Hi!!!
Isn't it fun checking out all of the porches today?
Thank you, Rhondi, for organizing this second annual event!!
You can tell by my sign, that the porch I want to share this year is located in the back of our home---so please follow me!!
THE STONE RABBIT has been looking forward to our party for days!! He pulled out his patriotic boa just for this grand event!
I know you'll be eating lots of goodies during your porch visits today. I have a little table all ready, too!! I hope you'll have enough time to join me in a glass of iced tea and a patriotic cupcake!! I actually MADE the frosting from scratch---it's butter cream. The cake is Duncan Hines White!! :)
I folded the red bandannas in a place mat shape and used the blue ones for napkins. I think they are great for a patriotic color touch, don't you? They're actually left from a BIG NUMBER surprise birthday party we gave for my husband a few years ago---the theme was "cowboy" for the Birthday Buckaroo! I also have LOTS of leftover cowboy hats. They'll probably show up on a post some day!
The little centerpiece was made by placing a garage sale silver tray atop a thrift store silver chafing dish base. My friend Sharleen of LUTICIA CLEMENTINE'S in Independence, Missouri, taught me that great trick. I have a variety of bases and trays in assorted sizes--all found for very little money. They make wonderful elevated serving pieces!
On top of the tray is a great old Uncle Sam bank my friend Bonnie gave to me---and a few more yummy cupcakes!
When my friend Patty showed me the great daisy arrangement Susan of BETWEEN NAPS ON THE FRONT PORCH created, I knew I had to give it a try. Afterall--I had purchased a very similar basket a long time ago from a friend at her shop. THEN when I saw how great Pat's (BACK PORCH MUSINGS--see link below) lovely daisy arrangement looked on her patio, I was convinced I needed to attempt to make one.
Pat, of BACK PORCH MUSINGS, also shared how she uses old shutters on her porch, so I decided to drag out three that I had in the basement storage room. I used to use them for display pieces in a couple of shops I was in. I wish the hinges didn't jump out so much, but I really hadn't noticed them UNTIL I saw these photos!! OOOOh, the camera doesn't lie! :) Perhaps I can "tone" them down with a bit of paint. However, I do love how the shutters look with the basket hanging on them. Isn't it wonderful how other bloggers inspire us to try new things?
The shutters are leaning on the outside fireplace wall---it juts out a bit onto the patio and makes the perfect spot for them!!
This little area is to the right side of the shutters.
Bonnie gave me the old mop bucket when we moved to this house. She purchased it at The Bingham Waggoner Antique Sale, held here in Independence, as a "house warming" gift. It was filled with wonderful plants.
Each spring, I've put a variety of flowering plants in it- - - until last year when I filled it with herbs. Some did well, some didn't. I really wasn't impressed with the overall outcome. This year, I put only two plants in it......a decorative grass and a Lantana. I have fallen in love with Lantanas. . . . .they're very hard to kill and they are great bloomers.
The black pots (that look like they're on stilts!) are filled with red begonias.....another type of plant that I can keep alive. The stands were found at a couple of flea markets. I really need to add some vining plants to the pots---they do look strange like that!
I have six pots planted like this----they go along the railing of the patio. I spray painted the tera cotta colored plastic pots (Dollar General) black four summers ago. They could have used a little coat this year, but I didn't have the time, so that job will be on the list for next spring.
Since I have six of these pots, and they're fairly large, I try to come up with hardy and cheap plantings. I have found that vinca and asparagus fern do very well in the blistering heat that occurs on this porch that faces West. The vinca is always cheap---$1.49 for a four pack. I put three of these plants in each pot. The asparagus fern seems to go up each year. Around here, it was $2.49 for a little pot. Sooooo, when I saw hanging baskets of asparagus fern on sale at Ace Hardware for $9.00, I snatched one up!! I was able to divide the fern so I enough to place two sprigs in each of my six pots for the back porch and still have enough to make a nice pot of fern and hanging vinca vines for the front porch. The little plants will soon be huge and beautiful, giving us many summer days of enjoyment.
I even pulled out my patriotic buntings for you guys!!! I hope the birds don't use them as target practice!
