Bailey Van Tassel

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03 May 2021
DIY

Our Back Patio Refresh

After
Before

We knew when we moved in a year ago that we wanted to make an outdoor living room/cabana type of space, but as life moves, so do the plans for large-scale renovations. After a full year of leaving this space completely empty, I decided that it was time for a temporary dining area. Our weather is too nice, the sunsets too gorgeous, and the years too short.

My first step always is … Pinterest. Of course (you can see the board I made here)! I started perusing patio inspiration and realized quickly (to no one’s surprise) that I like a Mediterranean/ European vibe. Something very old world and natural, easy and rustic yet a bit elevated.

I decided that some large pots would anchor the space, and that we needed lights. A table of course, was the biggest element of it all, and I was so lucky to have found the perfect option for that.

I worked with Polywood to settle on the exact table and color, and then build the rest around that. They are an incredible company that rescues landfill-bound and ocean-bound plastics, turning it into their “lumber”. The quality is incredible, the products are top rate and durable, which for me is crucial with our salty weather (we’re 10 mins from the ocean). It’s the perfect outdoor furniture – I truly can’t say enough good things!

Table Details

Polywood, Lakeside 7- Piece Dining Set

The pots

The pots that I found were from my favorite local nursery, and are pretty huge. Almost 3 feet tall! I loved that there’s a bit of a green tint to them, adding some color. The urn shape is something I am very drawn to, and though a lot of the built-in elements of our yard are more modern, these really did add so much charm and don’t look out of place.

The flowers

The design philosophy for filling pots is to have a “thriller, filler, and spiller”. Something big that thrills and adds height, something full that creates a lush center, and something to spill over the edge of the pot. I chose these climbing Mandavilla to create some thickness to the poles and cover them. I then added some yellow freesia as a filler that has an amazing fragrance when you walk by and plays off the center of the sweet petunias, which are my spillers.

Lights and poles

We learned a lot from this. My husband was so patient with me, and let me prove to myself that doing things the right way matters. I wanted to just jam some cheap poles into the pots and throw gravel on top. Seemed simple, and it was. But it wasn’t sturdy and when we added bistro lights, the tension bent the poles, and the wind did too. So, we had to buy thicker poles, and cement them into pots.

These are the exact poles we got, which are 4ft tall (we put two together) because we wanted 8ft in height. 10ft seemed too tall for our roofline. And we spraypainted them to make them black, as there was white writing on them.

Then we added cap fittings and a hook to complete the look!

Now that our back patio is done, I wish we would have done it sooner! The planning really took the most time, but the rest was done in a day. It adds so much charm and function to the backyard, and we really love it.

If you have further questions, leave a comment here, and Ill get back to you.

 

TAGS:backyardflower potspatiopolywood
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Hi I’m Bailey

Hi I’m Bailey

Teaching you how to grow veggies in any space while show you how to live a garden-inspired life.

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Edible flowers are a garden staple for me. I’ll grow any and ALL of them. 

Up first in this little series: flower ice cubes. As simple as putting flowers in the ice cube tray, filling it with water, and then freezing! 

It’s making mocktail hour very festive around here! 

Flower featured: dianthus. I grow it as a perennial and while I love it, the petals get separated when you destem them and they’re a bit fragile so I prefer to use them this way or fresh. 

#edibleflowers #eatyourflowers #dianthus #mocktails
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

Edible flowers are a garden staple for me. I’ll grow any and ALL of them.

Up first in this little series: flower ice cubes. As simple as putting flowers in the ice cube tray, filling it with water, and then freezing!

It’s making mocktail hour very festive around here!

Flower featured: dianthus. I grow it as a perennial and while I love it, the petals get separated when you destem them and they’re a bit fragile so I prefer to use them this way or fresh.

#edibleflowers #eatyourflowers #dianthus #mocktails

1 day ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
A tiny pollinator garden! In the dead heat of summer ☀️

I planted a meter lemon (which, yes, will be great in this pot forever) and some fennel for the giant swallowtail butterflies. Then parsley which attract the black swallowtail butterfly, and Pentas which will give nectar to all the hummingbirds and bees and butterflies. 

