shhhhh…nature is happening here

This is my ode to the natural world sign I made in honor of all the creatures that also inhabit our small slice of sw florida.

They are full time residents, just like ourselves.

While they don’t always show themselves, I find that when I’m taking photos of items to put in our shop, quietly and for long periods of time,

…one of them, at least, will poke its head out to observe and see what I’m up to,

always unexpectedly; never when I would really like for them to appear for photos.

Using a few of the pictures I had taken in our yard, I created a collage with some bamboo slats.

I wanted it to have a ‘summer camp’ look to it and decided on one photo for each slat.

After the photos were glued on, I printed and cut out two different boston fern leaves to overlap the photos on each side.

Did you know that boston ferns are native to florida even though they are called ‘boston’ ferns? Yeah…I don’t know why either.

We have quite a bit of this pretty plant; it grows wildly in our yard.

Jeff made the slats from splitting bamboo poles and drilled holes close to the edges.

After dry brushing some brown craft paint on the photos I gave it a couple of layers mod podge. Then, I strung the slats together with hemp cord and attached a piece of twisted silver wire to hang it with.

With thinner wire, I webbed together some small bamboo pieces, that had some of jeff’s carvings and a green paint wash; along with a tiny silver jingle bell.

I think the collaged nature sign looks awfully pretty there on our hammock post, but ‘bringing the outdoors in’ is a décor trend that I am all for. It will most likely find a protected spot inside the house.

I want to thank you for stopping by and taking a peek into our yard that seems to have more of a life of it’s own than meets the eye

…something that I am forever unexpectedly, yet pleasantly, reminded of everyday.
~dale