I’m in a full-scale panic attack about the economy today. My trip to Cleveland, the Bill Moyers’ special, conversations with friends have taken this already neurotic blogger into Insane Land. It’s not a pretty sight.
So, I’m distracting myself this afternoon with thoughts of how I’m going fix up the new back patio. The guys are almost done. If all goes as planned, there will be outdoor cocktails tonight.
The good thing about fixing up the outdoor areas is that once the patio is done, everything else is cheap, cheap, cheap.
The easiest and cheapest and prettiest things are containers of herbs. The plants cost $5 tops. And there so many inexpensive containers. Sure, you can go with expensive, galvanized steel containers, but they rust and make a mess of the patio. I’m really happy with my faux-terra cotta pots from Home Depot. They don’t seem to be online. Let’s see what they have on Amazon…I like these Zinc-Finished Planters. Very modern look. Terra-cotta is nice, but it cracks in the winter time. If you really want it, then go for the IKEA brand. You won’t cry, if they break. Honestly, the plastic ones are so good right now, I would just go with something like this one.
We’re doing twoĀ raised gardensĀ this year. One is happy. Well, it WAS happy until the deer found it yesterday. The other is a newer one and I think we shouldn’t have used straight top soil in it. The plants aren’t thriving in there. Next year, we’ll mix the top soil with some potting soil.
We have two patio tables. One is from IKEA. The other is metal and glass; we purchased it for $75 at a garage sale. Sure, the Crate and Barrel outdoor furniture is beautiful, but the cheap stuff is fine, too. Just add new cushions every year, and honestly, nobody knows that you picked up your furniture at KMart at the end of the season.
If you like candles, then there millions of fun options. There are Moroccan Lanterns, cool tea lights, and string lights. Honestly, I love them all and probably overdo it in the lighting department.
I’m not a huge fan of garden doodads, so I avoid them. Bright cushions, bright lights, and lush plants are really all you need. And a pitcher of sangria, of course.
Apt. 11d 
Is it cooler there today? I’m LOL because I just got back from the nursery where I bought a bunch of pentas and a few platycodons. I figure since the temps here are under 80, I should work outside now, while I can. (I’m awaiting FB commentary from my sister and my garden designer on where I should place stuff–that’s why I’m taking a break. š
When we moved here 2 months ago, there was lots of foliage but little flowering. Now that everything’s flowering and I can figure out what it is (gee, I had *no* ideas those were Shasta daisies when they were 3 inches high), I can start thinking about what I want to add to the mix.
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I also buy my crappy planters from Ocean State Job Lots. $4-10. I should post some pics on my blog of my front yard.
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I stained my deck and mowed my lawn. Deck staining is very satisfying work.
I prefer sangria with rum, merlot, and peaches (plus the usual OJ, lemons, limes, etc.). Now I wish I’d made some this morning.
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Sure, you can go with expensive, galvanized steel containers, but they rust
You might be right- I’ve never bought such a thing- but if so, it’s funny, since galvanizing is supposed to make things not rust, as far as I understand. I believe it’s supposed to be the whole point.
We’ve been enjoying our herbs, and my wife just had the first ripe tomato, but I fear many of the things we planted won’t have matured before we move. I hope whomever moves into our place will take care of and enjoy our plants.
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Where are you moving?
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From Denver (back) to Philadelphia, at the end of the month.
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Bring all the liquor you can.
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Actually, I’ve already started up my pre-order service from the great wine store I used to frequent just over the bridge from Philadelphia in New Jersey, but I will miss some of the good craft beers here in Colorado. Some east coast ones were harder to find, but one thing I can say for Colorado is that it has a very fine selection of local craft beers. Odell’s brewery in Fort Collins is probably my favorite, and apparently impossible to get out of the mountain west and a bit of the mid-west.
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I’m just a little too far from the border for that kind of thing.
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