Garden Roses

Today for Friday Favorites – we are stepping back into the garden to talk about pretty blooms instead of gophers gobbling up plants left and right. Side note: The roses are planted in cages to protect them also. They are another favorite. And I have noticed that none of the allium I planted last year has popped up this year. So now I am wondering just how much feasting those critters have been doing. Aye.

Back to the pretty blooms- the iceberg roses are blooming and some of the garden roses are almost blooming which has me feeling pretty excited about the garden and spring weather. With the warmer temperatures, our wisteria is blooming away in abundance this year- which is wonderful. And we also found a few more large potted wisteria to add in to areas that seems to be a perfect mix and mingle. But will chat more about wisteria in another post. Today, we are taking a look back at the garden roses we planted and stay tuned for a closer look at the new additions in the garden this year too.

 Beautiful Garden Roses

Every time I cut a rose bloom- I think of my grandfather. Gramps was a master gardener- and he started a landscaping/gardening type business when he retired. When we bought our house, he came over and wandered through the property and told us what all what all the plants and shrubs and trees were. And when it came to roses- he taught me how to prune roses back to a 5 leaf area that is pointing to the outside of the rose bush.

Combined with my love of roses and the memories of that secret rose garden behind my childhood home that I used to wander over to- roses have a special place in my heart and garden. I can’t seem to get enough and tend to fall in love with any pretty face and any pretty scent. Today I am sharing some of the new garden roses that we planted this year, the ones we just added last week and what we planted years ago.

Cecile Brunner Climbing Garden Rose

This one is a favorite every time I share it. Those barely blushing pink dainty blooms that fade to a white are so pretty. We planted several of these climbing roses probably about 8- 10 years ago and they have absolutely filled in beautifully over the arch in the front.

In the backyard- they creep up over the ivy wall fence and have started to trail down the front. The mix and mingle of the roses with the ivy in spring is one of my favorite views.

Earth Angel Garden Rose

This is another favorite blush bloom. We have about 10 of these in the greenhouse garden area- and just planted 6 more in the new potting shed path area. So, I guess you could say they are one of my all time favorites. What I love about them: The cupped blooms with layers of petals and the scent is so delicious.

Eden Garden Rose

This is a cottage garden favorite – and probably one of the most well known ‘cabbage’ type roses. We planted three varieties of Eden rose this spring- Eden, Eden Pink and Eden White- and they were incredible when they were first planted.

Unfortunately, the heat combined with shock after they were planted has left them a little less than pretty for the past month. We now see some new growth coming in – so hopefully they will start blooming again soon.

All Dressed Up Garden Rose

These are blooming like crazy right now- this basket full is what I clipped just yesterday. And I am quite obsessed with their sweet smell and layers of ruffly petals. We planted these 8 rose bushes in April- and they have absolutely grown like weeds and put on so many buds. They have a sturdy stalk and build- which is much different than some of the others we have and they do seem to love the heat. They start out as a true pinky pink- and now are more faded to a blush pink after opening.

David Austin The Ingenious Mr. Fairchild

We recently planted 12 of these along the potting shed path. They are not blooming just yet- so I will do an update with them when they do. These are a David Austin rose and supposed to look just like peonies when blooming- which of course will be amazing.

New Dawn Rose

Another new rose to us- but well known and loved rose- New Dawn is a climber that has been loved in old fashioned and cottage garden for years. We added a couple climbers to the fence area in the front to encourage them to grown along the fence and fill that in more. Not blooming yet- but will share when they do.

Colette Rose

This is another well loved favorite. We bumped into just a couple of these cute little roses and decided to give them a try. Their blooms right now are quite small and they don’t have a ton of branch to cut- so think of them as a small or short bouquet kind of a rose.

Le Petite Prince Rose

Because I am all about layers of purples and pale pinks in the garden- I had to bring home a couple of Le Petite Prince. I found these in the garden section at Home Depot- and we planted them up by the potting shed. They are such a lovely pale shade of lavender- with almost a pink hue as well.

The purple rose in this larger arrangement are Le Petite Prince- the small blue & white mug is filled with Quicksilver roses.

