Sorry for the brief break in blogging. We've had a run of good weather days, so I've been enjoying the outdoors and taking care of business. This is only our second Spring at this house, and I didn't take many photos this year, compared to last. Our dogwoods, azaleas, and crabapple trees had very few blossoms this time around. I hope it was just because of the harsh winter and late Spring.
I got my act together this year and chose a color scheme for my annuals. Yellow, hot pink, and purple. How do you like?
We also had a new deck built onto the back of the house in April. The old one was rotted and original with the house (23 years old). I forgot to take a before photo, but here is what the deck looked like after we finished staining it this past weekend. I'm proud of the color I chose (Mountain Ash) because it matches the house perfectly.
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The black metal bars is a new look for us. I think it makes the deck look more modern. The previous owners had left one of those four-sided open canopy tents, but we decided to get rid of it. The thing was always full of spiders and made the deck seem smaller.
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A view of the view from the deck!
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| Our actual vegetable garden area isn't very big, so we grow lettuce and tomatoes in containers. Husband found this stand online, which I really like. He also found some rolling stands for our tomato pots that we can roll under the eaves during torrential downpours. You know, those "100 year rains" that happen every year now? We had one in early May, so let's hope that's it for 2014. |
You have a beautiful backyard. When we end up buying a new house again, a nice deck is going to be at the top of our list!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Our old backyard was woods that sloped down into a ravine, so this is something new for us. I love rocks!
DeleteVery nice, Bijoux! That deck looks like great spot for barbecuing and relaxing. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteAnd considering we are the only people in the extended family who volunteer to host holidays, it works!
DeleteThat's the kind of decking my parents used--I forgot what it's called but you don't have to really do anything to maintain it, right? It looks awesome!!! Congrats. I'm horrible with flowers--they tend to die while in my care, so I have deep admiration for your green thumb.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably thinking of Trex, but we just used treated wood. I think the color after we stained it fooled you into thinking it was a composite deck.
DeleteYour beck is beautiful. Mine is old and rotted. I've had it with decks...too much maintenance. Growing up, we always had a patio.
ReplyDeleteWe debated the patio idea, but we have serious deer problems and were worried about how to block them from the tomatoes and lettuce on a patio. I have to spray the flowers EVERY night.
Deletegood choice with the metal uprights - they look good and the colours go well together.
ReplyDelete....does your home back onto bushland??
I have no idea what bushland is? It's just a wooded area back there.
Deletebushland is just a forest or nature reserve usually owned by the government or council - ie not for development - I suspect it is exactly what a wooded area is.
DeleteThanks! We own most of the property and the people on the cul de sac behind us own the rest.
DeleteOkay, can I just tell ya how AWESOME that new deck is? I love the color of the paint and also the metal bars because it's such fabulous contrast.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, your whole backyard looks awesome! I love the stone wall.
Boy, I bet you'll be spending a lot of enjoyable out there this summer!
Well done, my friend!
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P.S. the flowers are lovely!
We do enjoy spending time outside, especially eating on the deck. It gets the morning sun, so it's perfect out there in the early evenings.
DeleteI like the pretty flowers! Nice looking deck too! Great color you stained it with! I do wish we would get that 100 year rain here!
ReplyDeletebetty
I don't think you want the flooding that comes with it. Some areas got three to five inches of rain in a short period of time. Bridges are still out and many homes are beyond repair. I do sympathize with you about getting NO rain. It must be hard to grow anything.
DeleteI love the deck. Very pretty and plenty of room to entertain, grow plants or whatever. We also inherited some decking with our present house. It was so mucky and slimy we eventually got rid of it and went for a tiled area instead. Now our only problem is rampant fireweed in one of our flowerbeds. That stuff grows like nobody's business.
ReplyDeleteI had to look up fireweed. We have the same problem with garlic mustard weed here. They've called it an ecological threat!
Deletecool beans, hope you don't miss the old neighbor(hood) too much ;-)
ReplyDeleteExcept for a few friends, I don't miss it at all!
DeleteYour deck looks great.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed ours, but like what happened to you, ours was old and needed to be redone. We also had constant problems with wasp nests near the door and decided that since the kids were small, we would be better off with a brick patio. It works, but it is hard to beat a nice deck like you have.
Thanks, SD. I've seen some fantastic brick patios and we did consider that, except for the deer problem I mentioned.
DeleteCan I just say that I LOVE your porch! The color is gorgeous and the black metal bars are unique and give it a more open feel! I really love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Shae! I'd love to invite you over for a drink!
DeleteWOW what a deck! It's huge! And it all looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to enjoy the nice weather. Have to take it while we get it, right?
I spent the day in Amish country with a friend and my middle child. Fabulous weather!
DeleteThe deck is gorgeous--and I'm only hugely jealous as I type this a few feet away from our tragically old and saggy deck.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I've not been attending to blogging simply because it's so gorgeous to have days outside.
Thanks and enjoy the good weather!
DeleteYour deck is gorgeous! I love the paint color too!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
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