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Monday, April 26, 2010

Container Gardens

Welcome. I am so happy that you stopped by. Would you like to join me in my garden to relax and smell the flowers while having a cup of yummy Pomegranate tea? I would love to share parts of my container garden with you and the fun news that my container garden is featured in Country Almanac's Container Gardens magazine.



The beautiful cover photo was taken by Jerry Pavia and the lovely photos of my garden were taken by Mark Lohman and styled by Sunday Hendrickson. I was so honored and excited when Associate Editor Diane Speros contacted me earlier this year with the news that she wanted to feature my garden in the 2010 issue of Container Gardens and that she was writing an article "Artist's Vision" about my garden and how to create and instant cottage garden using containers.


The above photo was featured in the magazine and is an example of an "artful accent" on the back of my Adirondack that gets a flourish with a planter filled with mini zinnias.


Diane Speros's beautifully written article really captured the story of my personal garden that I created when I downsized from a large home with a generously sized garden to my Cape Cod Town Home with a smaller garden. The article is filled with lots of tips on creating a lush garden using containers, decorative details and re purposing and recycling using flea market finds.


I would like to thank Diane for getting to know me and my garden and then writing an article with so much useful and practical information to share with the magazine readers.


You can view the entire article on the side bar on my blog under Press or better still you can purchase the magazine on the news stands to get the full impact of the beautiful photographs and article.


I will be taking a blog break for the next few weeks getting ready for the Balboa Island Art Walk show on May 17th. Please enjoy my personal photographs and tips on my container garden while I am on a blog break.


My blue chair was featured in the magazine and it is a great example of how flowers planted in pots can give your garden a very lush look.





A flea market wash stand makes a great container for plants. I planted Azaleas in the wash bowl and hung one of my little garden hat paintings on the stand for a touch of "Art In The Garden"



The same container shown in the magazine only this time I planted it with happy little pansies.







Geraniums planted in a window box attached to an old window with mirrors.




Bentley, my helpful Studio Assistant, helping with Natstrums and Geraniums waiting to be planted in a container.




This is one of my favorite areas for container plants. The old white bench was also featured in the magazine. It was planted with pinks and blues in the magazine. I have since added lots of reds to my garden. Note the old blue tool boxes that now have a new home as planters. The bench was given to me by a neighbor - it was originally a seat in a Boston Whaler boat.



Another favorite "container" is the basket of my old vintage Rocket bicycle.



A close up view of the old bench with a tool box planter.




A flea market white wicker chair surrounded by pots of flowers in containers.


Containers can also be hung on a fence.





Containers filled with lavender soften an old Adirondack chair.





One of my favorite tips for container gardening is to use mirrors in your garden to reflect flowers planted in containers. I have three mirrors in my garden. The angel and mirror are garage sale finds.

Another example of adding color to your garden by using pots and an old tool box. I also use old rugs and lots of fabric on my chairs to add another dimension and to tie in the colors.

I hope you enjoy smelling the flowers while I am on a blog break.





Thank you Diane Speros for sharing my container garden with the readers of Country Almanac's Container Gardens magazine and for letting me share your beautiful article with the readers of my blog. The article is on my side bar - under Press.



Thank you for visiting my blog. I love hearing from you and sincerely appreciate your visits, comments and those of you who are following my blog. If you would like to see me paint something special or have any questions, please leave me a comment or send me an e-mail.


I am sorry that I have not had time to visit each one of you as I am getting ready for the Balboa Island Artwalk this month and simply have not had time. I promise to visit you after the art show. Have a lovely week. Blessings, Erin

29 comments:

Tracy said...

Your garden is so bright and beautiful! A lovely place to relax in. :)

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Congrats on the magazine article! If I had your beautiful, inspiring garden I would never leave it.
Hugs,
Penny

Rhondi said...

Hi Erin
How exciting to have your beautiful garden featured in the magazine. I just love all the creativity in it. I agree with Penny. I would never leave it either!
Hugs, Rhondi

Terra said...

Congratulations on your garden being featured; it is surely deserving. All of the touches are so bright and cheerful, it looks like a happy place. I like the old wooden church and the Bless my garden sign as nice accents.

Createology said...

Congratulations and you and Bentley have worked very hard and deserve the accolades. Your garden is like a lovely vacation. Enjoy your blog break and we will be here when you return. Happy gardening...

Julie said...

Your garden is just so lovely and I so can't wait to have one of my own (yes we are just putting in our yard).

Ruth Welter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ruth Welter said...

Congrats Erin, this is very exciting...enjoy.

