It has taken eight years of living here but I finally feel like I have the south side of the house looking exactly how I want it packed full of luscious foliage.

My DIY potting bench is center stage and the star of the show. Yes, I actually use it when potting plants. When not in use, it’s dressed to the nines holding my terra cotta pot collection and lots of pretties.

For the first time, I went with succulents rather than flowers on the potting bench and I’m loving it. The flowers always dried out too quickly in the south facing full sun and never grew to their potential even when watered twice a day. The succulents are as happy as can be here, are so much easier to take care for watering once every few days and I can overwinter and put them out again next year.

My beloved bust planter holds cuttings from the vinca vine that also fills the beds.

It’s safe to say I’m a maximalist inside and out. The more plants, the better. Of course I missed getting photos when the rose bushes were in full bloom but I think it’s still pretty gorgeous even in the dead of summer. I can see a spot to add one more rose bush next year but for the most part, eight years later, I love it.