My Porch Dressed for the Beginning of Fall!

I had so much fun planting the pots on my porch for fall. What kind of plants do you plant for the fall on your porches?

 Be sure and go to the end of the post to see the new cushions in black with white trim. I am loving them with the black and white striped curtain. It feels just like I wanted it too.

I always try to have something higher in the middle towards the back. This is a Lemon Cypress tree. They are often used to make topiaries, but I like its natural Christmas tree shape. When ever I use a touch of lime in plantings I try to add a plant with a touch of grey to its leaves for contrast. I find it more interesting to add different shapes and textures of leaf material in a planting mix. The best part is the Lemon Cypress really does smell just like a lemon!

This is very similar to the other gray urn, but this is a black pot. I love the way the very dark coleus picks up the blackish look. The other coleus leaves bring out the dark pink in the impatiens. Another element I like to add to a mix is a pop of white as seen in the tiny ethereal looking flower.

This is my black hanging pot which hangs to the right of my door. Here you will see a pop of lime coleus mixed with the dark velvety leaves of the other coleus. I also added a pop of whitish/gray with dead nettle. This is a great plant for hanging planters.

Next dressing will include adding the mums and white and green pumpkins but not until September.

 

Here is my porch with the new black cushions with the white trim. I love these cushions and the sharp look they give to my porch. I am still enjoying my morning coffee sitting in that little corner chair. The impatiens have grown and filled in the front planter and make a nice carpet of pinks and white.(would  you believe there is a boxwood hedge under all that pink and white?) The monster fern is still healthy and enjoying life!!

Oh I almost forgot about the white hydrangeas! They went in my backyard window box. Before we go back there, remember the back of my home is painted green with cobalt accents. I did this to keep a cool look for the summer heat around the swimming pool. Here are the white hydrangeas new home.........

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Adding your own special touches to your fall porch.

Kathysue

Touches of Fall for my Porch

I know it is not officially the start of fall, but as I wrote in my previous post, I am feeling it in the air.

This past weekend Hubby and I took a little day trip to Half Moon Bay in California. It is cooler there by the ocean and you can smell the Monterey pines and the ocean air all at one time.

They have an incredible nursery that displays seasonal color on long tables. They put all of one flowering plant on each table for an amazing array of color. The senses are delighted by the fragrance, sight and even sound, they always have wonderful classical music playing in the back ground.

Here are just a few of the wonderful plants and flowers we saw that day……

Look at the great planter this display of plants is in. It appears to be a mixture of cement that has rough elements added to it in order to make this natural looking planter, I loved this look.

A wonderful mixture of colorful coleus and lobelia.

Now for a look at my cart!!

Inside my trunk all ready for the ride home.

The start of fall comes with the coleus. I also am adding a fun lemon cypress tree to the mix. This is a wonderful plant that actually smells like lemon when you touch it. It is going to make my porch smell so good. I loved the very dark almost black coleus with the border of lime. I think it will look really good in my black pots on the porch.

Remember when I did my porch make-over on this post ? I had it all done except for the cushions for the chairs. I got the cushions and they are wonderful. Black with white piping and I think they add just the right touch with the black and white striped curtain. I will have a picture of the porch with the new cushions on Monday's post.

Be sure to come back so you can see the pots on my porch all planted and ready for fall, well almost. I will be adding mums as the weather gets a little cooler and closer to Septemeber.

"Enjoy the Process" Of:

Going to the nursery and enjoying the sites,smells and the sounds and bringing home some of the beauty found there.

Kathysue

Is Fall In The Air For YOU?

When do you know that it is, “Fall in the Air”? I know that sounds like a silly question, but being in California our seasons are not quite as distinct as they are on the East coast.

Throughout blog land I have been noticing more posts on the fall even though people are still experiencing sweltering temperatures. So it made me realize that maybe the feeling of, “Fall in the Air,” is actually more of an internal feeling or calling.

I started thinking what happens in my own life that starts calling me to bringing fall into my home. It actually starts with my senses.

1. First, I start craving more homey type meals. You know like stews, chili, shepherd pie,roasted veggies.(I just did this the other night)
2. Next I will usually start looking at my front porch in a different way. I will purchase some fall plants like coleus to add to my Spring/Summer impatiens.(The pots are already planted. I did this on the weekend).
3. It seems as if all of the sudden I pull out more votive candles and find myself lighting them in the evenings on my long mantle. (I have realized this correlates with pre-season football games.)
4. As the impatiens wither, I will replace them with cyclamen in white and purples with the addition of white and purple kale. Purple and white mums are added to the mix on my porch in the pots.
5. I start bringing out more of my black accessories. It does not make  a dark look, but a more cozier look.
6. More fires in the fireplace in the evening along with the candles.
7. The scents in my home change from fresh to spicy. Now is when I bring out my crock pot and always have some cider for myself or a guest that will drop in for a visit.
8. Last but not least are the pumpkins in white and green.

Roasted Veggies

Colorful Coleus

Adding touches of black to my mantle.

Fire in the fireplace and candles on the mantle.

 

 

Purple and white mums with ornamental kale.

Hot cider from the crock pot.

Green and White pumpkins courtesy of Martha Stewart

So what do you all do when you feel, “Fall In The Air”? I hope you leave a comment so we can all be inspired!!

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Feeling “Fall in the Air” and bringing touches of fall into your home.

Kathysue