This little hammered aluminum chafing dish was filled with other items on my previous post!! Now, it's holding some little summer plants----still in their little plastic containers, because I haven't finished planting stuff!!
I love this flag holder---I can see it from the dining room.
I purchased this little bird feeder at a craft sale and garden show in Liberty, Missouri, last spring. The artist made the most unusual feeders from vintage finds.
It's holding the rest of the plants I haven't had time to plant!
The twig tree stays on this porch year round. It has tiny white lights on it and I change the decorations seasonally.
This part of the porch is like a breeze way. The door you see goes into our bedroom and the window belongs to a small spare bedroom. To the right are French doors that come out of the dining room onto the porch.
Along the wall, I have a rusty planter. Right now, it's holding an old minnow bucket filled with a fern and a little tin planter that contains mint, basil and my shamrock plant from St. Patrick's Day!!
To the left of the planter is an old rusty lamp base. I purchased it last year at The Strawberry Festival in Independence, Missouri, for $3.00. It makes a great flag holder.
This group of plants is to the left of the shutters and to the right of the dining room door. The small stands were purchased at a sale many years ago and were hand made.
No, the fern does not have a furry bottom. I just stuffed coconut fibers around the pot to wedge it in the stand so it would sit straight. It's a conversation piece. :)
It's time for THE STONE RABBIT to get out of the sun and enjoy a little treat, too!!
He's so glad you stopped by!
I am also so happy to see you today during Rhondi's Porch Party!!! Be certain you visit her blog, ROSE COLORED GLASSES, for a long list of other bloggers who are waiting for you to visit them!!!
Have fun!!
DANA
Dana, I love your patriotic flair on your porch! Just precious! You always do things so well, and this is just more evidence. Fun and bright and cute! Love the arrangement on the shutters and the bandanas, too!
Happy Porch Party!
XO,
Sheila... who was late arriving and am now first up, LOL! ;-)
Posted by: Sheila | May 31, 2009 at 09:16 PM
How totally NOT shocking that your porch is gorgeous! I love the mop bucket...and the daisy arrangement..and that old Uncle Sam bank...the whole thing just looks festive and marvelous!
Posted by: nikki | May 31, 2009 at 09:23 PM
Hi Dana, Your porch is fantastic and I love all your decor touches. Everything is special and you have some unique flower displays. The patriotic theme is perfect. The shutter display is a great idea.
So nice to meet you.
Have a great week.
Celestina Marie
Posted by: Celestina marie | May 31, 2009 at 09:28 PM
Dana... what a festive party you and stone rabbit are throwing today! you can just leave those decorations up for the next couple of months!
loved teh party... now I have to run to the next one!
hugs and blessings. Dixie
Posted by: Dixie | May 31, 2009 at 09:55 PM
Oh, what a cute porch..love all the flags. Everything looks so great. I have searched high and low for a basket such as this. I am just DYING for a daisy arrangement just like this for my porch. I just can't locate a basket shaped like this. Yours looks so so cute.
Thanks for that yummy cupcake and tea. I loved it all. I had a fabulous time at your porch!!
xo bj
Did you invite Bryan?? I didn't see him...did he leave before I got here? RATS!!
Posted by: bj | May 31, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Yikes, Dana - your porch looks so gorgeous I feel like I should take my post down. I had such plans and then got sick! I adore all your wrought iron plant holders and your green green grass. I told my neighbor how much I'm loving his couch and he said "Yep, the further east you go the more couches you see on the porch" haha so not only am I a trash picker I have a couch outside! Well, I love that tiered server you made and the mop bucket and all the flags. Now I'm going to put my pink mask back on so I don't infect the rest of the world! xoxo Hillbilly Nan
Posted by: Nancy | May 31, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Hip, hip, hooray. You and TSR have done it once again. Your patriotic theme is close to our hearts.
You have so many unusual pieces, and you are so creative in the way you use them in your displays.
You've done a great job with all of your plants, and I especially love begonias and asparagus ferns.
I'm off to my morning adventure. Please make sure you save a cupcake for me.
