Simple Fall Container Gardening Ideas

Fall is here and my front porch is badly in need of some sprucing up. The potted plants and flowers I tried to grow in the spring hung in there over the summer, but now it's obvious they have seen better days. Fall is a great time to add some plants to your porch and yard. It might seem like spring is a better time to plant, but autumn, with its shorter days and cooler temperatures is the best time. 

Fall brings some damp weather, which helps soil keep its moisture longer. Plus the soil is softer which makes for easier digging. You may also have fewer weeds because the sun isn't out as much and temperatures are cooler. Cooler temperatures are also less stressful to new plants, so they have a better chance of thriving. And when the temperature in the air is cooler than the soil, plants focus their energy into growing roots, which causes them to be healthier overall.

When choosing plants for a fall container garden, consider your space as well as your container. I get inspiration from the large planters I've seen around shopping centers and parks. I even snapped a pic of this one that I liked, in front of one of my favorite consignment shops in Knoxville. I love the tall plant in the center, which is called Sky Pencil Holly.

When creating a fall container arrangement, consider the following:

Color - 

There are so many great colors to incorporate for fall gardens, and they don't all have to be the typical fall shades or oranges, yellows and rust. I love chartreuse and bright greens, so coleus and sweet potato vines are always a favorite of mine. Another all-time favorite plant of mine is Dusty Miller, because it makes me think of my Granny who grew it in big pots by her front porch. Its grayish white leaves are a nice complement to just about any color scheme. 

Texture - 

I also like to choose plants in a variety of textures. From big flat leaves to small feathery leaves, as well as grasses and vines, there are so many different textures you can incorporate. And this keeps your planters looking interesting. Ornamental cabbages are another option I am really digging right now. Get it, digging? I crack myself up. 

Dimensions - 

When creating a fall container garden, try to use plants of different sizes and heights, which will also create a more beautiful finished product. Maybe start with something tall and feathery in the middle, and then add shorter leafy plants surrounding it. Finally, bring in some draping vines to create even more visual interest. 

via Southern Living

I hope some of these things inspire you to think outside the box with your fall container gardens! And don't forget you can always incorporate other natural elements, like curly twigs, pine cones and pumpkins. 

Happy Fall Y'all! 

Celebrate Earth Day with Spring Projects, including Easy Indoor Container Gardens

April is Earth Month and Earth Day is April 22nd. In honor of spring and all that it brings, I'm sharing some fun and simple ways to honor the Earth, including easy container gardens, DIY bird feeders and a tasty drink using herbs you can grow yourself!

Upcycled Containers for Spring Gardening

One way to live a more sustainable life is by simply using what you have instead of buying more stuff. And a really fun way to do this is by upcycling some containers you already have for pretty container gardens. There's no limit to what types of containers you might use, depending on your style and aesthetic.  

One option that I really loved when I ran across it a few years ago was this wonderful idea from author & blogger Fern Richardson. In her book, Small Space Container Gardens, she shares lots of inspiration, including re-purposing this vintage flour sifter as a container for plants.

Another great kitchen item that can have a whole new use is a colander or strainer. I used a colander for some pansies, but I also saw this great idea for using a colander to create a salad garden. 

Another item I re-purposed as a garden container was an ironstone gravy boat, similar to the one shown below. I decided it was a great place for a small African violet plant since they need to be watered from below. Another good tip for African violets is to fill your watering can after you've finished watering and let it sit until the next time so the water is completely room temperature. These lovely flowers don't appreciate cold tap water! 

                           

And finally, one of my very favorite plants to grow: Mother In Law's Tongue. This and snake plant are two very closely related specimens (one has yellow edged leaves, one doesn't), but both are easy to grow and hard to kill. Not only are they funky to look at and add some visual interest to your home, they purify the air while you sleep, so it's a win win. 

DIY Bird Feeders to Make with Kids

Another fun idea I stumbled across was this DIY bird feeder from The Resourceful Mama. Spread peanut butter on a toilet paper tube (or cut up paper towel tube) and roll it in birdseed. Then hang it with some twine and wait for the birds to feast!

