A few days ago I decided our backyard needed a little sprucing. It all started when I got the crazy fantastic idea to add some play spaces for the Wunderkids. During the summer (well really most of the year here in Southern California) the kids and family spend a ton of time outside. Our backyard easily becomes and extension of our living room. As I looked around I realized there was a whole lot of ‘blah’ and not many spaces to enjoy. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money so I decided on a few inexpensive additions. I started with the built in hopscotch for the kids and then I moved on to this, more “grown-up” area.
We have had this swinging bench for years! It has lived in three houses, been snowed on, and moved across the country twice. Needless to say, it was looking a little worn. Since I paint just about everything this gorgeous shade of turquoise (I already had the paint so ‘technically’ it didn’t cost me for this project) I decided the bench would look amazing in that color too. I really think it adds just the right amount of color to make this space look inviting.
For the ground cover I used all-purpose rock, sold in bags at Home Depot for around $2.50 each. It’s not the perfect color (you can buy all sorts of beautiful landscape gravel in shades of golds, browns, and reds but the cost can add up quick) but it definitely does the job. I used 7 bags for this space.
To soften up the space I chose two white lantana to plant on either side of the bench. Lantana comes in several different colors, grows low to the ground, and does well in warm climates. They bloom dainty little flowers and grow to be a couple square feet around. In 6 months-1 yr much of the rock on the sides of the bench should be covered with tiny flowers.
So, what do you think?
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