CasaSugar

Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:15:00 -0800

A Sugar staffer asked me the name of the yellow flowers in this image from my Etsy Finds: Votive Holders post. So I thought I'd quiz you all and see if you know it. Just a hint: the ones shown are dried flowers and they are pretty bright yellow in daylight.

Etsy Finds: Orchid Oasis

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:23 -0700

Orchids are some of my favorite flowers and make beautiful houseplants. But their delicate shapes and colors also translate really well to housewares and artwork, making an ideal purchase for those lacking a green thumb. From orchid pillows and paintings to orchids made from felt and recycled materials, check out my slideshow to see orchids in every form.

View Slideshow ›

Etsy Find: Wood Windowsill Planter

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0700

A whopping 72 percent of you said you keep potted plants on your windowsill. So it's about time we all give our growing greenery a nicer home. Lose the ubiquitous terracotta planters and consider this Wood Windowsill Planter ($40). Made of veneered pine with removable metal potting tins, it will last longer than your delicate terracotta. Most of all I love its streamlined modern shape - a bit mid-century! Beautiful and functional for your herbs and small plants. What do you think?

Name This Plant

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:00:11 -0700

This handsome, finger-like, purple plant is native to Europe, western and central Asia, and northwestern Africa. It's often grown ornamentally in the US, though, due to its beautiful blooms. Although it may be a beauty queen, it's also a toxic plant that can potentially cause death, so beware! Can you name this plant?

Do You Have Any Cacti at Home?

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:15:11 -0700

Cacti may be prickly plants, but when grown in numbers, they have a dynamic, architectural quality that creates a miniature ornamental landscape. For those of you with black thumbs, they make great indoor houseplants, as they require little watering. Do you own any?

Name This Plant

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:00:29 -0700

On this patio, a tall grass was used to conceal an ugly concrete wall. Can you name it?

Name This Type of Plant

CasaSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:11 -0700

I spotted this plant in full bloom on a San Francisco sidewalk and couldn't help but stop and take a photo. The plant is nearly taking over the sidewalk, so beautiful! Do you know what type of plant it is?

Name This Plant

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:15:59 -0800

This plant is a Winter favorite. Can you tell me what it's called?

DIY: Photosynthesized Botanical Calendar

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:00:31 -0800

Have a nature-loving pal who still needs a gift this season? Then try making her a cool botanical calendar. It's also an easy project that you can share with precocious youngsters, so everyone can get in on the fun!

What You'll Need

Sunprint kit
Foraged garden leaves, stalks, flowers, etc.
Rimmed baking sheet
White, ultrafine paint pen
2009 calendar for reference

To find out how to make it, read more.

Here's how, from The San Francisco Chronicle:

Gather items to use as images; finely textured plants and leaves work best.
Lay item on Sunprint sheet, leaving enough room to write in days of the month
Follow instructions on Sunprint kit: Place briefly in direct sunlight. Expose until paper turns almost white.
Rinse in baking sheet filled with water for about a minute.
Lay flat to dry. Once sheets are dry, press under books to flatten. (Note: It's faster and easier to make several at once, but begin with one sheet to make sure you are comfortable with the process.)
Using a pencil and a light touch, write the months, days and dates on each sheet. Work freehand or use a ruler to mark straight lines. Trace with a paint pen and, when dry, lightly erase your pencil marks.
If desired, punch holes in the top of each page and bind with ribbon to hang.

Source

How Doesn't This Garden Grow?

CasaSugar — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:30:41 -0700

There's one thing that these plants, known as Tillandsias, don't need to grow. They require minimal maintenance, and are ideal for you black thumbs out there. Can you name the one ingredient that these plants do not need to grow?