Growing under glass is a time honored tradition and a wonderful way to get a closer look at the plant kingdom. There is a verdant beauty to moss and many of the less hardy species of mosses have a distinct structure that draws one in.
From the delicately articulated worlds of artist Joseph Cornell to simple collections of stones, twigs, and found objects from a child’s pocket, shadow boxes are ideal for creating miniature universes that capture our imagination.
One of the joys of cooking in the summer is the availability of fresh herbs. A planter box on the railing of your deck or porch is a convenient way to grow and harvest herbs all season long.
Beans are one of the most popular vegetables grown in the garden. Properly supporting the bean stalks is a key factor in producing a bumper crop of beans. And a trellis used to support beans not only is functional, but also can be an appealing structural feature in your garden.
Gardeners marvel at the miracle of germination when starting seeds for their garden, but they don’t often think of growing these delicate sprouts for eating. With the use of a simple plastic sprouter or a hemp bag, sprouts are easy to grow, nutritious, and shockingly fresh and tasty.
Botanical prints have been collected for ages. Many old books have been destroyed to give these illustrations new use as framed artwork, but with a color copier we have a simpler way of sharing their beauty: decoupaging color copies onto the backs of glass plates and making them into wonderful platters and plates.
Like a good, firm handshake this stone door knocker offers a hearty announcement of guests who have come a-calling, whether expected or just dropping by.
Pebble mosaic pots are a charming, rustic addition to any outdoor patio and they are fun and easy to make. Once you master the technique – which shouldn’t take long – enjoy discovering other things you can dress up in this fun fashion.
Climbing roses are very popular among rose enthusiasts. Despite their name, climbing roses actually do not climb at all, but rather are trained to grow up a structure. A distinctive trellis is a great backdrop for your climbing rose plant and can add an architectural element to your garden.
Onion skins have been used through out history as a natural dye for fabrics and yarns. They are known for the rich golds and soft yellow-greens they produce. The spring brings another and fun use for onion skins: dyeing Easter eggs. The onion skins will produce a colorful marbled pattern on the eggs.
While many Americans understand the pleasure of growing their own tomatoes and fresh vegetables, many never think to grow and cure their own garlic, shallots, and onions. First-time growers will discover that homegrown garlic, shallots, and onions have a freshness and sweetness that is hard to replicate with store-bought varieties. Moreover, through curing – to prevent rot and mold from developing – the home gardener can enjoy the delightful flavor of these beloved bulbs all year long.
Using recycled wood – such as mushroom wood – not only provides a beautiful finish but also increases the odds of luring bats to live in a bat house. While one may not think attracting bats to the backyard is a good idea, bats are an excellent way to reduce mosquito populations. And as they are primarily nocturnal, bats do the work while you sleep.
Many household objects can take on unusual lives with a fresh look. A simple three-tiered onion basket, for instance, will make a stunning summer planter.
Decorative outdoor sculptures can add interest to your garden or be a great way of disguising common eyesores like the electrical box on the side of your house. Pine is an inexpensive and easy-to-work (because of its softness) material to sculpt. This fretwork brings to mind the architecture of Victorian homes and it is amazing to discover that it can be replicated by the home craftsman with a few simple tools.
In our disposable culture we sometimes forget that there is a beauty in items that have lived a life and are given a second chance through repair. With this simple technique, an old terracotta pot can be repaired quickly and easily with nothing more than some copper wire and a masonry bit.
The iron-rich clay used to make terracotta pots can be found throughout the world. For centuries it has been used to create redware and other clay vessels for cooking and gardening.
Vanda orchids are traditionally grown in hanging cedar, redwood, or teak boxes without any planting medium. Their roots both grow through the slats in the box and attach to the box itself as they would to a tree were they growing in the wild.
Porch swings call to mind simpler times and relaxed summer evenings with family and friends. This child-sized version is perfect for creating a place for any child to sit and read a book or to relax with a favorite stuffed animal. Because it is downsized, this porch swing will fit on even a tiny back porch or under the eaves of a house.
