Herbs on the Potting Bench

Hi Friends,

Happy Weekend!

I love cooking with fresh herbs 

and 

planting my own placed on the potting bench to gather when needed.

Here are a few this season.

Passing through this arch filled with the Trumpet vine~

We come to my Garden Potting Bench.

This is the one I've shared in the past, built by my son for me one Christmas.

Fresh basil always reminds me of my grandmother's kitchen.

The scent just takes me back to such a special time.

Rosemary so fragrant and makes chicken taste divine.

Lavender a must in my garden.

Parsley, perfect for many dishes and so pretty placed in a sprig with a meal.

So ready for a dish a fresh strawberries. See the buds?

I created these herb markers last year and should make one for strawberries.

Spearmint growing big.

 I love adding a leaf or two  to a tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.

Now this plant is not on the bench, but it's called,

Scented Geranium.

It doesn't make a flower, but has the scent of citronella.

Having it near outdoor dining and the sitting area

helps with mosquitoes.

It was new to me plant this season and the garden guy told me

if you take a leaf and rub it lightly on your skin it will repeal mosquitoes.

I'll let you know how well it works.

It sure makes a beautiful bush in my Flower Market Bucket.

Have you seen this pretty Scented Geranium in your garden center?

Have a nice weekend and see you soon.

Blessings,

Celestina Marie

Welcome to the Potting Bench~

Several years ago my talented son

built me this potting bench and surprised me with it for Christmas.

 

I can still see how happy he was, when he had me come out to the garage

to find this wonderful gift on Christmas Eve.

 

It has been such a blessing in my garden and I enjoy it so much.

 

Thank you RJ, I love it and I love you!

 

 

Each year, I am so excited to pot my flowers here

and plan my herbs to grow.

 

 

To the right I have started a climbing rose in ivy

from a knockout rose.

I found that you can train them to be a climber

and they do very well.

 

 

To the left is my hydrangea garden and just beginning to grow.

In a few weeks they will be 3 to 4 foot high.

 

 

Above those is a flower box Mr. CMDesign

made for me several years ago to place under my

vintage window painting.

I filled it with silk hydrangeas.

 

 

To the front of the climber, I have a pretty pink tea rose.

Lots of sun in this spot so they do wonderful

right in a pot.

 

 

 

This year I painted these sweet little herb markers.

I found these chalk board like shapes in the dollar bin at Michel's

and hand painted the herb names, glued on popsicle sticks

and brushed on some outdoor varnish.

 

 

Strawberries are growing and I can't wait for the first pick.

 

 

Pretty rose buds just fill the climber.

 

 

And this sweet stone robin watches over her nest in the ivy pot.

 

 

I think this one is calling for lunch~~

 

 

While this sweet garden angel shows her little bird white Impatiens,

 

 

and another is taking a springtime nap.

 

 

Best of all, my potting bench has a little fairy that loves to just hang around.

 

 

Yes, I so enjoy my garden's potting bench and all the wonderful

memories it has given me over the years.

 

Thank you for stopping by to visit today.

 

See you again soon with more from the spring garden.

 

Blessings always.

 

 

Celestina Marie

 

joining

What We Accomplished Wednesday

and thank you Deborah for featuring my boxwood wreath

from last weeks party.

and

Etsy Cottage Style

Cottage Garden Party

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



I Do Windows!

Painting windows that is. Well, I have been known to wash a few windows in my time too. But painting is lots more fun, then washing windows. Recently I found a great large vintage window at one of my favorite antique malls. This old window was exactly what I have been searching for to complete my backyard area beside the potting bench. The bench needed something to balance out my little corner for gardening. After much thought and brainstorming, an old window with a flower box was the answer.


First I cleaned it well.

Washing the glass really good.

Then I painted the frame and inside wood the pretty green used on the potting bench.


Next the real fun begins. How do you like how it turned out? I painted the background a soft sky with light clouds, added a vine of pink roses with a sweet bluebird perched on a branch to keep me company when I garden.


Then is was my dear hubby's turn to make a flower box for under the window. I added purslane in 6 pots which fit the box nicely. I want to be able to change the flowers with the seasons. I used a plate to scallop the edge before he cut out the wood front. Again, painted it the same soft green. To the front, we found an iron garden sign at Hobby Lobby for $1.20 at the end of the season sale. This addition seemed to finish it off nicely coordinating with the rose arch in the same iron color.

Now you know one thing leads to another, right? So over the bench I needed a sign. Hubby measured and scalloped a nice sign board that I then stenciled GAREN CHIC over the pretty soft green. Now I think it's done.
To do the stenciling, I make a pattern first for placement. Mark where the letters will go and then use my stencil to follow and paint the letters.


The finished project hung on the brick. Turned out to be a cozy garden spot.





Lastly, I worked on an old chair for my studio. I purchased this great find for 15 dollars (SCORE) at the same antique market. The seat can be changed when I tire of the fabric as I sometimes do, but for now this works nicely.
Before and After~~~~



Okay, look at that chair back. Looks like a nice surface to paint and decorate. Should I leave it or paint it? AHH~~ what do you think I will do? LOL!!!

Of course, paint it!!! Added some roses and a stencil in the center. Now that's better.


Now it's on to more redos and redesigns for my etsy boutique. Thank you for stopping by. See you next time. Blessings, Bluebirds and Blue Skies be yours, Celestina Marie