Gardening with Soule

The Front Porch is a phrase that probably most of us say every day.  It’s the place to enter your house, it’s the place to relax, it’s the place to talk to your neighbors, and most importantly it’s your way of welcoming family and friends to your home.  Most of us take it for granted but I don’t think a day goes by that my husband doesn’t comment on how lucky we are to have our porch and view. We hit the front porch  jackpot at this house. We have two front, or you could say, three front porches.  One is the entrance to our house. It is where I have flower pots and plants that welcome our visitors and our family. 

One is just to the side of that and it is enclosed with windows that open to the street.  I think it may have been a sleeping porch back in the day because there is a lock on the inside of the door. Sleeping porches were used in hot weather before people had air conditioning~ you could sleep  out on the porch on a balmy night and get relief from the heat. 

 Last, but most important to us is our second floor front porch.   It is not enclosed, but open air, overlooking a beautiful park, nestled behind huge pine trees~ I like to pretend we are amongst palm trees.  We can see everything going on, but we are somewhat hidden to everyone below. 

It makes for quiet relaxing and entertaining.  It also provides very amusing entertainment as well! My friend Nancy calls it the Eagle’s nest because when she and her husband come over we watch it all as we sip our wine and chat.  

Even our dog keeps watch over the world from this perch. There’s not a dog that can go by with out a word or two from him making sure they know he is there.  Loudly!

Meanwhile, we sit  on our rockers and watch the world go by, take in our garden and yard, or watch people in the park.  They are fun and interesting to see.  Sometimes we see folks walking their dogs, kids that jump the pool fence to take midnight swims, after dark skinny dippers …well, only once, sun bathers, Frisbee games, tennis, football, bike races, foot races, karate, track practice, little league, girls softball, you name it, we have seen it at the park while sitting on our  porch. 

  As busy as it can be, it is often quiet and serene.   It is also the place we end our day, drink a glass of wine, and enjoy the sunsets.  Where we used to live was just a couple of blocks away from here, but what a difference living on a hill makes when it comes to sunsets.  We experience such breathtaking evenings just about every night as the sun lowers in the sky.  We had no idea such a view existed just across the park and up on our own front porch.   

The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you’ve had.  ~Author Unknown

Go on over and visit Susan at A Southern Day Dreamer.  She is the gracious host of  Outdoor Wednesday.