Porch Journal: A Little Mid-Summer Wander

Courtyards, juniper slab tables, apricot climbers, and a glass-bead project that's been "someday" for too long

Hello to you, dear reader.

Mid-summer has settled in and I’ve pulled together a few garden glimpses for you - peeks into what’s growing, what the season is up to, and a few tid bits.

I’m writing this on a very overcast, cool, and rainy day here in the northern Arizona high-country. It’s starting to feel like a rainforest around here - nice for a a little mid-summer breather.

Welcome to the ‘Porch Journal’, a short-letter series where I share small reflections and behind-the-scenes thoughts on living a smaller, simpler, more beautiful life. These are quick, easy reads, about a minute or two - just enough for a mid-morning coffee break.

Before I jump in, I just wanted to remind you that Sunday was National Simplicity Day, and I kicked of a fun little 5-Day Simplicity Challenge today.

It’s not too late to jump in if you’re curious.

No major committments or tasks, just a daily prompt and a chance to connect in our chat space.

To join → comment here with “SIMPLICITY” and I’ll get you added.

A Little Kitchen Garden Walk

It’s a small space, this kitchen garden. I often refer to it as the courtyard kitchen garden, not only because it’s a fully enclosed space (keeps dogs and javelina and deer out) as any well mannered kitchen garden should be.

Also because it’s not just a functional space but also very much a part of our outdoor living space - in fact I’d go so far as to say that it’s a feature of that space. And the way it’s situated means that it gives our whole backyard patio a courtyard feel.

Although we are on a small downtown lot we feel very cozy and almost remote because we are surrounded by giant old alligator Junipers and this beautiful garden.

While the fencing that creates the courtyard might seem like it chops up the area on this small lot, in fact what it really does it make it feel fully lived in, and expansive, and extremely private.

Come for a quick little walk about with me…

I grabbed these video clips about 2-3 weeks ago, so high summer indeed.

If you live on a small lot (or home) and assume that means giving up on real outdoor living - this is your reminder: boundaries don't shrink a space, they focus it.

A fence, a hedge, even a gate you have to walk through - these are what make a small space feel private and complete, instead of just small.

Apricot Climbers

We used to have a craggy old apricot tree on the property - the fruit never seemed to get ripe before the birds got to them.

But this isn’t about actual apricots.

While most of my personal garden color palette tends to stay in the cooler ranges and more delicate forms, I have this thing for anything in the apricot range of colors.

At the edge of the kitchen garden, sort of framing the summer patio roof, I’ve got two separate climbers that complement each other beautifully, both in the apricot color family.

On the right is a Major Wheeler Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens ‘Major Wheeler’), and on the left is a Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’). Both can get rather large, but I give them a little nip and clip every couple of weeks to keep them in check - takes a minute or two. And then in the late fall they get a deep pruning.

That gorgeous table in the summer patio, is made out of hand cut Alligator Juniper. Two slabs. Crafted by my husband when we first bought the property.

If your garden - or your home - feels a little scattered, a little "too much everything," it's usually a missing thread.

Pick one color family, one feeling, and let it show up in just two or three places. Let the rest, the surrounding space, be neutral and calm. That's often all it takes for a space to feel curated instead of collected.

The Gravel Walk

This space is on the south facing side of the property and is honestly like its own little micro-climate from the rest of the property. It continues to grow and bloom well into early winter.

Stick around. I’ll show you all the autumn drama.

Ibis my pup telling me it’s time to head out for our evening hike. That’s the corner of the front porch which looks out over the western horizon.

Come for a quick little stroll with me. That vine on the back corner of the cottage is one of two young Lady Banks Roses (Rosa banksiae ‘Alba Plena’). It’s already bloomed (in late April) but it’s also an evergreen beauty.

The ledge next to the dragonfly gate that goes into the kitchen garden. I have a plan to make a kind of glass “drape” above the ledge using some of my handmade glass beads - to catch the light. These are just a couple samples I threw up years ago when I had the idea. Time to get on that project!

The Cottage Decked Out for Summer

This sweet 1924 Craftsman bungalow - we call her Juniper Hill Cottage.

Coming Soon (ish)

Little walks like this one - the climbers, the gravel path, the table my husband made with his own hands - they’re not just glimpses. They’re the raw material for something bigger I’m building: real, structured ways to actually get this in your own garden and home - not just be inspired by sneak peeks.

The “Garden Studio” is the first piece of that, and it’s coming this autumn. You’ll hear about it here first.

Stay close, my friend.

With contentment & possibility,

P.S. Tell me: is your favorite outdoor spot small and enclosed like my courtyard, or wide open? And apricot tones or cool blues - which way does your garden palette lean?