Normally, I am pretty verbose; spoken or written, I like words.
My grandmother used to call me a chiacchierone...it means chatterbox.
Apparently, I started speaking in full sentences at eighteen months or so and I haven't come up for air since!
However, today, I have decided to let my photos do the majority of the talking, as I feature part of my backyard.
We started with a blank canvas and added almost everything, pool, pond, patios and, like everywhere else in our home, the décor choices were deliberate and the area is filled with accessories we cherish.
Our goal was to create a look where the new additions fit, as if they could've been part of the cottage landscape forever.
We also wanted a garden that would amazing every year, without a lot of work.
We opted for a lot of perennials, a very few annuals in pots for pop and lots of discount seed packets!
Overall we are very pleased, we love it and use it every singe day!
Let's walk, shall we?
We love perennials, we split them and transplant them each fall to fill in more of the yard.
We bought a few plants at a deep discount sales and have been splitting them ever since.
These pretty mosaic pots were a gift from my mother-in-law.
My handy husband installed this pond (a Kmart special) and made the frog fountain out of an old cement yard ornament from his grandmother's house.
It is the most treasured piece in our yard as it reminds us of her and a holds so many nice memories for my husband.
Update: We've made a new frog fountain from a HomeGoods find...
We adore the pond, we have an actual bullfrog in residence and there's nothing more relaxing than the sound of running water.
.JPG "Inground Pool")
Solar panels on the garage heat the pool water very efficiently and it's free!
This is the one and only bloom on my hydrangea this year...it's one more than I got last year!
Our cute little pool house is ripe with possibility! I really need to get busy before the season is over!
I love hostas.
We have some in our yard that came from my favorite aunt's house in Connecticut.
My mom brought them home and I took some when we moved. It's another sentimental touch in our garden.
Best place for a nap. Ever.
The coneflower was given to me by a student years ago, we have since split it and peppered it around the yard.
The frog was 60% off at Michael's this year.
No sentiment, but he doesn't need it, he's just adorable!
Like everywhere else in this cottage, space is an issue.
These chairs are great since the ottomans tuck neatly away and do not take up too much of the path.
We also clipped the umbrella to the fence with a stainless steel U-bolt, so we do not need a stand.
Every year, my husband strings up the garage wall, drops a handful of morning glory seeds and by August we have a wall to wall flowers.
We chose a concrete patio with wood forms, because we wanted an old world look.
It works very well, but it does need to be stained again, the brown tone has faded.
The updated look is much prettier.
I hope you have enjoyed your tour!
Wait! There's so much more!!
Check out our DIY screened in, covered porch.
Here's my milk can update
Yes I did! Truly you have a marvelous place to relax and unwind, thanks for sharing it Kim!
ReplyDeleteI have to say that we do love it and it is a great place to relax! Thanks for stopping by, Vel!
DeleteOh my, the flowers and the pool are both gorgeous. I would just stay in the pool, I really miss not having one. Thanks tons for joining Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteC'mon over, Marty~ I love guests!
DeleteWhat a wonderful yard! I love all of it, especially the pond! I'm a new follower.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathy! I love that pond, too...and its tiny inhabitants!
DeleteYour plants are so beautiful and the water looks so inviting, I don't you can ever spent too much time outside by the water and pretty flowers...Love your little patio set...so practicle...and chic
ReplyDeleteThanks Phyllis! I agree with you, I love being outside and the water is a bonus! I always joke that this is as close to waterview property I'm ever going to get! ;)
DeleteLovely cottage and garden! Looks so homey and colorful! LOVE that red umbrella and patio set too!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Debby Ray! I do love color, especially red! :)
DeleteI would say that your cottage yard is "exquisitely remarkable".
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the remainder of summer.
Why, thank you! :)
DeleteYou've created a little paradise...ENJOY!
ReplyDelete@OpinionsToGo
Thanks so much!
DeleteLove your yard! I really love that red & brown patio set too. Gorgeous plants and a pretty spot to enjoy them - sheer bliss!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Anne! We really do enjoy it! :)
DeleteEverything looks just perfect. Love your home and the pool is just fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI am now following you on bloglovin'
Wow, such nice words, BJ! You just made my day!! Thanks so very much! :)
Deletechatterbox, that's funny. loving the solar panels, and you seem to have way better luck with plants than me, unfortunately!