I love these kinds of easy projects that use items you probably already have laying around.

Fizzy Mint Lemonade = A Tasty Drink for Spring

Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow. In fact, you might not even mean to grow it and once you start, it will pretty much take over. But it smells wonderful and has many practical uses, so I don't really mind.

My favorite drink for spring is a fizzy lemonade with a hint of mint. It's so easy to make, but so delicious.

My favorite lemonade is Hubert's but Simply Lemonade will work too. Then I add some type of sparkling water (plain or flavored). Finish off with a sprig of mint and cheers!

No Mold for our Brokenness

My first "real" job was as the administrative assistant at a good sized real estate company in my home town. I had just graduated from high school and was headed off to college that fall, but needed some work for the summer.

I was replacing a soon-to-be-retired older lady who had held the position of office admin for many years. She had her job down to a science and trained me on all the ins and outs of the real estate world. We hit it off pretty well and became friends.

In the process of getting to know each other, I learned she was a ceramics artist. In her possession were hundreds of ceramic molds, used for casting all sorts of various ceramic creatures, vases, and other objects. Having just moved to a new house, she needed help transporting them safely and I volunteered.

I didn't quite know what I was in for. Each heavy, white chalky mold had to be carried individually with utmost care so it didn't get chipped. She explained to me that even the smallest chip in the mold could ruin a future casting. After several hours, we finally finished transporting the molds and she treated me with a trip to Sonic as a way to say thanks.

I'm not sure why this memory has stayed buried for so many years (16 to be exact!), but it came to me tonight at the grocery store of all places. There was a heavy-set man in the deli area, carefully inspecting some overpriced pre-packaged crab cakes. I must have gotten my cart a little too close to him because he moved quickly on, apologizing for blocking my way.

"It's fine," I said. "I'm in no hurry."

"Oh, I know how it works here," he said. "You gotta keep moving along and stay outta people's way."

This made me feel sad and I wish there had been something else I could have said to let him know he really wasn't in my way or any bother at all.

Then, when I got to the checkout line, I noticed the guy ringing up my groceries had a black eye and half his face was bruised and swollen. I immediately tried not to let him think I was looking at it. And even though I really wanted to ask if he was okay, I instead launched into the story of how I was nervous to show my face at that particular store after breaking a huge bottle of wine in the checkout line during my last visit.

He told me it was okay, that it happened just about every day.

As I left the store, my heart felt so heavy for the two guys I had encountered. Without knowing any of their stories, I just felt like maybe each was carrying his own heavy load.

What does this have to do with my memories moving the ceramic molds? My encounters at the grocery store got me thinking about molds. How each mold was created to form just the exact right ceramic casting you wanted to create. And how if even a small chip got in the mold, it would potentially ruin the piece of art.

There's no mold for our brokenness in life. Each little chip we've gotten over the years causes us to look a tiny bit different from each other. And over time, our brokenness changes us in big ways. The only uniform thing about brokenness is that we all have it. From the ones of us who don't know where tonight's meal is coming from to those of us who just polished off a fancy steak dinner.

We try so hard to shine ourselves up and put our best versions forward.

What looks like perfection, right down to the Ralph Lauren 400 thread count sheets, is often falling to pieces around us. Each of us carries our hurts inside. And sometimes those hurts are so big, they take up more than their fair share of space, squeezing and pushing their way out, causing us to transfer them, hurting the ones around us.

You can never know what kind of hurt someone is carrying just by looking. Even with the ones you feel closest to or think you know best.

Seeming like you have it all together is not indicative of reality much of the time. The ones who get dressed up and sit quietly in the church pew, singing "Holy, holy, holy" in full voice are often the same ones who come home and cry in their driveway, yell at their dog, or snap at their husband. Let's just say I would know.

I don't believe God causes our suffering or wants us to hurt. I do believe our brokenness can help us love each other better and understand each other more.

