Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Kimba's Garden Party




I remember when I was a teenager and my Mom used to try to get me to work in her gardens and I wouldn't have any of it. Now look at me! I spend 5 to 6 hours a day when I can, outside and there's really nothing I like more than working in my garden! I've been working on so many things but I thought I'd share this easy little project with you!




Many of you know that I've have this plate border for a few years now but on the opposite side I just had cement edgers.





Plates as edgers won't work in every garden but if you love cottage style gardens they're perfect! I've only had one or two break in the 3 years that I've had them and since they're not valuable it's really no big deal.






I hadn't weeded in ages so this was just a hot mess!






So this week those edgers came out and more plates went in! I weeded and added a few more perennials.





I love that Coleus so I'm propagating some cuttings so I can have more in this border.








This is my cottage garden and it's right in front of my veggie garden!





All the plates were thrifted over the past 3 or 4 months. I did try to just get pretty ones or ones that were interesting.






Thanks for stopping by to see this garden project and be sure to visit Kimba's blog for more garden party fun! I can't wait to see everyone's projects!






You might also enjoy my screened porch makeover.

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly. "One must have freedom, sunshine and a little flower." - Hans Christian Andersen





68 comments:

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

I love your plate borders! You always have a great looking garden & flower beds. I am due for some weeding myself. Been putting it off!

Andrea @ Big Creek Cottage said...

Manuela, your garden is as lovely as the inside of your home. Thank you for sharing with us.....PS....thanks for all the great ideas for gardening on a budget.....I have been trying some out!

Deidra said...

Wow. Plates as borders. I love it when people think outside of the box!

Tammy said...

How charming! I love your plate border and your flowers are beautiful! :)

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Thanks for sharing your pretty garden.
Thanks for visiting. I saw a couple people in the Christmas section, but don't know if they were buying.
Glenda

Marie said...

Love your garden! It's fabulous - especially those sweet plates lining it.

Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! I love the idea of using plates as a border. Pure genius!

kahlanne said...

Wow that is such a great idea. Wish I could use it but with my 13 and 10 yr old doing the mowing, I am afraid what would happen to them. Maybe I will pic a little spot somewhere to try it out. I should have some spot considering all the work we have been doing lately.

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

The plate border is just wonderful!!! Your garden is a dream!!! Ugh...I hate weeding!!!

Gorgeous!!!

Enjoy!!!
XOXO
Cathy

GlorV1 said...

Manuela, I love your cottage garden. How beautiful the plates too. Yes I too have to weed my small vegetable garden. My husband weeds the BIG garden out in back. I love that your cottage garden is next to your veggie garden and gardening is so much fun. I think that when you garden you feel your mom right there with you. Take care.

Rebekah said...

I saw a plate border in a magazine years ago, and the idea has stuck in my head ever since. It's so sweet! I love yours. :)

trish said...

I absolutely love your plate border!!! Your garden is beautiful.

Kristi said...

those plates are such a fun idea! my back, and front, yard are a mess. I need all the inspiration I can get!

Angie said...

I have seen that idea before somewhere and loved it. Yours looks so adorable and makes me want to do it too! I am going to have to look around my backyard and see what I can come up with. I might should wait until my son is older (he's 2) 'cause I can just see him pulling all the plates out of the ground! Have a great day Manuela!

Heather said...

everything is gorgeous. love the plate border too!

Jennifer said...

The plate border looks so good. I love a good cottage garden! It looks lovely in front of you veggie garden. As always your flowers look sooo good. We have been working on a few projects around here and I hope to have something to share in another week or two!
Have a lovely Wednesday!
Jennifer

Amanda said...

What a beautiful garden! Cool idea using plates as your border.

Decor To Adore said...

Your plate edgers are absolutely adorable!

Shelly said...

Those plates are such a cute idea! EVerything looks great!

Rochelle said...

So adorable...wish I could put some in to line my borders but I know my husband wouldn't be that careful with the weed wacker! lol
Have a great day in your garden!
Rochelle

Tanya said...

