What Would YOU Suggest?

This Last Year, I spent too much time on projects***

thinking about projects,
beginning projects,
working on uncompleted projects,
finishing projects,
and being frustrated by unfinished projects

and too much time thinking about projects...

Projects in themselves are not a bad thing. But it's all about Balance, isn't it?? Here is my problem:

I didn't take enough time to sit, sip a lemonaid/iced tea/etc., relax, and enjoy my gardens.
I didn't take out my sketch pad, as I'd intended.
I didn't take out my writing tablet, as I'd intended.
I didn't sit outdoors and read a book, as I'd intended
I didn't invite friends over, as I'd intended...

Okay, I think you're getting the picture.
I need your help.

Please offer suggestions on how I can better enjoy the outdoors.
What do you do to take advantage of the plants, flowers and wildlife in the gardens? How do you go about making sure you take the time to relax outdoors?
I would really like to better enjoy a more relaxing Spring, Summer, and Fall next year!

After all, isn't that what it's Really About???

Once I gather your suggestions, I'll look forward to seeing these sights next Spring!
:-)

All the photos below were taken May 4, 2009.

More Garden Projects

I've had some great inspiration during these past few years -
sources include gardening magazines, hgtv, and Frances at Fairegarden.
(Warning: Frances may inspire you, too!)
:-)

This was the summer to try hypertufa.

Some of my gardening friends who are game to try new projects and I got together a few weeks ago to try our hand at creating hypertufa containers. We were so busy mixing and creating (myself included) that no photos were taken during the process, and I can't provide you with photos of what they made because they took them home!

]

The photo below shows my first hypertufa planter. My mold was a squirrel baffle that I placed upside down on the work table. After creating the mix of portland cement, spahgnum peat moss, perlite and water, I placed a 2 - 2 1/2" layer over the top of the baffle and let it cure.

You will see this photo yet again during a garden whimsy post in the future. ;-)

The first photo in this post shows my second hypertufa project.

I received the inspiration to make concrete balls from Frances alone.
It's great fun and very easy. Please don't look for perfection!

The left-over mix was used for "bases."The Woodland Walk is home to both hypertufa containers and one concrete ball.

Another concrete ball resides here, in the backyard, and the third was a gift to my parents' garden. :-)

As long as I was "on a roll" (no pun intended! ha!),
I made a birdbath using a 'Sum and Substance' leaf for some friends.

I peeled off the leaf today and here it is!
I used concrete colorant to tint part of the mix and place it over the back of the leaf only. Then I covered the leaf and created the entire birdbath with natural colored concrete mix.

Again, there was enough mix left to make a stepping stone.

I'm not yet finished with hypertufa!
The next couple of photos were taken at a friend's home.
We made a hypertufa container two weeks ago and planted it a week ago Friday.

We then mixed a little more concrete.
She should have her own concrete garden ball by now!

I look forward to visiting her this coming Friday.
We're each planning to mosaic a garden ball.

Guess I'll be outdoors tomorrow, creating a couple more for us to work on! :-) (This will be the subject of a future post!)

Concrete projects are definitely not a shady subject - However they tolerate any growing conditions: sun through shade and hardy in every-zone. lol!