IT'S BEEN A WHILE. LET'S CATCH UP

Hi, there. Remember me? I hope so! It's your friend Kathryn from WBL. In case you have been wondering what became of my little blog, I'll summarize:

1. Teaching online and in-person during a pandemic.

2. Child number 1 got married. 

3. Child number 2 got married. 

4. And in between, a 50th anniversary party for the best in-laws. 

That should explain my over-a-year's absence from blogging. This past year has been one of the busiest but best years in so many ways.

I know you've all been on the edge of your seats to find out what we did in our front flower bed. So... let's pick up right where we left off, shall we? If you missed the last post from August 2020 that I'm referencing, click and catch up here.

Here's a quick reminder of the before shot.

Our flower bed is big, really big, like too big. We were trying to keep things manageable, so here is what we ending up doing. 

We put in five Little Limelight hydrangeas from Lowe's. They were discounted because they weren't all that healthy, and since we had no idea if the deer would like them, we thought it would be a good place to start. 

They were blooming and green and did great at the beginning of the summer. To add some color for the approaching anniversary party we were hosting, I headed back to Lowe's to add some color.  I came home with four Torenia plants. It's a mounding annual, perfect for summer and fall. It was a new-to-me plant, and I loved them right away. The color is so vibrant. 

We planted them in the gap between the Limelights. 

They were beautiful most of the summer. However, the rabbits, deer, and bugs made sure they didn't stay that way too long. I sprayed the leaves, sprinkled human hair around, and checked on them daily as if they were my children. It's just really hard to compete with nature when you live in the woods. 

The annuals have been now been pulled up, and the Limelights are surviving; I'm just not sure for how long. We'll see what happens in the spring. 

Feel free to comment below with any advice you'd like to share about plants and the animals who love to eat them!

Glad to be with you again!

DECORATING WITH BOLD GREENERY: A DIY PROJECT

I really like the look of big, bold greenery. It's eye-catching and statement-making.

Philedendron leaves are an easy way to get that bold greenery look.

Ballard Designs

I'd been thinking I wanted to add some large leaves to my décor, and I came across this photo from One King's Lane back in September. Then, dear blog reading friends, I looked at the price tag. Needless to say, I was inspired to shop my house and create my own version.

One King's Lane

And that's just what I did.

Hobby Lobby sold me the two leaves. These may or may not have been 50% off when I bought them. September was a long time ago, and I can't remember. :)

I already had the glass vase (also from Hobby Lobby from years ago), and I already had the rocks. I was using them both for another arrangement that I was ready to be done with it, so it was the perfect vessel for my DIY project.

The finished look:

Not too bad!



If you'll remember I painted this room a few springs back, and I really hadn't done anything to this spot until I made this arrangement. I added the plates to finish it up the wall. Because blue and white makes every area better.

Here are a few more inspiration pictures using bold greenery in home decorating.

J K Kling

House Beautiful

via Pinterest 

via Pinterest

via Pinterest @trellishomedesign

Austin Patterson Diston Architects

I love the mix of blue, white, and green in this room. 

Caroline Gidiere

Enjoy your day,

Kathryn

A QUICK FIDDLE-LEAF FIG UPDATE

So here's the update... The fig is doing great!! Maybe too great. I'm worried if it keeps growing like this, it will soon be touching the ceiling. Then what do I do? Help!

Here's a quick reminder of what it looked like when I brought him home.

There's a new leaf working its way out as you're reading this. I absolutely love watching these new leaves grow. It is crazy how fast they turn into 14, 15, even 16" leaves. My plant has added around 10 - 12 leaves in a little over a year. I guess that means I'm doing something right.

To read more about my fig and how I've been taking care of it, go back and read this article. I share where I found it and give you a few tips for how to care for a fiddle-leaf fig.

Hope you're enjoying the summer!

Kathryn

WHY I LOVE THIS ROOM: TEN TAKEAWAYS (#2)

Today's post isn't exactly a full room, but it is a beautiful spot in a room. If I had to guess,
it's a work space nestled in the corner of a family room. No matter where it is, I love it! Best I can tell, it's only missing a touch of blue and white.

I've pinned tons of pretty pictures like this one, but this one created by Patricia McLean Interiors is the one I keep coming back to. I have an area in my house that I'm working on now similar to this. It's in our living room. My desk isn't an antique, and I had been considering selling it. However, after being inspired by this picture, I think I've decided to keep it. I'm in the process of decorating it and making a space I will actually use for things like storing mail, paying bills, and maybe even grading papers or working on the blog. 

Here are the elements of this space I'm tucking away for the similar space in my house...

Ten Takeaways

ONE

The landscape picture over the desk is the perfect size and has just the right amount of color. The colors tie in nicely with the desk and all of the accessories. I also like the frame. It looks like layers of wood or metal. The gold finish is also really pretty.

TWO

The collection of books displayed with the decorative bookends is a pretty detail not to go unnoticed. It's the perfect spot for a small set. 

THREE

I really like the family photograph. I don't see many "people" pictures in decorating these days. I don't have any black and white photos printed and on display in my house, and I want to add one to my desk area, too.

FOUR

Greenery (real or faux) is a must in any vignette. But you knew that, didn't you? :-)

FIVE

The lamp is one of my favorite things on the desk. It's the perfect size. The details around the bottom and the handles on the sides give it character.