This is from when we first brought them home from the store- you can see the brown edges on these blooms -probably from the crazy weather we were having since they haven’t seemed to have had any pests or fungus since.

QuickSilver Rose

To compliment the purples above- we also added 2 Quicksilver climbers to the same containers. These are stunning silvery purple roses that have layers and layers of ruffles.

Just Added Garden Roses

We just brought home a few more lilac purple roses, 5 Bolero roses- which are white and ultra ruffly beautiful and also bumped into 6 Princess Charlene de Monaco roses that were included in a big rose sale.

White Roses

We have several but to be honest-I don’t know the names of them. And phew! That is a lot of roses- and we aren’t done yet. The goal is to have the area below the greenhouse be a large cutting garden- with lots of roses on repeat. So we are adding more this fall – I am waiting on a few of my favorite David Austins to come back in stock – but what other roses do you suggest for this area? I love whites, blush, purples and pale peach mostly- but I don’t think I have met a rose (or peony) that I didn’t like.

Up Next- I will share a little bit about caring for roses and what we have learned. Roses are not always the easiest- though some of ours have bloomed like crazy and we haven’t done anything with them- so who knows what the secret is. We have learned some tricks and tips for those pesky bugs- and keeping the deer from eating every.last.bloom when they are blooming. ( Use Liquid Fence)

Any specific questions? Leave me a note and I will try to answer them as well! Happy Friday favorites all.

You can read more about another favorite in our cottage garden in this post HERE

Shop the Roses

just click the photo to shop- all the Heirloom Roses are an extra 20% off at the links right now too.

The post Favorite Beautiful Cottage Garden Roses appeared first on French Country Cottage.

With the warm weather, plentiful sunshine and lots of blooming beauties in the garden. It is definitely feeling like we are well into all things outdoor living season over here.

Cottage Garden Planters & Patio Updates

I am currently working on a patio update for our dining area. And that includes a little bit of the lion fountain area as well. Though we have a lot of plants in the landscaping, we like to incorporate potted plants here and there. It creates a more of a gathered and collected garden kind of feeling.

Todays post is all about French cottage style, cottage style or vintage style pots and planters that you can use anywhere to add a bit of charm. The front porch steps, tucked next to a chair on the patio, grouped in the corner filled with herbs or a citrus tree – or even on a windowsill or as a centerpiece.

I am taking advantage of some of the Spring sales this weekend and thought I would share some of what I have been inspired by. And now I am pretty sure a trip to the garden center is in order for a few plants.

These pots and planters are all so charming- which one is your favorite?

Charming Garden Pots & Planters

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Sometimes you happen upon something vintage and amazing that you weren’t even looking for. Like vintage flower buckets. I mean, I suppose you could say that I am always on the lookout for vintage garden bits to bring home so it isn’t a total surprise to find something like these. 

But I wasn’t looking for any vintage flower buckets – but then there they were. Chattering away to me and telling me about all the ways I could style them and enjoy them. I resisted for a few minutes… but there were 6 of these buckets & were so charming and such a reasonable price on top of it – how could I not bring them home? 

Vintage Zinc Flower Buckets

Flower Buckets

What is a florist bucket? Those tall flower buckets that you see in front of florist shops, on stands for display, etc. They are tall and lovely- sometimes with handles- sometimes without. Some have wheels to roll here and there and others sit in little hoops to layer all the lovely blooms for an enchanting look.

These buckets were just waiting to come home with me. They have a beautiful vintage patina- well worn and well loved on the outside and some are a tad rusted inside- but they all hold water and are usable. Even if they were not able to hold water- they are large enough that a gallon size bucket for water would fit in the bottom easily to make them usable for fresh flower display. The price? About $15 each. And I know you think I am always shopping for vintage- I mean, you aren’t wrong, haha, I always have an eye out for a vintage treasure but I literally did just bump into these and could not leave them behind.

I was surprised to find 6 of these (only 4 in this snap but there are 6 of them) Especially 6 that had the little added base around them- often they are just straight buckets. These particular buckets also have a section of old wood added to the underneath where there are wheels attached to be able to roll them here and there. Which is quite handy since they are so huge.

