Hey, Coley here! I will admit I have a black thumb. Keeping plants alive is a full time job for me and I have yet to master the skill. My husband and I live with our three boys, 8,6 and 4, in a 1950s Arcadia ranch home. We absolutely love the neighborhood and our home, but our backyard is small. We needed some plants to make it feel more like an oasis than a slump block cell.
Here is the before when we moved in 2 years ago…
And a progress shot. that pony wall had to go!
We painted the walls white and the pool deck gray which helped a ton, but I knew we needed plants. I was nervous to invest in them knowing I would end up killing them. I visited Harpers Landscape, a local family owned company who has been in the Phoenix area since 1945! I met with the owner and he was able to suggest plants that would drive in the heat and are still pretty! We picked out sour orange trees, beautiful flowering vines, agave and cacti. The sour orange trees will grow into a large hedge and add privacy and afternoon shade to our yard!
Couch – Hayneedle, Chairs- Vintage, Side Table- Tremaine Ranch, Planters- Vintage
I really wanted to add vintage elements in our yard. The pots and this old blacksmith parts bin were the perfect places to add them! I found this amazing vintage wood shelf at our market from our vendor Hawk Salvage. Cool story… It was actually too large for our space. I told him I loved it and what I wanted it for, but that it was too big. He loved the idea of a succulent garden, that he cut it in half and kept the other half to do the same in his workshop!
These steel planters are from Hayneedle, I loved the aged look they gave, like they had been there forever. We weren’t sure what to put in them that would survive the heat but still give the boho oasis look we were going for. Harper suggested totem pole cacti because they do not have spines, which is great by the pool with our kids. They add so much structure and texture to our yard. We also picked fire sticks. They are green year round, and get red tips when its cold out. They have been thriving in the summer heat!
Side Table – Tremaine Ranch
Firewood Holder- Hayneedle, Stump Table- Phoenix Woodworks
Couch, Rug and Firepit – Hayneedle, Brown Pillows- Uber Chic Home, Blue Pillow- The Mod Boho
Turkish Towel- Hayneedle, Painting- The Aestate
Photos by Rennai Hoefer