Purple!!

What a spring this has been!  With ample rain, and no late frost to stunt growth, all of the flora that surrounds us has become a jungle!  The rhododendrons are in full bloom, and beautiful.

I finished the face-lift on Maven Haven over this past weekend.  The inspiration for this re-do came from a sweet friend who forwarded this photo to me.  (Thanks Kendalle!)

Of all the color schemes that I had pondered, this one just felt right to me - it spoke to my heart!  And so, I  began the journey of transformation.  Although my humble shed is without all of those lovely gables, and turned porch posts, I still think it turned out wonderful.

Trim (metal bargeboard) was added, 

flowers planted,

 and painting completed.  

Here is her new look:

Jack built window boxes for her side windows. 

 

I cut out the rabbit pickets to decorated the window boxes

Beneath the arbor... containers of succulents.  Alongside of it are vines - hyacinth beans (purple) and yellow Mandevilla vines.  There are hanging planters of black-eyed Susan vines that will also help to cover the arbor as the summer progresses.

Giant allium blooming in her cottage garden.

I painted a few terracotta pots to match her and planted a geranium, and two dahlias in them.

Across the walkway, baptisia and peonies are blossoming.  Eventually these purple blossoms will be replaced with the bright red of bee balm.

She might need a little bit of shrubbery along her sides - but that will be another project for another time.  Perhaps I will simply harvest some ferns from our overpopulated woods and plant them along the sides.  There's nothing better than free plants!!

I hope you are enjoying a lovely Memorial Day.  Ours is supposed to be quite rainy... we'll see!