Hello JULY + Stunning Alabama Home

This home in Birmingham, Alabama stopped me in my tracks. Have you ever seen landscaping so well designed, planned, and executed? It is really absolute perfection, isn't it? I love the wall and arched entrance to the back garden, both made of brick and painted white to match the home. I wonder if that was added later or original to the brick home? Found on Instagram with more photos of this house on the post.

HELLO, JULY

Found on Instagram

I subscribed to my own blog yesterday to see what the new emails will look like and I'm very pleased. I still got my old email from Feedburner last night at almost 10pm which is going away some time in July. This is a partial screenshot of the NEW email subscription above. It arrived this morning. There is a place to unfollow (unsubscribe) in case you don't like it. When you discover that you are no longer getting the old emails you can follow/subscribe to this new site. Thanks so much!!! xo 

New Posts, Updates & Comments

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Fence with Horizontal Slats

I like this fence.

The Adirondack chairs too.

Fencing is on my mind since the picket fence around my air conditioning unit is in need of repair. It's on the north side of my cottage and never gets any sun and the pine boards are rotting. I have replaced numerous pickets over the years and this year I am planning on having my house painted and the fence repaired. Article and more fence pics here.

Ancient Plantings at Powis Castle in Wales

No words.

Surreal plantings that have stood the test of time.

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See many more photos and read more about Powis Castle

Lavender in Wicker Baskets

I always stop to look at beautifully planted wicker baskets. These two full of lavender are gorgeous. I see a boxwood in the background planted in a basket with handles. This looks like a gorgeous dwelling too. Wish we could see more. Photo found here.

I have been busy working outside. I literally washed the outside front of my cottage today and it looks and smells sparkling clean and rid of all the road dirt and mildew. I have a long telescoping pole with a bar at the end that is wrapped with lambswool-like material only it's cotton. It wasn't hard and I actually enjoyed it. It's much kinder than power washing and doesn't knock the paint off.

Porch Envy

Happy Friday everyone. This enviable porch has so many things to love. Double doors, double dogs, double benches, and a painted floor to name just a few. I love the charcoal paint on the door and shutters against the light gray diamonds on the floor. Perfection! via

P E R F E C T P O R C H

I wouldn't change one single thing. This entry porch is perfect in every way. via I hope you have a wonderful long Labor Day Weekend marking the end of summer and the beginning of a new normal in the school year. xo

Dutch Door Love

This charming photo has so many things I like. A screen door, a Dutch door, a porch, stepping stones surrounded by grass, side lights, a brass "door" bell, river rocks under the bluestone porch floor, and a beautiful entrance hall. Found here.

Wicker Baskets for Plants

These wicker baskets look wonderful on either side of the front door. Maybe they are having a party! They look very festive, con't they?

Daffodil Cottage

Garden Goals. via

House / Patio: Before and After Renovation

Somebody had a vision and look what was accomplished! Read the story and see more photos here. I love before and after photos to see the fruits of good taste and hard labor. xo

Lovely Raised Bed Flower Garden

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I have always loved plantings so close together that weeds don't have a chance. I no longer look at photos like this and want them for myself. I know my limitations and am quite happy with what I've got. I like perennials, geraniums, nasturtiums, limelight hydrangeas and milkweed, lambs ears, and peonies. I overwinter my hardier plants. Right now my lilies of the valley are blooming and I have large buds on my peonies. My Lady's Mantle has been enjoying capturing all the raindrops we've had lately too. I don't do store-bought mulch like most people because I prefer wood chips in my beds. How does your garden grow? Enjoy all of my individual links leading to various photos around my cottage gardening. xo

Charlotte Moss: Quiet Place to Sit

Design by Charlotte Moss 

A Quiet Spot to Sit

If you had to describe my garden, it's not so much about parterres and sweeping vistas as it is about intimate spaces, small rooms—gardens within gardens. We invited Gilles Guillot, the head gardener of the Prieuré Notre-Dame d'Orsan in Maisonnais, France, to re-create the same rondel-like windows into our hedging as he did at Orsan, and to weave similar willow benches, a gloriette, and frames for the espalier. Like rooms in a house, exterior rooms also want furnishings. Drawing your eye to a quiet corner, at the end of an allée, or under a tree, garden seating begs you to stay awhile, to sit and enjoy the view and the fruits of your labor. via

Darling Doggie Door w/ Brick Exterior and Awning

It took a while and lots of searching on Google Images but I finally found a darling doggie door with a beautiful exterior. All it needs is a canine door man. This little dog must surely live on 5th Avenue.

A View Like A Living Painting

The view is stunningly beautiful, isn't it? And this window frames it perfectly. I can't seem to look away. via

Glowing Jack-O-Lanterns

So many carved pumpkins. I love the idea of putting some of them up in the tree. People really get into Halloween decorating in a big way, don't they? via

Gorgeous Courtyard / Patio

How very lovely. I love the light blue doors, the white stucco, the patterned brick floor with stone mosaic center, the large potted plants and the furniture. Did I miss anything? This is outside living at its best. via  Happy First Day of August!

Best Porch Swing

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Look closely for the cutest tiny dachshund on the tassels.

Rolling Garden Bench in Pea Green

One of my most popular posts ever was on a rolling garden bench I have in one of my out of print English gardening books. See the post here. This one above with the slats is nice too and I like the paint color from England. 

But this rolling bench remains as 'The Garden Bench of My Dreams'.

Antique Planter with Tulips

Could anything be pretier? Just look at the size of those trimmed evergreens on either side of the magnificent planter. The size of this copper vessel is amazing and the patina is wonderful. Love this photo!!!via

Cottage Renovation using Photoshop

This is the cottage virtually renovated using Photoshop.

Here is the real thing. It is still cute but just needs a little imagination to make it look loved again. I can see the benefit of showing the Photoshopped version to a builder to get a price. If the siding is real clapboard, I would keep it rather than replacing it with cedar shakes. Read the article at This Old House website.