So I thought I'd share of picture of our backyard in town from a few years ago. With our house on the market and this a distant memory, (this was prior to having the farm), I thought it fit for today.
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| Potting Station, image courtesy of me |
It is my potting bench / gardening station that I set up in the backyard. 2nd Man got the bench for me as a birthday gift and I put shelves above and around it and filled all the spots with plants and flowers. As you can see, I've had "the bug" for awhile. It's sort of my own inspiration for Inspiration Thursday because I see it and it reminds me of what I like to do and of course that I'd like to set up something 'similar' at the farm.
I guess that is one of the issues at the farm, how does one create something small and filled like this with so much space? I seem to do well in small spaces like this but with so much wide open space, it seems more daunting to create a setting like this. A potting bench in the middle of a big empty area seems odd. But hey, we'll figure it out, that's half the fun!
Be inspired!
Be inspired!
Beautiful display of your set up there. Thanks 4 sharing.
ReplyDeleteMake a nice little area by one of your red barns for your potting bench, potted plants , etc and by having all your garden tools stored right there in your shed everything will be handy including all your potting mix, flower fertilizer,etc. all stored in your little red barn and oh so handy with your potting bench set up and everything stored at your finger tips.
Colleen
I did want to mention that I have my work bench that my husband had made inside my gardening shed of which he put a shelf across the top and put a sheet of peg board on so that I am able to hang all my gardening tools and misc. items and then I have a heavy table setting out front to do all my so called 'dirty' work which saves from having all the mess inside my shed.
DeleteI have 3 large storage rack units and 2 smaller ones to store all my empty pots / containers and on one side of the shed I have all my larger gardening tools hanging up.
Now you are very smart there, sstting p something by the barns. That makes sense because in a way, it's a smaller area and it has the wall of the barn as a backdrop. I do have a counter in the small shed, where the mower is, but of course not a lot of light inside and it's hot of course in the warmer weather. I think I will look into something outside. Thanks for the suggestion. Alas, I don't have the bench anymore, it took a while but it deteriorated to the point I had to get rid of it a few years back. That's when the backyard gardening fizzled and then we bought the farm, ha!!
DeleteI think something like a nice picnic table would work great; double use, use for potting plants, plus you have table bench to sit on while potting up them plants; plus if you have a BBQ the table can be moved to where it's needed.
DeleteColleen
What a beautiful spot you created! Love this! It must be so much fun to putter with your plants in such an inviting area.
ReplyDeleteAs for how to create these nooks and crannies of interest in a large yard - I have 2 large lots for my yard now and had an acre when I lived in the country. I visually divided up the areas with patios, shrubbery, groups of trees, destination-benches, arches/bowers, and curves in flower beds that naturally create a smaller space. You’re going to have so much fun planning all your special areas at the Farm!
Well it WAS, ha. that area went away a few years ago. This pic is probably circa 2005 or so. The potting bench rotted away in a few years. Very strange. Once it was gone, we were getting close to getting the farm so I didn't recreate it. I like your suggestion, I think that's what I need to do is just start making areas of plantings and dividing things up like that.
DeleteI love this!!!
ReplyDeleteWell thank you!!
Deletepretty! put your bench in one place; if it doesn't look right, put it somewhere else. find its feng shui!
ReplyDeleteFeng Shui works outside in the yard too! I don't have that bench anymore but I'll get a new one for sure!
DeleteVery very impressive.
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks!!
DeleteI love the look of you potting station! One day when we finally get a garden shed, I am so setting up an area like this for myself!
ReplyDeleteIt was so much fun to have and I am totally going to do something similar at the farm. Thanks!!
DeleteIf I thought I could even get container gardening done right, I would love that spot. It truly is inspirational. 2nd man has a good eye for just the right amount of practicality with wonderful vintage lines and colors.
ReplyDeleteWell thanks for that, though I will have to say he only got the bench for me, nice pick there, but I set everything else up, ha. He actually told me to write this, ;-) You will get there on the container gardening...the best advice is watering...don't over and don't under. That's the best place to start.
DeleteI too have a lots of space to work with and it sometimes is overwhelming. From your blog photos and the one in this post it is obvious you have an "eye" and talent. May I suggest you approach your yard the way one approaches eating an elephant: one small bite at a time!! The best advise I was ever given...by my high school civics teacher: one small bite at a time. It works!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that, I do love designing and arranging but you're so right, having a lot of wide open space, you really don't have any clue at times where to start. But you're right...just start small and don't try to make it all happen at once or it will overwhelm you, right? Thanks!!!
DeleteWhen you decide how to do it please let me know. I am looking for a place for a potting station at the lake and there is no where perfect to put it. I don't want it just sticking out in the middle of the yard, but there is no natural area to place it.
ReplyDeleteThat's the same dilemma for us. General consensus seems to be to start small in one spot and expand outward. Stay tuned, I'll see what we can do in the next few months. ;-)
DeleteIt is all so neat and tidy! Is that just for us, or did you actually keep it that way?
ReplyDeleteOkay, having to just reply. Consider your 11 acres as lots of little spaces. You have many pictures of small flower beds and the tree. You do understand the whole 11 acres does not have to be dining or flowers. Do the same with your large space as you did the back yard. Put things in neatly and concisely, still considering you are not constrained.
DeleteOne thing I do like is chairs everywhere. If someone comes to talk with you, the person can sit. I have on my 1/3 acre--two swings, two chairs, a table and a bench by the chickens, picnic table, two benches and two other table. There are two other folding chairs. Can you imagine what I would have around 11 acres?
Practical Parsimony
Archguy, definitely stayed that way for a few seasons. This was actually after the first year (the bench had already weathered). The pots changed in and out and flowers/plants came and went and tools changed, but it stayed pretty much the same. When everything had it's spot, it was easier to put up, ha.
DeletePractical Parsimony - I like the way you think. Yep, small bits in little spaces. And chairs, or seating areas, that's exactly what we need. Heck I need it sometimes when I just need to sit down and rest a bit. Thank you!!!
DeleteWhen one has a property one has to 'think big and plan big'. Your photo is wonderful and I expected to read about this being a photo you found and how it inspired you. If you can create this in a small space you will eventually be able to do this on a larger scale. It will be easier once you live there.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the words of inspiration. You're right, just scale it up. I think starting small nd moving around the yard will work great. Of course it will be easier once we're there but since that's a few more years away, I'll do what I can to get there., ha.
DeletePft, don't make it more difficult than it has to be... divide the farm into 'rooms' and plan those rooms, just like you would in a house. Trees and/or shrubs make excellent walls, and you can have intimate areas as well as grand ball rooms. The only limit is your imagination and creativity; judging from the photo above, you have plenty of both!
ReplyDeleteROOMS! I like the idea of thinking that way. All the suggestions of starting small and moving around make sense to me but thinking of it like a room, even a grand ballroom, is a great idea. Thank you for compliment too. ;-)
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