Mid-Summer Door Basket with Ticking

Hi Friends, I just wanted to pop in with a quick few pics of my current Mid-Summer Front Door Basket. You may remember we have a bit of a bird problem on the front porch, as they try to make nests in the basket within about 15 minutes of me hanging it out. But this year we put up a nesting box in the corner, so the illegal nesting in the basket has stopped...

I put together a red/white/and blue patriotic version of the basket for June and July using faux geraniums, and hydrangeas with flags earlier this summer. I had a plan to just tweak the flowers a bit to make it work for the rest of the summer. 

I added in some black-eyed-susans and a few small sunflowers to the floral mix to make it more "summer" and less patriotic. I also decided to change out the red grain sack ribbon for a vintage indigo ticking torn fabric ribbon. I love me some ticking especially in the summer months, for a vintage farmhouse look.

The blue ticking matched the navy blue Buffalo Check pillows this season too. I have Buffalo Check pillow covers in a ton of color combos. They're very affordable and come in sets of two. You can find them on Amazon HERE.

I try to plant Lantana here each year. It's heat and drought resistant, and the hummingbirds love it. Mixing it with anything red attracts the hummers. So I usually use red geraniums nearby, or mixed in a container. Once they're in the vicinity it doesn't matter the color of the blooms, but the reds definitely get their attention.

This was my mid-summer basket 2 years ago, when I was using a black/white check wired ribbon with large yellow floral pillows on the antique metal depot bench. The porch is a little bare this time of year, but with Fall coming up, there will be a bit more decor. 

It's been so hot with most of June and July in the upper 90's and over 100. The lawn is brown since it's impossible to water it enough with those temps. Last night we had the first rain in over 6 weeks, but the container plants, are looking pretty ragged. I've been watering the containers and shrubs everyday but we definitely need a break in the heat and drought. My hydrangeas look pitiful and forlorn, it's been hard to get them enough moisture. 

OH, and the geese have returned... with the youngsters. I guess the area at the lakes are overgrazed and brown so they're back to raiding the bird seed pans. The kids are almost as big as the adults! Sorry, bad phone pic. 

We hope you'll come by the link party on Monday evenings.

joining in here:

The House on Silverado,  Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda, 

All About Home at Common Ground and Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 

 Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life   Wonderful Wednesday at LeCultivateur 

Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode,  Centerpiece Wednesday at Karin's Kottage

Share Your Style at French Ethereal,  Vintage Charm at Our Hopeful Home,  

Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home,  

Create, Bake, and Grow at Shabby Art Boutique, Farmhouse Friday at  County Road 407

Fabulous Friday at Vintage Home Design Friendship Friday at Create with Joy 

 Funtastic Friday at 2 Chicks and a Mom