Plants & Flowers Archives - Satori Design for Living

Weekend Outdoor Decorating Plans

May

2013

Happy Friday! We’re kicking off a long weekend here, and I’m so looking forward to catching up on some yard work (if weather permits), as well as taking some time to recharge after a busy couple of weeks. It’s been raining on and off for the last 2 days, making our grass and trees really green up- yay! Our spring was late arriving, but it looks as though it was worth the wait. I was worried about the perennials I planted last fall in front of the porch surviving the winter, but I’m happy to report all is good!

The ornamental grasses and atomic lilac are supposed to get at least a few feet high, filling the front porch area in and softening the hard edges a bit. Now I just need to finish up the decorative details I didn’t get to last year before the cold weather hit. Perhaps a chair or bench, and definitely a rug and some potted plants. That’s on the top of my to-do list for this weekend.

A big thanks to all of you who joined our Plants & Flowers link party as part of the Outdoor Extravaganza. I’m definitely inspired to plant a raised bed garden next year! There’s still time to share a project of your own.

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Filed Under: Gardening & Outdoor Tagged With: Outdoor Decorating, Plants & Flowers

Outdoor Extravaganza Plants & Flowers Link Party

May

2013

6 Comments

It’s time to officially kick off the Outdoor Extravaganza! Yesterday I shared my strawberry pot herb garden with you, which is a little different take on the way I usually grow these summer essential plants.

The other hosts of this outdoor series, Tiffany, Carmel, Dawn, and Barbara, have also been busy playing in the dirt. Check out all their inspiring projects!

Now it’s your turn! Link up as many outdoor plants & flowers projects as you like- old and new. Your project will show up on all 5 blogs! Please include a backlink to this post, and be sure to take a look around and show some blog love. No items for sale please!

Plants & Flowers Projects

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Filed Under: Gardening & Outdoor Tagged With: Link Party, Outdoor Extravaganza 2013, Plants & Flowers

Strawberry Pot Herb Garden

May

2013

20 Comments

Every spring I like to plant herbs to use in fresh recipes all summer long. Nothing beats fresh basil in a salad or rosemary infused chicken. Last year I created a kitchen container potager in a burlap planter, which ended up yielding a good amount of produce. However, with all the heavy rain we had, moss started to grow on the outside of the burlap container, making it look pretty shabby by the end of the season. This time, I decided to create a strawberry pot herb garden, taking up less space per plant than a regular planter, and hopefully looking a little better over time as well.

Supplies

Large strawberry pot with numerous pockets and drainage hole

Herbs (as many varieties as pockets in strawberry pot, plus 2 or 3 more for planting in the top- chives, basil, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, lemon balm, etc.) Note: resist mint or other herbs that are too vigorous

Gravel or small rocks (to cover drainage hole, plus more for watering channel)

Good quality potting soil

Cardboard roll (from paper towel or wrapping paper)

Water

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Filed Under: Gardening & Outdoor Tagged With: Plants & Flowers

10 Ways to Decorate With Glass Cylinders

Apr

2013

13 Comments

Glass cylinder vases are one of the most versatile accessories in decorating. With their simple and classic shape, as well as accessibility at a variety of price points, it’s no wonder they’ve become a favorite amongst decorators and a staple in decor. If I think about how many glass cylinders I have in my own home, I’d have to say there are at least half a dozen. Some of these are always on display, and the others are pulled out from time to time for seasonal decorating or entertaining.

I thought I’d gather together some of my favorite ways to make good use of glass cylinder vases in almost every room in your house. Chances are you have at least one or two sitting around.

Use one small glass cylinder within a larger one to create interesting candle holders with items sandwiched between. This wine cork candle holder is perfect for a table centerpiece.

Welcoming Spring With Tulip Blooms

Mar

2013

4 Comments

Happy Friday! I’ve enjoyed reading all the blog posts celebrating the arrival of spring, but we’re still getting snow storms making it still seem so far away. Inside our house is another story with the appearance of my first bloom from the forced tulip bulbs I started back in January. So fresh and pretty!

