MY LITTLE PATIO

I have a little "patio" that I made with (free) bricks a few months back. It's just a small part of my dream patio behind the house (technically the side yard, but we call it the back yard).

With our (very) modest income, I try to do the best I can with what I have - the "shed" was made by Mister from two large shipping crates, sided with two small windows. All free materials, it stands about 5 feet tall.
On the left of the shed is this fabulous cedar arch that came from a yard sale. It has a pot of trailing gloxinias behind it so the flowers climb on it. Those are pink Four O'Clocks and white Cosmos in front.

These plastic chairs just won't die! We've had them for about 10 or 12 years. Pillar free (side of road), trellis $2 at yard sale - supporting a Morning Glory.

Mister picked up this arch/bench/trellis new-in-box at a yard sale four years ago. We've moved it around the yard a few times. The white trellis piece was free, I think. Pillow cushions are from an old sofa and the two smaller pillows were a gift from Dawn of Cottage State of Mind. (Dawn, I sprayed them with a UV protectant so they won't fade!) I'm growing Morning Glories and Thunbergia up the sides, and a planter of Coleus underneath.

The umbrella was free from a neighbor down the street who decided she didn't want to drill holes in her deck to secure it. I've always wanted one of these side-arm umbrellas - Mister had some sort of long (very long!) screws or something, and just put it into the ground. Even when it's windy it doesn't wobble! The planter (free from a friend) at the bottom of the stairs has two Sweet Potato Vines in it. The blue lawn chairs were free when my sister moved to an apartment.


Originally, when we put up the (prefab) house, it had a window where the blue door is, but I had them change it to a door. I'm glad I did, we use it all the time! (It goes into my craft/laundry room). We wanted to put in a large cement or paver patio here, but as time went on and funds got low, it never materialized. Grass has slowly grown into a lot of this sandy area. Thursday, on Freecycle, I saw a listing for 50 free large patio pavers, so I sent the guy an email saying I definitely wanted them. I haven't heard back yet, even though I sent a second email practically begging for them! I'm hoping he just went away for the weekend and will contact me tomorrow.

Here's the view looking out from the door. Nice and relaxing! (Except for the noisy kids on the other side of the trees who always hit foul balls into my yard!) Mister built the stone walls from rocks on our property and made the steps from the foundation stones of our old (old!) house.
So, you see, my little patio area has lots of potential - where are Yard Crashers when you need them!