But we have to acknowledge it. To give it a name and let it be.

This can be hard when so many things about our lives seem good. I often get mad at myself for focusing on any sort of problems or challenges because I think "My issues are not nearly as bad as the next person's. I haven't really earned the right to feel this way." 

I think this is dangerous because it keeps us from acknowledging our truest feelings and hurts. Even if there's nothing we can do about them. We just never know when something we experienced can cause us to have a unique perspective and maybe even offer a tiny bit of comfort to someone else going through the same thing.

And then, even in the midst of the brokenness, a little beauty can grow.

Simple & Affordable Fairy Gardens to DIY

Fairy gardens have been a popular creative project for some time, but I haven't tried making one until now. There's something about the whimsy of it all, and the fact that I love tiny, miniature things that compelled me to create a fairy garden of my own. 

The best thing about making a fairy garden is that there are no rules. You can truly let your imagination run wild, and create a whimsical world that will make a great addition to your home or garden space. 

1) Choose A Fairy Garden Container 

The first step in creating your own fairy garden is to choose a planter to contain everything. This can be a traditional terra cotta pot or planter, or you might want to opt for something colorful in a glazed ceramic. I ultimately decided to use a plastic planter because I liked the color, a kind of neutral olive green.

Choose a planter based on your unique style, plus be sure to consider how large you'd like your garden to be. 

2) Select Plants for Your Fairy Garden 

Think about where your fairy garden is going to live (in the shade?, in a sunny spot?) and choose plants that will like those conditions. A good rule of thumb is three to four plants, depending on the size of your container.

Ferns are great, especially smaller varieties. Herbs such as thyme or different types of basil might also make a good plant for a fairy garden. Finally, succulents, coleus and ivy are all great selections. Your fairy garden is yours alone, so choose plants that make you smile! Check out these options, from myflowerland.com. 

3) Select Your Fairy Dwellings

Fairy houses are probably the cutest thing about fairy gardens. Most craft stores and even some garden stores have fairy houses or garden accessories that could work. I decided to use plain, raw wood birdhouses since they gave me the freedom to paint them myself. 

More project inspiration via Today Show!

 

4) Add Fairy Accessories to you Fairy Garden

I've always been a collector of little odds and ends. If you have a junk drawer, now is the time to raid it! You just never know what small bits and pieces you might be able to turn into a fairy garden accessory. Perhaps a broken holiday ornament can get new life in a fairy garden.

Or maybe you have small pieces from kids' toys that fit right in with your fairy garden. And don't forget to search for treasures in nature! Small stones, bits of wood or shells, leaves and pine cones, and dried flowers can all bring a certain magical quality to your fairy garden. 

You may also want to visit your local craft store and see what sorts of whimsical objects they have. Click here to see all sorts of fairy garden accessories available at Jo Ann Craft store. I hope you've been inspired to create your very own fairy garden! 

Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Garden

Covet: cov-et. /kuh-vet/ verb, meaning "yearn to possess or have (something)"

Synonyms: crave - desire - hanker - lust

When I think about coveting, it usually extends to things that are expensive...a certain kind of house you wish you had, a bigger television, diamond jewelry. 

Lately, I've been coveting something in the worst of ways. It's not necessarily an expensive thing, although it did cost lots of sweat and hard work to create. I've been coveting a garden. 

 Living in a condo like I do, I have a small concrete patio which I've crammed with potted plants in my efforts to have a so-called 'container garden.' For the past eight years, I've called my condo home and my container garden has brought me lots of joy. It still does.

But there's a garden down the road from my house that turns me pea-green with envy. I'm talking about the University of Tennessee Gardens, recently named as the official botanical garden of my state. It's practically within walking distance of where I live...less than a 5 minute drive. 

In the past three days, I've been there three times...to enjoy the paths and picnic tables...sculpture installations and even a rock labyrinth. Some of it is a work in progress, but aren't we all?

