My front porch and I are ready for Spring!!

A virtual Flea Market garden tour

Kim Trudo lives and gardens in North Carolina and has a delightful sense of “where to put what,” I call it. She has lots of whimsical ideas to contribute to Flea Market Gardening and we recently saw some of her ‘shutter’ porch in this post, Upcycling old shutters in the garden.

She tells us, “I have lived in New Bern, NC for most of the last 30 yrs. My husband was in the Marine Corps and we raised our family here. We built this house 3 years ago so I had to start my landscape from scratch. I do miss having mature trees in my landscape but enjoy having free rein to put in whatever I want.”

Kim Trudo’s cottage garden

“I had the little cottage built at the time we built the house to keep my treasures in. it has been enlarged by adding the covered porch area and filling it in with shutters, windows, doors and other building elements.”

Kim’s pretty porch

The patio has really been a project of love and it turned out better than I had imagined. Inside the cottage are my “treasures”, items collected and loved for many years, some cherished antiques, some are flea market finds, all special to me. It goes without saying the collection is garden themed. It didn’t feel complete until I put up the curtains, they are one of my favorite touches!”

“People are surprised when seeing the backyard, it is like a secret garden because the front is not decorated in the same style. When building the house, I changed the plans to maximize the views from within the house and make it feel more connected to the outside. The cottage is located right in front of the master bedroom windows, so it is such a joy to open the blinds to that wonderful view!”

View from Kim’s home office,…trellis, birdbath and moon!

“I had a general idea in my head of what I wanted but it changes with the seasons, new plants coming on the market, etc. I have several “rooms” in my garden that have their own personalities.”

A curbside find…a vintage wicker chair. “My big flower bed coming into bloom. Azaleas, day lilies, Spanish lavender, Asiatic lilies coming up. Such a joyful time of year!”

THIS is My favorite birdhouse. I love my little chippy ladder too, they Look so perfect together.

Lace curtains billowing in the breeze Are so pretty. The little oak chest I have had for many, many years.

“I am a professional home stager and help prepare homes to be put on the market. I have to be able to look at a vacant house and mentally furnish it using my inventory of furniture and accessories before actually placing them in a house. So this is where I get my vision when I look at objects to use in my garden or planning new beds or areas in the yard.

My ‘Little porch’ made from salvaged windows and doors and shutters. These shutters I have had for many many years and when we went to fit them in they fit perfectly! I love how we used the porch railing as small walls underneath the windows. ”

A curbside find planted with violets in an enamel pan

French door used uniquely

“This a French door, below, I turned on it’s side to be a window. The original wavy glass is still in it. The handkerchief valance is made with handkerchiefs that belonged to my grandma. The church pew is from my church and is over 100 yrs old. The trellis is an old side window. It has held up extremely well for many yrs. it has clematis on it.”

Birdhouses made by my friend, Jeff

“When I place a new object in the garden, I am making it part of a new or existing vignette. THAT is my favorite part of gardening. Honestly, I am a fair weather gardener….. When it gets hot and humid about July gardening becomes a spectator sport for me!”

An old handtruck, filled with flowers.

“This just makes me smile looking at it. I found the dolly last year out on a back road shop, super good price too! This bucket is perfect for it I lined the galvanized pot with burlap to hold the soil, just love the look!
The other photo shows the birdbath I made using an old light shade and a plant hanger hung on a Shepard’s hook. You can see the iris is nearly ready to bloom.”

My new potting bench!

“My new potting bench! Everything recycled and reused. The floor grate collects potting soil that spills and then I can catch it underneath. Put tin in missing window panes to keep tags or notes to myself.”

My new rain gauge makes a really cute vase

Petunias in a vintage colander

“Our first home was on 5 acres and I tried to landscape the whole place. I found “farm” like items to decorate with and it just took off from there. I am fortunate that our town was founded in 1710 so we have wonderful architectural elements available through our local preservation group.”

Spanish lavender, pink azalea

“My favorite part of gardening is enhancing the plantings with Flea Market finds and salvaged items I can repurpose and reuse. I don’t dumpster dive or pick up from the curb as much as I used to but am always on the lookout for items I can use my imagination and creativity to add beauty to my garden.  Thank you for visiting my garden!” ~~ Kim