From left: Flickr photos by lakeborgne and Jayme 28

Guest Post by Katie Elzer-Peters of Garden of Words

Turn on the Today Show at 9:00, sharp, and you’ll be treated to their daily “Wise Money” (or something like that) segment. Even Vogue magazine has sections on shopping thrift. For Vogue, that means spending $200 instead of $600 on jeans, but for some of their readers, that’s economizing. Gardeners, writers, and media types blog constantly about how to garden, decorate, gift, and exist without spending any money, or very little. That’s all well and good. However, most of the ideas forwarded to the public involve gardening with whatever is around-beauty or not. That’s perfectly fine, depending upon your aim: Need to grow food, fast, without benefit of special equipment? Want flowers to grace your table, but you’re low on cash? Need just a bit of green and life outside your balcony? Cuttings, rooted in takeout Chinese soup containers will do the trick. But, there still must be room for art.

During this recession, I think there has been a race to the bottom of design taste and a whole-hearted embrace of dull. And, I ask the question: is that race to the bottom really necessary? And, is it good for the bottom line? The future of gardening? I would argue, no.

The Invention of Lying

Bowl made from recycled washers

A couple of events precipitated this blog. 1) I had a conversation with Jayme Jenkins, owner of aHa! Modern Living about the place of pretty garden products in the current economy, and 2) I went to see the movie The Invention of Lying, written by and starring Ricky Gervais. Jayme and I discussed a feeling of unease after reading many different gardening blogs lately. The militant stance regarding “the way to garden,” on many blogs seems to look down on the spending of actual money on anything. Money is, in our opinion, portrayed as the root of all evil, particularly in gardening and garden marketing. A weird thing to ponder if you own a garden shop, no?

Here’s where Lying comes in. I liked the movie. It provided much food for thought. In particular, I noticed the lack of art in the sets. Drab colors, no paintings, no movies, no novels. Movies are simply scripts describing actual events, read by on-screen personalities (though that word seems a bit strong), sitting in velvet easy chairs. The conceit posits that “making art” means “making things up” which means “lying.” So, there’s no art. There’s only dreary reality. No metaphor, no finger paintings, no stained glass windows that look like the ocean. I would hate to live in a world without art.

I’ll Buy This but not That

When I worked at the Smithsonian for a summer, my favorite museum to visit was the Hirshorn.  It’s the modern art museum.  The East Gallery of the National Gallery of Art, with its gigantic Calder mobile was a close second.  I can’t even count how many times I heard people walk up to a Rothko panting and say “Dude.  It is a canvas painted red.  I could have done that.”  The point is, dude, that you didn’t do it.  You could do it now, because somebody else thought of it.

Why are we so “OK” with paying for a plumber, or a winter coat, or a bottle of shampoo, but not OK with  wanting something pretty-like a bird bath made by someone other than yourself, out of something other than an old casserole dish super-glued to an old CD rack?  For some artists, the lucky few, art is their work.  When I buy a painting from a local artist, I’m supporting the hard work that she does to inspire the rest of us.  Yes, we all could live without art and inspiration, but I would argue that inspiration is just as essential to our existence as is water.

Picture Worth a Thousand Words

When I worked at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC, I put together the first “Green Day,” a celebration of art and the environment in honor of Minnie Evans.  She was a folk-artist and gatekeeper at the garden for many years.  Much of her art featured nature themes, and her most widely known quote is “God has over 400 shades of green.”  Throughout the day, I kept coming back to this painting at an artist’s booth.  It was like a magnet.  In no way could I really afford it.  So, I kept visiting it during the festival.  Shortly before closing, the artist said to me “How much can you pay?”  I named a price.  She agreed.  I took it home.

Three months later, I had quit my job, left the career for which I’d been preparing for years, and embarked on an entirely different career as a freelance writer.  One day, I turned the painting over to write down the artist’s name. On the back was the title, which I hadn’t noticed before:  Against the Grain.  When I bought it, I didn’t know what was ahead.  But, something about the art spoke to a storm brewing deep inside of me.

Cost and Worth and Value

Bangle Bracelets made from recycled flip flops

The price of something is but one measure of its value in someone’s life.  The cost doesn’t have to indicate the value.  When you purchase the metal washer bowl from 180 design, pictured above, you’re buying a few dollars worth of recycled washers.  You’re paying for the artist’s creativity.  In the race to working with the least expensive materials, we need not sacrifice taste and design.  People like pretty things.  Those formerly not interested in gardening, but who like design, or an attractive living space will be more likely to become involved if the process is aesthetically pleasing, eco-friendly and affordable.

