A Secret Garden Nook

Do you have a spot where you can steal away

on a summer's day?

A secret nook to read a book...

sip a glass of iced tea...

listen to the birds...

have a little snooze...

feel the breeze...

and get away from it all?

A place where you won't hear,

"MOM! WHAT CAN I EAT???"

If you do,

I'll be right over.

The idea for my garden nook came about
when we did some landscaping last summer,
which left a little clearing
just off the side of the yard.

My friend's beautiful secret garden
that I posted about last summer
was another source of motivation.

I was busy pinning inspiration photos all winter long...
daydreaming about the ideal little bistro set,
rusted to perfection...
interesting decorative accents...
lush foliage...
pretty pillows...
I had it all laid out in my mind.

Yeah, well..
it didn't quite work out like that.

When it came right down to it,
I couldn't see spending lots of money
on things that no one can really see.

I know, I know...
it's not supposed to be seen...
otherwise, it wouldn't be a "secret," duh.
But when it comes to certain things,
I'm frugal like that.

I decided to work with what I had, for the most part.
It's amazing what you can find
when you shop your own house.

I started with a weathered red bench,
that used to reside on my deck.
I think it came from LL Bean, a few years ago.
It didn't really fit in with the rest of my deck furniture,
so moving it made sense.

I like that you can see the red through the trees from the deck.

I accessorized with things I had...
Flower pots...

Lanterns...

A wagon wheel...

A little table covered with a napkin...

oh, and watermelon (heh-heh)

I painted some terra-cotta flower pots,
and stacked them to make a table.

A Secret Garden Nook --- Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I did purchase a few things...

The lobster pillow at Home Goods...

The sundial from Joss and Main...

and the bird feeder from Home Goods.

So, although it didn't turn out to look like
what I had in my mind's eye,
it's a start, and it will evolve.

One way or another,
by "nook" or by crook...
I'll get it to be closer to the look I envisioned.