One of my favorite children’s films is Gnomeo and Juliet, and in that film my favorite character is Featherstone the Flamingo, who at one point offers up the bit of wisdom that, “A weed by any other name is still a weed.” However, some weeds are quite beautiful in the grand scheme of a yard. Depending on where you live in the world, what you and your neighbors consider a weed someone else might be willing to pay a small fortune for the chance to own it.

One Man’s Weed is Another Man’s Rose

When I first bought my house I was amazed to find the backyard awash in a sea of exotic plants. Each plant had a single stem and a handful of leaves shooting from the top that folded out to resemble an umbrella that you might find in a tropical drink. And in the springtime, practically every one of the plants produced waxy little white and yellow blooms. I was tickled and transplanted a bunch to grow together along the front porch. I quarantined the makeshift flowerbed with pavers to prevent the mower from attacking it, and then planted a pair of garden gnomes to look over my lovely little plot of plants.

Later that week an elderly neighbor was out for a stroll and paused to stare wide-eyed at my efforts. While I was expecting a compliment on all of my hard work, imagine my surprise when he said, “Ain’t seen no one ever group weeds together like that. Interesting!” And then he shuffled on along towards his destination.

Decorating Outside the Box

One of my favorite things to do on vacation is to take pictures of things in people’s front yards that I’d like to someday replicate in my own. For instance, while visiting the Jersey Shore we saw a yard with a rowboat turned on its side against a trellis. Wisteria planted in the boat grew up over the trellis and on down the fence for the length of the yard. What a great way to welcome guests! Here are some other inexpensive ways you can dress up your home to increase its curb appeal.

A fresh coat of paint works wonders, and it’s cheap. Most local hardware stores or home improvement centers that sell paint have what’s called an “Oops!” section. These are the paints that people have rejected after they were mixed. To avoid having to find a way to dispose of them, the store sells it at a price that reflects a 75% or higher discount.

Visit the dollar store or thrift shop for things to dress up the outside of your house. Even if they don’t have things ready-made for the outside of your house, they might have items required to create something new like a wreath for the front door.

Use seasonal decorations, but buy them ahead of time. My favorite time to buy seasonal items is just after the season ends when the stores mark them down to prices that practically equate being free. Then I save them for the next year. Because I don’t have to shop for them the next year, I’m guaranteed to get them out on time – if not a little early.

If you’ve got it, use it. Maybe the things you have just need a little rearranging. Try moving the flower pot beside the front door to the back porch instead. Take the wind chime from the deck and hang it beneath the mailbox. Bundle some twigs, add a ribbon bow, and you have a makeshift wreath for the front door.

No matter which of these ideas you try – or even if you’ve thought of something not listed here – you’re bound to turn the heads of anyone who strolls past your house. Even if an idea doesn’t work out this time, keep trying until you get something you like. There are some great ideas to be found at www.raincontrolaluminuminc.com which is family owned for 37 years.After all, yours is the opinion that matters the most because you have to live in your house. Who knows, perhaps someone on vacation in your town will be going home with a souvenir picture of your yard!

About the Author:

Freelance writer Melissa Cameron enjoys working from her home office which is sometimes the dining room table but often a chaise on the covered front porch. Features like seamless rain gutters and wind chimes make the spot as cozy on a rainy day as a sunny one. When she isn’t working she prefers spending time with her husband and their two kids who are homeschooled. Melissa’s hobbies include crafting, reading, and researching her genealogy.