Of course, I can think of a lot of places to use them but I am shopping for my sons upcoming wedding too. I am doing the flowers for their wedding- a beautiful winery location so we are incorporating wine barrels, oak trees and lots of vintage style charm. These buckets will be perfect for tucking fresh flowers into at the ends of the benches.

Where to use Vintage Florist Buckets

A few ideas: As a vessel for a flower arrangement for a table. For holding umbrellas or gift wrap. As planters on the porch. Gathered and grouped for a charming display of planted flowers. By themselves filled with plants in the garden. For wedding stylings. Paired for your front door filled with boxwoods or other greens. The possibilities are endless.

Spring Potting Shed

I decided to set them up and use them for a spring filled moment at the potting shed. A perfect spot for them- and filling them with lavender & hydrangeas created such a beautiful spring display.

I absolutely love how they look filled with these gorgeous blooms and layered on the steps. These flowers are all potted faux from Balsam Hill and fill these buckets up perfectly. They look absolutely beautiful and so real in person- and I love that they are ‘no maintenance’ and will look good all year long.

What do you think of these buckets and how the potting shed looks with a sprinkle of spring?

Shop the Look

Balsam Hill currently has up to 30% off all spring delights and if you order by March 22nd- they will arrive in time for Easter celebrations.

• Potted Blue Purple Hydrangeas
• Potted White Hydrangeas
• Set of 2 Potted Lavender

• Set of 8 Galvanized Flower Buckets
• Set of 6 Fluted Buckets
• Tall Galvanized Flower Bucket
• Set of 4 Tall Galvanized Flower Buckets

The market is wrapping up -we have some ruffled linen tablecloths and napkins left- and limited supply of both colors of ruffled chair slipcovers as well. Shop HERE

*Some affiliate links

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Winter Garden- Bulbs & Plans

Oh how I miss the beautiful blooms in the garden. Those layers of pretty purple and white foxgloves, peonies and garden roses make for many happy garden moments. Of course, in February- the garden is looking a whole lot more like leaves and layers of browns than green and blooms. With a lot of dried plants -winter gardens can feel pretty uninspiring but they can be pretty in their own way. The garden in winter allows you to see where the hardscape might need some extra oomph or where there are spaces to tuck in a few pretty faces. And it is exciting to see the buds starting to swell a bit – and to realize that under all those brown layers- there are blooms that are growing and just waiting to happen. You can see more of our garden last year after we planted it HERE

What are we planting now

Right now it is all about those bulbs. We have already planted a bunch of double tulips- which you might be more familiar with being called ‘peony tulips’. They are a fall/winter planted bulb so you may not be able to order those for this year- but they will ship in fall if you order now. Though we did find some on Amazon a couple weeks ago that were pre-chilled- meaning that the growers had stored them in cold enough temperatures to keep them okay to plant late. So if you decide you have to have them- you might give those a go. (linking below)

We also are adding more Allium bulbs – if you aren’t familiar Allium are fun balls of tiny blooms. Some are huge, some are small -and there are various shades so you can choose what works for your garden.

Dahlias are perfect for ordering right now. I am loving Cafe au Lait (below) but there are so many beautiful dahlias, shades and sizes to choose from.

Ranunculus are another spring planted flower bulb. I have ranunculus on repeat often over here- they are favorites. Ranunculus look kind of like mini peonies or garden roses- lots of layers of ruffly goodness.

And there are an abundance of colors and types of ranunculus to choose from.

Anemone are also on the list. I love the varieties of white anemone – but they do have beautiful shades of pinks, reds, blues and even a green tinted white. (mixed in with hellebores below)

Plans

Aside from planting bulbs currently- we have some upcoming garden plans this spring. As you know we had that crazy winter storm come through a couple of years ago when I first wrote this blog post and unfortunately it did a lot of damage. To the trees, buildings and the plants in the the greenhouse garden area. And then last year again, another doozy of a winter storm that was unlike anything we have had here since we have lived in the area. It really did a number on our trees and garden areas again. We have recently had to have another 5 old growth cedar trees cut down – they were probably over 250′ tall each and are doing yard clean up and splitting and stacking wood as we speak. With the garden, we are going to be rejuvenating those areas as we see which plants pop up and where we need to replant.

