How Does Your Garden Grow

Project Patio is growing.

More plants are added nearly every week. But there's still a long way to go. I'm having trouble determining exactly which plants thrive best in the environment.

The patio is made entirely of brick and wood, so it gets very hot in the day. But there's also a latticed roof, so it only gets filtered sunlight. The challenge is that sun-loving plants aren't getting enough light and shade-loving plants are getting too hot. And all of my kalanchoes refuse to bloom.

But for the most part, everything looks nice and happy.

Tomorrow...the story of one man, one woman and their love-fern.

Um, thanks

I love my friends, I really do. And I feel loved when they travel to exotic locations and bring me back a gift or souvenir. Earlier this year one of my guy friends went out of town and came back with a special present for me. This year another guy friend went on a trip and brought back something just for me. He was really excited about it and said it was the perfect gift. I'm starting to worry about what my guy friends think of me.

It measures 9 inches long.

Now I'm no Freud expert, but I think there's a definite subliminal message in this gift. My friend says the instant he saw it, he had to get it for me. In case anyone is wondering, it's a giant...Plumeria root. For my Project Patio. Of course, I can't help but wonder if my friend is trying to tell me something.

Check out my PP!

Project Patio is growing (no pun intended). I've added a water feature. My wonderful friends from my Sunday School class gave me a generous gift card to Home Depot and I was able to purchase a lovely little fountain, along with some more plants. The patio really looks quite inviting. Lately, the evenings have been cool enough to spend some time outside. I finally feel like my labor is starting to pay off. Earlier this week I actually spent an entire evening out there! I potted some plants and moved some large containers around and pruned some of them. I was dirty and sweaty and my hair was frizzed out to ginormous proportions from the humidity, but I loved every minute of it. I still don't think of myself as a gardener, though.
More like a Plant Momma.

Close-up view of the water feature

A water feature in its natural habitat

My PP

I have patio furniture! On Monday, Fountain and I drove out to Katy to pick up this set from my mom. She decided she didn't want it any more. So I am now the owner of free patio furniture. Project Patio is starting to take shape! I think the next phase will be a water garden.

Of course, by the time I get everything in place, it'll be so freakin' hot outside that we'll all just look at the patio from inside the air conditioned comfort of the living room.

How does your garden grow?

Project Patio is actually starting to look pretty. My mom is all excited that I am gardening now. She has always loved to garden, so I think she feels like I am following in her footsteps. Plus, she knows a lot about plants and can teach me some mad gardening skills. It's sort of a bonding thing.


She bought me a watering can (see photo). She also gave me a lovely Boston Fern and a red bromeliad (see second photo).


See the container on the ground next to the gate? That's an entire "Laurie-themed" container garden. She picked out all the plants because they made her think of me. The plants represent my love of cooking, my faith and my girliness. So the container holds a Shrimp plant, "Grape Expectations" Coleus (which also gives nod to my love of literature), Pineapple Coleus , Wandering Jew, Angel Wing Begonia, Pink Polka-Dot plant, Blusher Coleus and Maidenhair Fern among other things.

Growing Herb

Phase One of Project Patio is going well. I planted an herb garden. I now have a thriving patch of chives, dill, cilantro, marjoram and basil. Last night I used some of the cilantro with mashed avocado and dry spices to make a rustic guacamole. Tonight I plan to use some of the basil in a fresh tomato salad. It makes me feel like I am doing my part to promote a sustainable lifestyle.

Project Patio Update

I have discovered a drawback to Project Patio. Various creatures begin to think you are creating a new habitat just for them. I'm not afraid of lizards, but there's something a little bit creepy about reaching out to grab the doorhandle and realizing you nearly grabbed a lizard instead. I used the flash so he would show up in the picture, but it was actually very dark out there and I didn't see him until it was almost too late.

Project Greenspace

Remember the project I mentioned the other day? Right now, we have a covered patio with a bare brick floor and wood panel walls. I want to transform it into a lovely garden wonderland. I envision a space filled with plants, rocks, twinkle lights, candles, a seating area and perhaps a water feature. Here are pictures of what it looks like now.