Ruth

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Congratulations of being featured in the magazine, Erin..it is so well deserved as your garden is delightful!

I wanted to let you know that your lovely painting arrived yesterday and I am totally in love with it! It has brightened up the entire room I placed it in. As soon as I am able I will blog about it and you and Kelee and this wonderful and generous give away. Thank you so much!
I hope you had and enjoyable time and much success at the Balboa Island Art Walk.

♥ Pat

Sylvia (at) Lily's Pad and Petals said...

Just found your blog and am in love with your garden!!
I am following you now too.
Can't wait to see what you are up to next.
Sylvia

No name said...

Of all the photos, gardens, blogs, magazines I've looked at this year.....My dear, you have the most splendid of ALL the gardens. It's just full of charm, beauty, and most of all coziness!

The Country Nest said...

Congratulations on the feature, I am going to get a copy for sure. I just love your garden and the colors. We are just starting here in New England. I would love to be able to come have tea in your garden and bring you some samples from my own garden.
Hugs,
Donna

Sue said...

Erin, Your lovely garden, full of colorful flowers, is so deserving of being featured in a magazine article! I wish the weather here was conducive to leaving beautiful things outside- unfortunately, Ohio spring and summers are so rainy that everything would get ruined. So, I will live vicariously through you and your beautiful flowers and accessories. Good luck in the art show!
~ Sue

Donna said...

Congratulations, Erin, on being featured in the magazine!! The photos (all the photos) are lovely. So many wonderful ideas, and so colorful! Absolutely beautiful.

Hugs,
Donna

Kathi said...

An absolutely beautiful garden...you've done an amazing job..you and your garden are an inspiration. Thank you for sharing.
Kathi

Joelle said...

I love looking at you pictures of your garden. Now I'm going to go make myself a cup of tea. Thanks for brightening my day.
Joelle(thismilitaryhouse.blogspot.com)

Mary said...

Congratulations on being published in this lovely magazine Erin! Your containers are so beautiful. I do a lot of pots too - like to move them around the garden to add color.

Stacey said...

How on earth did I miss this post? Congratulations Erin! I can totally understand why they would ask you to be in the magazine. Your gardens and your home are just so pretty! Dreamy!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi, Erin, thanks for stopping by from my friend at Daisy Cottage. So nice to meet you too. Oh my, what a beautiful garden you have. I love digging in the dirt this time of year too. Hope you'll come back & visit again.

Anonymous said...

I am a new visitor, and I am SO GLAD to have shared such a beautiful post! Simply beautiful, lovely and VERY inspirational! What a gifted gardening artist you are and I will visit often. You have inspired me!! Elizabeth

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Erin
I'm back to let you know I Just blogged about your beautiful painting that I won on Kelee's give away.

Hope you had a wonder art show!

Mary said...

Erin, I bought the magazine yesterday and just love the article and photo of you and adorable Bentley. Later I will pass the mag. on to my daughter who lives in a townhome and just has a small garden area and deck - she will get some good ideas as to creating beautiful containers for color. Your garden area is perfection - you've certainly done wonders with your space.

See you when I get back from Africa - where I'm certain to see some different plants and flowers!

Hugs - Mary

Anonymous said...

Your garden is so pretty...makes me want to come and sit awhile! Pop over and see what I found in my hanging plant!

THE VERANDA HOUSE said...

DEAR ERIN .CONGRATS.ON YOUR ARTICLE IN THE MAGAZINE, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU MY FRIEND,YOR BLOG HAS BE CAME A PLACE SO INVITING,YOUR GARDEN GATE IS ALWAYS OPEN,AND TEA READY..MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU ..SANDRA

*Ulrike* said...

Your garden is sooo beautiful it's no wonder they featured it in a magazine!!
Take Care!
Ulrike

Anna/Flowergardengirl said...

I just read the article and love it. Your gardens are stunning and so well accessorized.

Anonymous said...

I just purchased this magazine two weeks ago, you did an awesome job with your space. I enjoyed looking at every detail! I recently decided to get into container gardening and this magazine had some wonderful ideas.
Bad news is I accidentally left the magazine on the bus and I am so bummed out about it. I spent 3 hrs. today driving from store to store trying to find it again and no luck.

Debbie Petras said...

I need inspiration for a small garden in the back of a condo I just moved into. I'm on the ground floor and have an area that is narrow but long. I love your ideas and will come back for more inspiration. I found you through Pinterest.

Nancy @ The Headmistress said...

Beautiful blog! I am your newest follower!
Nancy