A couple of years ago, Don got the idea to add a patio space next to the house. Let me explain: when you drive up our driveway you reach the top, turn the car to the left and park. The car ended up being parked right next to the house, which was too close, thank you very much. So Don thought some separation might be called for. I was home for a week’s break in the middle of my 6 month stint in San Diego. So we went to the store, bought some pavers and some barrels and a birdbath and threw it together. We didn’t really level the area or put sand down or any of the recommended steps – we just did it. Three years later, it’s still here. The pavers are a bit crooked here and there, but it’s hanging in there.
I hope you are enjoying my high-tech visual aids. Since I harp on the peonies all the time, I thought you might like to see where they are on the property. See them at the top of the picture? They are all the way down by the road. The big garden bed starts just beyond the patio and slopes downward to the lawn. We park the car to the left.
I love, love the white chairs. We bought them at a local antique store several years ago. They’re extremely comfortable and you can rock in them. We used to have them way up in the back forty but we didn’t sit there very much (although it’s cool up there – you can see the mountains.)
So…yesterday I decided to add that galvanized tub on the right. And I planted lots of bright colored annuals in it.
Then I moved one of the benches from the porch to the funky patio. I always like to have a place to set down a cool drink or a book.
You know I love our porch, but sometimes I like to sit here. It’s a little further from the road and a wee bit more quiet. Some day, we’d love to add a fence between the big garden bed and the patio. It would nicely separate the areas and make the patio more private.
And look! Last year some of the impatiens that are planted in the barrels seeded between the pavers. Impatiens are annuals. They’re not supposed to come back. But there they are! A wee little miracle.
The patio is nothing to write home about. It’s not slick or professionally done. But it suits our little cottage and our lifestyle. I guess if the patio is funky, we must be, too.
Happy Saturday. It’s a rainy one here.
Oh, Northeastern gardeners: do you have more slugs than ever this year? We sure do. Every leaf on every plant has holes. I see those little buggers everywhere.
I love your patio area and it doesn’t look so funky to me at all! A perfect place to sneak away and sit a spell. xo Diana
Your patio’s great! I really like the idea of large stones like that, so rustic and pretty. I don’t live in the Northeast, but I’ve noticed more slugs here in Ky, too. I noticed they’ve eaten holes through my basil leaves.
Enjoy your weekend!
Blessings,
Leslie
Hah, I was just thinking of doing this. We have a tiny patio and it is where we let the dogs out….yuck. I saw on something using pavers kinda in a checker board effect with grass inbetween it was so cute. It would be hard to mow. I like yours better.
I have had impatients come up on their own in random places. I have had a couple of plants do that this year…..maybe because it was warmer?
Love the chairs.
Love those chairs!
S
xo
Love that galvanized tub with the flowers!! Such a pretty spot to soak up the sunshine!! xoxo Debbie
cute little patio, just big enough for the 2 of you. Isn’t it fun to see a plant come up from no where?
Funky is good! :)
I think it looks lovely! Those chairs really are sweet. I have been on the lookout for vintage white chairs too. But haven’t found any yet I love.
I love peonies. I have one small bush and need to get a few more. Your new planter looks great. Tubs of flowers always look so pretty!
Hugs,
Terri
Claudia, I love your patio! It looks so inviting. Those chairs look very comfortable. Have a nice day. Hope you’re feeling better!
You just brought back some nice memories for me today Claudia. I grew up with my grandparents on their farm and they had a patio just like this, a little bigger, with a wishing well off to the side that my grandfather made from old stones from the barn. Even though they had porches all around the house everyone sat on that patio. I really miss those times.
The chairs are lovely and that planter looks great. We have a rainy day here today I hope you have sun so you can enjoy your lovely patio.
