Designs in Landscaping

I've been busy this month with an outside home improvement project. So far the new pergola and lattice fence started in April is about 90 percent finished. I hope to show pictures of the project when all the finishing touches are done. Instead, here are a few pictures of yards in my neighborhood that show good examples of landscape styles that I like. Drought tolerant Vinca ground cover and rosemary do well throughout the year. Good shade trees include birches and Japanese maples. Crepe Myrtles provide beautiful blooms in watermelon pink, electric red, lavender, and white hues. Something new on the scene is the horsetail bamboo in the last photo. 

Refurbish Gold Jewelry

A friend of mine showed me a clever way to rejuvenate tarnished costume jewelry. She uses Design Master 24 KT Pure Gold spray paint. I was amazed at how these pieces looked like real gold plating.

Spring Front Porch

Spring Fling link parties are a fun way to see some pretty nifty ideas for home decor. I've been at the Spring Door Decor linky party over at Rhoda's Southern Hospitality. My egg wreath is smaller than most of the other wreaths at the party, but it looks perfectly at home on my front door. The hydrangea topiary from Lowes is the hit of my neighborhood. So hop on over to the linky party and join the fun.

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

Yesterday the weather was absolutely gorgeous along the Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida. I was walking down the sidewalk when I spotted this beautiful Swallowtail Butterfly (Papillio Cresphontes).  For identification and information, I went to the Florida Butterfly Database. When feeding, swallowtails keep their wings fluttering, similar to hummingbirds,  while hovering close to flowers. This cluster of blooms is one type of lantana. There are about 150 species. Some are native and grow into tall bushes. Many hybrids of lantana are available from nurseries. Colors range from yellow, orange, pink to lavender-like blue.   

Turquoise and Shells

Turquoise blues and emerald greens reflect the beauty of the coastal South. Shearwater Pottery studio in Ocean Springs, Ms. produces beautiful glazed pottery in shades of turquoise. Originally built in 1928, the Shearwater studio was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The decendants of Peter Anderson rebuilt the studio and gallery where a wide selection of colorful functional pottery is sold. These two collages show beautiful pieces of pottery from Shearwater pottery. 

How To Make Pretty Paper Flowers

Pretty Paper Flowers 

1. Use a sheet of copy paper or scrapbook paper and cut out a circle, it can be uneven.

2. Cut a spiral out of the circle. 

3. Roll the end of the paper toward the center of the spiral. 

4. Hold the flower in the palm of your hand, then let it unwind. 

5. Next use your glue gun and dab some glue inside the middle of the flower to keep it from springing forward.

For more ideas and pictures of paper flowers check out Emily Jones Design blog here.

Inside Pottery Barn

The painted walls always catch my attention when I walk through Pottery Barn. PB recommends painting the wall that gets the most sunlight in a rich color. Above is Benjamin Moore's Silver Spring 2120-50 from PB's Spring and Summer 2012 color palette. 

Clear glass candlesticks, white flowers, and lots of candles reflect the light coming in from the double story window. 

Rustic camp stools add more seating around this metal top table. 

Who doesn't like lots of baskets for extra storage?