Gardening and Outdoor Entertaining Blog Hop

Spring is my favorite time of year and the best season to be a part of a Gardening and Outdoor Entertaining Blog Hop with six other fabulous bloggers that you’ll find at the end of this post. I am so excited to be a part of this group sponsored by Antique Farmhouse. And they are offering a $500 giveaway on their site so you can create your own outdoor space.

{This is a sponsored conversation written by me

on behalf of Antique Farmhouse.

The opinions and text are all mine.}

Today I’m going to share with you our favorite spots this year in the yard and how we incorporate the gardens into them.

My favorite part about this season is feeling like you’re doubling the size of the house by creating living spaces outside. You know those few weeks before the heat and the bugs get so bad that you can’t stand to be outdoors? Mr. PR and I definitely take advantage of this time and soak it in as much as we can. Coffee on the porch and dinner on the deck and everything in between is what we look forward to most. To check out last year’s outdoor spaces, go here.

Container Gardening

Coffee on the porch is how I like to begin the day. Seeing my neighbors out and about is a great way to catch up on what’s going on in the neighborhood.

Bringing the garden to these areas by using containers/flowerpots really bring an area to life. Plants definitely know how to be the center of attention and there’s no better way to warm up a space than by doing this.

If you don’t happen to have a green thumb or are unsure of creating an arrangement in a flowerpot yourself, no need to stress. Knowing what plants are best for your area and climate can be overwhelming but if you check with your local nursery, they will advise you on what grows best in your zone. Another option is to buy already-made containers. You can give them your own personal style by, then, setting them in crates, buckets and baskets. Antique Farmhouse offers some great container ideas. These reclaimed wood medallion planter boxes would be a great addition to a plant vignette and they come in a set of two different sizes.

Another great planter option from Antique Farmhouse are these flower market metal buckets. They come in sets of three.

Just drop your potted plants down inside and you’re done!

Evening Ambiance

You don’t need to have a special occasion to create outdoor evening ambiance. Mr. PR and I love to have dinner on the deck and it’s easy to create an inviting space.

My absolute favorite porch plants are pots of Calibrachoa. You might know them, also, as Million Bells or Miniature Petunias. They’re a gorgeous mound of bell-shaped flowers and are relatively easy to care for once you understand their needs.

They come in a variety of colors and really pack a punch to any outdoor space.

Each year when I begin planning my garden, I choose flowers that will bloom all summer so I can bring them inside for arrangements. Zinnias, Echinacea, Monarda and Phlox are all great ideas for cut flowers. You can see one area of my garden below that is filled with colorful flowering blooms.

Unexpected Spaces

Look for those unexpected spaces in your yard that make great entertaining areas. I used a peach tree in our backyard to create a quiet spot to read, have a glass of wine or just catch your breath.

She Shed

One of my personal favorite spaces out back is my She Shed. It’s definitely my retreat, even though occasionally my hubby does come visit me back there. And I have to say, he understands the fascination and I think secretly wishes it was his man cave.

It’s a fun space that completely encompasses my own personality. The little porch on the front of the shed is a perfect place to let pots of flowers take center stage.

You’ll always find a watering can or two incorporated in my gardens. I am always keeping my eyes open for them at antique shops or yard sales. I am starting to get quite a collection. If you don’t have any yourself, these vintage-inspired ones from Antique Farmhouse are a great option and they come in a set of three.

Gardening can be intimidating but it doesn’t have to be, which is why container gardening is so great. Make each pot its own little garden in and of itself.

For me, gardening is my therapy. I love getting out there and getting my hands dirty and you never know what new friends you might find along the way.

Thanks so much for touring my favorite spaces in our yard. Don’t forget to check out my amazing friends below to see what they are doing in their yards and enter below for a chance to win $500 from Antique Farmhouse and start creating your outdoor spaces today! Also, head on over to Antique Farmhouse to sign up for their emails for upcoming sales and new products.

Now, Hop on the blog hop with my friends below to check out their spaces.