Great day,
Sue
Good morning Claudia. Our house if full of “funky” little places that we have carved out to sit and relax. We have no well thought out hardscape. No expensive dining sets. No formal landscape. Nothing is perfectly manicured. It is all very free flowing, and country. Suits us to a T!! I do love and appreciate those lovely gardens I see, and homes and yards that are professionally done. But I will take a yard like yours and mine, any ol day of the week! Charm, character and comfort come to mind.
I love your funky patio!!!!
Kris
Hey Claudia – I love your little patio too. Rainy here as well so planning a little shopping, a little reading (books, magazines and blogs) and a little lazing around. So far all I’ve done is lazing around (and reading blogs :).
Your little impatiens will be lovely. I love “volunteers” in the garden and always try to honour them by leaving them in situ.
I wonder if slugs are my problem too. I haven’t seen anything but my bean and radish leaves are getting eaten. I put a little homemade trap out last night. I’ll see what it is – I thought earwigs but could be slugs…J
Hi Claudia, So far no slugs but lots of turkeys. Your little patio is very inviting and I think the bench is also good for putting up feet at the end of a long gardening day! I just finished dead heading the last of my peonies. We’re adding a few more hydrangea of different types this year. They have a much longer blooming time than the peonies. THere is a wonderful peony farm in CT (Cricket Hill) and they have a great website filled with all the different types–some old and some more exotic. I think it’s treepeony.com Linda
I think I read the other day that you could put baking soda on slugs. Seem to remember something about vinegar too. I’ll have to look it up again. Let you know what I find out.
Brenda
It’s a rainy Saturday here too. Your funky patio is totally charming and I love the flowers in the galvanized bucket. What a miracle to have the impatiens come back! I have noticed that they are getting hard to find in the nurseries here. Have a wonderful weekend! Are you going to go see Jim Parson in Harvey?
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Funky? I say funky goooood!!! I love your patio and I’m going nuts over the chairs. The fact that they rock just about did me in. I’m coveting those big time. I love the flowers in the tub too– I really love that combo. Your “funky” patio looks like a wonderful space!
Hugs,
Jill
Claudia I love your little patio area…it suits your sweet house and you and your hubby. I think ‘home built’ is much more satisfying than the professionally built outdoor areas…well unless you can afford that kind of thing which we certainly can’t or wouldn’t spend the money on. Your chairs are pefect and so is your bench. We don’t have the slugs here but we certainly have grasshoppers and worms here in Kansas this year. They’re eating everything! Love the galvanized tubs you planted your cottage flowers in…very nice indeed. Enjoy your patio when you can and also the rest of your weekend.
Maura :)
That is one charming little spot, it doesn’t seem to need much more then it has.
Makes me want to grab a ice tea, or a lemonaide and sit right down.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I made little patios like that all around our first house. It had a yard like a park and there were places that were better to sit at different times of the day. I made them out of bricks. Guess I’m too old to haul tons of bricks now!
I’m not at all suprised you have seeds sprouting from previous plantings. We used to have moss rose sprouting all the time.
This funky patio is way cool. Love how you just jumped into the project and made it work. :-)
I love this patio! Mine is funky as well, and funky is good.
Somewhere funky to hang out would suit me just fine!
Blessings, Joanne
I love seeing everything about your home. It reminds me so much of how I live. Simple and sweet… And frugally. ;)
I think your patio is perfect…it suits you and your home. Can just imagine sitting there, lemonade in hand, gentle breeze blowing…yes it’s perfect!
I like your patio. I also love the bucket idea with the flowers. I have not space either near my door. I have a huge yard but somehow I prefer to be close to the door now as Big black bear was roaming around the neighbor hood yesterday. So this way. I can deak into the door much faster then far into the huge yard. So I love to sit on my wee patio and just enjoy to look and relax also.Watch the yellow canaries , robins and all the nature and deers.
I like your patio. I think it is great that it is not perfect. None of us are. About the slugs….we live in southern Ohio and slugs are EVERYWHERE. and I HATE SLUGS! they are soooo yucky.