I just love your plate border. I'm going to have to find a place for this. It's just too unique and cute!

stephanie h said...

Love it! It all looks great!

Ally's Corner said...

Love your plate border, wish it would work in my yard.
How is your vegetable garden doing mine is not looking to hot. Think I need to fertilize it. What do you use?

Ally

Stephanie said...

It's all so lovely! I wish you would come over and show me what to do in my yard!!

Richella Parham said...

These are great! You found all these plates at thrift stores? You must have some good thrift stores.

I like coleus, too. Could you tell us how you propagate it?

Jenni said...

Amazing! I LOVE IT! I am so going to try this! :) Your garden is gorgeous, and I love the cottage look you have in it! :) I smiled when I read about you not wanting to garden when you were a kid, but now you love it! I used to hate it when my mom would make me weed, but now I enjoy working in the yard! It's the same with sewing...do you ever wish you could go back and learn all the things you didn't want to learn when you were a kid? I sure do! :)

I hope you have a great day! :)

Manuela said...

So beautiful! I have never seen a plate border like that. Love your ideas!

Melanie said...

I came across your blog quite awhile ago (can't even remember how I found it now), and have enjoyed reading all your posts. You have such a talent for making things beautiful without an extravagant budget. I absolutely love the plate border! What a creative idea! Thanks for sharing your talents and ideas!

Linda's Blue Gate said...

I LOVE the plate on either side of the entrance they just seem to beckon you in..... In my mind the plates are the most stunning border in the garden...... I think you have more then me..... Just beautiful....
HUgs
Linda

Katy said...

What beautiful gardens you have Manuela! And I love the plate borders!!!! :)

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

I'm in love with your plate borders. My hubby is the one who does our gardening. I can't stand dirt on my hands. Gives me the heebie jeebies. So I'm lucky my hubby likes to garden or we would have nothing but dirt & weeds.

Emily@remodelingthislife said...

I have always been in love with your gardens, Manuela. Really beautiful. I can tell what a labor of love they are for you.

Anonymous said...

I love your plate border in the garden! So pretty!!

Blessings~

Robin said...

wow, I totally dig your plate border. I don't think I could pull it off yet but with a little more yard investment may later. CUTE.

Rosemary said...

Hi Manuela,
Love the plate borders!!
I wish I had more extra time to work in my garden.
Too busy making crowns!
Have a great afternoon,
Rosemary

Sue said...

It's just too dang hard to dig a trench in Ohio clay dirt to put pretty plates!!!LOL Manuela, your cottage garden is just adorable. You're pretty lucky to have good weather to grow all that good stuff, too. My little brown thumb is a tad bit jealous... I have to depend on generous neighbors or friends to feel sorry for me and give me veggies. Of course, I pay them back in kind- I decorate for them. tee hee wonder who's really getting the better deal? hugs, Sue

Christina said...

It is just all so pretty. I always love to see your plate border and them hanging on the fence.

I was the same way growing up, but now I love the garden. It has seemed to be on the back burner for the past so many years, but now that my kids are older, I am enjoying it again.

Empty Nest Full Life said...

Your yard is beautiful! I love hydrangeas too, they are also my favorite! Jackie

Nancy Rosalina said...

Oh I love your gardens and flowers the hydrangeas are gorgeous, and girl, that plate boarder is adorable!!! love that idea! Nancy

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Cute, Cute, Cute, Cute CUTE! Of course you know if I visit, you might be missing a few of those plates...for my mosaics :-)
xo
Penny

Salmagundi said...

Loved the plate border! I remember seeing your first one and thinking, "Now, that's clever". My husband is the gardener in our family - I just enjoy looking and eating. We are knee deep in green peas right now. Yum. Sally

TinaTx said...

I love your plate borders! I have a few plates 'planted' in my flower beds at home. I hadn't collected enough to make a whole border yet so I just planted them in some blank spots. Hopefully by this time next year I will have a new flower bed to plant plates in!

Vee said...

Wonderful plate edges...so charming and I also like the platters on the fence. And that coleus has such rich, deep colors...I'd love to have some in my garden now that I see yours.

