25. December 2011 by Golden Shovel Organics.

This lovely palm garden in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida is a wonderful place to be. Perfect for relaxing after the hustle of the holidays is over, when one just wants to enjoy the bird song, the breeze, a lemonade, and a good read in the garden. No turf grass or mowers need intrude here.

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24. December 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

This lovely garden room created by Landscape Architect, Susan Hall for Fisher Island residents, offers a place to unwind and soak up the sun and breezes.  This outdoor garden room is sublime inspiration for sun worshipers.

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23. December 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

This lovely outdoor garden room in Miami, Florida is a place to relax, read or just enjoy the garden. To see what this back yard space looked like before the garden was planted and the furniture placed, see the picture below. 

This lovely inspired outdoor garden room makes a bold and beautiful statement in the garden. The outdoor draperies, outdoor rugs and bold color palette compliment the garden. From the uninspired turf grass and deck in the photo below, this outdoor garden room was transformed with tropical and native plants and trees, and outdoor furnishings fit for a queen or king.

This photo below of the back porch with turf grass growing up to it was uninspiring. After the garden went in and furniture was placed, this backyard sanctuary inspires all who go there.

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22. December 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

This Outdoor Garden Room on the deck was bland before the garden was brought up to the deck. Now, with furnishings and garden hugging the deck, the outdoor room is in the garden. A simple garden solution for a common mistake. This photo is the after. See the before picture of the deck at the bottom of the page.

Gardens should always offer respite from the world for the gardeners, their friends and family. All gardens should have a place to be, a room to enjoy. Creating a place to be, whether it’s to relax at the end of a hard day and watch the sun set and smell the Lady Of The Night as she comes into bloom, or spy as the hummingbirds take nectar from the Powder Puff Tree in the morning while you enjoy your coffee.

The outdoor garden room can be as simple as an end table and two chairs, a bench under a favorite shade tree, or as elaborate as a dinning table and chairs for 10. All outdoor rooms should be surrounded by the garden. If your garden is only turf grass, you can begin by creating a small surface to place your garden furniture on, and then begin planting around it. Or plant first and then bring in the furniture. Your furniture placement in the garden is as important as it is in your home. Furniture should be placed so that you have optimum visual enjoyment of the garden.

As the weather is so beautiful here in south Florida and this time of year is great for enjoying outdoors, I want to share some photographs of garden rooms with you. For those of you enjoying the cooler weather and snow, spring is not far away. These photos are intended to inspire you to create your own outdoor garden room, be it humble and small, or elegant and grand.

The outdoor rooms range from simple little back porch potted gardens and seating, to fanciful and elegant.  All improve the outdoor world of the homeowners who enjoy them and get to spend time in their outdoor rooms in the garden. Watch for the series of rooms to follow. And enjoy your own home outdoor sanctuary.

Below is a before photo of the turf grass coming right up to the deck. What a difference a garden makes to an outdoor room. They are like two different decks. One with a garden and outdoor room, one without any adornment at all.

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22. December 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

Mona Johnson has been working tirelessly to expand and create a naturescape landscape at her home and in her neighborhood. Watch the blog for an interview with Mona and a stroll through her garden, after the holidays.

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21. December 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

It might feel like winter in some parts of the country, but here in south Florida, it’s still fine weather for enjoying the garden living room. This morning it is a balmy 73 degrees. While some of you may be rushing around wildly in the stores doing last minute shopping, I am still enjoying coffee in the garden in the mornings with the dogs, squirrels and birds, and a hot toddy, cup of tea or wine, in the garden at the end of the day.

I’m looking forward to appetizers in the garden, as well, at a friend’s home. She always serves drinks, appetizers and sometimes the first few courses of holiday meals, outside here in her south Florida backyard garden room, at Thanksgiving and Christmas time.

This is the time of year here in south Florida when one really gets to enjoy the simple pleasures of our outdoor garden rooms.

If you haven’t set up a room, and created seating, a table, a simple place to serve, you are missing out on one of the greatest joys of a garden, enjoying it with family and friends, as a glorious backdrop to great weather, food, and festivities.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Chanuka.

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21. December 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

I want to start featuring some of your gardens here and writing about your successes in the garden. So send me an email at thepinkshovel@gmail.com if you would like your garden featured. Even if you aren’t local, we can still talk about your garden by phone and email photos, so it doesn’t matter where  you are.  I enjoy learning about your gardens and gardening experiences and would be delighted to share them.

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20. December 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

Golden Shovel Organics has just launched a new web store where Green sustainable gardeners can buy products that are safe and natural for the garden, just in time for spring.Being a sustainable gardener is not hard to do. Stop using petrochemical fertilizers and begin rebuilding your soil with natural animal manure composts, home made composts, and safe natural garden fertilizer alternatives.

If your garden is already a safe haven and you don’t need to purchase safe natural products, then help get the conversation started by buying and proudly wearing sustainable garden logo t shirts and caps. Or carry a sustainable message on your grocery or garden tote.

To check out the page, go to:

www.goldenshovelorganics.com

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1. December 2011 by Carol Whitaker.

It’s that time of year when we all enjoy the beauty of poinsettias in bloom. Growers have plants ready for your enjoyment. Let me know if I can help you with your special order and delivery.

We also have an abundance of wonderful herbs and spice trees available to celebrate the season.

Send an email or give a call to order: thepinkshovel@gmail.com, or 954-882-5450.

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