work in progress

It all started with a wine barrel...well, half of a wine barrel. I have always wanted a half wine barrel to use as a flower planter. Mandi and I found one when we were in Santa Barbara and she bought it for me for my upcoming birthday! The only downside was trying to fit it in the Stratus and then smelling the wine the entire drive home!

So, yesterday after I was finished with my volunteer job, I went to Home Depot for potting soil and flowers. There were so many to choose from but I bought enough to plant in my barrel - English daisies, Marguerite daisies, and 3 different varieties of dahlias. I got up this morning and got started. I had to drill holes in the bottom of the barrel for drainage and then it was time to get my hands dirty. I DO NOT have a green thumb by any stretch of the imagination, but I do love to play in the dirt. I will do my best to keep these flowers going...

Once I had planted my flowers, I looked around my small back yard to realize how much I have neglected it in the last year. Granted, I have had other things on my mind, but I really did let it get messy. I grabbed the camera and took some "before" pictures, but I'm not going to show those to you yet. I pulled weeds and re-potted some succulents and then I decided to go Orchard Supply and get more potting soil and more plants. Here is the result....

I got marigolds, petunias, vincas, coleus and another dahlia. Once I've finished cleaning up the yard and cleaning and filling the fountain, I will scatter these pots around the yard for maximum effect! Then I will take the "after" pictures and show you what I've done. Is the suspense killing you? It's killing me! I'm going to have to take a long soak in a hot bath....my back is aching...but it will be well worth it when I'm finished!