New Orleans style courtyard English Ivy Mexican Petunia garden fountain hibiscus

Spring has arrived!!! Hummingbirds at the feeder already— YAY!! and wisteria in bloom—- that’s all the proof I need. Well, that and the 80° temps that we have had already. But I for one am not complaining! It’s time to clean up the yard and fill my containers with blooms of every color.

Hummingbird at feeder in spring

If you have read the story of our renovation, you know that our place was in rough shape. Both inside and out. We had a little awkward area off of the screened back porch that was hugely overgrown with nothing but dirt and weeds. Since it was a spot with no identity of it’s own, it was ideally suited for a small courtyard. We made no plans to do anything elaborate. It was a manageable size, which was very appealing. Sorry for the poor quality photo…….had no idea I would want to capture “before”!!!

New Orleans style courtyard before and aftef

Courtyard Before through the Screen Porch

There was a small fountain left behind by the previous owners, inoperable (it needed a pump) laying out in the back of the property. I have never had a fountain before, and really had no opinion of it either way. My husband was pretty adamant about it and wanted to save it and try to use it somewhere down the road. So….it fit nicely into our courtyard plans. I was aiming for the New Orleans French Quarter vibe, with all the trailing vines and flowers and cobblestone walks. We used irregular pieces of slate for the hardscape. I tried to grow moss in between the stones. Having no luck with that, we opted for a small amount of English Ivy. I know, I know, everyone warns that you don’t want to grow any vine on a house. But it was the ivy that would lend itself to that “courtyard” feel. I took a chance and don’t regret it at all. Once, at the end of the growing season, and maybe again in spring if it’s a little too overgrown, I will cut it back or pull some up. It has really not been a issue at all.

Courtyard in Bloom

I think I have gone overboard on the cement planters though. It has gotten way out of hand!!! I have them in every size and shape imaginable. But you know me, I cannot pass up a deal, and more than likely most came from estate sales and such.

I only do low maintenance flowers with a long bloom season! As an added bonus (less to buy this spring) I have had several flowers come back that were supposed to be annuals. Our hibiscuses were ginormous last year and bloomed profusely. They outgrew their pots and by the end of the summer began to go backward a little bit. We kept them in the garage dormant through the winter and now that we have repotted them and sat them out in the sun, they have begun to green up. Oh Happy Day!!

Between the soothing sounds of the fountain, the chirping birds at the feeders and the faint melody of the windchimes, it is a perfect place to enjoy a glass of iced tea or unwind with a glass of wine!