Happy Saturday to you!
I’m slowly digging my way out of spring cleaning and shed-keeping projects.
It’s been a messy couple of weeks but worthwhile with much-needed repair and painting for our ceilings, exterior trim and porches.
While the painters were here, my Potting Shed got her trim freshened up and a coat of semi-transparent stain on her shakes that were oxidized and discolored. She faces southwest and the front takes a beating from the UV rays. You can’t really ‘touch up’ stain, so she got a coat of stain on all four sides.
That meant everything had to come down off the exterior and be moved away so the painters could work, including the garden tools and ‘POT’ on the gable. . .
And watering can chain. . .
You may have noticed I have a lot of stuff to move. . . ;)
Since she was refreshed on the outside, she needed to be tidied up inside too. Twice a year I take everything out to thoroughly sweep, beat back the cobwebs and tidy and clean in all the nooks and crannies.
I have lots of inquiries about my indoor/outdoor faux bois rug.
It’s a Martha Stewart Living Layered Faux Bois area rug and is mold/mildew resistant and cleans easily with a garden hose. I found it at homedocorators.com four years ago. They still carry the wool version but no longer stock the indoor/outdoor rug. I did a quick Google search and found that it is available online at Home Depot, here.
Spring cleaning and shed-keeping means airing my dirty laundry ;) so I hung my cafe curtains outside to organize all the stuff I had squirreled away under my counters.
I found the cottage floral cafe curtains online from Country Curtains four years ago, the ideal length and width for skirting my work benches. Lucky for me, since I would rather plant or pot, than sew!
My window boxes are easily removed from their brackets for the siding to be painted and plant now that our threat of frost is over. My hubby mounted the brackets 1 x 4s to stablize the window boxes and help protect the siding from watering.
My potting shed windows face west so I chose a vinyl/ polyethylene material for the window boxes after doing some online research. They tolerate the UV rays here in the sunny South without splitting or cracking and the color will stay true longer than a painted wood. They also have a double wall design with a water reservoir so they’re self-watering and one of the few things I don’t have to water everyday.
My window boxes came from windowbox.com, (no compensation, just passing along a product I’m happy with ;)
They are waiting for me to plant with some sun-loving annuals. I’m still anxiously waiting for some plants to arrive at the garden center to fill my containers and window boxes!
It’s a beautiful sunny day here in North Carolina which makes shed-keeping a lot more pleasant! Hope you’re enjoy some sunny weather for your spring cleaning and planting ;)
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What a charming potting shed with so many delightful garden finds. A wonderful place to enjoy Mother Nature.
Mary, seems the chores are never done, but I suspect you whistle a happy song while you work. I smile when I see details of your shed. It’s like having a grown up play house!
I’m off to a seminar this morning on pernnials for central Texas. Hope to learn about some new ideas for our shade garden. I want some more blooming pernnials for shade. Texas is expecting a week of rain. Will see if it actually arrives as they predict.
Happy Weekend!
Sunny and pleasant down here in Spartanburg, too. Your shed always inspires me…and I have a NC friend who keeps telling me I need one! (She’s right…)
Happy Spring Mary! You have given me spring fever even more than I all ready have, I need to spruce up every thing. Hugs, Anne
As always, I enjoy your shed so much. We just had ceilings painted and I think I have too much stuff also. Enjoy the Spring weather, it is still cold here’s the North East. I always look forward to your wonderful posts.
You would never know you have been busy because your blog didn’t skip a beat at all. When I do projects I am away for weeks! You are amazing.
What is the material you used to cover the top of your work benches? Where can I buy it? Is it water proof? I have a wooden piece I would like to repurpose as a potting bench and cover the top with what you used.
Have a good weekend. It is cold here the last few days and rain.
Hi Bonnie, I found a sheet metal shop that does HVAC duct work to cover my plywood counters with galvanized sheet metal and attach a back splash. It was affordable ($75 for two four-foot, medium gauge galvanized counters with back splash and soldered edges) and would be water proof for your potting bench! I used construction adhesive (Liquid Nails) to secure the counter tops in place. We’ve had a really dry spring and could use your rain :)
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my question. It helps to know where to look.
It’s warmed up the last two days. Picture perfect. Thanks again. Bonnie
Thanks for the tip on the window boxes. It is the next addition I want to add to my shed.
Mary, I enjoyed your cleaning and painting, now to get busy myself! Thanks for telling us about the window boxes, great source to know about! Happy Saturday!
Pam @ Everyday Living
Whew, that’s a lot of work to be done, Mary, but I know it’s so joyful for you to prepare your potting shed. I can’t wait to see her all spruced up for the spring and summer.
Happy weekend to you!
I just love your potting shed! I dream of having one, someday! Thank you for sharing your information and resources on the rug, window boxes, etc. Have a wonderful weekend!
I’ve never seen the full inside of your shed. I love it. I hope someday to have a “potting” area or shed. I’ve been working in the yard since March here in the Mid West. We have had such a mild winter and an early spring. Since I started so early for my “clean-up”, I am so anxious to plant my annuals. We can’t until the end of April. some even say Mother’s Day. I’m tempted to plant some of my annuals and put tomato cages around the area. Then if we have a frost, I can drape sheets over the area. I’m waiting to do my Pots when all the flowers arrive at the nurseries. Happy Spring Everyone. Happy Planting!!