SIX

The desk itself is so gorgeous. You've probably figured out by now if you've been around Woodbank Lane for any amount of time, I prefer the old to the new. That's probably why this space had me the first time it showed up in my Pinterest suggestions. Plus, it feels like something you would see in an episode of Downton Abbey.

SEVEN

The notes or bills, maybe coupons, filed in the mail organizer helps keep the important things neat. And helps things from getting lost. I need this!!

EIGHT

The white chair and white lamp work in perfect contrast with the dark wood. No matchy-matchy decorating here.

NINE

Details make a space. Have you heard that one before? I'm inclined to agree with that statement, most of the time. Look at the bows on the back of the chair. They add a hint of femininity with that small girl-y accent.

TEN

Okay, you may laugh at his one, but even the garbage can is well-chosen. It coordinates with the white chair and lamp, and has a pretty scalloped design.

Did I forget anything? Is there anything you liked that I missed? Can't wait to get my own desk space finished up.

Kathryn

A FIDDLE-LEAF FIG REPORT AND A FEW TIPS

I absolutely love live plants in my house. But, my goodness, they are such a challenge to keep alive sometimes. Not this peace lily. I have had this plant for--wait for it--twenty-four years! My grandparents gave it to me when my first baby boy was born. It's still doing well. At the time I took this picture, it had ten blooms on it.

However, this guy... I'm not sure he lasted twenty-four days. And that made me really sad because I thought he was a beautiful maidenhair fern.

But the "it" house plant that's everywhere right now is the fiddle-leaf fig.

Maisondepax via Pinterest

Jones Design Co. via Pinterest

Dwellings By Devore

Grown plants like the ones in these photos can be over $100 or even more. And according to what I've read and seen friends post on Instgram, they are hard to keep alive. So when I saw a smaller fiddle-fig at my local grocery store this summer for $10, I decided to give it a try.

I started it out here in our foyer. But this bright light you see in the pictures is later afternoon sun, probably around 2 or 3:00. And the air conditioner blew directly on it--that's a no-no.

It dropped three leaves from the bottom over the next couple of weeks. I took that as a sign and moved it to our breakfast room, a little ways down from the peace lily. This window gets indirect morning light and afternoon light. I think he's much happier here.

I took it out of the blue and white planter because it felt too big. So for now it's just a fig, in a plate, on a little red stool. Have no fear though, I have a cute basket on the way.

It has done wonderfully since moving to this new spot. Here is the first new leaf. I couldn't believe how fast it grew once it opened up.

From this view the plant looks perfect, but there are a few struggling leaves below.

You can cut out these brown spots without damaging the rest of the leaf. I'm leaving this one for now because it doesn't seem to be spreading.

This one was pretty bad, so I clipped off the brown spot.

That's the update on the plant itself. Here are a few tips based on all I've read and what I'm actually doing to care for the fiddle-leaf fig.

LIGHT

Bright light all day seems to really be what it likes. The light isn't direct, but it is constant. This window probably provides the most light of any in our house.

WATER

I water it once week, unless it still feels damp, and then I might wait 8-9 days. I use a half-gallon pitcher and fill it about 3/4 of the way full. I water it evenly and let it drain well.

POSITION

Each time I water it, I turn it 180 degrees so it's not pulling toward the window. Also, I put it on the end of the window that receives very little direct air from the air conditioner.

LEAVES

Almost every tutorial I read said to wipe the leaves off occasionally. I've carefully done that about three times in the few months I've had it. I've just used a damp paper towel or dish drying towel.

And other than just telling it how pretty it is and how much I would love for it to live a long, happy life, that's it! So far that seems to be enough. I haven't fertilized it or repotted it. I'll give you an update in a few months.

Kathryn

PS... Since preparing for this post, new leaf #2 has appeared. :-)

DEAL ALERT: SUCCULENTS

Who knew you could buy succulents from Amazon?

My husband saw an ad in one of his feeds and said I should share these deals with you. So, that's what I'm doing. Nice of him to be on the lookout for good deals we might all be interested in. :-) 

I love the look of succulents in every type of container and in any room. On tables tops, in book shelves, in vignettes--succulents add character to any space. I've had a few over the years (the two above), and I guess I should confess that they didn't last too long. I'm going to attempt to grow them again this summer. I definitely learned the key to keeping them alive is not to over water. I've done a bit of reading and research since I lost the first few I had, so I feel up to the succulent-growing task again.  

Here's what I found on Amazon, and if you've priced these plants at all lately, you'll see why these are good deals.  

The plants come in assorted packs and in several different quantities. Here are just a few examples of the assortments Amazon has to offer. (Affiliate links)

Collection of 4

Collection of 12

Collection of 12 - Green

Collection of 12 - Rosette

Collection of 20 - Blue/Green

How cute is this idea for planters?

via Pinterest

This would be a great idea for a hostess gift or I know some teachers who would love this for an end-of-the-year gift. :-)

One Wed

Here's another idea. Pick up random tea cups and saucers at thrift stores and use them for planters.

DIY Spins

Look how pretty they are in milk glass.

via Pinterest

They're pleasing in just about anything. 

 Thanks for stopping by!