For the time being, the people most prolifically innovating with recycled materials are the artists.  Their scale of production necessitates higher prices.  If those who can embrace the creativity and inspiration from these artists, others will follow, and what is now elevated as art will become, simply, everyday.  And all of our lives will be the richer, and greener, for it.

Katie Elzer-Peters is a freelance writer and owner of The Garden of Words, L.L.C. She gardens, surfs and reads in Wilmington, North Carolina.

by Etsy artist ghiland

Who doesn’t like to dress up their refrigerator with photos of friends and family, cute and cuddly pets, grocery lists, stupidly silly cartoons and provocative newspaper clippings?  I’ve always been drawn to magnets that express my style, interests and personality. These Floral Magnets, made of lucite cabochons (many of which are Japanese vintage) by Etsy.com artist Gina Hiland, are the perfect magnet to express your flair for simple, modern style and love of the garden.

A Great Gift Idea

My readers know I fancy anything garden related that oozes modern style.  These floral magnets may be vintage but I think the colors and simplicity add a hint of modern.

• Garden Lover great as a stocking stuffer for the holidays, birthdays, or simple “I appreciate you” gift moments.
• Teachers delightful gift for any teacher who loves nature. What teacher couldn’t use a cute set of magnets?
• Magnet Lover this may be a new group of gift recipients but I’m a sucker for a cool set of magnets.
• Mothers Day this is the perfect gift accompaniment for any mother to post photos of family or precious grandchildren

About the Artist

After years and years of looking for, and buying, the prettiest things around, Etsy artist Gina Hiland decided to create something beautiful herself.  She is a stay-at-home mom of a 6 year-old boy, loves all things neutral and is an advocate of simple living (my kind of girl).  Her shop, ghiland Handmade Goods, is a reflection of the high quality and simple designs that inspire her.

Current collections

• Limited edition “stash boxes” filled with unique crafting supplies.
• Fabric covered pin boards made with post-consumer recycled paper homasote and backed with wool felt
• Vintage cabochon magnet sets packaged in reusable tins. Available in 4 different colors.

Enjoy and Happy Gift Giving!

Apartment Therapy is a great source for simple, stylish projects for the everyday do-it-yourselfer.  Check out this modern succulent wall made of 12″ cynderblocks by Annette Guttierez with Pot-ted, a nursery and patioscape shop based in Los Angelos.  This wall would also look great planted with various kitchen herbs or cut-and-grow lettuces. Whatever the size your balcony or patio may be, you can easily make this planter wall any size to accommodate any outdoor space.  Keep the wall at about hip height to avoid the wall falling over without supports.  Safety first!

5 Uses for A Modern Patio Wall

1. Hide ugly retaining walls that would be too expensive to replace.
2. Divide large patios to create different outdoor spaces for reading, entertaining, gardening or conversing with friends.
3. Create unobtrusive boundaries between you and the neighbors, lawn and patio, play areas and sitting areas, etc. Get the idea?
4. Show off your amazing succulent collections without having to buy tons of little pots that quickly clutter up small spaces.
5. Add visual interest to otherwise boring slabs of concrete. Paint it a bright color for even more drama.

How fabulous is this idea?  DWR (Design Within Reach) sent 5 of their outdoor planters to 5 different landscape designers throughout various gardening regions in the United States.  Each of them were asked to design a modern planting scheme using native plants from their region.  Explore each designer’s planting project and get ideas for your own modern outdoor or indoor spaces.  Click on each photo to learn more about each designer’s planting choices.

Flora Grubb Designs

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the set of 3 Rubber Tubs on DWR.com, but you could find similar glazed, black pots at a local nursery to achieve the same look.

Mark Word Design

Black Gratia Planter $325

InsideOutside

Silver New Pot 50 $270

East End Garden Design

Tall Gratia Planter Box $625

Craig Collins International

26″ Liscio Illuminated Planter $625

I have been a huge fan of Apartment Therapy for quite some time now (see the link on our Resources page).  I was pleasantly surprised, okay, I freaked when I saw my Do-It-Yourself Modern Trellis on their website.  I am currently thinking of a way to celebrate my excitement with everyone, so stay tuned for some sort of giveaway details.

What’s so cool about Apartment Therapy?

