The Front Porch

I have a calendar called "On The Front Porch." It's pictures of different porches each month. The pictures never really show the seasons except in fall--the trees have golden leaves. It's just a wonderful collection of porches. I have always yearned for a big front porch, but as you can see, I don't have one. My house is a one story ranch with a small porch. I can't put very much on it, but always manage to have a few things. The big pots with geraniums on always on either side of the door. They don't look very good right now, but were beautiful when it was not so hot.
I have 2 coleus on either side of the steps.


My
"Welcome" sign is on an iron hanger and sits in the flower bed right in front of one of the coleus. These coleus got so big they were top heavy, so I trimmed them down quite a bit.
They were pleased with the cut and are now growing back very thick and happy!







I always like to have something that smells good on the porch, so on one side I have a pot of peppermint and rosemary.











Then on the other side is cinnamon basil and lemon basil. They all smell so good when someone brushes up against them.










I would love to have a big front porch, but I don't so I make due with what I have. I can still dream though...of a big porch with rocking chairs, maybe a swing, maybe a table with some chairs. I'll have a cup of coffee or glass of lemonade on my dream porch and listen to the birds or watch the fireflies.

So.....what's on your front porch???

Front Porch Geraniums

I have always loved red geraniums--and my favorite place for them is on the front porch. I have 2, one on each side of the front door. I had such pretty plants last year, still blooming late in the fall, I decided to try and keep them over the winter. I do not have a greenhouse and the pots are heavy, but I was determined. I dragged them inside, pushed them to the back of the porch, watered, picked off dead leaves, put them in the sun on warm winter days---and I was rewarded! They are back in place now on either side of the front door. They have grown bigger, the leaves are healthy green and the blooms are HUGH! One afternoon I counted 25 (yes, really 25!) flowers on one of the plants! Was it lots of trouble to over-winter them? Yeah, kind of. Would I do it again? YES!!