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“Rescue My
Pitiful Patio!” |
| Contest winner Barbara Satterwhite |
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| We changed Barbara Satterwhite's patio from plain to pretty—in just one weekend! |
Our first-ever makeover contest was a resounding success. In fact, the tremendous
response took us by surprise—we received almost 1,000 entries from across the
country! Photos ranged from crumbling patios and decomposing decks to yards filled
with storm debris and standing water.
There were so many deserving patios to choose from, but we finally chose a winner:
Barbara Satterwhite of Oxford, N.C. Not only did her patio exemplify many
common problems, but it was a great example of what could be done in one weekend.
When we called Barbara to let her know we were coming to make over her patio, she
replied “I can’t believe it! I have never won anything before!”
In the letter that accompanied Barbara’s contest entry, she hoped for a pleasant outdoor space where she could relax and be protected from the hot afternoon sun. Since her mother-in-law loves growing flowers, Barbara thought it would be nice to have more pots and planters close to the house. And since the Satterwhites are a busy farm family, she wanted to make sure that her new patio would be very low-maintenance. Summers seem to be getting hotter and drier, so drought-tolerant plants and water-saving techniques were another request.
"I love my new backyard retreat!"
When the work was completed, Barbara invited us to join her for a cool beverage on her new patio. "This is going to be such a great place to relax on summer evenings," she said. "I had no idea this room was here all along, just waiting to be uncovered!"
When it came time for our makeover team to pack the truck and head back to Vermont, it was great to know that Barbaba Satterwhite's patio was now pretty and not "pitiful."
Featured Plants
- Natchez crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Natchez'): A shrub that can grow to 10 feet, with white flowers in summer.
- Glossy abelia (Abelia 'Edward Goucher'): A deciduous shrub with lavender-pink flowers.
- Passionate Blush gaura (Gaura lindheimeri 'Passionate Blush'): A long-blooming perennial that has masses of butterfly-shaped pink flowers.
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| Liriope |
Aztec grass (Liriope muscari 'Variegata'): Ornamental grass with green-and-
silver variegated foliage.
- Hot Cocoa rose: An All-America Rose Selection with unusual orange-brown blooms.
- Plum Delight loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense 'Plum Delight'): A shrub with fragrant, fringelike, pink flowers and burgundy foliage.
- Silver Scrolls coral bells (Heuchera 'Silver Scrolls'): A perennial noted for its silvery, metallic foliage.
- Arizona Sun blanketflower (Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun'): Compact with sunny, orange-gold, daisy-shaped flowers.
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Materials List
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Eden Faux Wicker Furniture
Though it has the same generous styling as traditional wicker furniture, this set has a sturdy steel frame and poly-resin “wicker” that’s impervious to the elements. To clean, just hose it down at the end of the season. Pieces may be purchased separately, or you can purchase the entire suite for a savings. Available in Mocha, Walnut or White.
- Colorful All-Weather Cushions
To make our Eden Furniture look its best and be as comfy and inviting as possible, add a few of our outdoor cushions and pillows. Plush polyester filling and sun-resistant fabrics give new or old garden furniture a fresh, pulledtogether look. We offer many colors and designs and a dozen different shapes and sizes.
- Self-Watering Windowboxes
Even if you’re lucky enough to live where drought is not a problem, our self-watering windowboxes are a smart investment. They free you from daily watering chores, and keep plants lush and healthy by eliminating drought-related stress. Available in three sizes and five colors!
- Raised Bed Corners
We manufacture these sturdy, powder-coated aluminum corners ourselves. They eliminate the most difficult part about building raised beds. Just cut the lumber and slip it into place. No need for L-brackets, hinges, or posts. Available in three heights (we used the 10" high corners).
- Terrazza Self-Watering Planters
Our most popular planters for deck and patio gardening. Made in Italy to our specifications, they have extra-deep planting chambers and extra-large water reservoirs. Available in white, brown or green to suit most every décor. They can be configured as squares, troughs, L-shapes and can be joined to make a single planter almost 7 feet long.
- Cortina Self-Watering Pots
Classic style meets self-watering convenience. Hidden inside these lightweight polypropylene pots is a 1-gallon water reservoir to keep plants happy for days at a time. Available in two sizes and six colors. For this makeover, we used the garnet color to pick up on the warm red brick.
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