It’s been a little while since we shared a proper gardening update—over a month, actually—but that doesn’t mean nothing’s been happening. We’ve been quietly working outside and waiting for things to fill in before snapping photos. If you remember, we recently transplanted some shrubs to freshen up the area behind the patio (see that project). That helped one side, but it left a rather obvious empty spot on the other side.
To address that bare patch, we returned to our hydrangea strategy a few weeks ago. We picked up a pair of hydrangeas and a pot of petunias at Home Depot and planted them to give that side of the patio some life. For the first few weeks it was mostly mulch and green stems, but we hoped the hydrangeas would bulk up and bloom as they settled in—and thankfully, they did.
Fast-forward to this week and the corner is noticeably improved. Both hydrangeas are blooming, one showing lovely blue tones and the other leaning toward purple, which suggests a difference in the underlying soil conditions. The blooms bring a soft, lush look that plays nicely against the patio bricks and surrounding greenery.
We also added a little ceramic accent — a green garden turtle that Sherry found at HomeGoods. It cost $16 and felt like a small but cheerful addition to the bed. The turtle made Clara smile right away, and it helps create a friendly, finished appearance for the space. Bonus: we finally cleared those leftover garden stones that had been sitting on the brick steps for over a year. Some neighbors bought them from us for their garden, so we made about $90 and the steps look much cleaner now.
One of the funnier moments captured on our photo run involved Burger, who photobombed a soft-focus flower shot. He was focused on a tiny lizard that likes to sun on the steps but scurries away whenever Burger approaches. We like to imagine Burger is on a noble quest to befriend every lizard in the neighborhood, though at this rate the lizards win the evasion contest.
Beyond the hydrangeas and the ceramic turtle, we tackled another lingering item: a pair of black planters that had been shifted around the patio since we moved in. Those planters originally housed boxwoods we planted back at our old house, and amazingly, the boxwoods kept growing. With a recommendation from Katherine, The Landscape Gal, to use boxwoods flanking the front door, we decided to relocate the two hearty plants to the front porch where they could anchor the entrance.
We carefully removed each boxwood from the black planters and replanted them into the wooden front porch containers that previously held seasonal mums. It felt right to move them there, and we’re hopeful they adapt well. To be honest, those wooden planters haven’t always treated plants kindly in the past, so we’re making a conscious effort to monitor moisture and give the boxwoods regular care.
That left the black planters empty, so we filled them with white petunias we picked up at Home Depot. They’re not a dramatic transformation, but the white blooms add a clean, bright touch to this otherwise flower-leaning side of the patio. Together with the hydrangeas and the ceramic turtle, the area now reads as intentional and welcoming rather than neglected.
We’re pleased with how these small changes—new plantings, a garden accent, and swapping planters around—have improved the patio’s appearance. It’s a reminder that modest updates can make a space feel refreshed without a huge investment of time or money.
How about you? Are you deep into spring and summer gardening projects, or are you starting to lose momentum as the warmer weather approaches? We’d love to hear what you’ve been doing in your outdoor spaces this season.