Posted by: Beverly | June 01, 2009 at 03:34 AM
Dana, Everything is done up just so perfectly out on your porch deck! Using the mop bucket as a planter is such a cute idea, and even though you said you economized on the plants, everything looks so good! When it grows and fills in, everything will be so lush! Thanks for sharing your par-tay. :-) Sue
Posted by: Sue | June 01, 2009 at 04:46 AM
Ok, that is one GREAT porch!! I love how you used the shutters, and I didn't notice the hinges until you mentioned them! I love all the flowers.
Posted by: Terri | June 01, 2009 at 04:49 AM
Good morning Dana! What a wonderful porch you have. I especially love the old shutters and the old galvanized mop bucket!
Come visit my porch if you have time!
Posted by: Penny @ Lavender Hill Studio & The Comforts of Home | June 01, 2009 at 05:15 AM
buttercream icing?! my favorite!! {add some toasted coconut and we've got the world's best cupcake!} :)
your daisy bouquet turned out wonderful. so pretty.
boy, that friend bonnie...you are a lucky gal to have her.
chasity
ps we will be at the downtown days in lee's summit this weekend. hope to see you and bonnie there!
Posted by: Chasity | June 01, 2009 at 05:33 AM
wow! What a patriotic porch you have!
You have a gorgeous and restful place to relax!
xoxo
Posted by: Marina Capano | June 01, 2009 at 06:20 AM
You have a theme for this party...I love it! The planters and all of the decor is so cool. I love the bunting on the railings and that you used hammered aluminum outside. The cupcake looks mighty delicious too.
Posted by: black eyed susans kitchen | June 01, 2009 at 06:34 AM
I LOVE your patriotic porch theme and the cupcake was delicious....thank you!!!! Hope you are having a great day!♥
Posted by: Darlene | June 01, 2009 at 06:36 AM
Dana, Iam happy to see your patriotic theme and I love your tree. Tell the stone rabbit I love the boa and the great job done in decorating.
Come and sit with me!
Posted by: BARBARA | June 01, 2009 at 06:46 AM
Hi Dana, this morning finds us in Yellowstone and it is beautiful here. Lucky, lucky us.
Now, for your wonderful porch party. Since I already had a little preview of your beautiful porch the finishing touches you made are nothing short of wonderful. I purposely did not show the photo I took on your porch when I was visiting you because I thought you were saving your photo for the porch party. I think I will post it on the fourth of July which is Saturday this year. It is festive and red white and blue. What do you think, is that ok with you? Ok, back to your porch and your lovely flowers and fun accessories. As always, you did a great job and Rhondi will love it as will our many blogging friends. And me too.
Bill is urging me to go have breakfast so I'm off to eat and explore the park.
Photos will follow this week. I'm loving it!!!!
Hugs xoxo,
Jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne | June 01, 2009 at 07:03 AM
Your porch is so inviting. Love all your little touches. Your daisy basket turned out so cute. I'm going to have to try and make one. I'm a shameless copier. Mimi
Posted by: mimisue | June 01, 2009 at 07:06 AM
how fun! i love all your decorations but i really love that flag holder! so neat :)
Posted by: heather | June 01, 2009 at 08:47 AM
Oh what a lovely post! Your porch is so pretty and I love all the patriotic details!!!! But your stone rabbit is my favorite of all :) Anyone who loves bunnies is a friend of mine :) The cupcakes looks sooo yummy, my favorite! Thank you sao much for inviting us!
Hugs,
Amy
Posted by: Bunny Rose Cottage | June 01, 2009 at 09:08 AM
DEAR DANA,
Happy Porch Day
I love the things you so cleverly repurposed...the lamp base that is a flage holder(pure genius), the mop bucket planter and that glorious bird feeder you bought at a craft show...that is a must have...
