Last Spring Garden Tour - Keeping Garden Alive In Hot Weather

We have had a beautiful spring but high heat and summer weather has arrived. Keeping the garden alive in hot temperatures is always a struggle.

Enjoy the last spring garden tour below and while you are there, follow us on Youtube.

Tips to Keep the Garden Going in Hot Weather

Plant plants that are for summer growing season. Things like pansies are going to fade quick in hot weather so I go around and pull spring plants as the hot weather arrives.

If you don't get rain, water daily if needed. Set sprinklers to run in morning hours before evaporation takes place.

For containers, I water in the morning and in very hot weather, I may give them an afternoon or evening drink as well. Move containers to more shade for heat waves if they are easily moved.

Mulch deeply. A two in layer of mulch can lower the surface temperature over 20 degrees and keeps moisture in the ground.

Week in the Garden and Coop

It has been a busy week in the garden and coop. We had three trees removed and the rest of our trees trimmed. We had to take out two of the old orange trees that my husband's grandma had planted but they were damaging our driveway so they had to go and we figured they were at least 40 years old. It was time. We still have three smaller orange trees, so plenty for our picking.

All of my squash that I decided to plant early, is blooming like crazy and some are setting fruit. This is a baby round zucchini.

We brought home two new chickens last week. I will do a post on them. Their coop entrance however is decorated for spring.

It was a beautiful Easter Sunday and the kids hunted for eggs in the front yard. The nasturtiums have been just gorgeous this year. As the weather warms up they will fade but they have been prettier this year than ever.

The blueberry plants I have are two years old now. I mulched around them with compost and peat moss because they are acid loving. It seems they liked it because they have set lots of fruit this year.

Farmhouse Easter Decor

 You know I think of our house as a farmhouse in the city so our farmhouse Easter decor follows suit. The hubby did a bit of Easter decorating this year. Really farmhouse describes us perfectly. Decor that is well loved, used, useful and mix and match. How about a little Easter tour?

I stole some of our plastic Easter eggs to drop in a ball jar.

I really find it hard to decorate with pastels but I love yellow and green for spring decorating. These chicks and the chick picture are my favorites.

I found this sunshine pillow at Home Goods and since we are Sunny Simple Life I had to have it. We sure have lots of sunshine in Southern California.

St. Patrick's Decor

Spring is coming and that means green and in our house a little St. Patrick's Day decorating.

This year a mix of vintage green and red in the kitchen is what the hubby decided to do with our St. Patty's theme.

 

 He is sneaky. I just walked into the kitchen and he had put up our few pieces St. Patrick's kitsch.

I just shouted, "I love it!" across the house. He doesn't want my input but he sure likes the praise for a job well done. 

The little green basket I just picked up from Hobby Lobby and the red vintage egg carton was an amazing little find. Had to have it and it is in perfect condition.

Here is a glimpse to a past St. Patty's look.

Spring / Summer Entry Decor

The days are getting warmer and it's time to make the entry way ready for the season. Today I am sharing some spring / summer decor my very own entry way. You want to welcome visitors right away so I love to change our little doorway with the seasons.

I really love rustic touches so last year I bought this colored burlap banner off of etsy. This year we hung it here as you walk in the front door.

My little prim black cabinet got a splash of yellow from you  know who. He does most of the arranging around here.

I wanted a lamp here but no plug was a problem so a batter operated candle had to do.

To me summer means sunflowers. I just love them don't you?

Spring Touches

 I have been cruising Pinterest looking for spring inspiration. I don't use pastels for Easter so I love to find ideas with more muted colors to decorate with. We moved some furniture around last weekend and the dry sink is now in front of the window here. Do you know the wood candle sticks, the yellow bowl which I painted, one of the crocks and the tin heart electric candle are all from the thrift store. You really can decorate on a tight budget.

I kept all my prim touches and just added a pot of silk flowers and a chicken. I have cut back on the holiday decor and just want to tuck seasonal touches here and there.

I bought these adorable chicks and the tiny salt and pepper shakers along with a burlap runner for my spring table centerpiece. I need to find a new tablecloth and get the table decorated. They had the chicks arranged with small bird houses and clumps of green moss. It was simple and screamed spring. I want to find some of the mossy rocks they had. That way I can leave the chicks out through May when I change over for Memorial Day.

Happy almost Spring!!

Happy St. Patty's Day

The top of the morn to ya!! I hope you all have a wonderful St. Patty's day where we are all a bit of Irish.

Are you cooking some corned beef? We are supposed to go away for a night and attend a party. I don't want to leave my chickies though. My girls are capable of caring for them so we will see.

Have a wonderful day!! It is raining here and cold for once. Hubby and I are planning our coop for the girls. 

He laughed at me last night when I was playing with the chicks and said I am not like other wives of his friends. They all ask for expensive purses and I ask for chickens and a coop. Nothing strange about that. He wouldn't have it any other way.

Mother Nature Party

Changed up my dining table display to a collection of warm yellows and all things bees. Our yard here is abuzz with all our citrus in bloom. Some spring bee decor was in order.

I found this sweet little pillow on a clearance rack at a favorite haunt.

You can't have bees without a bee skep. You can find one here.

A sweet little watering can holds golden flowers.

I love the battery operated flicker candles available now. Safe to burn when you have a little one in the house and they last forever.

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