Garden & House Tour - Part 2

We continue on Part 2 of the Garden & House Tour...you can see Part 1 HERE if you missed it.

Garden & House Tour - Part I

 I just went on a garden tour and wanted to take you along. I also got pictures of some great old houses...

Working in the Gardens

Several followers wonder why I take breaks more often than I used to...

I have slowed down on projects since I closed my antique mall booth...

And am enjoying life more at this slower pace.

I still keep very busy...

And this time of the year, you can find me in the gardens slaving away at all that needs to be done.

Here are examples of what hubby and I have been up to the past two weeks...

In the fall of last year, we purchased a new arbor for the honeysuckle growing on the back fence row. This year, we have added a gate.

My House & Gardens ~ Part II

If you have seen my last post on My House & Gardens ~ Part I (Or you can just click on highlighted words to go back and see it), I showed you the front of the house and yard.

Part II - Missouri Botanical Garden!

I hope that you didn't miss my Part I of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, but it you did, you can see them HERE.

Part I - Missouri Botanical Garden!

On the 4th of July we decided to drive the two and a half hours south to St. Louis and go to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. We had been there before but it was at least 11 years prior. Our area had a cool front that came though so the day was beautiful.

Founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw, the botanical garden is the oldest in continuous operation in the US!

The Story of Huge Birdhouses!

My yard and gardens are always changing, even if I don't want them to because of Mother Nature.


This year we changed up some of the hardscaping...

As in BIRDHOUSES!

Let's go back a bit...

Back Yard Gardens 2013!

I thought you might like to take a stroll through my yard with me. This has been a good weather year for plants and mine are flourishing.You will understand why we love being at home, puttering in the gardens and happy as can be!

All area beds and burms are lined with stone. I just spray round up once a year in Spring in front of the stones to keep the grass at bay and there is little weedeating needed.

Front Yard Gardens 2013!

I thought you might like to take a stroll through my yard with me. This has been a good weather year for plants and mine are flourishing.You will understand why we love being at home, puttering in the gardens and happy as can be!

SkyView Back Yard!

This post is sort of crazy in that my young and cute, handy dandy handyman was up on my roof fixing some shingles and he said, "Go get me your camera, and I will take pictures of your backyard from up here for your blog"! Isn't he just wonderful thinking of you guys? To take these pictures, he was standing at the top of the roof right where the arrow is...crazy guy! Since he had my camera, I don't have a picture of him on the roof! However, I did have his camera and took one of him standing at this location. I should get it from him. It's wild to see him standing at this point, up so high!

Brick Border

What to do with old brick.


We had purchased a bunch of old brick from someone that had to get rid of it. And he sold it to us at a very low price...less than 10¢ per brick.

Initially, we laid this at the end of our driveway for our daughter to park her car when she began driving. Here is a picture of the basket weave design that I laid. It started off level but this area gets really wet in the rains and it didn't stay flat for long with the weight of her car.

It served it's purpose until...

Our new garage was built in this very location!

Nature's Bounty II

Begonias & Coleus

Earlier this week I posted garden beauty around my yard and called Nature's Bounty. You can see that post HERE.




This is a continuation of that post with more of the awesomeness that nature brings...

Black Eyed Susan's

Nature's Bounty

Nature's Bounty on this Hot July 31st. Happy Birthday Sis #4!

Yellow DayLily

More Whimsy In The Garden!

Here is more humor in my garden...

73 year old wagon. Grandpa bought it for my Mom when she was one.

Faux window on our shed.

Hen & Chicks growing in old boots, got this idea from my grandma

Handmade Garden Art

More Garden Art

Whimsy In The Garden

Antique watering can with child size wheel barrow and shovel.

Adding whimsy in the garden shows humor and breaks up all the sea of green to allow the eye to stop, rest and smile! Here are some of the whimsy in my garden.

Garage sale metal lantern and angel.

Old Window

Chicken wire chicken form in ivy flower pot.

My Back Gardens

Our lot is on a slight slope and only a 1/2 acre. So the house sets up on a small hill. The back has a lower patio, then a low rock wall and the land is flat above that rock wall. The rock is from the foundation of the original farm house. See the previous front yard post HERE.

We installed the pergola and you can see the post on that HERE.

Sit back and enjoy these pictures.

Window hanging above the swing in the back of the property. See the five acre field then the ranch housing addition to our west. It looks closer here than it really is.

The south burm leading to the swing area that divides the north from the south burm.

See the old gates? They hold back the ornamental grasses as they get big and tend to fall on the plants in front. This solution works well and adds charm to the space.

Looking north at the second large burm.

A bubbler fountain we built off the patio in front of the rock wall.

Old porch pillar with weather vane in the gardens. Six are in the house, the seventh one is here in the garden...no more room in the house.

The back swing. It always feels 10 degrees cooler here under the big oak tree.

This park bench to the south side surrounded by sedum.

I built this dry creek bed and the bridge all by myself...surprised the Hubby!

This dry creek bed leads the rain water away from the patio.

Looking to the north at the large north burm in the back.

Our tiny little vegetable garden is big enough for two tomato plants, zinnias and a yellow squash plant. We go to the farmers market for all other veggies.

Looking out a bedroom upper story window to the south west facing burm and the field.

See how the plants have gotten bigger but the gate keeps the ornamental grass off them?

Looking south across the two large burms at the very back of our property.

Looking north across the two large burms at the very back of our property.

None of these burms and flower beds were here when we bought the house. Just flat boring grass. We have done a great deal of landscaping to bring interest to the yard!

NOTE: You should be able to click on most of the pictures to enlarge to see further details.
These parties I love to link up to or check out my Blog Parties tab
Party Time @ It's So Very Cheri
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple
Creative Blogger's Party @ Homemaker On A Dime
Making The World Cuter @ Making The World Cuter
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle 
Twice Owned Tuesday @ House Of Grace
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Time to Shine Tuesday @ A Diamond in the Stuff 
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 
Trash 2 Treasure @ Sassy Sites
Power Of Paint @ Domestically Speaking
Swing Into Spring Wednesday @ DIY by Design
White Wednesday @ Faded Charm
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Piece of Work Wednesday @  Primitive & Proper
Good Life Wednesday @ A Beach Cottage
Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
100 Ideas Under $100 @ Beyond The Picket Fence
Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fishtail Cottage
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
Remodelaholic Friday @ Remodelaholic
Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest
Look What I Found Friday @ Vintage Revivals
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Weekend WrapUp Party @ Tatertots and Jello
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal 
Sunday Showcase Party @ By Stephanie Lynn 
Sundae Scoop Weekend Wrap Up Party @ I love Nap Time 
Before and After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick
Any Link Goes Party @ Bacon Time With The Hungry Hungry Hypo