What is the very first impression one gets when they see first, the outside of your home and second when they see your garden?

I hope when they see the outside of my home, they see the beauty of Victorian homes. I hope that when they see our front door (specially made for our home) that it looks inviting and warm.

When they see my garden, I hope they see the beauty of roses and color.

How about you?

I'm working on that. I hope it looks more inviting, since I changed the front flower beds and curved them around the entry and driveway. We are in shade at the front of the house in the afternoon, so I try to make it look cool and restful. It's a hot dry climate here in the summer so having shade is very important.

I hope when people come up our front steps, it feels welcoming and old-fashioned. Just today I was thinking about this very subject, and had to remind myself that not only is the way it looks important, but the way YOU are when people arrive is just as important. Too often I'm know I'm flitting around trying to get everything looking 'just so'....and forgetting that when I go to someone else's house, it's not the place that makes me feel one way or another as much as it is the way I'm treated when I'm there. Having someone offer me a comfortable chair, a cup of coffee or tea, something freshly baked and just taking the time to slow down and really listen are what impress and welcome me the most. Hard to remind myself of that though when I know the bathroom is a disaster!!!

As far as my garden, I hope people walk through my garden and find something surprising at every turn. I love whimsical, fun things in the garden. I want people to relax and feel like they want to plop down and just breathe. Probably should put a few more 'resting benches' here and there!!