getting the backyard ready for summer Archives

Hello, today a quick post about yards and gardens..I hope you all are enjoying spring. I’ve got gardens and outdoor spaces on the brain and I thought I’d share a few things that dropped on my radar the past week or so. Maybe you’re thinking that way too as we edge closer to summer? A few photos of the yard from last year…I have so many plants to still work on after replacing the back fence two years ago.

Yards and plants were something that has always been a big thing in my family. I grew up in a small tract house in San Jose, and my parents always took a lot of pride in the outdoor spaces making them beautiful. In 1972 my dad scraped together $5,000 to put in a big kidney shaped pool that he surrounded with cool plants and a meandering green yard of walled ivy. My mom would repaint and freshen up our wood chaise lounges each summer and dad would make sure to have her favorite impatiens and roses looking beautiful. My parents absolutely used the yard as an extension of the house and most weekends we were outdoors all day. So you see I naturally have an excitement that comes with the springtime and also a bit of anxiety about getting my yard pretty and tended to in time! I always want an inviting spot outdoors. Every year I have plant goals – to get more in, and furniture pieces I want to add..and others that need to go and are looking a bit worn.

As a Californian, it’s a given that we have and use our outside spaces as part of our homes. Nor more so than the past year as we were all grounded with the pandemic. As people are weary of being inside, the garden has sparked a lot of interest for those who previously had no interest and thought they had no skill. Many have also extended their spaces outside, as we did with our front patio.. We also have three neighbors who did the same! We could not have been more grateful to have done those things with the four of us being mostly home the past year. This was back when we first put the front patio in..

And now you can see the plants have taken off..

Many people have now created spaces for flowers and gardens where they previously had none. Some have found the ease of vegetable gardening- even from patio containers. It’s rewarding and also calming to garden! I also believe it’s good for your health. Gardeners seem to live long lives! I have another post with some gardening tips I have learned from my dad coming soon. I also know there is more inspiration on this wildly popular BBC series, Gardener’s World. Some is available free on Amazon with Prime. Newer seasons you need the BritBox which is $6.99 through Amazon I think. ( I can just see my husband complaining about yet another subscription, but so much to enjoy here.) I want to watch all of these episodes..

As it’s spring there is a whole lot of cool garden inspired items lately..

Target has a great collection for gardeners by Smith & Hawkins. I finally got myself a pair of proper garden boots..I like the low boots and pretty lining for mucking about and watering.

I also bought these great garden gloves– and I like the kneeler which I should have gotten.

Of course with the florals in mind, I LOVE these hand block-printed garden cushions at Terrain. They are meant to scatter about on benches or wherever. They aren’t sun resistant, so you need to have them in covered spaces or bring in when not in use as they are pricier, but have that vintage English garden feel. Gorgeous prints!

Also lovely are these Perennials (sun resistant) Rosemont Pillow from Serena & Lily which come in three colors!

And these Serena Perennials Palm Pillows which come in four colors.I think it’s not easy to find sun resistant pillows in lighter tones. They tend to be pretty bright.

Serena & Lily has new patio chairs and I love the shape. They come in white and natural. Great look with the small table. I’d like to have this little set for my front patio. The blue West Beach Pillow Cover on the chair is also outdoor friendly…Even the wall sconces match here! My white couch and chair on the top picture are S&L Pacifica.

I love, love, love wicker and rattan in any form. My husband likes to taunt me and say ‘wicker makes him sicker.’ MEN! I also just got the Rattan book and it’s 100/ 10..Great inspiration and historical photos. Plus the dust jacket has a rattan bit that will look fabulous on your coffee table.

If you’re into more colorful pillows these Vera for Anthropologie are cute..

The whole Vera line at Anthropologie is retro cool from outdoor tableware to dresses and handbags..Check it out here.

I’ve also ordered a few garden books. There are so many good one out now to inspire.. Under Western Skies is out in May and it looks wonderful with different new landscapes and yards that mix modern and traditionally pretty. There’s something for everyone in this book..

I love The Flower Yard for the smaller spaces and those who want gorgeous containers…

Arthur also has a beautiful Instagram to follow…

This book also is a good primer for those most interested in a kitchen garden.

If you are looking for living outdoor space inspiration, The Art of Outdoor Living by Scott Shrader is the absolute best. So many gorgeous spaces…

His garden spaces feel like real rooms. Mirrors are a wonderful outdoor addition…Love the walls!

Don’t be afraid to drag indoor furniture outside when you entertain. Do you ever do that? We like to bring out throws, poufs and pillows from the indoors out with us. I even have a vintage marble table as my outdoor coffee table. It’s been awesome. I just cover the wood parts with a tarp during the winter months. Bring the indoor pieces out and do what you can to create the feeling of real rooms outside!

One night where we dragged indoor chairs and blankets out..A bit messy, but you get the feeling.

I also ordered this California book..Lush Life, Food & Drinks from the Garden. I read about Valerie in Santa Barbara Magazine. She also has an Instagram EatDrinkGarden. It looks perfect for summer entertaining. Let’s think positive there will be more gatherings for us all this year!

I hope this was a little motivating for your spring yard and gardens. I know this weekend we will be working in the yard more and also helping my oldest Jackson move to his first solo apartment! It’s a big deal and he’s very excited. I am happy for him after finishing college and working a job from his bedroom for the past year. I am also slightly sad we are one step closer to being empty nesters. The years sure flew by fast.

Happy weekend !

Kim

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I just am shocked it’s June already.

How the holy heck did that happen so fast?

Today I drove down the street to find a mess of tree trimmer’s trucks and a giant wood chipper in my front.. The neighbors decided to remove most of the trees in their yard, or what is left of them after building a huge home that takes up most of their lot!