I've been dragging my southern beau there too, but he doesn't seem to mind. Saturday, we took a stroll in the evening. Sunday, we had a lovely picnic on a grassy spot in the middle of a big grove of trees. Monday, it was fish watching in the newly added ponds. 

The entire garden is lovely, but the part I really covet...the part I really hanker for is the kitchen garden. 

It's this wonderful space with raised beds tucked inside a wooden fence that's the most cheery shade of lavender. 

Every time we visit, I say to my southern beau "I'm coveting this garden in the worst of ways." 

"One day," he says. "One day, you will have a garden that is even better than this." 

And I believe him. But until then, I'll tend to my mint plant, leggy and sparse as it reaches for the sliver of sun that shines onto my patio. I'll water my fern with its three spindly leaves. I'll pinch the flowers off my basil that I use for homemade pesto. 

I'll love my little patio babies as if they are headed for the cover of Better Homes & Gardens...but I'll know that just a stone's throw down the road is a garden that the whole state tries to claim as its own. 

Anti-Recipe: Vegan Pesto Pizza a' la Trader Joe's

There are times I'm very glad my southern beau is an adventurous eater. When I told him I was making bean pizza for dinner last night, he didn't even flinch. I wasn't sure how this creation would turn out, but it was delicious!

The crust was from ball of ready-made Trader Joe's pizza dough (whole wheat). Since I didn't have any marinara on hand, I used some of my homemade vegan arugula pesto for the sauce. My pizza's topping? A can of Cannellini beans. I was just about to pop it in the oven when I remembered I had some DIY sun dried tomatoes so I added those too. It might seem weird to eat beans on pizza, but I really enjoyed this combination.

The Anti-Recipe:

1 Trader Joe's whole wheat pizza crust (or another brand)

Roll out your crust on a pizza pan or baking stone. Spread 1-2 cups pesto on dough. Add 1 can of Cannellini beans (drained & rinsed). Top with a handful of chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil. Season to taste (I used garlic powder, parsley, dried basil, and lemon pepper).

Place in a preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. Or follow the directions that your dough calls for.

What's the strangest topping you've ever had on a pizza?

The Great Pumpkin

This weekend, I was driving down the interstate and saw what I think may have been the great pumpkin. While I don't condone paparazzo-style photography while driving, I just couldn't resist the chance to snap a picture. I didn't realize the great pumpkin apparently travels with some sort of great watermelon entourage. Who knew? This sighting got me into the Halloween spirit and prompted me to plan my own pumpkin patch adventure for Sunday afternoon. 

The southern beau and I grabbed a thermos of cider, jumped in the car and headed out to a real live pumpkin patch. If you're wondering why I say real live, it's because one year we ended up at a fake pumpkin patch. All the pumpkins had been chopped off their vines and deposited into a neatly mowed field. Not real! Our favorite pumpkin patch near Knoxville has punkins still growing on their vines, which makes it real live in my book.

Apparently this is the year of the non-traditional pumpkin as far as colors go. Mine are the three beauties on the right and the southern beau's is that giant orange one on the left. I took my time looking at lots of different pumpkins before choosing my three. Whereas my pumpkin patch partner found his immediately. When I tried to persuade him to get a different one, he said "Nah, I like to dance with the one that brung me." He's so awesome (and weird). 

Including the small varieties I had already gotten at Lowe's plus a green beauty I picked up at the farmer's market, I now have 19 pumpkins at my house. I might have to restrict myself on getting any more but this is my favorite time of year and I just can't help myself. I hope you are enjoying fall with a pumpkin or twenty ;)

Blooms on a Budget

I'm joining my friends this morning on Knoxville's Fox 43 for a segment about blooms, more specifically blooms on a budget (You can view the segment at the bottom of this post or check out others). There's nothing better than having fresh flowers around the house, but when budgets are tight, this luxury often gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list. I wanted to share some ways that you can still enjoy beautiful flowers without breaking the bank.

