After a Midwest winter, our front porch was long overdue for a scrub-down and spruce-up. I’m sort of ready for one, too. (Facials and massages, anyone?) But that’s going to have to wait for another day.
It was well worth the time it took to spruce up the entry for spring. Some elbow grease, soap and water and a few of my favorite BOLD AND COLORFUL PLANTS. Hello, ladies!
Now, our entry is more than ready for some porch swinging and guest welcoming.
Plants I used
I’m a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to potting plants. When you know something works, why mess with it?
And there are few things more traditional than Red Calliope Geraniums. They go perfectly with the rest of the red on our porch – and with just some regular watering, they’ll look bright and beautiful all summer long.
But I couldn’t stop with the geraniums. I also wanted to add a little height – so I went with Red Fox Curly Sedge. This is a beautiful plant for some interest in a pot. But it also looks awesome in a flower garden for a little natural touch. (It’s also a perennial, so it will come up year after year.)
Like always, I chose Monrovia plants from Lowe’s – they always look fresh, healthy and full of color. And they hold up like no other plants in the garden center.
Did you know?
You can even buy Monrovia plants online and have them shipped to your local Lowe’s for free.
My plants are pretty petite right now, but I know they’ll fill in and spread out over the next few months. By late summer, they’ll look better than ever. Just like fine wine (and me), they get much better with age.
Better with age … and plenty of sunshine and water. Luckily, we get plenty of sun and we installed a spigot right near the front porch. No excuses for regular watering and colorful plants all summer.
As I was working on the porch, I didn’t stop at the plants.
I also scrubbed all the grime away from the porch – which truly made it feel like new. It’s amazing how much dirt and muck can accumulate in a few short months. A bucket of soap and water and a sponge was all it took.
Finally, I added a few more finishing touches. It really doesn’t take much to make the porch feel welcoming.
I started with a few decorative touches – the door hanger, large galvanized star and rug. Then, I brought out the rocking chair and a small pouf ottoman. I didn’t have to buy anything new besides the plants!
Do you want a front porch that’s full of bright and beautiful color?
Head over to Monrovia’s site to shop online, sign up for a gardening newsletter or get more in the way of gardening inspiration and ideas.
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Kathy says
I guess I’m the oddball, because I hate the smell of geraniums!
Jill says
Love the door! What brand is it? Where did you purchase it from?
Kim Woodward says
It’s a Pella exterior door – it’s a fiberglass 3/4 European door from their standard line.
Gretchen@BoxyColonial says
I feel like every blog post I’m reading lately is about porches and decks–that time of year, I guess :). It’s working out very well for me, since our deck and porch are my big projects this summer (and, let’s be honest, probably fall)….love your geraniums!
Patty says
BEE-U-TEE-FUL!! Can you tell me the paint color used in the door? Thx!
Kim Woodward says
It’s Behr Antique Red!
Cassie Bustamante says
i just love geraniums because they remind me of summers as a kid and my mom’s window boxes! i love the odd smell they have, too!
Kim Woodward says
They definitely have a lot of nostalgia for me, too!