Now that it is getting warm, I am turning my attention to outside spaces. I just planted 2 enormous Boston Ferns in weathered zinc planters on the side porch flanking an old crusty windsor bench. The porch floor is a high gloss Lichen by Farrow and Ball, as are my shutters, (soon-to-be) all exterior trim and all doors.
Now I am gearing up for some yard work and patio re-vamping. I sure wish Mom were here: I could leave her with the car, my credit card and close my eyes and it would be done. Albeit, in a blood curdlingly scary fashion, that I would not care to see while in progress…
In the back patio, right now I have old chartruese, brown and cream striped sunbrella cushions on my old Kingsley Bate Teak Nantucket furniture. I have 2 lounge chairs and 2 chaises that are so old and worn that they are beginning to splinter. I NEED a replacement for 2 lounge chairs and 2 chaise lounges and I am considering these. New cushions, of course will follow.
But all of that will take some deliberation and the mental preparedness to part with some serious cash. A quicker fix would be to address my patio surface now. I have always loved the look of large clipped boxwoods inside slightly-too-small planters. The more the merrier and grouped randomly. The look has become rather ubiquitous of late, with Restiration Hardware all all, but I don’t care because I am still attracted to it and always will be.
The planters must be similar or the same in material, but differing in size. The boxwoods should probably be of the same variety and clipped similarly, i.e. in balls, cones or whatever you like—get crazy with it, people! But, never line them up in a long row like soldiers. A trip to the nursery, Jacobsens (the local flower mart) and I should be all set. Are you tired of this look or are you with me? What are you planting now?
1. via Pinterest 2. Habitually Chic 3. BHG 4. Elle Decor 5. Flickr 6. via Pinterest























8 Responses to “GREEN DAY”
Such fun! I am staring longingly at our “scaled stages” plan from our landscape designer…. happy to start phase one and two, but know I’ll never be happy unless it’s all done!
Katie please share a photo of your work! We never got to see an exterior in bhg
Ok, the outside can be shot next time my photog comes to town. Promise.
It is a darling OLD shingled cape style with shutters, side and back porch and bluestone patio. It is one of the older homes in my (already) old-ish town, I think 1891.
The home has a white picket fence—can you believe? Who would have ever thought.
But don’t expect to meet June Cleaver inside; it’s me after all!
I love the look but I’m having trouble keeping my boxwoods looking good. They burn in the winter and snow needs to be dusted off them so they don’t splay out. Either I haven’t learned the secret or they just need to be replaced every few years.
@urban cottage:
I have the same problem. I think it is par for the course for boxwood in New England. I might try the similar looking Japanese hollies that can me manicured into the same spherical or conical arrangement.
full honesty:
i hate to say it, but i am tired of this look. i want color in my outdoor spaces. i <3 planting perennial cutting gardens (some even in porch containers!) so u can can cut and bring flowers into the house throughout the season. theres something much more gratifying about a garden that i can tend to.
boxwoods or ferns are elegant but do nothing for my gardening soul. this year i am doing flowering shrubs in my pots.
love it! i want pictures too!!
Is that Trudie in The Elle Decor picture #4 ???? She gets around LOL