hope and Mr BC had ‘built’ (please read Frank Spencer had built) a brick bbq/grill right down the end of the garden, underneath the sweeping Elderflower trees tucked behind the greenhouse…
Back then, not knowing what tablescaping was, I tablescaped to my hearts content…we had marinated steaks, lovely salads, fish and all sorts of lovely Summery food..
Our friends came over and we pretended it was warm enough to sit outside.
We put on jumpers.
We put on coats
We got blankets from inside.
We started the bbq.
And it began to rain.
Pouring down with cold rain…not rain that’s nice…
Cold, English, Ruin-Your-Evening-Indeed-Any-Plans-You-Had Rain
Talk about disappointed.
We discussed our options…move inside to the indoor table, huddle outside with umbrellas and raincoats or bring the whole stinkin’ lot indoors…
and we did just that
We each took a side of the table…and picked the whole kit and kaboodle up…tablecloth, wine glasses, tablescaping an’ all…opened the doors and plonked the outdoor table minus the umbrella mind, right in the middle of the lounge…
and Mr BC continued to cook the fish
with an umbrella…
and we sat inside in the lounge butted up against the tv with the heating turned on and a thoroughly lovely evening was had by all…
and that my friends is what you do when attending an English barbie
I don’t think that’s the sorta thing that’ll be going on here…in fact it’s already, at the beginning of Spring getting to be hot out there…no need for coats or blankets…
Anyway, I am outta here people, I have lots to do today but I am getting out for my walk first of all
If you need me this evening….I’ll be with the lanterns, and the straws, sitting outside, getting nostalgic with a Pimms…
I know it’s not perfect, or super-duper magazine makeover worthy or everything matching, and I do not say that in a fishing-for-compliments kinda way, but rather, in a this was not a shoot for a magazine-makeover with lots of dollars and products at my disposal, or one of those super-power blogs that now works for HGTV or someone like that, or a tv renovator show that makes over a house with oh about ten or so tradies to ‘help’ them out with a supposed ‘budget’ which is most people’s monthly mortgage payment
No, what I mean is, this is not perfect and maybe not how it would look if I was one of the above or had thrown a bucket of cash at it…. but that this was just me, ok there was a little bit of Mr BC ;-) , and the most horrid ugly concrete area in the world…making it over on a real budget, in a real garden, fitting it in to real family life and time constraints, using what I had, upcycling and painting things for a new look and making the best of what I’ve got, right here, right now.
That’s kinda what Good Life means to me.
Amen. ;-)
things are going fast so if there is something you fancy get to it…
chairs & table : thrifted lounger : thrifted but from Bunnings Adirondack : BC Shop umbrella & stand : Bunnings large terracotta pots : Bunnings lavender : Flower Power vintage bottles/mason jar : thrifted little bottles with straws : Freedom citrus trees : Flower Power & Bunnings bunting : made by me from oilcloth & stripe stash
Think your sun spot looks perfectly lovely – very inviting! Well done.
I am dying to find some of those paper straws – I love them. The grey and white ones are so cute!
Happy Spring!
Katherine X
I think it is a very nice make over that just looks so sunny and bright, I have areas in my yard that are far from perfect and am thinking that I really should get my act together and make a few changes inspired by how this turned out :-)
I love your “this is MY way of doing it” in designing your outdoor get a way.
Refreshing indeed.
I would enjoy stopping over, sitting under the brellie,
sipping from the grey and white
and visiting with you.
Did I say . . .
REFRESHING
I love what you’ve done!!! Fantastic! I must ask, what type of camera do you have? Your photos are stunning.
It’s REAL life and that’s what makes it so special. Lovely, just lovely.
Hi Sarah,
it’s my first time linking with you! Loved your post today.
Thanks for hosting, you have a wonderful place filled with inspiration and beauty!
Monica.
your new shop looks lovely! :)
Sarah~ you never cease to amaze!
Gorgeous…
Now my question is…
If I ever heal…and get over to your end of the world..
