Fall leaves start me thinking about next spring....

because those thoughts keep me going through the Michigan winters....

I have to start planning the outside plantings and deck sometime in January.. so it's time to get some inspiration pics now.

The Mr. won a custom fire ring last week- you know the large metal rings that stand a few inches tall that you can build a fire pit in the middle. That means another seating area.... I happen to like this one a lot....

I have a green Coolaroo that is like the white one above....

I love how this seating area looks..very fresh and clean and comfortable. I wonder how it holds up to daily use and being outside in the elements?

Jeffery Gordon Smith

If I could hire any landscape architect, it would be Jeffery Gordon Smith

hands down. If you can't see from these pics go to his site. It's beautiful.

The grasses, the raised beds, the pavers. They are all perfect. And that clapboard house...... I covet it all.

casual modern outdoors....

no idea where this came from, probably Apartment therapy. Love the butterfly chairs, even if my dear husband does not.

this is a DIY planter made w/cement blocks and succulents.

oh....to have a roof garden.

It's too hot to spent much time outside today- so these pics will have to do for now...

stay cool

outdoor wire statues

These are are from Animals in Wire, from the UK

and I LOVE them!

I can see the chickens in my back yard planting beds and the dog in the planting bed behind my deck...

Outside Modern Planter

The Mr. assures me that this is totally do-able at our location. Just not this year. I love the horizontal planter and the simplicity of the plantings.

You can't forget the outside of your place

These are great lower water yards from sunset magazine . Being from Texas originally I always gardened using a low/no water philosphy. Now that I live in Michigan, with a river in my backyard , I no longer have those constraints, but still love to use low water plantings in my garden so I don't have to water as much. I wish I had less lawn and more garden every year.