Greetings, all!!! Jordan and I are on day two of her two-day visit, and just finished hosting her second (this was out of town) Stella and Dot party in two days. Whew!!! It’s a whirlwind, but fab.
Monday I showed you the baker’s rack that I bought, painted, and placed in our courtyard to hide an eyesore. It will serve as a potting bench, bar, and server. However, the courtyard rearranging didn’t stop there.
This is what it looks like now. Not only did we move the table from another area of the space, but……
…..we had the sweet bay magnolia tree chopped down (See the arrow above). Although it provided a little shade for the sunroom, it was so very, very dirty. It was shedding some form of flora 10 months of the year. Sometimes it would drop so much of its stuff, that I couldn’t even get the door open. Ugh!!! It had to go.
Last fall when I spent a week alone in Paris, I had lunch (here) at Ralph’s one day. It is the restaurant attached to the Ralph Lauren store, and I ate in the courtyard. The space wasn’t much bigger than ours, but oh, what charm and personality it had!
It was lush with foliage and huge potted trees, wrought iron tables, benches, and chairs. I wanted it and knew that I could work on recreating it here on a much smaller scale. For instance, my little herb garden adds some nice greenery while being serviceable at the same time.
I’ll never have the pots of trees like Ralph’s (I’m talking HUGE pots) because there is no room here for storing them in the winter.
I can have little seating areas like Ralph’s, though. This is the space where the table used to be. It is farther from the house, and having dinner there involved a lot of walking to get everything from the kitchen to the table. Since the table is now nearer to the kitchen, this little shaded space under the trees and in front of the roses is perfect for reading or sipping a cup of tea.
I planted annuals (begonias) in all of the empty spaces and decided to stick with white this year. When they grow, the entire area will be covered. There are also trailing plants with white blossoms that will be climbing the brick walls.
Those two wrought iron planters hanging against the brick are on temporary hold. Right now, a dove family is living in one, and I can’t do a thing till they fly the coupe. Last year, she actually raised three separate families before deciding she had enough.
Although this isn’t Paris, I have a good start on capturing the charm and feel of Ralph’s courtyard. With a few tweaks each year, eventually it will get there. Till then c’est la vie.
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Take care.
Linking to Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style and Our Fifth House
Don’t you love that you took a little bit of Paris home with you! Very inspiring. What a darling private place! Very very beautiful!
You certainly have a solid beginning – I’d love to be dining in that courtyard!
No other word is needed than LOVELY. I hope you’re able to fully enjoy this lovely spot. ~Zuni
I love your courtyard! If you get a chance, please share this on my linky party: http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2013/05/sunday-link-party-7.html
I so love your courtyard…it so reminds me of the courtyards of Charleston too…this type of courtyard is exactly what I want when we make the move to downsize…You did a beautiful job!…RL would be proud!!
P.S….I have been to Ralph Lauren’s restaurant in Chicago (RL’s) and it is one of my very favorite restaurants…one day I hope to make it to his in France…going to France this September with fellow friends and bloggers, but not sure if we will make it to the restaurant….
Lovely! I think you score high on the Parisian charm quotient! Looks like a great place to spend time!
I just love your courtyard! It is so inviting and lush with all your greenery. Looks like a lovely spot to have some lemonade, my latest obsession!
Oh, your courtyard is so beautiful! I love your baker’s rack and how you’ve used every spot to make some pretty! It’s so pretty and cozy! I’m sure if ole Ralphie could see it – he’d be so pleased! 😉
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Such a beautiful space you have a created. I can imagine that you will have a great time using this over the summer. It looks terrific!!
Beautiful courtyard. Lovely photos too!
What a beautiful, intimate courtyard. I have a feeling you will be creating many great memories out there!
So pretty! The white begonias will be gorgeous when they fill in.
Oh what a beautiful area!
Your courtyard area is so dreamy! Love the brick walls so much! Thanks so much for lunch. I had a great time and it was so nice to meet Jordan!
I would love to have a courtyard! Yours looks beautiful. I love that you have a potting stand, maybe one day I will find something that is right for me!
Is that Rosemary you have planted in the middle of those boxwoods? Not only does it look great, I bet it smells wonderful when you walk out!!!
Thanks for linking up.
Yes, it is rosemary. For some reason, the plant I put out last spring lived through the winter. This is a first for me, so it is nice and fully formed. I also have thyme, basil, chives,and parsley. Tarragon, and lovage will be added.
That’s a beautiful space out there. When the flowers mature it’s going to be even more pretty. Can’t wait to see. You were smart to take out the tree….even though it’s hard to do.
Wow! This is just tooooo gorgeous for words, makes me want to go out and re-do my patio. Your flowers are going to be gorgeous once they fill in. fondly ~lynne~