Bringing new pets into your home involves a little advance research and some simple steps to keep them happy and healthy. Dr. Steffen Stacy Runquist helps us know how best to help a new cat settle into a new life with us.
Your house may not have a screened porch for you to enjoy, but that doesn’t have to prevent your indoor cat from enjoying the fresh air on his own private porch. With a design based on a window-mounted air conditioner, you can easily install our lightweight porch in a window where your cat will enjoy the view.
Despite the fact that peppers and chilies are native to the Americas, it is hard to imagine the cuisine of Spain, Italy and even Thailand without these curvaceous capsicums. For centuries, peppers have been preserved for use throughout the year. From being dried and ground into powder to being made into the hanging chilerestras of the Southwest, having peppers on hand is a tradition well worth continuing, and Susan Belsinger knows just how to do so.
Dehydrating vegetables and herbs is a great way to enjoy summer bounty all year long. Harnessing the sun, our solar dryer is a green way to dry some of your favorite fruits and vegetables.
Gilding has been used for its ornamental quality outdoors for centuries – from signage to the domes of capitol buildings – and can hold back the elements for decades. So why not give a flea market find such as these vintage lily pad tables a little bit of glamour with the addition of some silver leaf?
Bringing favorite houseplants out for the season is an age-old tradition. This lath-roofed bench is ideal for providing these plants with the right amount of light and shade, whether you are an orchid enthusiast, a fernaholic, or a begonia obsessive. With its generous shelves and sturdy A-frame structure, this bench will provide shelter for any beloved houseplant collection. For example, it’s a great way to care for and display your orchids. Rough cut pine gives the bench a rustic look.
Esther Davis – a self-proclaimed “flower preservationist” – has been drying flowers for eighteen years and creating bouquets that look deceptively fresh but last for months, if not years.
Using an old-fashioned clothesline is a great way to reduce our energy footprint. Building one that also serves as a trellis for flowering vines makes an attractive addition to your garden even when the clothesline is not being used.
Jon Traunfeld, director of the Home and Garden Center for the University of Maryland, has come up with a convenient way to grow greens for your salad anywhere you have a little space – even on your patio. This innovative salad table is portable and easy to build.
These small hypertufa pots are just the thing for displaying succulents and other small plants.
Being able to identify many plants is the trademark of a serious gardener. But even novices need to be able to identify certain plants, such as poison ivy, poison oak and even phototoxic garden plants such as castor beans and euphorbias, in order to avoid contracting contact dermatitis.
Gardeners love to talk about the weather and many keep journals from year to year of the weather in their area, including how much rain they have received. This easy-to-make rain gauge can help determine when rainfall needs to be supplemented with watering and can also measure water from overhead sprinklers to help make sure you’ve watered your garden sufficiently.
If you have ever seen water rushing down a rain chain you are sure to become a fan of this more-elegant alternative to gutter down spouts. It is quite simple to make one from some basic supplies found at the hardware store.
From work and picnic benches to bleacher seats at a ball game, this bench is an outdoor icon. This classic bench will find a use in any backyard.
There is something inherently nostalgic about wooden bushel baskets. Whether it is a memory of a childhood trip to the country to pick apples or a simple bushel of apricots being dropped off at home by a neighbor with too much fruit to make use of, they epitomize the simple life. This simple hanging lamp brings those memories home.
The saltbox was a very popular New England style of home during colonial times. The name originates from the fact that the shape of these homes resembles boxes used to store salt during the 17th century. This birdhouse, tailored to attract Black-capped Chickadees; is based on this centuries-old design.
Tripod orchard ladders are one of the primary tools used in harvesting apples and other tree fruit. Their tapered form allows the ladder to fit between the branches of the tree when picking fruit and the tripod makes it more stable on uneven ground. Like many workaday objects, the simple and elegant form of the orchard ladder is a wonderful inspiration for a plant stand.
