I seem to be spending all my free time this spring, planting, puttering and pulling weeds around the Potting Shed! I usually spend a couple of hours there each morning, and then again in the early evening, checking on how things are growing, while weeding and watering, and watching the bees buzz and the hummers zip around.
Fortunately, Mother Nature is helping me out in the watering department, saving some time in lugging the hose around. I have a few painting projects left on my ‘to-do’ list spring, if it will stop raining long enough for me to tackle them!
I found this wheelbarrow at a favorite antique mall several weeks ago (excuse the bad cell phone photo). It was a great price due its neglected and rickety condition, but I loved the cut out tulips on the sides that someone had taken the time to chisel.
The front panel of the wheelbarrow was plywood and consequently the layers were peeling and chipping away. My hubby cut a piece of wood to replace the plywood front. It was easy to pry loose and take apart due the dry and splitting condition.
I gave the wheelbarrow some TLC, cleaning and sanding it, before giving it a couple of coats of bright, fresh red paint.
I used the paint left over from painting my new Board and Batten Shutters. When we built the shutters, I purchased Valspar Reserve Extreme Weather Paint + Primer from Lowe’s, with RainRelief™ Technology, designed for rainy, humid regions and to give the wood some extra protection.
Note to Mother Nature: The Lamb’s Ear, lavender and myself could use a little rain relief about now ;)
Here is my happy little tulip wheelbarrow after her makeover, with her new red coat of paint color, Spanish Tile).
I’ll eventually move her to the porch where she has some more protection. For now I tucked in some pots of million bells, angelonia and coreopsis, which will be planted in the perennial bed and in pots.
The perennial bed planted in front of the Potting Shed has matured since it was planted one year ago, Memorial Day weekend.
Some plants have thrived, some have struggled and a few things decided not to return this spring. Update coming soon!
How is your garden growing?
Pam at Everyday Living is hosting a new garden link-up party starting Monday, June 12th at 8 am CST. Share your personal garden, a garden you’ve visited, pretty flowers you’ve photographed, potted flowers around your home, your vegetable garden . . .anything that has to do with gardening. Hope to see you there!
Thank you for your visit!
Joining: Metamorphosis Monday, Inspire Me Tuesday, Gardens Galore
The Scoop, Wow Us Wednesdays, Tablescape Thursday, Foodie Friday and Everything Else Link Party
Love that sweet wheelbarrow. It makes a great addition to your garden…I bet it would be even sweeter filled with Chloe and Gracie!!!
The wheelbarrow turned out soooo pretty!!! It is amazing what a little vision and paint can do! xo
Again your blog inspires me to head out to my potting shed and look through my filled shelves for old garden tools and old bird houses…finding a new purpose for them in my garden. I love the hose wreath, its on my list to make. Finally the rain has stopped but after last year’s drought, it is a welcome site. The red wheelbarrel is perfect color for a flower garden ( and your red watering cans)
Mary, thanks so much for sharing my link-up party! Oh, how I love the wheelbarrow with its cut-out tulips…angelonia and million bells look so pretty tucked inside. Gardening is a constant battle fighting drought or too much rain. We traveled to Louisiana on a business trip Monday and drove in monsoon type rain. The areas we visited are seeing flooding. But, around your potting shed, everything looks healthy and beautiful! Again thanks for promoting my party…Happy Wednesday, we have sunshine today!
That is such a cute wheelbarrow. I used the Spanish Tile color for our house an garage doors. Unfortunately after a while the sun helped shift the color and it ended up looking burgundy. I guess red colors shift the easiest from what we were told. Your perennials look great- there always seems to be one or two that don’t come back in my gardens. This year I’m missing some cone flowers and a delphinium. I hope to join Pam’s garden party link up!
Oh my gosh…another home run. The wheelbarrow is just adorable! Inspiring.
I love the wheelbarrow and your plants all look fabulous! isn’t this year easier with all the rain…..daily watering is a good time to check each little plants progress but oh! so time consuming…..What are your local haunts in this area for “things needing rehab” and special finds? I would hate to have missed something special! Thanks for sharing your creativity and green thumb!
It looks adorable Mary, and so happy to be adopted to such a special garden loving home! Spanish Tile is a great subtle red, a little color without taking away from the blooming foliage. I am looking forward to Pam’s party, but will probably just be a visitor since my gardening skills are limited to my paint brush. Your time and dedication to the gardens surrounding your potting shed is paying off in abundance, it looks fabulous!!