On the list for planting this spring- surprise, surprise- foxgloves of course. They are favorites of mine and you need to plant them 2 years in a row to get blooms every year since they only bloom every other year. Though sometimes they surprise you and bloom beautifully again and again.

Also planting more Lavender and catmint- 2 of my favorites for their foliage and blooms. We need to fill in some of the bulk in areas and they do a wonderful job of filling out and filling in bare spots.

I just ordered 8 more of one of our favorite roses. All Dressed Up have blooms and grown so well- so the cutting garden is expanding. We have been impressed with the size of the bare root roses- and the amount of blooms they provide. They start out bright and saturated and fade beautifully as they open. You can find those HERE.

Of course, lots of other plans on the agenda for this area- so will share more as we get going.

Shop the Look

You can shop for beautiful bulbs at your local garden center or places like Eden Brothers, Michigan Bulb and Holland Bulb. I also have ordered them on Amazon from garden shops there. Linking a few favorites below- just click the photo to shop.

All Dressed Up Rose

Allium Bulbs

Angelique Tulips

Summer Rose

Earth Angel Rose

Eden Rose

Ranunculus

Seeds Variety

Cafe Au Lait Dahlia

*contains affiliate links

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Topiary Love

First up- how about a little shout out and love for topiaries. I am a big fan of them- from green foliage to flowering – to herbs and olive and even holiday topiaries. Topiaries are just so darn cute- and can plants be full of charm? Topiaries are absolutely full of charm and character in my mind.

I love them gathered and grouped on a table or sideboard. Or marching down the center of a table for a centerpiece. Or by themselves. I pretty much just love them. And those lavender topiaries? Well, they are one of those signs of spring ‘springing’ every year – and they start popping up all over instagram which tells you how popular they are.

Where to find them

You can find the lavender topiaries at Home Depot pretty much every year for the past few years- and I am sure you could also find them at smaller local nurseries as well. I have seen angel vine and herb topiaries in the grocery store- just check out the floral department to see their seasonal offerings.

Plant them or pot them

I love them in chunky buckets and clay pots covered in moss. But you know – I have also planted them in the flower beds. Because they have some height- and poufy ‘hair’ they really fill in the beds and make them feel ‘taller’ and more grown in.

If potting them- I love to put them into metal buckets or since buckets- or those little clay pots for a rustic look. You can also use regular glazed pots or anything else you prefer.

What Variety of Lavender are ours

To be honest, I have only seen the lavender topiaries in this variety here. These are a Spanish lavender- the same as the larger plants you would plant in the garden. They have a rustic bushy look with full tips and larger purple flowers. I do have some other varieties of lavender growing in the garden as well- but Spanish lavender seems to be the common variety in our local stores.

How to keep your topiary a ‘topiary’

A good question- and one that I am asked often about these. Those cute little ball or cone shapes that your topiary comes in? You have to continue to prune and clip to keep that shape or it will get a wild hair and grow however it wants.

For example- often the bottom of the trunk will start growing a new sprout-which is fine. But if you don’t want anything growing from the base- you need to clip that off to keep the ‘tree trunk’ shape. If you want the ‘ball’ shape to stay a ball and not be a wild one- clip the wild hairs back and follow the shape to keep it.

Blooming again

The other most asked question about these lavender topiaries is how to get them to bloom again. This is another one that involves those trusty clippers. After the lavender is done blooming- give it a hair cut. Remove the spent buds and clip it back to just the foliage.

This will encourage the lavender to put on a second round of flowers and before too long- you will be enjoying those beautiful blooming topiaries again.

Keeping them year round

Depending on several things like where you live and if you keep your lavender topiaries indoors or out- that makes a difference. If it gets too cold where you live and you leave Spanish lavender outdoors- it won’t be happy and likely won’t come back the next year. So either bring it indoors for winter and give it plenty of sunshine in a window or sunroom- or place it in a greenhouse outdoors to keep it happy.

• Shop the Look

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Here in California- September usually brings fairly warm (even hot!) daytime temperatures with crisp nights – and so our planting and gardening season continues a bit later than some. The past week- we have had a crazy heatwave- with unprecedented new records being set. So, suffice to say, I have not ventured into the garden to plant anything new yet this year.

