OK, if I have to stay here for autumn's arrival I can at least start on a little
decorating to cheer up the now so tired summer look. All was looking dead,
dreary and downright boring!
It didn't take much effort this morning. All I did was pull on the new
golden IKEA pillow covers, and go to the potting shed and sort through
out-of-season stuff tucked away at the back of shelves. I found the pretty
china Italian pitcher and the glass light in fall colors. This ball is filled with
mini lights and is battery operated with a 5 hr. timer. Set just as dusk falls,
the evening hours on the porch are brightened.
My Christmas cactus has spent summer on the porch. It was doing nothing
on the dining room table, seemed in a state of dormancy with never a bloom.
Now it appears to have some new growth and looks a lot healthier so will
stay there until cold weather arrives, perhaps in October.
The new plant, picked up yesterday at LIDL for just $6, is a Petra Croton.
I've never owned one before but seeing the display of perfect colors for
the porch, I grabbed one! Crotons are interesting plants and can grow
really tall as houseplants. I'm only planning to use it outdoors through
the fall months, perhaps hide it in the potting shed over winter and see
if it survives.
Have you ever grown a croton?
"What makes homeowners love Petra Croton is its incredible coloration—deep green leaves with variegated, multicolored veins in bright red, orange, and yellow. If you have room to fill, the Petra Croton houseplant will make that space shine, growing 6-8' high. You can also keep shorter by topping it in spring. This plant will only need water when the soil begins to dry out. Otherwise, it likes humid environments and an occasional misting of its leaves. Be sure to keep in a warm spot in the winter time, and be careful when moving it. Too much motion causes it to drop some leaves, but don't panic, just stick to the watering and lighting requirements and it'll bounce back fast. Petra doesn't only add mood-lifting beauty to your home. As it grows, it helps purify the air, too! " Michigan Bulb Co.
Now if only the weather would change, bring us some cooler temperatures
and rain, we could sit out and enjoy the porch again!
Meanwhile thoughts are with everyone along the Gulf Coast in the path of
yet another possibly catastrophic hurricane - be vigilant, stay safe.
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Often your hurricanes find their way over here - we don't enjoy seeing them even if they have almost blown themselvess out.
ReplyDelete. . . . . .and they usually come to us from the Cape Verde Islands off the African coast where I visited in 2019 - last big trip prior to the pandemic!
Delete"Cabo Verde, or Cape Verde, is an island nation on an archipelago of volcanic origin
in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwestern coast of Africa, about 600 km west of Senegal.
Cape Verde shares maritime borders with Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal."
I love your porch, I don't have one, the UK houses aren't so generous on space (as you probably know as an ex-brit) but I imagine it must be a whole lot of fun changing things around with the Season - Autumn is approaching fast here too and the colours you chose are really warm and welcoming. Petro croton plants are often in the shops but I always pass them by - having seen how they can make a colour scheme come to life in your picture I think I will give them more respect in future!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my porch Betty - wish you could come in person!
DeleteYes, here in the south porches are prevalent - I love mine though tiny compared to many on much larger houses. Some older southern mansions have wrap around porches built to enable people to move into a shady/cooler spot prior to the invention of air conditioning.
Looks so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Vee - always up for a little change these days when we don't go far from home!
DeleteDearest Mary,
ReplyDeleteLooks cozy with your fall colors put in place.
While biking, Pieter and I were discussing the difference of homes here, versus in The Netherlands, or in Italy where we lived.
Our porches and garages always have been tiled, easy cleaning as I always did hate the grit that you carry inside the home from any concrete floor.
It is funny how such architectural differences happen... don't know any garage or front porch here with tiles, other than ours.
In The Netherlands we also had a tiles entrance leading to the front door.
Soon the weather will become milder.
Your cactus no doubt loves the high relative humidity on your front porch, versus the dining room area where the air gets de-humidified; the main purpose of our airconditioning.
Hugs,
Mariette
I've always liked tiled floors in European homes - sounds like your garage and porch are lovely with such nice flooring!
DeleteEasy to clean!
DeleteYour pre fall porch looks very cozy and colorful. Crotons are a year round outdoor plant here.
ReplyDeleteYes, imagine you see a lot Penny as they are tropical!
DeleteIt all looks very attractive and welcoming Mary - you have a great sense of taste and style. Hope you get your cooler weather so that you can sit out and enjoy your lovely porch.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rosemary - I've always loved having the porch as it's quite welcoming and provides a nice space out of the elements at all seasons when people come to the house.
DeleteLovely colors on your porch! Its raining here, all day long..its grey and dull. But I hope we will have some lovely and warm days in September now :)
ReplyDeleteTitti
Titti I hope the weather improves soon for your autumn days - I think the island must be lovely in autumn.
DeleteYour porch looks so lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you Maudie.
DeleteMy cactus is doing the same thing... a few new tips... even though we have had very hot weather. It's on my deck -- second floor. Here's hoping that the cooler weather will give it some oomph!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Bettina - here's to better days for our cacti!!!
DeleteYour porch is SO pretty! I could definitely see myself sitting there for awhile, just watching the world go by. I agree that this time of year everything is looking so dried up and dreary. I'm not ready at all for fall decor yet, so my summer decor will still stay out for a few more weeks.
ReplyDeleteYou may recall we're on a cul-de-sac Melanie so "the world going by" is mostly traffic turning, haha! We have had a lot more walkers/dog walkers since the pandemic started though. Now, several house are being renovated so there are even more vehicles - still pleasant though as we have the little wooded area directly across from us. . . . .where the deer etc. hang out!
DeleteIt looks very nice and inviting, and you know I love the yellow and gold shades particularly!
ReplyDeleteYes, I do recall your love of yellow Meike. . . . and fortunately for me it looks cheery mixed with all my shades of blue!
DeleteMary, your porch looks very smart indeed, ready for Autumn. I have never been very fond of crotons, although many people in our area grow them - but I must say yours looks superb against your new gold cushions and with the little mushroom. Love it all! xxx
ReplyDeleteTrish I never really considered crotons either, but this one seemed perfect for the porch. This summer I also added a couple of canna lilies (only one of the two bloomed!) and caladiums in the front porch bed - suddenly had an urge for something a bit more tropical to enjoy in this awful heat/humidity! I don't do indoor plants though - really have nowhere to put them and not a lot of bright light!
DeleteWow...it all looks gorgeous, Mary. Some of my favorite colours. Enjoy those fleeting days of summer. xo
ReplyDeleteYour porch looks so inviting and stylish. The gold cushions are just right! I do hope the weather cools off so that you can enjoy it very soon. It looks like a great place to sit and visit and enjoy a cool drink.
ReplyDelete