One of the most innovative Flea Market Gardeners we’ve seen recently, Annie Steen has created many charming and whimsical scenes in her garden that have delighted and inspired us! Check out her pond and porches to see ideas that might inspire you!
A fateful choice led Annie, a self taught primitive artist from East Fallowfield, Pennsylvania to a new creative career, making primitive art pieces with an Americana theme which we love so much. She has had her own business, Pondside Primitives, for over 11 years and says she feels “very blessed to be able to something I truly love.”
She says, “I was born and raised in Colorado, coming back east about 26 years ago. We live in a small Cape Cod with a little over a acre of land.
“My Grandmother always had a big garden, with many fruit trees.” I spent lots of weekends with her snappn’ peas, picking strawberries, washin’ potatoes, and well you get the idea. It’s all about working with your hands and creating, sometimes a lot of times I can’t sleep just thinking of what I want to do next.”
Below is Annie’s fabulous pond, beautifully accented by the plants she’s chosen for her garden, hosta, ornamental grasses and water lilies.
We’ve had the pond a little over 10 years. The choice was, build a pond or take a vacation and I’m so glad we chose the pond. It’s like a mini vacation every time we sit there to relax. It’s a lot of work but so worth it. It’s home to lots of birds, chipmunks and fish, and we even have had turtles in the pond. Yes, each fish has a name!
We almost passed on this pump (above). We didn’t want to spend the money…but was glad I did when we put the pond in! It worked out perfect for our filter; water goes through a charcoal filter then through the pump and back into the pond.
This is Annie’s sitting area near the pond. She says, “We love all the stars, the grays of the weathered wood, the rusty reds of the birdhouse roofs and the chiminea. ” We came home one day to a peacock sitting by the pond, just watching the fish. The pond sits right out side the kitchen door between the house and the barn where my shop, Pondside Primitives, is and you can hear the waterfall running all day long– a great sound,” she says.
“This is a dry sink we built, above, and I added five electric candles. It’s real pretty in the evening.” We like all the flowers and the welcoming feeling this arrangement gives her porch and imagine that the decoration could be changes with the seasons!
”My husband Tim and I spend a lot of time ‘pickin’ and antique’n on the weekends and we love the flea markets! We’re antique lantern collectors and love the quest of finding them.”
We say, Annie, you keep doing what you’re doing and let us know all the news of your business and garden! If you’re in her neighborhood, she says stop in and say hello! ~~ Sue
Annie’s bird house ladder
Annie’s galvanized tipsy pots
See MORE of Annie’s photos
View Comments
I love it ! I hope to get to her shop sometime this year and see all of her creations , I love Americana items !
Love your entire yard with the rustic feel and pond surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers, and especially the yard art. I can just imagine how lovely it would be to live there and enjoy the view from your kitchen window and the sounds of the water.
What a lovely home, pond, and shop!!! Such a warm and welcoming feel. Thanks for sharing your talents with the rest of us.
Annie, you are so special. Everything that you do is beautiful. We are all going to come for a visit. :)
Annie...I feel just right at home when seeing your pics! Oh, your pond is so lovely & your style of decor so 'homebody.' I love all the rustic & the beautiful flowers & plants you've chosen for your containers & pond. Thanks for sharing! Beautiful!
The love of gardening and creativity comes through so splendidly in your gardens and your artist work Annie..Like a painter's palette,the colors all blend so beautifully..Your own personal style has your name over every inch of it....Makes me want to grab a cup of coffee and take a walk....
Annie, you are incredibly artistic! Your ideas are sooo beautiful. When I look at them, your spirit of calmness comes through...such peaceful creations. INSPIRING!
LOVE all of your creations and vignettes! So creative and beautiful!
Annie, Thank you for sharing your yard and creations with us. My head is spinning from all of the beautiful vignettes, colors, textures.... I will go back thru these pictures many times, and I'm sure I'll see something I overlooked before. You have an eye for putting things together, and you have given me ideas for my own garden. Thanks for sharing, and inspiring us all.
I like it! it's indeed very inspiring. I have antique farm tools and stuff. I just wish I have time to "create" ideas.
This spring I will be busy starting my seeds. I 'm working on my organic farm in Stockbridge georgia.
Thank you and you have a very talented team! take care : )
call me May!
Thanks, May! We love the inspiration we get from Annie,...she has that talent for putting things together that is so admirable! I hope you post a few photos of your farm on FMG facebook..
You ought to also see Nancy K Meyer,...just do a search for her. She lives on a farm and decorates her host garden with blue bottles and rusty farm implements!