Front Porch

"I like big Ferns and I cannot lie, You other ladies can't deny. When a fern grows in with an itty bitty waist and big leaves in your face, you get Sprung."

Seriously I love me a Big Old Fern in a pot! I actually think it should be against the law to have a covered porch without a fern or two under it (maybe that's a tad dramatic).
I also think Boston Ferns are the most economical of Summer planters, you can pick one up for $10 at Home Depot, plant it in a container and your done for the whole summer.

 Boston Fern Care:
I've found the main key to growing BIG BIG ferns is WATER!!! They need so much water! Make sure your planter has adequate drainage and then water it once a day every day. On really hot summer days you might consider watering it twice a day!
I add a little compost to the top every now and again (maybe once a month) and they grow HUGE!

We recently had to add a wire trellis to the railing for our two Purple Clematis. I LOVE the huge purple flowers! I wanted to make sure they were supported but I didn't want a visible trellis, so we just attached some stainless steel wire (use stainless so it doesn't rust in the rain) to some eyelet hooks. Now we have an almost invisible trellis support system!

And lastly we added a copper Rain Chain! This one was made by Smith and Hawken, and is sold at Target for $40. Honestly I was hoping the little rain buckets went all the way down, but the Smith and Hawken version is broken up by lengths of chain. I still like it and for $40 it was by far the least expensive rain chain I've ever found.

Still lots to do on the front porch. We need to find cushions for our love seat and arm chairs. A planter full of purple flowers to tie into the clematis. And hopefully, a couple of planter boxes under the windows!!! :)

btw, I just finished organizing some of my crafty supplies in a new cabinet from Ikea! I can't wait to share tomorrow. I've spent most of this morning sitting in the guest room staring at my new craft cabinet!!