Bucket Brigade

It has been over a month since I posted so I am happy to be joining a fun group of bloggers for the April Pinterest Challenge.

Thanks Cindy of County Road 407 for hosting the Pinterest Challenge.

The inspiration photo is from Cottage at the Crossroads.

I've got a bench and lots of buckets and I knew this would be a really fun challenge.

As I gathered buckets, I was a bit surprised to see how many I have - this isn't all of them.

I cleaned off the garden bench we paid $1 for years ago - definitely not for sitting.

I usually go for reds and yellows, but this visit to the nursery was "take what you can get".

I made the mistake of taking a break and reading on the chaise - nothing else got done that day.

The next morning I began hanging buckets on the bench, but I wanted the foxglove to be the tallest plant.

I scattered buckets around the bench and filled them with plants.

My focus is more on buckets than topsy turvy, but this definition is fitting.

 I was given the idea for doing something and created something my own.

I kept the bucket theme going on the porch.

I have a lovely view from the window seat, 

but this view of my garden from the living room windows is my favorite.

You've seen my take on the pic from Cottages at the Crossroads - I hope you check out all the other posts.

!-- start InLinkz code -->

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Cottage Garden

I love this time of year.

Every morning when I look outside, 

there is more color in the garden.

I've been sprucing up the yard because we will be away for Easter and I want the garden to be a welcoming retreat for Lulu's sitter.

Buckets of flowers on the ladder add vertical color to the garden.

I will plant all of the flowers in the garden next week and choose new flowers for the ladder.

I even found time to organize La Petite Maison

just in case our sitter, Suzanne, happens to look inside.

We don't use this area behind Steve's studio much

but the nights will soon be warm enough for us to sit by the fire pit.

Steve and I both enjoy reading (and just maybe snoozing) outside this time of year.

Fortunately, since Lulu likes to sunbathe on the chaise,

we have a second chaise for Steve and me to fight over.

The planter in front is bursting with color

and there are a few flowers I am watching closely.

I swear that our garden is planted by the birds and I'm keeping my eye on this fuzzy little bud.

Two more have developed since I took this photo and I am curious to see what the flowers will look like.

By the time we get home on Monday, I expect the hibiscus to be in full bloom

and maybe the rock rose hidden in the jungle will finally show its face.

I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to gardening, but I love our funky little cottage garden.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Join me at Poofing the Pillows for Thoughts of Home on Thursday