But even if you live in a zone where winter comes sooner rather than later- getting your garden ready now for the next growing season is key to garden success. And today it is ALL about autumn gardening- what I am thinking of planting for the upcoming holiday season and spring- and what we have done to create a garden oasis or retreat to enjoy all year long. This is a post from the past for Friday Favorites- but I am planting much of the same things this year as well.

Autumn Garden

Greenhouse Garden

You might remember the greenhouse garden we put in in spring- and oh how it has grown! We have been enjoying veggies from the garden all summer long- and have quite producing even now. Here is what it looked like in spring when it was first planted.

Garden Beds

And now- those tiny spring plants are not so tiny anymore and we have moved many of them into permanent spots in the yard. One key to the success of the plants is the potting soil.

Tip: Quality potting soil nurtures your veggies and flowers and encourages them to grow and bloom.

We planted the beds with new potting soil & also mixed in several bags of it with our dirt for our just going in rose garden.

You might notice we have some new garden beds added as well- these are recent additions that we moved some of the spring plants to- and they are thriving as you can see.

Food

The other thing we do all season long- but especially in fall or when planting roses and other plants- is to feed them with plant food. I can’t tell you how many plants I have bungled when moving or transplanting them over the years – and they just were not happy. I have learned to always feed and add those important nutrients back into the soil.

Pretty on Repeat

Because I am a huge fan of all things charming and pretty – I also added a few more cloches.

I had ordered several originally but only got one when they went out of stock. The cloche can do a wonderful job protecting your veggies – but also providing some structure for some of those unruly plants. And even without doing anything- they look beautiful.

Winter Crops

So what are we planting right now? A few new additions in the beds, a rose garden and also some bulbs for winter and spring blooms.

There are a ton of organic herbs and veggies and flowers – and you can shop Home Depot online for your local store plants and everything you need to put in the garden of your dreams. Simple place your order & they will bring it right out to you for curbside pick up.

For winter- I am planting Narcissus (paperwhites) and for spring blooms- Tulips, Daffodils, Allium & Peonies and Ranunculus along with some wildflower mixes.

Veggies

We planted some herbs, new crops of lettuce and winter veggies like beets as well.

I like to make sure to amend the box soil- meaning- add new potting soil to the already filled boxes to help give those plants the best start. When these pumpkins are moved- we will plant this bed with something new.

Creating a Garden Retreat

With spending so much time at home the past couple of years- creating a sanctuary and special place in your yard or home that you can retreat to is so important. One thing I love about our greenhouse garden is that it has inspired us to spend so much more time in the greenhouse area.

We have our chairs to relax in and also have a dining table set up and enjoy dinners there nightly. For ambiance have added rows of twinkle lights -which really creates a most magical area to simply sit and enjoy this beautiful little spot.

Stay tuned for a full tour of our greenhouse garden this year as it gets ready for autumn soon.

I worked with Vigoro on sharing our garden retreat – but all opinions are my own.

The post Creating an autumn Garden Retreat & what I am planting appeared first on French Country Cottage.

Have I mentioned that I am obsessed with French press coffee, little bistro tables and breakfast in the garden? I am. And today it is all about creating a little spot to enjoy a cup of coffee & feel like you are in a little cafe in Paris – right in your own backyard- and it was inspired by Blue & White. Resharing this favorite from last year with all the details.

And side note- those Prime Day deals I shared Yesterday are going on for 1 More Day- linking a few below here and more in my post (including the Giveaway Details HERE.)

Blue & White

Setting up a little table and chairs outdoors is always a fun thing to do. While you might have a larger table outdoors for dining at- there is just something about a small bistro table. I love those little tables where you feel like you just sat down at a cafe in Paris and I can almost hear the music playing.

Marble Topped Bistro Table

If you are setting up a bistro table area- you need a proper bistro table, right? I am in love with this little table. From the molded base to the marble top. And it is HEAVY folks. I almost ordered a couple more to create a little ‘cafe’ right in my own yard. I mean, we could invite the neighbors to sit for a bit too right? haha.

The Bistro Chairs

These are the cutest little bistro chairs. I shared these last week as well as part of the larger table setting on the patio- and using them here with this little table as well shows how versatile they are. I love that they are woven and rattan- not plastic and they are just.so.charming.