Jenna
Sweet tulip barrow! Did I see a bottle tree to the left of the Potting Shed? I love them. A pic please! Your gardens are beautiful Mary.
You transformed wheelbarrow is just darling, Mary! Your perennial bed is really filling out nicely, and makes a pretty welcoming to your potting shed.
That’s the cutest wheelbarrow I’ve ever seen!!
I hope that the person that made that little wheelbarrow will see it on your post. You have made it loveable again in your precious garden.
Just love the tulip wheelbarrow especially after your rescue. Your beds look great thanks to your very green thumb. I gave up on lavender after several years and planting in different areas of the Garden. Do you have any secrets besides not much water and plenty of sunshine? We too have had lots of rain in eastern North Carolina so not much need for watering. Have a wonderful day.
Love the new (old) wheelbarrow! The red paint is perfect!!!
Mary, the wheelbarrow is luck you rescued it. I love how you’ve fixed her up and painted her red. I can see a whole new future for this cutie! Your garden show that you give it hours of attention. I’ve been lazy the past few weeks, but need to get myself back out digging in the dirt. We too have had some good rain, but not as constant as you. Hoping for more this week. Enjoy your garden. It looks fantastic! What a difference a year makes!
Love your renewed wheelbarrow and the color. Now you can really see the little cut out tulips.
What a great little wheelbarrow. Isn’t funny how something so little like that can inspire you to break out the saw, paint, etc? A happy match, that was. My garden is growing well, and I’ll be joining Pam’s garden party with an update too. I seem to lose focus every time I go out into my yard. Last night it was to salvage and re-pot some of the succulents which suffered from severe neglect inside the sunroom while it served as remodel dumping ground. Anywho, 3 hrs later, I had watered outside, dug 4 holes and transplanted 3 other plants! Only then did I re-pot the succulents. It’s hypnotic, that garden!
The wheel barrel is beautiful. The flowers are very pretty.
Joan
Everything looks like a magical garden. You surly have green thumb.
Marilyn
What a marvelous job you did on the wheel barrel. It looks brand new. All of the flowers are gorgeous.
Marion
Mary, You had a great vision for the cute wheelbarrow. It looks great painted red filled with pretty flowers in your garden. That was an amazing find.
Looks great. The tulip cutouts are so sweet.
Mary,
Your rejuvenated wheelbarrow is basking in its new home… surrounded by and filled with beautiful flowers. The stone urn with the blue flowers caught my eye. What kind of flower is it?
Judith
Thanks Judith, the blue flower is lobelia. It comes on a “hot” variety so it can withstand the summer heat!
Great make-over on that darling little wheelbarrow, Mary! The red really makes the cut out tulips show up nicely.
I don’t envy you all those outdoor chores…makes me tired just reading about all your hard work. We, also, have had way too much rain!
Love that wheelbarrow and the way you have transformed it with that beautiful red. Your flower beds are looking great…and yes Mother Nature has helped us a bit with the rain lately….I was out dead-heading the roses and discovered Japanese Beetles!…they have invaded!…Your hard work paid off as the gardens look spectacular!!
Love this post with that cute transformed wheelbarrow, and your fabulous potting shed and perennial garden. What a happy place you’ve created, and we have the joy through photos of enjoying it too! Soooo much charm!!
What a great find! You worked your garden charm again and brought her back to life! It’s just too cute! I can see her loaded down with pumpkins in the fall!! hehe I had a great find at Big Lots – do you have one near you? I purchased the cutest 4 tier black metal garden shelf with bird finial on top. It is now sitting on my shed porch next to my brown wicker rocker. If I can figure how to “Link up” to Monday’s party, I’ll send over a picture of my potting shed. :)
Love your Blog. Everything you do comes out PERFECT.
Well, if that’s not the cutest wheelbarrow I have ever seen! You are so very talented and I am gonna take a stroll around your blog! Coming over from Pam’s Gardens Galore link party!
Katy
What a gorgeous garden scene….the potting shed is idyllic and quaint and your wheelbarrow makeover is perfect in my favorite color of red. What a perfect post for this link-up!
Mary, thanks again for linking to Gardens Galore! You continually inspire me!
The wheelbarrow is an adorable addition to your garden. I can’t help but drink in each photo, as if you are serving lemonade along with beauty. I love the wee lights along your path, too. I tried to pin last night, but I was on the old ipad, and it went tharn. :-) Happy potting and puttering!
Turned out great! I saw a similar one at a garage sale last weekend and really wanted it, but didn’t want to spend what they wanted for it. Now I wish I had it!