Sunday Afternoon

Before:

After:

Not only did the windowboxes get filled, the front planters got planted:

Want to know my secret for getting beautiful full planters like that?  Buy a pre-made hanging basket.  Pop it out of the plastic container and into your planter, fill in around the edges with potting soil and you're all done!  Super quick and you end up paying about the same once you add up everything you would have bought individually.

I'm trying something new this year too.  A vegetable garden!  In a size that won't freak me out:

We bought two big pots and I planted two tomato plants and two basil plants in each.  I am trying two different locations to see which does better.  We have lots of trees, which means lots of shade, so I'm not sure how this will go, but I thought it would be fun to try.

Now I'm all worn out!  Time to go lie around on the couch and eat some of that homemade peanut butter ice cream I made last night!  Yummy!  (I used the recipe from Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book and it was a winner!  I bought a copy of this in a used bookstore ages ago and use it every summer -- one of the most used cookbooks I own.)

Comments

[Liz]

I just got an ice cream maker for Mother's day and was contemplating ordering that book! MMMmmm...

And your flowers look great. I like your little 'secret'. I'll have to remember that. :)

[Christie]

So cute! Love your little planters...I wish I had my own garden!

[ann]

What a great idea on the planters! Thanks for sharing.

[Maryann]

What a beautiful house!

[--Deb]

That's about the amount of gardening I could handle, too....

[Laurie]

Remember that line from Jaws - "We're gonna need a bigger boat."? That's what you're going to be saying about the tomato/basil pot! Hopefully.

What kind did you plant?

The other pots and the window boxes look great. No wonder you're exhausted.

I love that Ben & Jerry Book. So many great recipes.

[jillian neary]

Pretty planters!! And your home is gorgeous!

[jessica]

wow, what a busy day. I'm on my way out front to trim bushes and do some planting myself. Wish me luck! Yours looks great!

[Karen]

Your house is beautiful. The flowers look lovely.
I have that cookbook and we love it. My daughter loves the peanut butter ice cream with chopped up frozen peanut butter cups added. I love the coffee ice cream with frozen chopped oreos. YUM!

[Jess]

That's one of my most-used cookbooks, too! Hmm... I think I'll go pop the ice cream maker base in the freezer and make ice cream with the kiddos today!

[Rosemary C]

My husband happened to be walking by the computer as I was reading your post. As well as being an art teacher he also does landscape designs and is a garden "expert". This is his advice about the tomato and basil pot--"Leave the basil in the pot. Fertilize once a week with "Miracle Grow". If stems start to flower, pinch back. Put the tomato plants in a half wine barrel(a large plastic storage bin, also with holes in the bottom, will work too, but doesn't look quite as glamorous) with at least 4 holes in the bottom and fill with potting soil. Put a wire "cage" around the plants and keep in full sun."

Your house is beautiful and the planters looked great.

Rosemary