On the Table

The Flowers

A mix of peonies and straw flowers in a quilted jar. Simple and such a pretty little bouquet. I took these photos when it was about 100 degrees here – and even though it was morning- it was already hot. hot. hot. And so, those flowers got pretty wilty pretty quickly. A tip for keeping flowers fresh outdoors in the summer heat is to add a couple ice cubes to the water. It may not keep them fantastically perfect for long- but it will help.

French Press

It is all about that French press coffee. I am sharing two different options for French press because I love them both. And I am believer that you can’t have too many lovely little serving elements too.

This delightful little blue & white press is so beautiful. I love that you can make and serve French press coffee – while looking like you are using a vintage piece.

I also love this metal version as well. It is larger- so if you want to make a big pot of French press coffee- this one is perfect. And it feels a bit like hotel silverware on the table.

Add some Personality

I used vintage china plates and favorite mismatched silver and a chunky serving board slice for the croissants and cheeses. And the glass coffee mugs are just pretty. These are chubby ones that I am kind of obsessed with using everyday.

The key on the table top is to mix and match. It doesn’t all have to ‘go’ or be a set to work. Try bringing in some of your favorite pieces- like your grandmothers plates or that collected flatware to give your table a bit of personality.

Chinoiserie On Repeat

Let’s talk about these linens. They are such pretty pops of blue & white on the table. They are actually not napkins- they are hand towels, but I ordered them to use them as napkins and love the oversized feel and look they bring.

And I love the cute chinoiserie pattern they have. These are sets of 3 and they each have a different pattern.

The Setting

I moved this little bistro table from the lion fountain area to the garden. The thing I love about it is that it really can be tucked anywhere easily- in the kitchen or on the front porch – or in the middle of the garden.

When setting up a little bistro spot at your home- think outside the box. By a window in the house, the screened porch or the kitchen. And also think outside- on the lawn, under a tree, by the veggie garden or the shed. Step outside and see what inspires you and set your table up there.

Shop the Look

Marble Bistro Table | Bistro Chairs | Spode Blue & White French Press | Metal French Press | Chinoiserie Napkins | Quilted Jelly Jar | Glass Coffee Mugs |

I hope this inspires you to set up a pretty little bistro table for coffee or dinners out under the stars this summer. For more ideas and inspiration- pick up a copy of my book Inspired Gatherings. Currently on sale for Buy 3 for the price of 2 – so a great time to grab my first book too

Happy Monday all.

Shop My Favorite Home & Garden Prime Day Deals

*Affiliate Links

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Shopping Vintage

I have been looking for rattan or wicker or old weathered wood furniture for the patio for a bit now. It is something that I will search and browse here and there. I haven’t bumped into too many things that spoke loudly enough to me to message the seller yet. But I enjoy the thrill of the hunt and seeing what is out there.

When we were making the trek up into Tahoe last week – I knew that we would go through Truckee and by Donner Lake- and so, I perused their local ads a bit. On occasion, I have found some amazing French style elements in Truckee and it is an easy stop in on the way. And this time- I bumped into a listing for 4 chairs that were weathered and worn and they stopped my scroll and spoke to me.

Vintage Tree Branch Chairs

I didn’t search for chairs like these, but I think because I had been searching vintage patio- they popped up. The ad was for 4 chairs – all weathered and worn in different ways. I took a closer look and could see that they had the bark on them yet, the seats looked reupholster-able and they were weathered to a beautiful silvery gray color. I messaged the seller for more info- and then we stopped in and picked them up.

Garden Chairs

I have to say, I don’t normally gravitate towards tree branch chairs, etc.though I love faux bois and old garden elements of all kinds. These kind of inspired an English cottage garden or old French Country garden type feeling with their patina- more so than Adirondack which is what I would normally think of. Either way, I was inspired by them when I saw them and imagined them in the garden- tucked under a tree. Or in a field with a wee table for tea and nibbles. Or the porch. Honestly, as I first stared at them- I imagined them in a lot of possible places and I figured for the price- even if we just enjoyed them occasionally – they were well worth it.

