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I love the color cobalt blue, I'm trying to put it in here and there in my garden...I have a glass ball out there, and a couple of trellis' I painted blue also with jasmine, stephanotis and pink roses planted at the bases that will hopefully climb up them. We recently had our backyard done and we had these yellowish/white edger bricks put in, they look so stark to me and it is so hard keeping them white, I had an idea to mosaic the tops with the mexican tiles and the cobalt blue tiles...what do you think...I bought some plain blue ones for $1 at Floor & Decor the other day to try and see how it would look, mind you it won't all be blue, I want the mexican colorful tiles too...maybe the center and blue around them or something...I've never done any mosaic'ing before so any help on how to get started or what tools I'd need would be so helpful.
I'm not sure what grout I would use or if I use cement and then press the broken tile into the cement? I'd want it to last though, it wont get walked on but I may put a pot or two ontop...and we get quite alot of rain here.
If anyone has tried anything like this, please share, it's just an idea I had going through my head to add more color in the garden.
Here's a test...this is only blue since that's all I have right now
No answer for you yet?
I am not a Mosaic expert, but I have worked with concrete and bricks and alot of different projects. I must say I love cobalt blue too and judging from what you have in your bed we have very very similar taste in plants...lol! Those trellises are really striking and pretty!
Mosaic for all those tops is alot of work !! You are brave.
I would have gone the Lazy mans route and used some concrete transparent stain on the edger blocks to change the color and then mosaic a few of the tops... I would not stain the tops of the ones I was going to mosaic...incase it would interfere with the stuff I was using to set the tiles or the grout.
To glue the tiles down I would use the stuff they use to set tile flooring...then use grout and seal the grout. Alot depends on what tile you are using...is it floor or wall tile?
I have done a few tile floors, even Mexican tile on a patio that was pool side and that's what we did. I think it would work in this situation too.
Thanks Shellabella...or should I say neighbor, yes I guess this is not too much of a popular forum.
It is a big project but I have 4 kids so we could all have fun doing this and it wouldn't be a one day project i would probably do bit by bit. I think they are wall tiles...great idea about pool tiles, I'll ask a pool shop what they recommend for sealing and grout and so on, since it will be getting rained on...lots!
thanks again for your input...how is your arbor going, I was looking at that thread the other day...funny enough i've been looking for that vine you got at Target ever since someone said it smelt like cotton candy...does yours have a scent?...I have the single rangoon creeper, the stephanotis vines and a pakalana vine with a few clematis (although I've never seen most of these bloom as they are only 1 year old).
Our backyard is such an improvement over last year, it was all mud and straggly grass patches, but when it rained it flooded, so we had a paved path put in with river rocks on the sides and I installed rainbarrels to help with the overload of water...I love being out there now...it's just getting my addiction to fragrant plants under control...that is the problem.
Looks like you have that project under control ! I think any tile setting goop HD has will do fine and get the sanded grout then a grout sealer and you should be good to go.
That should be waterproof enough.
Yes that vine's blooms have a light sort of sweet scent...not alot of blooms yet on it though, and I don't know if I would describe it as cotton candy, but not like a gardenia scent either...when it is bigger and has more blooms I expect to experience a stronger scent.
I would love to have a pakalana and stephanotis vine of these days, they have been on my list for a while...I have so many passies, I have just held off buying too many more vines until I have more homes built for them...
I have to be careful of certain vines, as I know after a year or two they will be very large and impossible to move...so I have to think ahead and not get in my own way project wise when planting them...lol!
Our Yard was very nice until the pool was built, well that was that...lol! It has taken me a long time to learn about gardening enough so that my once black thumb is at least a nice shade of tan now... still alot to do in the back, but it's comming along.
I know what you mean about wanting to be outside more now...me too. I would rather work on yard projects more than anything else. I was just facing the harsh reality of the poor condition of my wall to wall carpet and the shampooing job I have been putting off for weeks until now. Father's day family get together on Sunday, I HAVE to handle it tommorrow...:(
Have a great weekend too!
Whoa! She is right! That would be a TON of mosaicing! But not impossible though, You need to get some thin-set mortar, you spread that on , not too thickly, you don't want it to come up to the tops of the tile, when dry, you grout it with outdoor grout! And then seal it with a good penetrating grout sealer! Does that sound simple? Well, really it is, just always remember to read your ingredients and make sure it says for outdoor use, really your project could last for many many years! The library has many many wonderful books on mosaicing and they explain things really well too, I suggest you just go and pick up a few, you'll get some great advice and some inspiration! Who know's, maybe you could do some other project's too, one word of caution though, ITS ADDICTING!!!!!!!!!!!! Have fun, (I love cobalt too) Louella
Thanks Louella, I ordered some mexican tile to try out and will see if i can borrow some books from the library. Hopefully the people at Lowes or HD will know what I want, they always end up getting me to buy the wrong things lately...that's why I thought I'd ask here first so I go in with a little knowledge...only problem now is the rainy season, since we get rains close to ever day, I'm not sure if I can put the mortar ontop of damp bricks or if they have to be totally dry...any thoughts?
Shellabella how are you handling all the rain? I think I need to get some mulch as the dirt splashes on everything and makes it look horrible after each storm...all my plants are growing like crazy now, I'm so glad the rains have finally come but gosh did they come!
Are you going to the USF plant sale on the 12th & 13th? I'll be heading there, luckily it's my birthday that month so I'll have birthday money to spend...yipeee
The Rain is causing Jungleitis in my yard...lol!
I have alot of vines, so trim and tie has become a routine!!!
Some vines are growing a foot a day when it rains everyday...
I use mulch as much as possible, especially leaf mulch, as my neighbor has many oaks and it's free! In open areas where there is no mulch ( I didn't have enough last year) I put a few rocks or step stones...enough to keep out the Kitties and the Doggy.
Post pics of that Mexican tile when you get it ok?
I wasn't aware of the USF plant sale...lol! I have been working alot . I'll have to confer with DH to see if we will go. It would be nice to meet you if that would be possible.
