22 ideas for an awesome yard this summer

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Is the weather gorgeous where you are right now? Here in Denver, we've had a mix of dreary downpour and sun-filled days taunting glimpses of summer. And I'm aching to get out and work on our new yard.

awesome yard

(source unknown...if someone knows where this pretty photo came from, please tell me!)

Truly, I'm the anti-gardener. The Plant Murderer, as Ben calls me (thanks honey). But I want so badly to learn and grow beautiful crops and blooms. We had the luxury of meeting the previous owners of our new home at Closing and she mentioned there are both strawberry and raspberry bushes in our backyard (!!!).

Neighbors have also informed me that her flowerbeds in the front yard were always immaculate and brimming with flowers.

hydrangeas

I just love hydrangeas

Not gonna lie, the pressure kinda stresses me out. I won't likely be able to hold myself to her standards, but I love nothing more than being outside, so living in a beautiful yard is suuuuper appealing.

I've been pouring over Pinterest for ideas...and thought I'd share some of my favorites with you!

front step

simple planter

The white + grey + light aqua with the boxwood and hints of pink? Perfection.

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rainbow carrots

rainbow carrots

We eat rainbow carrots for dinner all the time...the kids love them. How fun would it be to grow our own?!

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fence

gorgeous fence dripping with flowers

If heaven had gardens with fences, this is definitely what they'd look like.

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moss graffiti

moss graffiti

I am so in love with this idea. Would you do it on the side of your house or fence? Hmm wonder what would I write....?

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teepee

diy a-frame tent

This is quite possibly the easiest diy ever. Well...ok ok, super simple anyway. Our kids would love reading outside in these!!

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backyard bowling

outdoor bowling

Since we have so many kids at our house all the time, I can totally see something like this being a complete hit! Check out the link for lots of other fun ideas.

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pallet swing bed

diy pallet swing bed

Don't mind me...I'll just be sitting here. All summer.

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outdoor light

 diy outdoor light

How has it never occurred to me to make something like this. An outdoor lamp?! YES!

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romantic garden

I would never leave. Ever.

This is my dream yard. Sighhhhh.

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letter planter

diy letter planters

Can you believe these are made from those cardboard letters we see everywhere at craft stores? I totally want to make some. Wonder if we could hang them on the fence and spell a word...hmm, wheels turning.

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butterfly feeder

diy butterfly feeder

So fun!!! Our kids would likely watch them for hours...except Ezekiel who is somehow freaked out by them. So the rest of us would just giggle as he runs screaming back into the house. I know...I'm a super good mom.

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outdoor chalkboard

outdoor chalkboard

I love the idea of using this on the fence! Kid art is the best.

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groundcover

The prettiest ground cover ever.

It reminds me of going to school in England and visiting the Cotswolds. So perfectly pretty.

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outdoor mirror

outdoor mirrors

You really must click on this link and head over to the blogpost about her outdoor room. It's so pretty and quaint. And I love the idea of using mirror behind an old window. Gorgeous.

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painted cement

painted concrete patio

I knew I wanted to do this to our backyard ever since I saw Jamin and Ashley's patio a few years ago...isn't it amazing?! Now that we have a pergola...arbor...what is that thing called? Totally blanking. Anyway, we have that beautiful wood to provide shade over our cement patio. Painting it would just be so incredible. If you don't already follow The Handmade Home, you totally should.

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sweatpea

pole bean hideaway

What kid wouldn't love to have this as their fort?!

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rain cloud

source unknown

Ohmygosh I so completely want this. Isn't it so fun?! I bet I could make it...

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hopscotch

hopscotch

Our kids love hopscotch (and so do I) so these painted garden tiles would be a big hit in our house!

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birdsnest

yarn for birds-nests

I'm all for helping the little birdies build their nests...especially if it means we'll see bright pops of color all over the trees in the neighborhood!

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bicycle planter

bicycle planter

In our backyard growing up, we had a vintage bike leaning against a tree. Moss grew from it's spokes and the basket in front constantly brimmed with flowers or ferns. It definitely had a different feel than the one in the photo above...ours looked like it'd been left behind in the Secret Garden, or something. It was amazing. I always wanted something like it in my own garden one day. Hmmm...now to find some garage sales for the perfect shape!

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 Are you inspired? My brain is swimming with inspiration! Anything you're dying over and want to do in your own yard??

Want more ideas? Follow me on Pinterest!

Or simply check out my boards on gardening, outdoor, and our yard.

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