When we saw them in person- both my husband and I instantly loved all the character they have. Best party- they are sturdy and usable- just a couple branches need to be tacked back into place. I think they may have been enjoyed on a covered patio area rather than out in the elements and so they have stayed in pretty good condition. And I might have already used them in a photo shoot for a print project.

Old or New?

We didn’t know if these were older chairs- but the lady we bought them from had gotten them years ago from another family in the area that had previously had them for awhile. So they are not a recent score. And then while looking at the seats to see about recovering them- I found that these chairs have a tag on them underneath indicating the company that made them. So by researching that- I found that they were an older style that has not been made in awhile. So they are young vintage probably.

But the good news is- if you love the look- they do make chairs like this even now and make some that are very close to the look if you love it too. I found a couple options that I am sharing below.

Get the Look

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Bee Skeps

Those big chunky bee skeps covered in details like old mud and woven branches are a favorite here too. I found these charmers several years ago- they are vintage and from Europe. I was told that they were originally used for bees and were handmade so each is different. Some have mud on them- others are mostly the woven look. They have wires at the top for hanging -though I have seen them simply collected on the ground as well. I had these two shipped them over and would love to collect more to add the potting shed as well. They each have such individual personality and charm.

Favorites

Favorite spots to use them: I have placed them in the greenhouse garden alongside the planter boxes and on the table.

in the potting shed and on the table by the potting shed for a charming look.

Shopping Vintage

You could shop vintage and find some that are older bee skeps even now. I would suggest local garden /antique shops and also places like Etsy. The skep and shipping to the US will probably cost in the $150 range each.

Reproductions

While I was shopping for baskets for a different post, I bumped into several reproduction bee skeps in several sizes. While some are looking like the would be more ‘decorative’ and cutesy- there are a couple that look pretty charming. I put a few together to share if you are looking for one to add to your home. And I am thinking of ordering myself- I have an idea of how to create the vintage look even more with a ‘mud’ treatment. Stay tuned for that and if it works out.

Get the Look

*affiliate links

Happy Garden Decorating all!

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The summer potting shed is full of pretty on repeat. I mentioned recently that I had picked up some vintage baskets at the thrift stores and promised to share where they landed. So today sharing a quick peek inside the potting shed at the table area.

Potting Shed

The potting shed is a wee building full of personality. It is a little spot where I will take fresh cut flowers to clip leaves or find the perfect little pot for a new plant to sit and grow in. It is a messy kind of a little shed but it sparks creativity and quiet flower filled moments for me.

Currently, it is looking a bit more like a flower shop since I filled the table with baskets and buckets full of peonies and other fresh cut flowers from the garden. When that crazy winter storm come through in December -it did some damage to the potting shed roof. So with the damaged roof repair- it is going to be getting a bit of a refresh before rainy season moves in this fall. We are considering a few changes with the windows and placement of this table but aren’t 100% sure just how that will come together yet. I will keep you posted.

For now, we have kept it pretty much the same as last year inside- simple and sweet and pretty much down to gardening business. But as you can see, I added those collected vintage baskets to the wall to create a different backdrop for a bit.

Vintage Baskets & Bee Skeps

Always favorites in the potting shed and garden- vintage baskets are perfect for filling with flowers, gathering weeds as you pull them or doing a good job just looking pretty on the wall.

At the top of the wall- we used a large branch to hang dried flowers from – and also looped a few baskets and bee skeps on the branch nubs there as well. The bee skeps are vintage from Europe- they are old woven wicker with layers of mud that has long been dried on them. Perfect rusty and crusty and delightful. Stay tuned for a post that is all about these bee skeps- I found some really good get the look options that I will share.

In the garden right now- we have a whole lot going on in the bloom department. Wee new foxgloves, scabiosa, dahlias, garden roses and naturally growing sweet peas are blooming along the path. Some of the foxgloves are drying out already- but there are a few small ones coming in and the sweet peas are really starting to take off. Last year they didn’t do much so I am excited to see them starting out a bit more enthusiastic this year.

Get the Look

Click the photo to shop the look- I found baskets in several shapes and sizes that I think would look beautiful displayed on a wall- in a potting shed or in the house. I also included a couple other things to get the look. *affiliate links

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