Happy Monday, Friends! Welcome to the Vintage Summer Garden Tour where 14 home and garden bloggers highlight vintage favorites from our summer gardens. If you're stopping by after visiting Decor to Adore, I know you enjoyed her lovely garden! Join me now for a stroll through mine...
Inspired by the classic children's book, I've named my garden and herb shop Secret Garden. I've enjoyed creating an enchanted and whimsical setting throughout my outdoor space. You'll find an assortment of repurposed treasures from my thrifting adventures as well little tokens like the upcycled door knob and keys at the garden's entry, that remind me of the story.
A vintage mailbox scored at a yard sale creates a lovely planter.
After hanging it on the front door during the spring, I moved it to the garden gate for the summer.
You'll notice a lot of my garden containers are filled with colorful vinca. Don't let the delicate blooms fool you--it can withstand the Texas heat, and also, the deer won't eat it!
As you enter Secret Garden Herbs, on the right is an upcycled copper finial against a backdrop of climbing pink roses and honeysuckle. The finial was another yard sale find. It's actually very light weight, but the copper finish gives it an aged patina that appears heavier. It's always reminded me of the life-sized game pieces in Alice in Wonderland.
To the left of the path is an area I recently rearranged as a prayer garden. There's a vintage piece of stained glass...
...and a favorite iron cross that I've moved all over the garden through the years.
I've also included some of my hand stamped cement stones.
It's been five summers since I first shared my upcycled collection: Mirror, Mirror...on My Fence. Over the years, I've added to and rearranged my assortment of thrifted mirrors using the same blue paint for cohesion.
While you've no doubt noticed my love of bright colors around the garden, there is one area where I use mostly white. In the center of my garden is a large rosemary circle. {See how to paint a pillow, here and how to DIY the ruffled summer throw, here!}
Before I began selling herbs, I was partly inspired by this spot that started as two gallon sized rosemary plants about fifteen years ago. At some point I added a rock border, and then eventually stepping stones around the circle. I've had to extend the border multiple times because if you can believe, it has since grown to a diameter of nearly forty feet! Years ago, I came across this inspirational quote and claimed it for my garden: Rosemary thrives in a strong woman's garden ;)
Tucked in the rosemary circle are various upcycled thrifted treasures that I've painted white.
It's also been five summers since I created this bird garden sculpture from repurposed yard sale finds. The base is actually a vintage hat stand. I love how the patina has weathered over time.
This summer I combined two of my favorite vintage garden features. I refreshed my repurposed headboard with fresh paint and a new stencil...
...and moved my vintage little red wagon in front of it.
I really love them paired together!
Most of my morning glories tend to bloom in August and September, but I had to share this vibrant indigo bloom. I'm always amazed by the beautiful array of colors our Creator has provided through nature. ...See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. Matthew 6:28-29.
Hope you enjoyed my garden! Thanks for joining me today! Thanks also to Amber at Follow the Yellow Brick Home for organizing the tour. Be sure to scroll down to the image links to see more lovely inspiration from the other bloggers. Next up, is the always charming Petite Haus!
Gorgeous garden!! So many places to linger and just breathe.
ReplyDeleteCecilia you have so many amazing vintage pieces in your garden and such a knack for creating magical garden vignettes. I am swooning over all of your rosemary, I would love to linger in your garden. Thanks so much for sharing your summer garden with us!
ReplyDeleteCecilia, I love your gardens! Your rosemary is amazing! I bet it smells wonderful too! And I love your little red wagon filled with flowers with the bed frame as a backdrop! Simply stunning! So happy to be on the hop with you!
ReplyDeleteI always love seeing the creative and thrifty ways you decorate inside and out, Cecilia. Your story makes me smile too! I love the rosemary plants and that quote! Perfect. :)
ReplyDeleteCecilia, I love your secret garden! I love Rosemary and so glad you shared that quote. The headboard and wagon are just darling together!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Cecilia, what a great garden you have! Best of all is the quote you captioned as yours in the rosemary circle. However, the morning glory and reference to bible verse is oh, so perfect!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your thrifty and artistic additions to your garden, they're all so personally unique, just like you!
Vinca is beautiful. I think the only you can do to hurt it is add too much water! I plant it every year in my front beds. I love how it randomly pops up in subsequent years in my garden, totally random and not where it was in prior years! One of the many joys of gardening.
Wonderful pictures!Hugs!
ReplyDeleteOnce again Cecilia you have inspired me. I know will be searching for a vintage mailbox to transform. Your garden is a delight for the senses.
ReplyDeleteLove love your garden area. So many fun things to see! Now I'm on the hunt for an old mailbox. Loved being on the hop with you!
ReplyDeleteCecilia, you have so many pretty vintage items! I love the prayer garden that you created. What a special place! It has been so much fun being on this tour with you! Enjoy your week!!!
ReplyDeleteYour "secret garden" is lovely. I enjoy how you put your personality into it each year a little differently.
ReplyDeleteI loved touring through your secret garden. You have so many wonderful vintage finds!
ReplyDeleteCecilia,
ReplyDeleteI think your rosemary sounds just heavenly! I love your Secret Garden, named after the book. I love the book, and the musical also! So fun to hop with a fellow vintage garden lover!
I love your Secret Garden theme Cecilia! I did find you through Laura's blog, and how happy I am to meet you :) I enjoyed browsing through your garden, and would love to spend time in your prayer garden too! Just beautifully delightful! So many fun ideas to try in my own garden. I too have made a flower bed out of the metal bed that was our toddler bed growing up. So much fun :) Blessings and hugs to you today!
ReplyDeleteI love that vintage hat stand, so unique! Your garden is lovely. I especially love the headboard. xo Kathleen
ReplyDeleteIt was such a pleasure to stroll through your garden this morning, Cecilia. I love how you re-purpose different thrifted treasure to add such beauty. I have found that squirrels leave our vinca plants alone. I had another plant in a hanging container on my fence, and the squirrel ate it down (a $4.00 munchie for him!), but left the vinca alone. Thanks for sharing your beauty!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved the stroll through your garden! I am so inspired by your prayer garden!! What a blessing to have that quiet space to spend with The Lord! I also love your mailbox full of flowers! Beautiful Tour my friend!
ReplyDeleteI just love your headboard and the saying on it. What a beautiful garden you have!
ReplyDeleteYour garden is so fun. My favorite piece is the headboard. I need to find one for my garden.
ReplyDeleteCecelia,
ReplyDeleteI love the vintage mail box and the wagon!! So charming!! Thanks so much for sharing your lovely garden with us!!
Hugs,
Debbie