When Spring arrives, two things always
drive my thoughts and actions.
Not a year goes by that
both of these things do not happen.
Some years better than others.
It's not like I write them down in my planner to do
so I don't forget them.
No, these two things are yearly rituals,
part of the ebb and flow of my life.
No way around them.
Spring cleaning
and
planting flowers
Planting flowers is more fun than cleaning,
but cleaning is satisfying when a cleaning project is finished.
One place where these two activities converge is
the plant shelf in the sunspace.
A Spring refresh for the plant shelves
is both satisfying and fun.
Everything comes off the shelves
so the shelves can be washed as well as all of the contents.
Then comes the fun part,
arranging things and adding herbs and flowers
to brighten the kitchen and to welcome Spring sunshine.
A quick tour surrounding the plant shelves...
This is the view from the entry of our house.
The stand is one of the first things everyone sees as they enter.
The stand after this year's Spring refresh
has live plants on every level.
Most of the year an ivy wreath sits on the top shelf.
At Christmas time, the ivy is replaced.
Some years with a poinsettia,
but last year it was a fresh boxwood wreath.
Sitting at an angle the shelf has one foot in the kitchen
and one foot in the living room making it visible in both rooms.
Or should I have said, two feet in the kitchen
and two feet in the living room?
The bookcase used as a potting shelf sits next to the metal plant shelves
which makes it easy to reach potting tools.
My favorite blue-checked chair sits on the other side of the plant shelf
which helps me keep a close eye on when the plants need watering.
A common theme for the shelves is birds.
Signs, houses, and tins collected over the years
keep reappearing, sometimes in different places.
Lavender plants are among my favorite plants each Spring.
The lilac twine comes in handy all around the house and garden.
Replacing lavender plants is a yearly job.
The Texas heat does them in every year.
The nest sign hides the plastic water spray bottle
used to mist plants and to chase cats off the table.
Plastic, a needed evil.
Cats on tables, an unneeded evil.
I love my cats, but do not love everything they do.
Ivy wreaths are more plants that I have to replace on a regular basis.
Spider mites kill them.
Shades of blue and lavender...
colors usually seen every year on the plant stand.
Lobelia bedding plants are annual flowers that I plant every Spring.
I cannot remember for certain when I first discovered lobelias,
but I think I saw them for the first time in hanging baskets
on street lamps in Victoria, Canada,
far away and many years ago.
Each year I watch for the first lobelia plants at the nurseries.
That's one of the signs of Spring for me.
❀ ❀ ❀
- Clean and make-over the closet in the master bathroom. Everything in its place. √
- Plant shelf Spring refresh. √
- Plant lobelias in pots on the deck. √
- Clean the mudroom and install new shelves - Begun, but not finished
- The list is a lot longer, but would be discouraging for me to see it all.
❀ ❀ ❀
What are your yearly rituals?
How is your list of accomplishing them coming?
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14 comments:
Happy easter....love Ria...xxx!
Well, I am in love with that plant stand!
Happy Easter
I think I have to agree with dear Carol! That plant stand is fantastic. Zinc? GORGEOUS! And your blues Judith are so refreshing!! HAPPY EASTER!!!!! Anita
I love that plant stand...absolutely beautiful! And the colors of blue and lavender look fantastic together....wonderful!!
I love your plant stand -- I've been looking for one and never see anything I like -- LOVE it! Love the way you have styled it, too and, of course, I was swooning at your blue checked chair! :) Have a wonderful week!
Oh Judith, you are singing to my heart here!
I adore your spring refresh, and I can't help to bring up once again the reasons I visit is to see the beautiful backdrop to all you feature. Loving the stone walls colour end in tones of Burlaps, tree bark beige, and honey to sweeten the beauty of all you create.
Love the metal plant stand ladder it really charms your space.
A beautiful spring refresh week ahead of you dear.
Xx
Dore
I adore that stand! How unique! My rituals are to go out when spring is about here and clean up the brown leaves off the plants and cut them back. Then I clean the large patio. And then I'm ready to buy some annuals while I wait for the perennials to get going!
Brenda
Beautiful post! I love the plants and the plant stands! So pretty!
Judith, I wish I had a place and fixture for such a set up! So lovely and happy. I really like all the blue next to the blue check chair!
Thanks so much for sharing on Something to Talk About and inspiring me!
Karen
Your house!
OMgosh! The beamed ceilings, the brickstone walls, the beautiful floors and windows.
Mesmerized is this rustic loving girl.
A beautiful place for your tended plants and pretty accessories.
~Lynne
w/L
Planting is MUCH more fun than cleaning for sure! I love your unique shelf and the way you have it styled. So pretty.
I think plants add so much to a room. I am trying to add more to my home this spring, but I don't always have the best track record when it comes to keeping them alive. I am hoping for better luck this year!!
Lovely photos!! Especially the one from the door to the sunspace!
I have lobelia to plant in my "wagon" on the back porch. That blue is so striking!
Blessings,
J
Beautiful plant stand and I love the bucket too!! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
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