Rustic & Refined

2025 Garden Pics

2025-12-13T08:18:00.002-06:00

2025 Garden Review with TONS of pictures

Spring through out the front & backyard

Front yard in Summer…

Backyard….

Front yard late Summer Early Fall

Backyard in the Fall

Garden pictures of Summer of 2024

2025-01-10T16:18:00.001-06:00

There’s been a TON of changes in my yard since I was able to post last. Real world really gets in the way when your president of a garden non profit for one term. Now, I am enjoying the ability to say yes and to say no.

So now I can spend some time showing you some of the changes I made last year. For starters all the oak leaf hydrangeas got moved close to the house right underneath the living room window. I bought four large boxwoods which came with a nice large price simply because I am at the stage of life where I don’t want to have the patience anymore to wait for them to fill in. I placed them in the middle of the front yard bed to give me a “back” to this bed. That way the grass of this bed can have small pops of color and so can the sidewalk side.

Almost every single plant that was here in 2022-3 has been taken out, relocated or just thrown out. Y plan is to have 70% of winter interest in my beds.

I am throwing in my favorites for texture and color as well as Fall color. Hydrangeas, coneflowers, alliums, tulips, nepeta,

Butterfly bushes….ferns (below)

The purple leaf plant you see is called Chocolate Eupatorium. I went on the hunt to find more but had no luck. This Spring if I still want more, I may divide this up as it stays fairly narrow.

I planted a big bunch of salvia (annuals) for the hummingbirds. This is Proven Winners variety, Rockin Deep Purple. One my go to favorites.

Hope you enjoyed this really Quick Look into what I was up too and I hope to post more soon!

Christine

Christmas Decor in the Dining Room

2021-12-06T10:12:00.002-06:00

Hi Everyone!

The countdown to Christmas is on! I have been checking my phone and all the to do lists for the holidays and our upcoming vacation to Florida. First, I wanted to share my dining room with you and the how I decorated it using blacks, reds, browns and golds.

I also have a quick DIY for old artwork in here to make sure you don't miss it!

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Christmas Decor in the Living Room

2021-12-02T09:02:00.002-06:00

Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

Decorating for the holidays always looks so easy when others do it doesn't it? At least that is the way I feel. They can just place an ornament anywhere on the tree and walk away. To some extent, I can too but more often then not, I am constantly tweaking and hardly ever satisfied with my tree the first day.

Sometimes even the 2nd or 3rd day too!

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Garden in the Fall

2021-11-09T07:39:00.000-06:00

A garden during Fall time to me really sends me good vibes and warm feelings. The reds, pinks and oranges show me how I did as a gardener too. I don't know if other gardeners do this but each season I evaluate my beds and see where I can make improvements on color, texture and seasonal interest.

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Midwest Garden Tour Showcasing Fall Color

2021-10-25T08:05:00.001-05:00

Due to the impending frost coming my way, I am doing one last hoorah for the front and back yard. These garden beds are getting ready to go dormant and I want to show them off before they start going to sleep.

This year I tried my hand at planting out some swiss chard as an annual fall color and it has not disappointed.

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Fall Table for Two

2021-10-08T05:00:00.008-05:00

Fall Table for Two

Even if your home is designed entirely around neutral colors, there is something about Fall that just changes your mind. Do you agree?

Using both cuttings from the garden and some silk florals, I did a quick and easy Fall Table to celebrate a new kitchen table.

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Hint of Fall Tablescape

2021-09-26T09:03:00.003-05:00

Creating a tablescape for me is always such fun. Fall is one of those times when it feels refreshing doesn't it? The heat is going away, you can turn off your A/C. The leaves start to turn beautiful colors. Next to the upcoming Christmas holidays, it's that time of year that if you go overboard, people understand and even embrace it.

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Backyard Garden in June

2021-07-01T20:26:00.001-05:00

Hi guys,

in todays video tour of the backyard, you're going to see tons of gorgeous color. We have been getting slammed with downpours every day, so it's nice to be able to squeeze this in for you!

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Random Garden Projects

2021-06-21T21:17:00.001-05:00

Below is a brief video I managed to capture some random garden projects Greg and I got done one Saturday.

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Facebook Account

2021-06-19T19:09:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

Just a quick note. My personal facebook account was hacked and I am trying to rebuild my contacts and pages list. Also, it seems they got my Instagram account as well

Wish me luck!

Spring transplanting and Early Garden Tour plus transplanting hydrangea

2021-06-10T20:09:00.002-05:00

Hi!

I bet you thought I fell off the face of the earth! No, just busy and to be honest. Blogging has taken a backseat to other endeavors. But I got the urge to share with you a video I shot last month in my yard and I hope you enjoy it!

Christmas Decor Tour - Pictures & Video!

2020-12-03T08:49:00.000-06:00

Hi!