ReplyDeleteHa! Don't look too close at those plants, I feel like they are so droopy and dry this year. We do love those solar panels...they work great! My husband installed them himself, too, so they really were a bargain! Love your blog name...adorable! Thanks for popping by! :)
DeleteYour yard is so pretty, and I love your pool! We are gardening soul mates, I think. I have all the same flowers in my garden. Do you cut your hydrangea back each year? If so, this could be why it doesn't bloom. Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteYou know we used to, Suzanne, but then we were told not to...it's been a few years, but I don't think it's recovered from those traumatic haircuts! :)
DeleteWow! what a beautiful outdoor space you have there! Love the little pond and all your gorgeous plants...the morning glory is thriving so wonderfully ....mine not so well this year:( I love the red accents and the beautiful patio furniture....everything looks so warm and inviting! Thanks for sharing with us! hugs,Poppy
ReplyDeleteThank you, Poppy! I love your taste, so I hold your words in very high regard!! It's so funny, that morning glory just takes off every year...a .69 cent packet of seeds is the most prolific grower in the garden!
DeleteWhat a pretty yard and pool area! Love your hydrangea. That's still one more than I have. :) I'd love to have them, but it's too hot here. Great tour!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa! I cannot imagine the heat in Texas, but at least you have an excuse! I think I'm just a lousy gardener when it comes to hydrangeas! Thank goodness for the silk ones at Michael's!!
DeleteThanks so much! We do love that solar heater...it makes a huge difference!
ReplyDeleteI love the chairs with the ottomans that are under the umbrella. I want a pair of those so bad. You did a great job with all the outdoor space.
ReplyDeleteDeedra
http://www.atmycounter.blogspot.com
Thanks Deedra! I picked them up at Target last summer...they may still have! :)
DeleteI really like how you used the space -- particularly with the chairs where the ottomans slip underneath and clipping the umbrella to the iron fence. Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer! A small house and yard demand creative uses of space!
DeleteYour backyard looks so inviting! You did an awesome job in laying it out! Love the pond and the memories it holds!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gail! We really like it, too and small as it is, I do love that silly pond! :)
DeleteWhat a retreat you have in your backyard. :) Love all the thriving flowers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Yvonne! I wish the weather were a little better so they those flowers would get a bigger! :)
DeleteThanks for the tour of your cottage garden and pretty backyard space. Looks like a great place to hang out for the summer!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah, we really do enjoy the space...but it's best enjoyed with friends, for sure! :)
DeleteVery pretty Kim! Thanks for coming by via the Pinterest party. What a great yard!
ReplyDeletePam
What a great outdoor space! That pond is just so cute!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful backyard!
ReplyDeleteKim @ http://oisfororganize.blogspot.com
Wow, beautiful backyard you have there, Kim. Ahhh a great place to unwind.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by at my blog and for the sweet comment.See you around.
Judy
www.pursuitoffunctionalhome.com
Thanks so much ladies, I appreciate all of the nice comments! :)
DeleteKim, I love your home and really wish I had read about the solar panels to heat your pool a month ago. We just bought a gas heater as our pool gets very cold due to sitting down in the ground with rock which keeps it colder. If we ever need a new heater, I'm going to remember this post by you. Thanks, Helen
ReplyDeleteP.S. Found you on Maria's party! :)
I do love the solar heater, but we cannot control the temperature the way you can with a gas heater. Our pool is in the sun all day long, so it gets pretty warm to begin with, the solar panels just top it off, but when it is cloudy or rainy for a few days, it cools down for sure and there's no way to turn it up!
DeleteLovely flowers and gorgeous pool! Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays. x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! You have all my favorite easy plants. :)
ReplyDeleteYour yard is beautiful and so well organized and kept. I'd love to sit by your pool and enjoy it all. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurel! I can't take all the credit, I have a very handy and helpful hubby!
