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Front Porch Appeal - May Porch Patter May 02, 2024 |
Hello, Porch Friend, Welcome to Front Porch Appeal! May is the month of blooming flowers, relaxing outdoor living, Mother's Day, picnics and Memorial Day. May represents new beginnings and fresh starts, a perfect time to begin porch improvement projects or spruce up our porch decor. Simply stated, May is the time for envisioning possibilities for our outdoor spaces.
Porch Wellness Tips for Relaxation
May is a time of the year when most of us can get out and enjoy our porches again. And what a better place to relax and enjoy. If you can imagine being right here on this porch, what are some ways in which you could relax and unwind? You could simply sit on your porch, free of distractions, and enjoy the sights and sounds of your surroundings. Where we live, that would mean hearing the birds chirp, the woodpeckers peck, and the leaves rustling in the woods. How about enjoying a wonderful book of your choosing. Either a page-turner that makes your heart skip a beat or a how-to book that teaches something you've always wanted to know (that would be my kind of book). Even a wonderful children's book is relaxing to the heart and soul. Sit comfortably and focus on your breath. Let the inhales and exhales move you to a gentle state of relaxation, washing away the cares of the day. Visit with a friend and share a heartfelt conversation. Maybe it's just about the weather or what's coming up in the next few days. Simply a chance to connect with someone you care about. May you allow your porch to be a respite to refresh and recharge.
Do You Plant Your Own Flower Baskets?
Do you like to purchase the large, prepared flower pots from your home improvement store? Or do you prefer assembling all the ingredients yourself (the pot, the dirt and the plants) and creating your own beautiful porch plant from scratch? We've done both and of course, planting your own can be more budget friendly especially if you buy the small flats of plants early in the season. A prepared pot of flowers is instant gratification and we think either way is great. This basket of adorable pink calibrachoas and petunias is just right for our porch. Now if we can keep it looking this lovely all through the summer, that would be a great reward. And we won't feel bad for spending a few dollars on it. Enjoy these pictures of hanging baskets!
A Helpful Product for Us Porch EnthusiastsIf your home has vinyl siding or shakes, we are long time lovers of these aluminum siding hooks, a versatile product that allows you to hang wall art, wind chimes or other light-weight decor on your walls (without making holes).We've been using these versatile hooks ever since we learned about them years ago and they allow us to hang just about whatever we desire on our porch.
Do you see how we hung this piece of art from our vinyl shakes? No holes or tools required. The hook snaps to the gap in the siding. To install simply roll the vinyl siding cable hooks into any seam in your vinyl siding. They are easy to relocate, too.
Another example of how we have hung artwork on our porch. We simply attached a strand of wire around the hook and connected it to the artwork. Very easy.
The hooks come in different styles and sizes depending upon what you'd like to hang. For example, these are soffit hangers allowing us to hang our wind chimes without making a hole in the soffit. They have been hanging beautifully on our porch for years now. Other amenities you might like to hang on your porch are strands of lights, wooden plaques, security cameras, thermometers, birthday decorations, garlands and decorative hangers. Here again is where you can get the original versatile vinyl siding hooks. We have used these hooks for years and really enjoy them. And if you have a brick home, take a look at these brick hangers. As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
In Honor of Mothers Everywhere
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 12th in the USA. As May blooms with vibrant fragrances and the warmth of spring, we honor our caring mothers who bring love, strength, and warmth into our lives. To all the wonderful moms out there, thank you for your countless sacrifices, your unwavering patience, and your much-appreciated support. May your day be filled with joy, relaxation, and the knowledge that you are cherished beyond measure. Dave and I are grateful that we both had strong and caring moms, Virginia Rose and Leone Irene, and we miss them both dearly.
Beauty Around the Yard
Our evening primrose is just beginning to bloom. Wish we had more blooms to show you; they are delicate pink with an almost neon yellow center and lightly striated. While lovely, the plant itself is invasive. So we thin them every year and that keeps them in check. In the foreground is a vibrant pink begonia, one of many in our garden.
I received these beautiful columbine plants for my birthday this year. They are flourishing in our side garden; I wish you could seem them for real. They are THAT wonderful. 
These pink dianthus are very hardy where we live. They survive the winter and often bloom even in the winter. They can be separated and planted in multiple places in the garden, which we have done many times. Here you see them in our front porch garden. For our planting zone (7b), they are perennials, which is fantastic. What flowers are blooming in your garden? You can reply to this email and we would enjoy hearing. We have a ton of porch landscaping ideas for you here.
In Honor of Our Fallen Heroes
Memorial Day in the USA is on Monday, May 27, 2024. As Memorial Day approaches, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Memorial Day is a time of solemn reflection and gratitude for their courage, sacrifice, and dedication to preserving our freedoms. A deep-felt thank you to their families who go on without them.
On Memorial Day, communities across the nation come together to pay tribute with ceremonies, parades, and moments of silence. As we gather on our porches and in our neighborhoods, let's take a moment to remember and honor the heroes who gave everything for our nation, and to express our deepest gratitude for their selfless service.
Be Prepared for Spring Storms
We repeat this section from last month's newsletter as we feel it's that important. So many tornadoes have already struck this year, with countless homes destroyed and lives lost. Storms and tornadoes must be taken seriously; lives and treasured homes are lost every year as a result of storm destruction. We found a storm shelter that incorporates into a porch and honestly, we think it's quite a novel idea. You can learn more about these storm shelters right here.
From Our Treasured Sponsors...
Custom porch railings. On Facebook, our sponsor, The Porch Store says, "This balcony with its custom Porch Store railing is giving Romeo & Juliet vibes." Porch railings never need to be boring again. The Porch Store has taken porch railings to a beautiful, refined and custom level.
Imagine living in this beautiful home with an authentic Victorian gingerbread porch. What wonderful and memorable craftsmanship on the balusters and trim.
PCA Products, one of our fine sponsors, takes aluminum screen doors to a new level. Look at this gorgeous, inviting entry way. Please stop by their aluminum screen door gallery for inspiration and to see for yourself what they offer.
Till Next Time...
We all live busy lives, so thank you for being in our porch family. We appreciate you. May you enjoy the month of May and all the outdoor activities that come alive. For those in the more northern planting zones, this month, around Mother's Day, usually marks the time when it's safe to plant in our gardens and pots. Hurray! Sending you best wishes for a wonderful month. See you on the porch. Our best always, Mary and Dave  |
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