You’ve inspired me to get busy with my under-the-porch area, where the contractor left all kinds of materials, none that I can repurpose. Love your ladder and watering can collection! The rosemary beside your porch steps looks so healthy, and it must smell delicious each time you pass.
I love your shed but the cleaning chores not so much (only because of all the stuff needing moved). However, getting contractors lined up is all the motivation I’d need in order to get things checked off my list like the painting & staining, so I would be right there with you, sister. Exciting, isn’t it? It’ll be so much fun planting and restyling once it’s all spruced up. Happy planting!
I am looking forward to another wonderful season of the potting shed….wow…you sure do have lots of fabulous things!
Don’t work too hard….have a wonderful weekend Mary!
I am Sooo jealous of your shed..wish I had one..maybe one of my birthdays..yours is an absolute delight!! We are finally having sunny, warm weather. Opened our screened in porch..got it all cleaned with a power washer..furniture and all..we ate out there tonight..it’s attached to the back of our house with an entrance into the house..we just about live out there in the summer..but I still want a shed..have a wonderful weekend..we are since here in Indiana, we broke the 80 degree mark..YAY!! 😍🐝🐞🐜🐛🌻🌼🌷🌺🌸🌳☀️☀️☀️
I love the basket on the counter. I am curious if it is signed on the bottom. Love your shed . Always inspired me to clean mine up.
Hi Chloe, No signature on the bottom of the basket :) Enjoy your weekend!
Whew…..a lot of stuff to move but it will make you so happy to have it new again for your gorgeous decorating this year. Can’t wait to see what you do next. I am totally redoing the inside of my Garden Shed. I just wanted a different look and display things different. Like you I love to play in the Garden Shed while listening to mother nature. Oh, and the gift card I won from you I bought me some pretties for the Shed.
Sweet! LOVE the garden shed. Two weeks ago I swept ours out and brought out the 3 garden cherubs and kiity cat planter. At the end of fall they get put away and each spring they come out. Love spring! Today we hit 80 with bright blue sky! Perfect!
That’s a lot of work but I know the shed brings you much joy Mary! Happy Spring:@)
Did you order from the vinyl or the estate collection? I am adding window boxes on the west side of my house also and so have the same concerns about sun damage etc that you have. The estate collection is heavier and looks more like wood but is made from PVC. Thanks for all your help and inspiration. The shed looks spring clean!!!
Hi Sandi, I went with the Presidential Window Box (vinyl) over the estate collection since they were self-watering. The estate collection does look a lot more like wood :)
Thanks so much. I think I’ll do the same because of the western exposure and definitely want self watering. Thank you for pointing that out. I missed that Estate was not.
I’ll sew…you plant…we’d make a great team!
I’m so in love with your little shed & wish there was a place for one here.
I have to paint the rafters in my gazebo when I get home from Paducah next week. The hawk that flew through the screen panel ruined several other screens as well, so while they’re all out being repaired, I’ll be on a ladder, painting!! I guess this is what Spring brings…home maintenance.
I’m not entering your giveaway, since I have peonies & such, but wanted to tell you here, on this post, that your flowers are GORGEOUS!!! Please keep that nice weather near KY while I’m there?
Hugs,
R.
Well, that’s the type of spring cleaning that might actually be FUN! I’ve been thinking of window boxes this year so I’m going to go check out windowbox.com. Sounds much easier than building them myself!
A lot of work but a labor of love to be sure! And what a wonderful feeling to have everything freshly painted, cleaned and organized! I bet you even had one or two “Oh, I forgot I had that!” moments! You’ve inspired me to clean out my garage studio now before it gets too hot, thank you Mary! Enjoy your planting…
Jenna
What a big job but so rewarding in the end! I’ve been on a bit of a cleaning binge since the snow melted and it’s in the 70’s for a few days I’m cleaning up the lawn furniture! I like your window planters- perfect choice!
Your shed is one of my favorites! Love all your pretties and that your shed is getting a new paint job! Can’t wait to see it all done!
Your shed makes me happy! Thanks for sharing. I think my four year old neighbor would ask “Do you have all of the watering cans of the world?” Enjoy!
Oh my goodness…your potting shed is sooooo CUTE! I luv everything that you done with it. You need to come over today and show it off at Show and Share.
Blessings,
Linda
You know how much “shed envy” I, (and all your readers) have! It is a big job to empty it all out and clean but so worth it! So looking forward to all your beautiful Spring and Summer posts in the shed!!!
Your shed is adorable. I have one in my backyard the I would to transform. Did you replace the door? Also, I’m afraid that in the winter little critters (mice) might invade. Is it just a case of really sealing it up tight? How did you control that?
It is beautiful.
Thanks for sharing,
Mary
Thanks Mary, We built it and chose the doors, you can see all the details of how she’s grown here. It sits on footers, not directly on the ground so I haven’t had a problem with any mice or critters getting inside, but I did stumble on a long black snake slithering out from underneath her this week though :)
I wish we were neighbors, I would’ve loved helping you clean your potting shed! You have such wonderful stuff.
I always look forward to post about your shed. Thanks, Cindy
I would love to poke around in your collection of goodies, Mary! It always feel good to start fresh in the Spring! I’m looking forward to seeing what you plant this year! Linda