Rancho Landscape Design

In preparing for a birthday club celebration which was held at my house, I Iooked around the yard and tried to think outside the box (which is where my thinking lives most days anyway).

The ginger plant I bought at a local nursery reminded me of my daughter’s beach mat, so I placed them near each other.

The window ledge on my back patio reminded me of a mantel, so I dressed it as one.

The door to the little house needed something, so I made this from ‘found’ objects in my garden shed.

I looked to the left of the little house door, and thought it needed something so I added a favorite cross.

I wanted to hang this wrought iron candle holder on this old brick BBQ pit wall behind the little house, so I began a wrestling match with it and some garden twine.

(Picture a tug of war with me hanging on for dear life, inside the pit hanging on to my twine tied wrought iron candelabra that weighs a million pounds - shouting ‘John’ (my husband) to no avail.)

I tried my talavera here , but I can see that this is off and needs re-working.

I kept adding pieces, in the same way I keep adding bracelets when I get dressed.

Please know that I know this doesn’t look right.

I am going to remove the pitcher and the small sconce.

The broken lantern also needs a candle.

I found a St. Francis statue at HEB of all places (a local grocery store) .

And I also found petunias there in purple, pink, and white.

Aside on petunias:  I am not a fan of their one hit wonder nature or the irritating concept of dead-heading, but the colors are amazing.

In discussing my yard with my friend Anna- the evening of the party, I have hit upon a name for my kind of landscape design.

Rancho…

literal translation: ranch

my loose symbolic translation: country, imperfect, simple, humble, ‘dolled up’ for special occasions , a little shy