1. Give Fillers a Chance - Gypsophila or baby's breath, as it is commonly known, has long been considered a filler flower. A few sprigs of it are usually tucked in around roses as an accent and it can look old-fashioned and outdated. But a large, full container of Gyp by itself has a lovely simplicity, especially when paired with a industrial container for that rustic chic look. I purchased a couple bunches of Gypsophila for $4 each and re-purposed a metal container I already had. Total cost for this arrangement: $8

2. Choose Unexpected Colors - When we think roses, red or pink is usually what comes to mind but there are so many other color options as well as varieties to choose from. These orange spray roses were $6.99 at my local grocery store and I arranged them in a pitcher I picked up for around $10. I love to present something like this to a friend because the flowers are a sweet treat but the pitcher also becomes part of the gift.

3. Get Creative with Containers - There's no rule that says flowers must be displayed in a vase, especially those blah, plain vases that often come from florists. I like to use all sorts of containers for my flowers, from antique jars (like the blue Mason jars shown here) to vintage tins and canisters or even pitchers and bowls. I created a tulip arrangement in a trifle bowl once and was quite pleased with how it turned out. You don't have to spend a lot of money on containers...pop into your neighborhood thrift store and see what inspires you. I bet you'll find something that fits your style in no time!

4. Small Groups, Big Statement - Instead of creating one large arrangement, you can also make several small ones and group them together for visual impact. I collect Ironstone so I pulled a few pieces from my collection and used them to hold these pink carnations. The whole bunch of carnations was just $3.99 at the grocery store and by cutting them short, they make a sweet centerpiece that won't obstruct your view. You could also put one of these beside each plate and let your guest take them home at the end of the evening.

5. Go Green - Maybe flowers aren't your thing or you want more of a long-term investment.  Treat yourself with a little arrangement of green by having some cute plants around the house. The plants I found were $1 each and I re-potted them into some fun containers I already had lying around. These would make a wonderful housewarming gift or a little something to show a friend you were thinking of her/him. {image via}

I hope some of these options serve as a reminder that you don't have to spend a lot of money to add a little beauty to your life...it's all about how we look at things!

Want to view more of my Fox43 segments? Check 'em out here! 

Anti-Recipe: Cucumber-Lime-Mint Water

Summer officially started yesterday and for anyone who has spent the season in the sweet south, you know how important it is to attempt to stay cool and hydrated. My first-choice cold beverage is un-sweet iced tea, preferably an entire pitcher that I can sip on throughout the day. However, I gave up caffeine a month or so ago and since then, haven’t had a drop of iced tea. I know I could drink decaf, but for now I’m on the wagon.

After my initial tea withdrawal symptoms (headaches, general fussiness, malaise…tee hee), I went through a major lemonade phase (which some might say is still going on….oh sugary lemonade, why must you taunt me so?). I’m trying to refrain from guzzling it daily, not wanting to replace one thing (caffeine) with another (sugar). Thanks to my mom, I think I’ve finally found my signature summer drink: cucumber water.

To make it, fill a large pitcher with water, add sliced cumbers, lime juice (or lemon juice) and a few sprigs of mint. Let this concoction sit in the fridge for maybe 24 hours and enjoy. It’s so refreshing and actually really good for you, as cucumber has some kind of detoxifying properties. Make sure you use organic cucumbers since most commercial varieties have that waxy coating on the outside. Feel free to go wild with herbs too, depending on what you like. I have a container herb garden stocked with a couple kinds of mint and lemon balm so I snipped a sprig of each and it tasted great.

I hope you are staying cool while the weather’s hot! What’s your favorite summertime drink?

Monday Cheer

“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” 

– Lady Bird Johnson

Anti-Recipe: Smashed Turnips

Turnips are one of those foods that often get passed over and I’ll admit to never having eaten them until recently. Maybe the image of Scarlett pulling a turnip out of the red earth of Tara and chomping down on it, only to retch, was emblazoned in my mind.