I filled the very bottom of this pot with some rocks, then added a bag of citrus mix soil (good drainage) and potting soil above that. It’s just what I had laying around. 

I chose to place the parsley behind the citrus for a little shade and then the fennel on the sides and the pentas up front. 

Hope this is helpful for any of my small spacer gardeners - there’s so much you can do in one pot! 

#pollinatorgarden #gardeninginspiration #smallspacegardening #urbangardening #urbangarden #urbangardener #gardendesign #gardenlife
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

A tiny pollinator garden! In the dead heat of summer ☀️

I planted a meter lemon (which, yes, will be great in this pot forever) and some fennel for the giant swallowtail butterflies. Then parsley which attract the black swallowtail butterfly, and Pentas which will give nectar to all the hummingbirds and bees and butterflies.

I filled the very bottom of this pot with some rocks, then added a bag of citrus mix soil (good drainage) and potting soil above that. It’s just what I had laying around.

I chose to place the parsley behind the citrus for a little shade and then the fennel on the sides and the pentas up front.

Hope this is helpful for any of my small spacer gardeners – there’s so much you can do in one pot!

#pollinatorgarden #gardeninginspiration #smallspacegardening #urbangardening #urbangarden #urbangardener #gardendesign #gardenlife

2 days ago
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It started on a dead patch of lawn, which I turned into two raised beds. 

And now after *years* of research, trial, moves, waiting on global pandemics to end (♾) we have a garden with 10 beds, an arch trellis, a potting bench, and 8 hours of sun! 

Honestly, my husband has pushed me to not half-ass it. I like progress over perfect, and without his help and nudging I’d just have thrown some seeds in the ground and called it a day. Which is totally fine, and so very good enough. 

But he knew I wanted a specific place. A room. A setting for my dreams. A location that beckons visitors and creates admirers not for the sake of ego, but to inspire into appreciators of the garden in general. 

So, go all in on yourself. Don’t half ass it. 

#gardendesign #raisedbedgarden #organicgardening #liveauthentic
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

It started on a dead patch of lawn, which I turned into two raised beds.

And now after *years* of research, trial, moves, waiting on global pandemics to end (♾) we have a garden with 10 beds, an arch trellis, a potting bench, and 8 hours of sun!

Honestly, my husband has pushed me to not half-ass it. I like progress over perfect, and without his help and nudging I’d just have thrown some seeds in the ground and called it a day. Which is totally fine, and so very good enough.

But he knew I wanted a specific place. A room. A setting for my dreams. A location that beckons visitors and creates admirers not for the sake of ego, but to inspire into appreciators of the garden in general.

So, go all in on yourself. Don’t half ass it.

#gardendesign #raisedbedgarden #organicgardening #liveauthentic

5 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
I love this plant. Calendula is an edible and medicinal flower that self sows quite well. I haven’t had it growing in my garden in about 6 months, and yet here she is! 

She likes a cooler season, but apparently end of July works too! Once I saw this volunteer pop up, I immediately started the rest of my seeds. 

Follow natures queues to best learn your own garden. Mama 🌎 knows best. 

Hoping for a big calendula year to make salves for friends and family. We love it for cuts, burns, and irritated skin. 

Oh and then there’s the pure unadulterated joy of calendula flowers adorning a cake or salad. She’s a queen, this one. 

#calendula #edibleflowers #medicinalherbs #herbalism #slowliving #livesimply
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

I love this plant. Calendula is an edible and medicinal flower that self sows quite well. I haven’t had it growing in my garden in about 6 months, and yet here she is!

She likes a cooler season, but apparently end of July works too! Once I saw this volunteer pop up, I immediately started the rest of my seeds.

Follow natures queues to best learn your own garden. Mama 🌎 knows best.

Hoping for a big calendula year to make salves for friends and family. We love it for cuts, burns, and irritated skin.

Oh and then there’s the pure unadulterated joy of calendula flowers adorning a cake or salad. She’s a queen, this one.

#calendula #edibleflowers #medicinalherbs #herbalism #slowliving #livesimply

6 days ago
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4/4

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