I love your mounted multiple flag holder and your lighted grapevine tree...
everything is so pretty and festive and I might say Stone Rabbit looks mighty dapper in red, white and blue
hugs
debbie
Posted by: debbie ragan | June 01, 2009 at 09:15 AM
Hi Dana :)
Did you know that we "met" one year ago this week? I know this because we met at Rhondi's porch party last year! I thought "how cute is that stone rabbit and his funny mom?!" So did a lot of people ;)
Your porch looks so cute all dressed up. I'm really really really jealous of your mop bucket! I have to have one!! Tell Stoney I love his boa ;)
(((hugs)))
rue
Posted by: rue | June 01, 2009 at 12:50 PM
You have a great porch! I got so many ideas; I now have to have an old mop bucket, and a twig tree. I think I've got enough spare parts to make one of those rustic planters, too. THanks Dana and Stone Rabbit for the great tour...
Posted by: nola at the alamo | June 01, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Dana your porch is wonderful...I love all the vintage touches! Enjoy that porch!!
Posted by: Ceekay | June 01, 2009 at 02:45 PM
I LOVE all of your creative garden planters! I just went to the nursery today and bought some flowers. I can't believe it's June 1st!
Have a great week!
Posted by: Donna | June 01, 2009 at 03:25 PM
Your porch is so pretty Dana! I love how you used the shutters and I didn't see the hinges until you mentioned them! You did a great job with your daisy arrangement.
I think when we get home, I'm going to see about putting a tree of some kind on the back porch. I love your twig tree!
Posted by: Pat@Back Porch Musings | June 01, 2009 at 03:35 PM
Wow, you did a great job! I love all the touches you used!! The ice tea and cupcakes look pretty darn yummy!
Posted by: Viv (VivLyn) | June 01, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Hi Dana, I love your patriotic theme, everything is so nice. I have some of those chafing dishes in the attic, I see it's time to go get them and see what I can do with them. I really like the shutters and the daisy arrangement. The stone rabbit looks so festive in his boa and the cupcakes look fantastic!
Posted by: Jean Tuthill | June 01, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Awesome pics! I love the floral arrangement in the basket! Gorgeous!
Posted by: John Deere Mom | June 01, 2009 at 06:27 PM
Dana, Your patriotic porch is beautiful and inviting! I just love it all!!! :) ~hugs, Rhonda
Posted by: Rhonda | June 01, 2009 at 07:08 PM
ADORABLE! love the sweet details like the bandannas and buckets. very nice and all set for the 4th, too!
xo
Posted by: elyse | June 01, 2009 at 07:12 PM
What a lovely porch party! And so many clever ideas! I love the shutters and the daisy basket, and your placemats and napkins! Your flower pots ... everything!
Have a lovely day!
Margie :)
Posted by: Margie | June 02, 2009 at 03:57 AM
very adorable porch Dana..I like the red,white and blue color theme. I think all your accessories are perfect and not over done. I too have 2 mop buckets and LOVE them. I love to put Bacopa and Lavendar in them. I think I'll try the Lantana too.
Posted by: gabrielle | June 02, 2009 at 06:52 AM
Dana, the porch is so pretty & patriotic. I'm loving the bird feeder & your twig tree.
Great idea painting the pots. I have one in need of some paint & you've given me an idea! ☺♥☺ Diane
Posted by: Diane | June 02, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Sooooo many great ideas!!
I enjoyed your Porch Party!
Posted by: Stephanie | June 02, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Your porch is gorgeous Dana! I love all your decorative touches and all the idea you incorporated from other creative bloggers. You are all so inspiring.
I wish I had a porch ...but it only exists in my dreams.
Is your new grandchild expected soon?
Hugs, Pat
Posted by: Pat | June 02, 2009 at 06:30 PM
Everything looks so nice Dana! I kept my patio simple this year and I really like it.
Thanks for sharing! Hope all is well with you!!!
Hugs!
Kim
Posted by: Kim V | June 05, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Hi Dana - Your pictures gave me some good ideas for my own porches. I never thought of painting plastic pots before - good idea! I also like your flag stand and your rusty plant holders. Everything looks very, very nice!
Posted by: Patti | June 06, 2009 at 01:29 PM
I would love to know where you found your multiple flag holder. That is the cutest ever.
Charla
Posted by: Charla @ For the Sake of Time | June 07, 2009 at 06:16 AM