I originally planted four pots with tulip bulbs in mid-January. Two of them were left in my basement storage room until the first week of February, and the other two were brought up at the beginning of March. I planned it that way so I’d have blooms throughout the spring season rather than all at once. It’s amazing to think this is what I started with…

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Filed Under: Decorating, Gardening & Outdoor Tagged With: Plants & Flowers, Spring Decorating

Front Door Paint Colors and Adding Curb Appeal {Reader Question}

Mar

2013

4 Comments

It’s Friday! Let’s get to another reader question from Satori’s Facebook page, shall we? Although our weather has dipped down again today (please, please let this be the end!), it’s time to start talking about freshening our exteriors with outdoor paint and adding more curb appeal. I received photos of two different houses with two very different looks asking many of the same design questions. Today I’m starting with Nicole’s two-story suburban home.

Desperately Need Curb Appeal!

Hello Shauna! I have a major design block. One of the things we want to work on this year is our (lack of) curb appeal. Specifically at the front door. We may buy a new one, we may just paint this one out, but…I cannot for the life of me pick out a color that works. It’s south facing, direct sun all day long. The door already gets incredibly hot so we don’t think black or super dark would be great. Plus fading issues?

I printed out a few pics of the house and cut out the front door. We stuck hundreds of paint chips behind it trying to see what would work. I really don’t want to match the trim color as that seems to be what everyone else in our neighborhood has done. Boring! So far the leading choice is in the purple family, but my hubby isn’t thrilled with it.

We would also like to add window boxes or jazz up the front garden. Any and all suggestions would be incredibly welcome!!

Huge fan, Nicole (Scrap Me Baby)

After emailing Nicole for a bit more information, I found out her style is fairly classic, but she isn’t afraid of color. Landscaping is very selective, with only one purple-toned tree in the front yard. Here are the photos she sent me (she reassures me the siding is cream, not light grey as it appears on my screen).

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Filed Under: Gardening & Outdoor Tagged With: Curb Appeal, Paint Colors, Plants & Flowers, Reader Question

Adding Spring Color and Life in the Midst of Winter

Jan

2013

2 Comments

I was at the grocery store a couple weeks ago and couldn’t help but notice the loveliness of spring bulbs in the floral department. Throughout the Christmas season I like to force paperwhite and amaryllis bulbs, and thought I’d give some varieties of tulips a try to keep the color and touch of nature going in our kitchen and dining room. I love how they seem to brighten a dreary winter day.

Tulip Collection

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To force your own tulip bulbs, you’ll need bulbs (large and plump are best with no blemishes), well-drained potting mix, containers with drainage holes, and small rocks.

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Filed Under: Decorating, Gardening & Outdoor Tagged With: Plants & Flowers

Holiday Countdown Series Finale + Link Party

Dec

2012

3 Comments

I’m posting the final installment of the Holiday Countdown one day early to give you a little more prep time before the weekend. If you’ve been following along since the first post in October, there shouldn’t be too much left on your list, but there are always those tasks that are best done in the last few days.

Don't count the days make the days count

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If you’re feeling frazzled, try to keep in mind what the Christmas season is all about- peace, love and joy. It’s not about perfect decorating, baking, wrapping and all the other preparations. At this point, good enough is good enough! It’s time to enjoy our loved ones, especially in light of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary. Let’s keep all the families in our thoughts and prayers.

If you’ve missed any weeks along the way, follow this link to see the full 2012 Holiday Countdown Series.

Now on to the final To Do list. Be sure to link up your holiday preparations at the bottom of this post!

This Week:

Add fresh flowers and greenery.

There isn’t anything that can bring a space to life more than adding fresh natural elements. Back on week one, I recommended that you plant amaryllis or paper white bulbs. My amaryllis has really taken off and will hopefully bloom for Christmas. If you didn’t plant bulbs, no worries. These plants are available at many locations for next to nothing. You don’t have to spend a fortune on fresh materials for them to look fantastic. Consider mixing less expensive materials with only a few luxurious blooms.

{via Canadian House & Home}