DeleteWhat a wonderful tour! Your flowers are just lovely. I bet the morning glory is amazing in full bloom. I especially love the personal, sentimental touches. You must love sitting outside taking it all in, but a nap sounds pretty good too!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, Kim. I love the pond and the frog fountain, the pool and its furniture (those chairs with retractable ottomans are awesome), and your beautiful flowers. Oh, it's just heavenly. We had a pool in So Cal when our son was a boy and we, too, used it every day. We bought the house for the pool and it was one of the best decisions we ever made. Thanks for sharing your slice of heaven with us at Every Room In The House. You'll be featured tomorrow when the new party launches. xxx ~ Nancy
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nancy! It is always a thrill to be featured at your party! We often say that our pool was one of our best home decisions, as well. The kids all gather here, so my babies are close to home and it provides a wonderful backdrop for our own family gatherings, large or small. Even the ordinary weekends, when we are all together sitting poolside seem to take on a vacation quality, just by way of that hole filled with water! :)
DeleteI LOVE your garden! Everything looks so pretty and vibrant. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Thank you, Natasha! Too bad summer is such a short season in my neck of the woods!
DeleteI am cracking up at your nickname growing up! Mine was Chatty Cathy! I think we'd make great friends! ;-)))
ReplyDeleteI love your yard. Your pool, your pond, all your flowers- gorgeous. I bet you and your family enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors.
Brandi, thank you so much for the lovely comment!! If we lived closer, you could come by, sit by the pool and we could chat it up for hours! Enjoy your long holiday weekend! :)
DeleteIt's a beautiful backyard! When we had a home with a pool we use to heat it with a passive solar system, and it worked well, because it extended the pool use by two months. We could use the pool from March to November, instead of April to October. I sure miss a pool in this heat! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI love our solar panels, too, Su. Our yard gets full sun all day, so the pool is usually extra warm...just the way I like it! Thanks for stopping by! :)
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous and beautiful! You guys have created a wonderful oasis!! Sorry, I'm still crying over your dad and the Carnation Milk Meat Loaf!
ReplyDeleteYou’re so funny! I didn’t mean to make you cry. We do love the backyard. The kids love to hang out with friends, close to home, which makes it all worth it!
DeleteAh that pool is inviting and so many lovely blooms and comfortable seating areas...and my first thought about the pool was the kids because my kids always loved to go to her pool in the summer and later it was a great hangout for her daughter's friends. One of my sons killed his first cell phone there....got pushed in : )
ReplyDeleteYes, I am constantly telling the kids to leave their phones on the patio. A lot of technology casualties! ;)
DeleteKim, I always love little peeks of your yard and gardens. It just really impresses me how deliberate you and your husband are about things. You're smart and you have the ability to make things pretty.
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing this oldie but goodie out for the garden party, friend. :)
Thanks Stacey! What a lovely comment. I really appreciate it. We do work hard at creating what we love, but we love the process, so it’s not really work!!
DeleteOh goodness, I sure did enjoy my tour and now I am ready to stay!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a savvy girl with such a knack for making one feel at ease-I know it the chatterbox in you:)
I so enjoyed hearing about the history and stories of many of your plants, they are all thriving and I can tell you are a true gardener.
Love how you heat your pool:)
Great to have you join the garden party, it has been so much fun!
J.
Thanks Jemma! I am a chatterbox! That’s for sure. I’m glad you enjoy it!! :)
DeleteEach area you shared in your garden is perfectly you- great design, creative ideas, and a sense of home and comfort.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you shared this at our Garden Party!
Laura
White Spray Paint
Thanks for the visit, Laura, and the opportunity to share! :)
DeleteKim, what an oasis you have created. I love perennials as well. Buy a few and before you know it, you have a lot. I too love the sound of running water. It is so soothing in the garden. Thanks for sharing with the Garden Party.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
The sounds of running water is my favorite, Jann! Thanks for the visit!
DeleteYour garden is lovely and I like what I saw in the quick peek at the house.
ReplyDeleteLike you I had no hydrangea blooms last year, but things are looking better this year.
Thanks Carol! I like gardening, I’m just not very good at it. I am better at conceptualizing than I am at keeping things alive! So I dream up the scheme and he actually gardens! ;)
DeleteKim your pond is just spectacular. Thank you so much for linking up to the Garden Party. Your post was completely enchanting!
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura. You are super sweet! :)
Delete