Design inspiration galore!  They have teams of contributors from major cities across the United States including New York, Los Angelos, San Francisco, Chicago, DC and Boston, the find the most unique stores, products and room designs.  I personally love the slant towards modern and contemporary decor styles, easy decorating tips, easy on the reading (you won’t find long blocks of text on this site!), and an over abundance of my favorite obsession…RESOURCES.

Helping people make their homes more beautiful, organized and healthy by connecting them to a wealth of resources, ideas and community online. – Apartment Therapy Mission

Update on Modern Cable Trellis Project

Since my original post last year, the Star Jasmine has filled in a little more.  The vine leaders (new growth) can get a little crazy wrapping themselves around whatever is close by, so pruning is necessary to keep your modern trellis neat and tidy looking.  Any vine can be used on this sturdy trellis, well, maybe not Wisteria, but I chose the Star Jasmine for its aromatic white flowers that greet my visitors in late spring.

Have a fellow garden buddy with a summer birthday or someone else deserving of a thoughtful gift? Why not put together a veggie basket instead of buying flowers and a card, or worse yet, a gift certificate they’ll most likely end up losing.

Summer is a great time to harvest some really colorful fruits and veggies. A nice deep, purple eggplant adds even more color options, along with various shades of fresh snipped herbs for arromatic accents.

Do you hate watering? Then dive into the succulent family for easy maintenance and cool plant textures. Oscularia deltoides is a unique-looking plant ideal for hot, sunny rock gardens. The plant only reaches 4 inches in height making it a great ground cover in front of the border.

Oscularia creates a dramatic color contrast planted beneath black plants, like this Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’, with its grey-green leaves and pink blush stems.

Check out my cute little eggplant baby, first one of the season. Well, technically the second, because the first one rotted. I hadn’t realized it was hidden under some big leaves in the middle of the plant. Since eggplants need 60 – 95 warm days to produce worthy fruit, and yes, it’s technically a fruit, I chose the ‘Dusky’ variety for it’s purple fast-maturing characteristics.

I’ve pricked myself a few times on their thorny little branches, which makes pruning a pain (no pun intended). However, I must say my little frenchie named Leo hasn’t given it a second look after taking a prick in the schnoz.

Oval fruit varieties can grow quite large, up to 4 feet, and need staking when their heavy fruits start weighing down the branches. Plant a Japanese eggplant if your tight on space or limited to a small patio or balcony. Great for growing in containers.  Knowledge is power. Pass it on!

Photo #1: Our herb garden is planted at the front of our southwest perennial border and consists of Thyme (Thymus ‘Aureus’), Purple Sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurea’), Onion Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), Green Sage (Salvia officinalis), Oregano (Origanum vulgare) and Cilantro (Coriandrum).   We love cilantro on salads, in burritos, Cilantro Lime Rice, but my absolute favorite is Cilantro Pesto Grilled Shrimp on the BBQ.

My New York designer friend and blogger for Garden Bytes from the Big Apple, Ellen Zachos, invited me to enter their blog’s first photo contest Blue Ribbon Herbs.  So take out your camera and snap a few photos of your favorite herbs.  You might just win a special something.  Below are the rules, but be sure to check out her blog for prize info and photo ideas.

THE RULES:
1) You may enter up to three photographs.
2) Include the names for the herb(s) in your image; extra credit if you give both the botanical and common names.
3) Write a brief caption (1 or 2 sentences) telling us your favorite way to use the herb in cooking.
4) Points given for light, composition, and originality. We’re not looking for closeups; we want to see the herb(s) in a garden setting.
5) Remember, gardens can be indoors OR outdoors! This is NYC after all, and we don’t all have outdoor gardens of our own.
6) We’re not limiting this contest to New York City gardens because we have so many readers from away, but extra points will be given to photos showing herbs in an urban setting.
7) The contest ends at midnight on August 5, 2009.

Photo #2:  Baked potatoes are naked without the fresh snipped chives from our garden.  Chives also add much needed taste to low-fat cottage cheese.  Add some fresh ground pepper and you’ve got yourself a low-fab dip for your veggie crudites.

Photo #3: Purple Sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurea’) has to be one of my favorite herbs to grow, not for its culinary use, but for its display of purple, grey-green foliage that offers a contrasting hue to the sea of green foliage.

Looking for natural pest control products for your garden? Well, I just bought Aphid Chaser by Oak Stump Farms at a local garden center. The company guarantees to “disrupt Aphid colonies and ward them off” by using powerful pheromones.

I haven’t had the chance to test the product, but the idea is very intriguing. I plan to attach to my euphorbias and blog about the results later. Has anyone used a product like this before?