Since there were some cute little turnips in my CSA box a few weeks ago, I decided to be brave and try them. To my pleasant surprise, they were delicious! And I can promise this recipe will leave you much happier than Scarlett in her famed scene.

Smashed Turnips

• 3-4 turnips, washed & coarsely chopped
• butter
• fresh chives (mine are the garlic variety!)
• salt & pepper

Cover turnips with water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until the turnips are tender, but not mushy. Drain the water. Mash turnips with a little butter. Stir in chives and salt & pepper to taste. Enjoy!

{This dish is especially great for someone practicing a low-carb lifestyle, because they are an alternative to mashed potatoes without sacrificing flavor.}

How does your garden grow: dusty miller

I must have been feeling nostalgic at the lawn & garden store because I ended up bringing home half a flat of dusty miller. Are you familiar with this white perennial? My granny always had some in her flower beds as sort of a border. It comes from the Mediterranean and can be propagated from cuttings. Instead of mixing it with some other type of flower or plant, I put all mine in an old metal washtub and I love the result.

You can also use cut pieces in floral arrangements. I fell in love with the bridal bouquet pictured below because it is such an interesting mix of things I wouldn’t have thought to put together.

{image via}

Hope everyone is having a great week! What growing things are a reminder of someone you love?

Sweet Trees

One of the things I miss most about my great-grandpa is his vast knowledge of nature, especially trees. Whenever I had to do a leaf-identification project for science class, he was my right-hand man. I guess I have trees on the brain because they have affected my day a little…after a big storm moved through my neighborhood last night, many folks (including yours truly) have been without power.

Even though this is a minor inconvenience, I’m saddest about seeing gorgeous old trees like this come to such an end. To think something could grow for fifty or sixty years and then be uprooted in a matter of minutes just doesn’t seem right.

Instead of focusing on the tree debris, I wanted to share this gorgeous specimen (which I have learned is a red Horse Chestnut, thanks to a handy online tree guide). I took these pictures exactly 1 year ago and never got around to posting them here on the blog.

The red Horse Chestnut is a hybrid between the Red Buckeye and the Common Horse Chestnut. I think it’s gorgeous and I hope this one has a long happy life.

Be safe if storms are moving through your area! Happy Tuesday friends!

Buttercups on Parade

It’s no secret on this blog I’m a big fan of the humble buttercup. Some folks call them daffodils and others, jonquils. No matter what you call them, you must admit they are a lovely blossom. Most of the buttercups in my neck of the woods bloomed and wilted with all the rain we’ve had lately.

Then, this past weekend I attended a daffodil show with more varieties and specimens than I’ve ever seen in my life. Some were huge show-offs, some were teensy tiny, and some were old favorites.

My new favorite is the one with white outer petals with pale pink/peachy centers. Can’t you see those as bridal flowers? They were award winners.

This one’s for my Me-me because she said she’d rather have one perfect buttercup than a whole bouquet of roses. I’m with her.

You can’t really tell from this image, but this variety is so tiny. Each bloom is about the size of a quarter or smaller. I should have photographed something else in the shot so you could get an idea about scale. Did you know the daffodil is the national flower of Wales? Maybe Princess-to-be Kate will carry some in her bridal bouquet. I think she should.

This lovely grouping shows some of the different varieties. Which one is your favorite? I’m no Tennessee Williams, but I hope today’s post leaves you feeling “showered in jonquils” just like his heroine Amanda Wingfield did in The Glass Menagerie. Happy Tuesday friends!

Stylish Blooms a’ la Pink

I’ve already admitted my tendency of hopping out of moving vehicles to snap a photograph. This weekend was no exception as I was riding through my hometown with my parents. I just couldn’t let these gorgeous pink trees go un-shared. Also, I promise there was no re-touching of the colors!

Spring is such a beautiful time of year. Can you imagine staring out your window and seeing this in your backyard?

As style icon Christian Dior once said “pink will prevail.” Pink is definitely prevailing in my neck of the woods. What’s lovely in your yard today?