There are things we know we should never, ever do. Things we’ve known since we were young.
Things like:
Never cross the street without looking both ways first.
Never interrupt someone while they are talking.
And whatever you do, never, ever, ever go shopping on an empty stomach, because if you get to the store and it’s the day they are offering free samples, you’ll get home, unpack your groceries, and realize you bought 10 pounds of amazing raspberry cheddar gourmet cheese, a 48-count case of health drinks, and a huge box full of bacon.
But you managed to forget the basics.
Things like milk, eggs and bread.
I need to add to my list of never evers, because I make the same mistake all the time.
I should never, ever, EVER go into garden nurseries.
Seriously.
I walk in and see rows and rows of brightly colored petunias, elegant calla lilies, and glorious dahlias.
Oh, and lavender. I just stand there like a fool sniffing it to my heart’s content.
In the midst of all that blooming beauty, I forget that I’m a flower killer.
When we converted our shed into a guest house, the final touch before I took photos was adding a window box filled with flowers.
They looked beautiful…
for about a week.
Then I forgot to water them, and they shriveled up and died from neglect.
I comletely forgot about murdering those poor flowers, and I happily returned to the garden center and came home with more beautiful flowers for the window box.
But this year I wanted a more rustic window box, for my soon to be doomed beautiful flowers. Here’s how I did it:
Rustic Window Flower Box for the Guest House
I started with my DIY pallet crate Get the tutorial HERE.
Then I got a bowl full of soil,my new victims, and set to work.
I filled the bottom of the box with soil.
Then one by one, I planted those pretty snapdragons.
Then I watered them with care – because I’m very good at watering for a day.
Then I took that pretty flower filled window box out to the guest house, stood back and surveyed my work, and suddenly I had a flashback of the previous poor flowers.
And realized I probably should have bought fake flowers. 🙂
I really, really, really a going to try not to neglect them this year though!
Vaya con Dios,
This is a sweet project…I am with you on both the grocery AND the nursery! I never met a plant I didn’t like! I need to stock up on some good pallet wood for all your great projects!
Thanks Kim!
I definitely have a hard time controlling myself at a nursery. It doesn’t seem like you’re buying a lot until you get home and start planting them.
I love your pallet wood box and your stencil is perfect for it!
Yep- buying them is the easy part – planting and caring for them is the hard part!
What a great project, it looks beautiful!
Tania
Thanks so much, Tania!
never hit the grocery without a snack in my handbag!!!
and now I live in a state where the nurseries are FULL of flowers year round I am a happy camper….living in Colorado they are empty from mid October to around April 1 or so depending on winter….but now in the Phoenix area so I am just waiting till our home closes and I will be hitting the flowers too..
That’s a good idea to take a snack with you to the grocery store, Shelley- I need to remember that!
Beautiful project Angie! I love the stencil on your window box and the pretty pink flowers. Pinning!
Julie @ Love My Simple Home
Angie, I have the same problem not over-buying flowers each year. Then I end up with some of them dying before I even get them in a pot or the ground. EVERY year, I do this! I swear I won’t do it this year! How am I going to avoid doing it? Don’t have a clue! One way I’ve decreased those who die in the flat is to make myself plant everything I’ve brought home before I allow myself to buy anything more. That works pretty well. Until I see the end-of-season sales. Then I over-buy and don’t manage to plant them all. I’ll let you know how this year goes!
The pallet window box is really cute. One thing I wondered, tho’, when I was looking at it was whether it had drainage holes in the bottom or not. Maybe that’s not a concern for you as you don’t give them all that much water to drain out! Ha, ha! Maybe you could write “water plants” on your calendar every other day or something. They might not need it that often, but at least you are checking on them. They do look so pretty on the guest house. ( Are they dead, yet?) Get out there right away–unless you’ve had a rainy week like we have had here in Mich.
Good luck! This could be the year that your thumb turns green!
Angie, it’s so pretty! I love the pop of color!!
What an adorable project! I hear you about going into a nursery, it’s like I go into a trance! I’ve actually asked for that for Mother’s day, they are going with me and we are having a whole day of planting… I want all of the shrubs!!! Pinning!
love it I have the same problem with plants. Why not try a pretty decorative jade plant?
Don’t need a lot of water and very forgiving if you forget. thanks for sharing