Invite the Outdoors Into Your Home

Lack a green thumb but love the idea of connecting with nature? Plants don’t have to be the only way to invite the outdoors into your home. Botanical inspired linens are a great way to create a relaxing, natural sanctuary in any room. Check out Amenity’s new line of 100% organically grown and organically processed bed linens, pillows, and nursery lines at 2modern.

How do you invite the outdoors into your home?

Words not your thing? Visit our Flickr photo group.

Beyond the Basic Storage Shed

Modern-Shed by Grey Design

This modern storage shed is just one of 5 models by Grey Design. This is the most stylish shed I have come across on the web and you have a choice of eco-friendly building materials. The Garden Shed is great for storing bikes, lawnmowers, and other garden necessities.

Visit Modern-Shed for a list of materials, different models, shipping, customer photos, and more.

An Edible Garden On Wheels For the Eco-conscious

Food Map Container by Food Map Design

This Food Map Container is a stylish way to grow veggies, or any plant for that matter, on small patios. The rubber-caster wheels allow for easy positioning to optimize growing conditions as the weather changes. The container is made from 100% post-consumer High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and the powder-coated frame is made from 40-100% recycled steel.

Shop Food Map Design for more sizes from $205

Hot Pots For Cool Spaces

Retro Bullet Planters by Hip Haven

Shop Grounded $144.99

16 inch Jardiniere Pots by Bauer Pottery Company

Shop more colors Bauer Potter Co. $220

White Ceramic Midori Planters

Shop Sprout Home $20.65 small $64.00 Large

22″ Aqua Oil Jar

Shop various sizes & colors Bauer Pottery $132-$550

Faux Cement Planters

Shop Smith & Hawken $69 small $119 Lg

Create Your Own Garden Art

I recently stumbled across this unique succulent chair by Sandra Nelson, a fellow blogger at Art In The Garden. Susan found this retro style chair at a thrift store and was drawn to the shiny chrome frame. Although there are no before pictures, the photo shows Susan cut off the less-than-fabulous material and replaced the form with chicken wire.

As with any wire container, you must keep the soil from seeping through the holes by filling them with dampened sphagnum moss (note: don’t buy sphagnum peat moss). Be sure to press the pieces firmly into the holes and fill the spaces completely. Chicken wire and peat moss can be found at any local, full-service nursery or home improvement store. To limit messy leakage when watering, line the moss with a sheet of plastic, which also acts as a moisture barrier. Remember to cut one good drainage hole at the bottom of both the seat back and bottom.

Next, slit the plastic where you plan to insert the roots of your succulents. Sandra planted sedums, hens and chicks, and thyme. Buy the smallest plants available to make inserting the plants’ roots through the wire holes and plastic slits easier.

Fill the frame’s center with potting soil. Not just any soil but a free-draining potting mix with slow-release fertilizer. Firm the soil around the roots of the plants by pressing it down with your hands.

Ever so gently, water your self-acclaimed artwork thoroughly and keep the soil evenly moist until new growth appears. At that point, you only have to water when the soil becomes dry. You’re better off giving your container a good soaking, rather than just misting the top layer. TIP: If the plants start looking wilty, then you’ve waited too long.

Be prepared to learn from your mistakes because no one said this was an exact science.

Thanks Sandra for your creativity and best of luck to you! Imagine how fabulous this chair will look once the plants fill in. If you would like to see your project featured on my blog, please respond with your ideas or visit Have A Garden Question .

Modern Pots For Urban Dwellers

Here’s a modern twist to the traditional window box from designer Michael Hilgers. This is a great way to add color and greenery to spaces that, well, have no space. The polyethylene pots are water-resistant and can rest on any railing up to 60mm thick. Read more on Container Garden Design.

Design Within Reach sale $60

Lively Pots For Small Plants

This is a fun way to display small plants like herbs, cacti or succulents. The planters stand 6.5 inches tall and can be placed indoors or out.

perch! design $72

Do-It-Yourself Trellis

I finally have pictures of the steel cable trellis I completed over the holidays. The trellis supports climbing Star Jasmine, which is not a true jasmine by the way. I used 1/8″ galvanized steel cable for the supports.

TIP: measure the length of your future trellis and have a store associate cut the cable to length.

If you try to cut it at home, you’ll just end up mashing the cable and the ends will fray. I pre-drilled holes for the eye hooks (pic #2). First, I looped the cable through the top hooks, secured it with the recommended hardware, then pulled it taut with some pliers before looping through the bottom hooks. As you can see (pic #3), the vines cover up the hardware and hooks once they are attached back to the cable. I loosely attached the vines with bread ties, otherwise the heavier, mature vines slide down the cable. >>How-to Instructions

Good luck to all you do-it-yourselfers this season!

Stool or Table?

I love these multi-functional stools by OFFI and Company. The design is inspired by Tiki mugs and barware from the 60’s. Why bother with standard folding chairs? This is a fun solution for entertaining family and friends, inside or outside.

Functional Ivy

There are no headaches with this Ivy Coat Rack from YouSayTomayto. You can have as little or as much ivy you want spreading across your walls. Create functional displays in your entryways, office or bedroom.