Will you teach me how you shoot pics… and find all the time to do everything that you do…???? LOL!
Or do you have magical powers we don’t know about?
Have a fab weekend…
xo
C
This looks like such a lovely spot to spend some time. I think you did a marvelous job-worthy of a magazine shoot!!
sarah…you inspire me.
xx
I knew I could trust you to turn something ugly into an inspiring space. And “Amen” indeed to making the most of what we got…
The citrus look is one I love especially the fragrance!
Always love the non-bucket-of-cash ideas!
Enjoy your butterflies!!!!
Freedom also have the decking tiles and currently have 15% off all purchases plus and extra $100 voucher when you spend over $1000
http://www.freedom.com.au/
http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/outdoor-living/outdoor-decorating/21864216
I know you can get some faux timber ones somewhere – will send the link if I find them
lovely! i like when you have some color in your pictures, makes them really fresh and happy!
Oh Mannnnn, you know that means I better go do something in our back yard now too lol…..
It is so lovely!! And I love what you said about it being real life, real budget, real time-line…It can be so easy to get caught up in “wanting”, instead of making something beautiful out of what’s here already…I need a kick in the pants to do just that. Thanks for inspiring always!!
I wish we could grow citrus here, but I am afraid that Canada, even in the southern part isn’t the right place for that. :) I hope yours do well!
I have nowhere nice to sit outdoors and most days I sit on my front steps to do my tea drinking, sun soaking, contemplating. Our land is sloped so I can’t just stick a chair anywhere but there is a concreted bit that is small and ugly and unfortunately looks down my ugly driveway. But seeing yours gives me such hope. I’ll now be on the look out for chairs to beautify.
Hi Sarah,
HA! I have some similar chairs to one of the ones you painted, have been wanting to paint them white but DH has been a little sceptical, now I can show him some pics and say ‘SEE! it’ll be gorgeous!!’
Oh and by the way I personally love the concrete – I think the aged/weatheredness is right for the feel, new shiny decking would just look too new I think. But thats me :-)
xx Shani
Looks great to me Sarah!
Personally, I like being a diyer and I love the great sense of accomplishment at the end!
(and the low cost)!
Well I think it is perfect!
And from someone who cannot even afford one adirondack chair, you are one lucky girl!!
Oh how I love the patio now! So bright, airy, and cheerful!
Sarah, I like the way you just get in and do it! What you do and how you go about it is a grounding lesson for us all. :) :)
Now…onto something else. Sarah, you are such a bad influence…in a good way.
I begged Mr alison to pick up a table from a council clean up pile a few blocks away. (For the overseas readers, a council clean up is where Australians put their rubbish out the front of their house near the road twice a year for local council trucks to collect and take to the rubbish tip. However, this often ends up being just a secret, undercover swap meet.) Mr alison refused to pick up the table I have coveted for nearly a week.
Well yesterday I went for a walk to my new local cafe to have some chill out time before work and there was my table still with its cute legs sticking up to the sky. Remembering your ‘old wooden crate you found on the side of the road’ post, I thought Sarah can do this so…..disguised by my sunglasses, I inspected closer, found it was better than I thought possible AND there was ANOTHER TABLE hidden in the pile too!!!
I tried not to hyperventilate my way home to get Mr alison’s car. I managed to get both tables in his car after much manouevering. Assuming I had gathered an audience in the street from behind the curtains I did a double air punch to celebrate my victory and my serendipitous treasures.
alison
I think it looks gorgeous! I definitely don’t have a “budget” that equals a mortgage payment to do things in my yard, that’s for sure. I even wish I had an ugly concrete spot out the back to do something with – my yard is just grass – I have two plastic blue adirondack chairs for sitting out in during spring & fall (it’s way too hot in summer to sit outside!), but that’s it. We have a very small patio/deck leading from our back door, but nothing in the backyard – Mr R. has talked about putting out some kind of outdoor area, but it hasn’t come to fruition yet, so in the meantime, I’ll live vicariously through your peaceful setting!