Those chipper machines always give me anxiety. I hate the horrible noise, the extreme dust in the air and every animal in my house was cowering under something..Poor guys. Also some pretty trees that we can see and give some shade are now gone. Hmmm. I have no say in this, but trees are one of those things I really love and hate seeing removed…

A view from my garden gate…

This house is about 45 years old and the yard was landscaped about 20+ years ago.

We have a funky pool that has a lap pool attached that wraps around the yard.

It was originally built for a family that also had two boys and they played water polo and swam.

When we bought this home 5 years ago the right half of the backyard was all shaded by a huge Monterey Pine. The tree was the neighbor’s behind us and 2 years ago it too was taken out because it was dying.

That changed up the whole yard environment as there were many shade loving ferns and others who went into shock… Many have come back, but some still haven’t.

It’s been challenge to find the right plants! I am my own landscaper for now as we are on the start-up budget, so I have been using the hit and miss method, coupled with child labor.

Try it friends! It’s good for them too. 😀

Teenage boys can be pretty competent diggers if you pay them..

You may need to micro-manage a bit.

This back area behind the pool was allowed to die when the past owners moved up to their newly remodeled home Los Altos and put this on the market. They didn’t know the drip was off. To fix it up to sell, I believe they replaced the back area with agapanthus.

To me that is a business park flower. It’s pretty generic. The flowers come up once a year for a couple weeks. That’s it. Taking them out is like removing a huge underground octopus- not easy.

Slowly I’ve been replacing them with French and English lavender, rosemary, and California perennials that looks pretty and tolerate hot and dry, like sage and yarrow.

I would eventually love to have the whole pool have lavender hanging over it with a combination of some trailing vines and creeping fig along the fence.

There are some lovely old roses that still survive along the back too.

Want to see a backyard to die for? Check out my friend Elizabeth’s roses and yard in Orinda on her blog the Vintage Henhouse. She recreated her yard into an Italian villa’s garden!

I love this very old Cecil Brunner that covers our garden gate.

My dad kindly came by to help get my garden beds turned over and he planted tomatoes and cucumbers and green beans for me..

There is nothing better than green beans from the garden or a home grown tomato!

Already they are doing well thanks to the warm weather and good soil he added.

The time spent tending the backyard is so relaxing. Here ‘s my neighborhood buddy, Luke the cat who hangs with me.

I love how he shimmies under the garden gate like a little rabbit to come in..

This is him grabbing some rays while I water. The guy can nap anywhere.

He especially digs the pool lounge chairs! He knows a good thing.

I’m excited for all the lovely tomatoes and the caprese we will make.

Last year I got tomatoes until November. Crazy!

Currently the garden is covered in dust. Grr those blowers. The tree people have blown it all neatly about to other corners of the world..i.e. my place. Our town is about to possibly enact an ordinance against blowers and I hope it passes. It seems there is no day morning or night that they are not going around here. The air pollution is also terrible from them and they blow heavy metals from the ground into the air as well. Okay sorry done ranting.

I got a new table and chairs for alfresco dinners.

I am hoping this will motivate me to entertain more often.

I love these chairs from Pier 1.

So comfy. light, stackable and I can use inside as well if I need to.

Here it is set for Mother’s Day Dinner.

My eldest found a way to string the cute battery operated twinkle lights I bought at Restoration Hardware at Christmas around the umbrella pole and along the top.

I love it and the lights have timers.

I just wanted to make it a little more fun and funky out here.

The table was a great steal as well for a $179 dollars.

Looks like neither is on the website anymore, but stores may still have the table and chairs.

I am so inspired by my friend the sweet Tamera Beardsley, and all of her gorgeous home, but especially so this post with her succulents and outdoor areas.

I tried to step it up a bit this season and make my outdoor area as pretty.

I like these dark urns I found at Home Depot. I wanted stone, but they are quite pricey..

These looked better than the light colored faux stone.

A little more dramatic I thought for a mix of succulents.

I think they came out pretty cute.

Trader Joes has good prices on these little guys and so does Home Depot.

I snatch up a few each time I’m out.

Gosh I am loving succulents more and more.

They are beautiful for inside as well and so easy to keep alive!!

I was thrilled when this former strawberry pot flourished as a succulent apartment.

Some of these cuttings I just snipped off and stuck in the soil here.

They are super to tuck into pots in the corners as well, like I did here with some begonias.

This olive tree from my friend Jen is at least 6 years old! Love it so much.

My other favorites that grow well here are hydrangeas.

Jasmine I adore and also star jasmine we have on another fence.

My husband hates the smell of these.

I would love to add some of those outdoor striped curtains around these French doors. I think they would be so cute and cabana like.

With a pool, the one thing I am loving is this row of hooks from Pottery Barn that my friend Wendy gave me last summer. They have been brilliant for out here and we hang a ton of wet towels, goggles and swimsuits on it.

It’s still looking great after a year of sun and salt water.

The little blue bucket was a find from a little antique shop in Soquel.

They had bought a mass of these old blue enamel milk pails found in Belgium.

For $20 it’s cute for the rest of the pool toys, flip-flops and diving toys.

It could be useful filled with ice to hold wine, champagne, or soda pops for outdoor parties too.

Please share with me your yard loves/ideas for summer!

I’m trying to get mine more inviting, so I can use it as another room during the summer.

I leave you with this last pic from the yard.

We held my grandmas’s 96th birthday party here last weekend and it was a lot of fun.

Love this goofy little pic with my dad and the boys.

My grandma’s face is the best.

She’s such a cutie.

Enjoy June everyone!

x Kim

Spring Yards and Garden Chat

June: Getting the Backyard Ready for Action!

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getting the backyard ready for summer

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