It's that time of year already. I don't know about you but it came so fast for us. Greg & I have been doing so much for our Community this year and each other, so that we stay busy, positive and away from negativity and the hate that seems to be flowing around us. I think we all need some christmas cheer!

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Last Fall Garden Tour

2020-11-23T08:12:00.006-06:00

Hi,

If you're like me you are covered in fall leaves and glitter. This time of year is so fun and weird at the same time. One hour I am out raking leaves, and the next I am inside sipping cocoa and putting up a christmas tree to get an early start on the festivities.

I had one last spurt from Mother Nature that give us perfect weather for taking a nice long video tour outside, so please click the link below and enjoy!

Last Fall Garden Tour

Planting More Bulbs & Leaf Cleanup

2020-11-13T16:06:00.001-06:00

Hi!

I have another video for you to watch. I am doing some leaf cleanup out at the Covered Bridge (for my Garden Club) plus I got about 120 more Allium & Drumstick bulbs in the ground.

If you've been following my blog for a long time, you'll know I'm a huge fan of Alliums of all kinds. They perform really well year after year!

Enjoy!

Planting more bulbs & Leaf Cleanup for Fall

Fall Planting Video

2020-10-27T09:20:00.001-05:00

Join me today while I (and Greg) plant up and relocate some plants. I bought a few things, a lot of them on Fall clearance and want to get them in the ground.

We'll be relocating some grasses, planting up a pinky winky hydrangea tree and some new on the market dwarf wine & weigela from Proven Winners.

Enjoy the video! Planting Fall Clearance Haul Plants

Fall Planting & Virtual Garden Tour

2020-08-30T07:35:00.003-05:00

Hi Friends!

More changes have come to the front flower bed, so pop on over to watch me planting up some fall color in here. I got my hands on some gorgeous Plumbago, which I already have in the backyard, so color me happy that I get to repeat it in the front.

Fall Plantings and Garden Tour

Thanks for dropping by!

Random Garden Projects Video

2020-08-13T19:00:00.006-05:00

Hi!

I have been spending every spare minute I can with friends and gardening, plus Greg of course. I have missed you all, but it sure feels nice to spend time with good people and have fun!

I have been wanting to redesign the front yard a bit for quite a while now so 2 weeks ago i pulled the plug and we started relocating things and buying new shrubs to fill the holes I made by taking stuff out. I tried to document as much as possible by video, which is my new hobby. So if you'd like to see what I am up too a lot quicker, you may want to subscribe to my Youtube channel. Lately it seems easier to post a video then to keep up with all the new SEO requirements and new dashboard blogger has. It isn't giving me any issues, I just hate change.

Anyway, here's a link to my latest video. Enjoy!

Random Gardening Projects

July Garden Tour

2020-07-16T07:39:00.002-05:00

Hi! I know you probably think I have forgotten about Blogging but I have actually been spending so much time with friends and outside gardening that is has kind of taken a back seat. Also, I am starting to move forward a bit and do more videos on Youtube and Instagram. Maybe my tastes are changing?

I spent a bit more time on this video and it is a much longer one, it is a full garden tour both front yard and back...so please hop on over to Youtube to watch it. It's free to watch!

July Garden Tour - The good, the bad and the ugly!

Summer Backyard Video Tour - Part 1

2020-06-26T05:53:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone! It's hot outside and I have been spending every second I can in my Garden or with my friends, either in their garden or doing Community Gardening in our County. But I did manage to get some video of my backyard and how it's looking.

Here is Part 1 - please head over to Youtube and check it out!

Summer Backyard Video Tour - Part 1

Escaping to the Garden

2020-06-08T06:08:00.000-05:00

Taking a garden stroll in late May early June in my Zone 5 garden is the best time if you like to see how quickly things can change.

My garden literally changes almost every day, with new color sprouting up and old color fading off. Some tulips came early, some later in Spring. Then the alliums started blooming early. Talk about a show of color!

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Spring Garden Tour 2020

2020-05-17T19:28:00.000-05:00

Let's take a stroll through the front yard right after a heavy rain to see all the gorgeous color. The Tulips are blooming, the drumstick alliums are budding up and even some of the ground cover phlox is blooming.

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Front Porch

2020-05-03T18:53:00.000-05:00

Decorating the front porch with rustic style that's not only classic and easy, but it's gorgeous and timeless too.

If I can toot my own horn.

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Early Spring Garden Video Tour

2020-04-11T07:20:00.001-05:00

It's time for an early Spring garden tour post mulch. This time I am going to do it a bit different this year and see what responses I get.

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Spring Decor Tablescape

2020-03-31T07:06:00.000-05:00

Pretty pink tulips with a moss table runner set alongside my favorite white square dishes for me, is a table setting that even in a couple of years will still look good.

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