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Good to Grow
Weird Furniture: Sprout a Couch
We all know that money doesn't grow on trees . . .
And the Winner Is...
Jastyck!
Congratulations to Jastyck, who won Smith & Hawken's 12 Months of Flowering Plants ($459). I hope she enjoys her year of flowers, and keeps them good to grow.
Garden Therapy: Seedling Surprises
Look carefully. What you should be seeing in this picture is a row of feather-thin, red-stemmed beet seedlings, which poked out of the soil a week ago. However, you're also seeing a few much larger seedlings.
Midday Muse: An Equine Topiary
I spotted this fairy tale-esque horse topiary in a post Danny Seo recently wrote about Stella McCartney's new Beverly Hills store. This is just part of her lavish garden in the back of the store. I love it, but can't imagine having a manicured, shaped topiary at my house.
Casa Quickie: Steer Your Plants Clear of Heat
It's one thing to place your houseplants in direct sunlight, but you won't do them a favor by putting them near a direct heat source (radiator, duct, oven). Doing so will dehydrate your beloved plant quickly; even if you water it diligently, the leaves will dry out. The same goes for air conditioners and vents.
In the News: Farms Sprout in Suburbia
The Wall Street Journal's "Green Acres II: When Neighbors Become Farmers" reports that a growing number of Americans are "turning grass into edible greens and maybe even greenbacks," by growing food in their front and backyards. Since 2006, in Boulder, CO, school-bus driver Kipp Nash has "uprooted his backyard and the front or backyards of eight of his Boulder neighbors," and spent his afternoons "planting, watering, and tending" these minifarms, growing vegetables like tomatoes, bok choy, garlic, and beets. Although not everyone in the neighborhood finds this suburban farming aesthetically pleasing, particularly not during the Winter months, the locally-grown food market has grown, leaving yard farmers with an opportunity to sell to nearby restaurants and other neighbors.
Sale Alert: 20% Off at Smith & Hawken
Smith & Hawken is currently offering 20 percent off of metal furniture, outdoor pavilions, cedar and teak storage, and garden structures. The perfect deal to get your garden into shipshape for Good to Grow month! Of course, you've got to do a little gardening, too.
Win 12 Months of Flowers!
If you love gardening but have a hard time splurging on flowers for yourself, then do I have a giveaway for you! Smith & Hawken's 12 Months of Flowering Plants ($459) will keep you happy year long. Kind of like your favorite shelter magazine, you'll be delighted each month when beautiful blooming plants arrive at your doorstep.
How Would You . . .
Perhaps it's my love of Creole townhouses that has made me a sucker for scroll work, but I simply can't help myself when confronted with any wrought-iron intricacies. This Plant Stand ($4,500) from mid-19th century France is no exception; its shabby chic, white, wrought-iron scroll work and elegant basketweave details have completely swept me off my feet. Of course the two-tiered plant stand is parfait for Good to Grow month, but I'd love to give it more attention in my home somehow, make it a focal point.
Garden Therapy: Inspiration From the Garden Girl
Two weekends ago I built a new garden box and planted it, and just this morning, my beet and zinnia seedlings were poking through the soil! It was so nice to see some of my hard work start to pay off. Gardening is an exercise in patience, and setbacks such as aphids or bad weather can sometimes frustrate even the most dedicated new gardener.
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