Betty said...

Manuela,
Your garden is beautiful...I, too, have plate borders and I think they are so pretty...

Is there no end to weeding? Seems like I never get through...

Betty

CIELO said...

Hi... I'm flying from garden to garden enjoying every minute of it.... such pretty place to be... ;) and nice meeting you!

Fairy Cielo

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

I love the plates! And seeing how well your coleus is doing has convinced me to take mine out of the container and into the ground. I want to see them reach their full potential -- they're so lovely.

Margaret's Ramblings said...

Your garden is so pretty. We have been building up our borders this year and they are now four times their original size. I love the plate edging and am thinking about doing something similar. I do like your Coleus, my Nana had one indoors for years and I couldn't count the number of cutting she had of it.

I have a post today about a very special plant - I would love you to read it.

Margaret

Barb said...

Hi Manuela, your garden looks wonderful....so pretty and healthy. I love that plate border....now, that is cool.

I could sit out there with a magazine and a tall glass of iced tea and be very happy!

Barb

Scrappy quilter said...

Incredible border. Love your gardens.

Southern Fried Gal said...

What a great idea to do plate borders for your beautiful beds!

Nadine said...

What a sweet idea! Although between my children and animals, I could see a lot of broken plates at my house!!!

Free Art Printables said...

I love those plate borders and as usual your yard is amazing! Jen

Mimi Sue said...

Love your borders. Another fabulous way to use plates. The coleus is gorgeous. Mimi

Gracie said...

It's really nice and a very good idea. I never saw here a garden with plates as a fence!

Sharon said...

So beautiful Manuela! I love the plates, gates and trellises. Just perfect. The only thing is you are making me covet :)

Have a wonderful day and as always thanks so much for sharing!

~Sharon

Rhondi said...

Hi Manuela
I think I'd be tempted to use some of those plates inside. They look pretty nice. It makes for a wonderful country garden look.
Hugs, Rhondi

Daisy Cottage said...

ooooh - your plate borders are just perfect! I hope mine "grow" to be like yours one day!! Love your garden Manuela - but I always love what you create.

xo,
Kim

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

I LOVE your garden and the plates. :)

cherry said...

Sooooo cute! Love this look...so cottage perfect. cherry

Jenni said...

Hi Manuela,
I just wanted to let you know that you have been tagged! :)

Crystal said...

Oh Manuela, your cottage garden is just picture perfect. I love the plates, but I would have a hard time parting with some of them. They look so pretty. Put a whole different spin on tabelscaping :)What are the basic planting for a cottage garden?
I enjoyed catching up on your blog today. Have missed stopping in.
Crystal

The Creative Bohemian said...

Oh, I loooove blue hydrangea! They are my favorite flower. The plate idea is just great. I would love that in my own yard, but we share the landscaping with my in-laws and I'm not sure they would "get it". They are very traditional.

Diane

brokeintrovert said...

This border is great! Do you think saucers would work for a smaller scale garden? Also, stop by my blog...I added a planter to the top of that thing I painted that you liked...let me know if the planter looks good.

Laura

Kimba said...

So pretty! I love your daylillies. I have some in similar colors.

And that plate border. Brilliant!

Kimba

Lady Katherine said...

Love your plate dish border. When I went garage sales, I remembered your plate border, its more beautiful seeing it all! I bought plates thinking I was going to start saving them for a border, they are on my table today. lol Love the fence for the blueberries. I just wish mine would not die every year! I may root some this year! I love them so much and $3.00 for a tiny cup is too much in the grocery!

joyh82 said...

Love it.. what a sweet idea with the plates. I saw this in a magazine just recently but it looks great in yours.

Susie Q said...

I love your plate borders! I think your gardens have to be the prettiest spaces...even WITH weeds!
Isn't it awful how quickly those pesky things take hold! We did some weeding last week and today I spied 10 big weeds in the exact spot I weeded last Friday! How did they get so big!! ACK!

Love,
Sue

Jo said...

What a great idea to use plates to edge a garden bed! It looks lovely!