From the farm to the classic Southern porch, outdoor spaces have always been a source of comfort and connection. Whether it’s a grandparent’s porch or a friend’s carport, these outdoor spaces offer a perfect blend of all things nature and relaxation. All the while, these outdoor areas reveal a sense of personal warmth permeating from the home. Read on and learn more about creating your own unique Yard Personality.
I can remember going to visit my Grandparents house which we called “the farm”. As young kids we had a large open space to run and play outside. Often as you would drive up to the farm, you could find my Grandma and Grandpa Adams outside on the porch or they would be sitting under a shade tree in lawn chairs.
The cousins group had loads of fun playing on the farm. We had a large open space to run and play outside. Thankfully, we were always within earshot and eyesight of the adults who were visiting outside. A small creek ran behind the house and we cousins would end up there in our wanderings and play.
I recently visited a friend. We were sitting outside on her carport. She has created a sweet, little spot to retreat to… complete with an outdoor rug, comfortable, cushioned chairs, music playing, and yes, a ceiling fan just to name a few amenities. The natural breeze flowing through the porch made it a perfect spot to spend a warm afternoon in conversation with good friends.
These family memories coupled with my recent visit to my friends house, got me to thinking about how people use or don’t use their space/ yard and how “individual personality” can impact outdoor spaces and its uses.
Growing up and living in the South, I would like to note that probably one of the most common outdoor spaces that people use are porches… front/back porch, or maybe even a screened in porch.
The PORCH… where HOME meets the outside world. A porch allows us to connect with the exterior world, all the while, enjoying the creature comforts of being HOME.
These outdoor “rooms” are often used as a gathering place or even as a place of retreat. On a Southern porch, you can definitely “sit a spell”… one can watch traffic go by, swing, rock the day away in your favorite chair, view the stars at night, or simply listen to the sounds of nature.
Within the confines of a porch outdoor space, one can let the worries of the day wash away. Complete with and no phones or technology. Add in a cold beverage in hand, and the perfect porch sitting weather is upon us, minus the pollen!!
As we sometimes do, Richard and I will go for a drive on a sunny afternoon. I love to “window watch” from the vehicle window as we make our way down the country roads.
Those Sunday afternoon adventures make me realize that Summertime is a wonderful time to notice the little bits and pieces of Yard Personality from the exterior and my car window…You know it when you see it as we make the “drive by”. Kids in the yard playing games, or even noting an interest in gardening with flowers abounding from the yard. Then I spot Rocking Chairs on the front porch as we pass by. The visible story of the homeowners unraveling right in front of your eyes… neatly kept lawn and shrubs, and orderly gardens. Or maybe just the opposite, flowing gardens that seamlessly wander from one area to another, featuring an old chair, chipping paint holding a garden treasure, the grass waiting to be mowed. Both of these scenarios create a sense of order and peace for each homeowner because that’s exactly what they wanted. Marked distinct features of personality that dominate the Yard…just from a quick glance as we drive past.
Have you ever thought about your distinct yard personality??? I haven’t ever given this topic much consideration, until recently. Is this really a legitimate topic… Absolutely!!!
First let’s define the term “YARD”. According to our purposes of this topic… a YARD is the entire surrounding area around the house, including the grass, pavement, porches, other outdoor spaces, and includes dedicated gardens.
In essence, the YARD is ALL useable outdoor space. Looking at the term YARD, the opposite is true in the United Kingdom. The garden IS the whole. Yard would not be the proper terminology.
Processing this new concept of Yard Personality, I think it’s crucial to understand that People will prioritize their needs and wants into how they want to use their yard based upon what it’s important to them. Of course, often budget is a factor… but the use of good ol’ elbow grease, sweat equity and repurposing materials can make a huge impact!
After a quick visit at my friend’s house, I concluded that she has beautifully created a place to relax and uses that space as a place to retreat after a long day at work.
According to a quick Google search, most people fall into a few key categories when it comes to YARD PERSONALITY. I was extremely curious to see where I would fall… or not be found.🧐 Would my style potentially overlap with more than one???
My curiosity got the best of me and I kept diving into it. Here’s my modified list to keep it simple and easier for writing purposes.
Yard Personalities:
1. The Lawn Expert… these individuals create a carefully designed and manicured/maintained yard. Gardens are well kept or maybe not present because the emphasis is literally on the beautiful the yard itself.
2. The Lover of Nature… The Yard and Gardens meandering about, flowing with a variety of colors and styles of flowers. Areas are designed in the yard to attract various species of wildlife(hummingbirds, birds, butterflies, etc) and you may find seating areas present to enjoy the fruits of their labor throughout the entire yard.
3. The Entertainer…This individual may have a Grilling area is set up to entertain and to cook up a great meal, a festive outdoor table set to welcome friends and family, maybe a fire pit to welcome guests, lawn games, swimming pool, you name it, the Entertainer will have it!
4. The Kid and/or Pet Friendly Yard… Basketball, volleyball, soccer goals set up in yard, or swimming pool visible…riding toys scattering along the driveway or the yard, outdoor play areas created for the kids, or maybe even a tree house. Backyard fences keep the kids and pets within view and allow them to play safely.
This is just a small sample of brainstorming that I did to imagine these different types of Yard Personalities. I feel sure that this is only scratching the surface!
My mind then wandered back to my own to Spring “to do list” as I began refining and defining my Yard Personality. 🧐. What area(s) did I want to focus upon in my own YARD???? After some thought, I decided our back porch needed a bit of TLC.
So I’ll pose the same questions to you. Did you find a Yard Personality that you strongly identified with??? Is your yard in shape for the upcoming Spring and Summer season??? 🧐🧐🧐
Currently, I’m slowly trying to make a few projects a reality and keeping within budget using objects that I already have… finding a new way to repurpose them, and adding in color/texture as I can. I’ve slowly been working on my back porch area over the last few weeks adding a few things to make it more comfortable for us to use on a regular basis in hopes that it will become a welcoming space for all of us as well as our guests.
Another thing worth mentioning, a portion of Yard Personality can be attributed to how you use found objects or even Art in your space.
Art is often a form of creative expression and imagination which can be found in a visual form. It could be the appearance of hand created objects, like bird houses, or feeders, or the appearance of a symphony of vibrant colors from the garden, or Yard Art.
The use of Art can evolve with your imagination and creativity all the while, looking at needs and wants within a given outdoor space… ultimately bringing vibrancy to your Yard.
Let your imagination and creative energy shine this year! Wilkes County Hardware is here to support your new found passion and dedication to creating and developing your own unique Yard Personality, making home a true place of retreat and comfort.
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