Sunday, May 23, 2010

Trying to make it all fit.

Because I live in a condo with what would be considered a generous side patio, but a patio nonetheless, I have to be considerate about how much garden art and potted plants I can feasibly fit out there.  Right now I have some good sized plantings, but they've reached a point where we struggle to fit my family of four around the patio table.  Liz squeezes past the sago palm and gets scratched by it, Jen pulls out her chair and about breaks off the fuschia branches behind her.  My husband has to duck around the finally lushly flowering jasmine to do his barbecuing, and I bat back honeysuckle vines as gently as possible working towards the garden hose.
I have moved around a couple of plants to try to open up space a bit more, but it comes down to needing to get rid of one or two.  I will try to find the sago palm a new home, that's a given.  It's a nice plant, just too large for our area.  I might need to get rid of the scheffela as well.   I had a previous scheffela bush that I loved, but it got uprooted and lost when we redid the deck, so I replaced it.  This one, though, spreads out so much in its growth it takes up way too much horizontal space.

We are hoping to soon replace our old and sagging wood deck with brick.  Until then, however, I'll try to think out a plan of reorganizing my outdoor room to allow for the most pleasing plantings, fun garden art and, most importantly, practicality.  Because as much of an eyesore it is, the barbecue has to stay.

5 comments:

crazymotheringchick said...

Okay, but does the family really have to SIT to eat? A sturdy plate, and they could stand....... Ha!

Designing Lady Jane said...

Too true, but it lends a more relaxing picture when we actually can sit and linger. Right now all they tend to whine about the plants making them itchy, and oh, no, is that a BUG!

Thanks for visiting!

Olga Poltava said...

I know what you mean. I have a tiny backyard, but I want so many things and plants in there. Unfortunately, it's impossible to have everything.
The pictures are nice. Those planters are so cute.
Have a wonderful day.

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Hi Jane.. You are blessed with a green thumb... Too much of a good thing? Your planters look lovely :-)
Bella

Designing Lady Jane said...

Thanks for your lovely comments, ladies. I'll post some more pictures when I get a few things moved around out there, I know I don't have a good visual of it yet.