A couple of years ago Ron & I began creating a growing area here under the high shade of a huge old Mulberry tree. We knew it was poor soil & dry. We thought we were up to the challenge. We laid down painter's paper on the ground, dumped tons of good composted soil & horse manure on it & mulched it with wood chips. It was a perfect layered "lasagna" garden.

I planted all my new & favorite hostas & ferns in it. I kept it well watered. It was so peaceful & pretty, complete with a big log bench. I loved sitting there drinking ice tea with friends. It was a perfect garden retreat.

BUT! the next year the young plants began to shrink in size & the leaves looked distorted. When I dug up a plant to investigate; I discovered the tree's feeder roots had invaded the root ball & were strangling it & stealing its food & water. I was very discouraged. I dug all the plants up & put them into the "plant hospital". Many did not survive.

So here was this wonderful shady area right outside our backdoor just "useless" for growing things. Then I got the idea of a potting shed. (See projects)

My potting shed is half for fun & half for garden paraphernalia. There is a small potting bench but I do most of the really dirty messy jobs outside on a heavy bench Ron built for me.

These are pictures of the just for fun section. I rescued the little old sewing rocker from my neighbor's trash pile. Corky made the little blue tin man for me. The children's folding chairs were discovered on a fun "girl's-day-out". I knew right then "CHICKENS" would be the thing for my potting shed. I really love the "American Gothic" hen & rooster. I have another pair in our family room. My friend Connie got them for me for my birthday. She didn't know I all ready had them in a box waiting to go out to the potting shed. We laughed!

Girls just want to have fun!

No garden is complete without spots to sit & absorb the tranquility of nature's gifts to us.

I would have more 'sitting spots' but Ron thinks I 'over-do' it.

A friend gave me this old porch swing the other day. I dragged it home knowing my potting shed porch was awaiting a new swing. However it was white with stenciled, green vines adorning it. I sort of liked it but it needed to fit-in around here. Ron went right to work, fixing it up for me & painting it our 'Hunter Green' color.

We hung it the next day & even took time out to sit & hold hands. Fun!