Awesomeness :: Repurposing and Bird Baths

Thrifted light fixtures and old bits of china. More on how-to here.

{Photos from Re-Nest.}

Life Outside of the Garden

Every-once-in-a-while I take a break from gardening. I do!

Lately, while the rain has been pattering away outside - making light of my garden chores, I have retreated to my sewing room/studio. My favorite thing right now is gathering up vintage pieces that I have collected and altering them in some way. I am also doing alterations to items from my closet that weren't being worn - and I adjusted them to increase their time in the rotation. Like taking long sleeved tunics and making them into gathered, cap sleeve tunics.

So these designs from YMC of England caught my eye - as I would love to add the details onto simple A-line skirt patterns for my next nighttime 1980's movie/sewing project. Buttons, pockets and pockets with trim. Not too much to tackle, right?

Not allowed to completely forget about the garden, last night I ended up having vivid dreams of our vegetable gardens being ransacked by pests that ate everything. Everything! Some people have nightmares about all of their teeth falling out or arriving to class naked. Me? I dream about garden disappointments and disasters. It could be worse.

Fun with Calendula :: A Salve and A Scrub

Calendula, calendula. Nature's answer for my fickle, fair skin. The herb garden is offering up a ton of these golden flowers as-of-late. So I am steeping them in olive oil to make the simple calendula salve. One mason jar for me and another for a friend.

I am going to make a little extra calendula oil to add to my homemade facial scrub. This recipe is The Stuff and has saved me the pretty penny that I used to drop on Kiehl's products. It really exfoliates, but the honey and the oil moisturize, too.

Here's the recipe:

Mix the following:

1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tblsp. calendula olive oil
1 tblsp. honey

Scrub gently into skin and leave on a few minutes. Rinse.

The Charlottesville Cooking School :: Canning Class!

Learning how to can has been on my wish list for a very long time. The thought of winter pantry shelves stocked with rows of Ball mason jars makes my heart race.

On August 29th, I will be taking a class at The Charlottesville Cooking School with Leni Sorensen. Here's a description:

Learn the art of canning peaches and tomatoes at this fun and interactive class with Leni Sorensen. Leni is a culinary historian at Monticello. Each student will leave with one jar of tomatoes and one jar of peaches.

I especially love that it is interactive, as that is the only way I absorb anything these days.

Thinking I might treat myself to this, too. I hear that it is the bible of all-things-canning-slash-preserving.

Stabilize a Slope :: Dayliles

"Dreamer in My Dreams"- Daylily Macro

Ah. Those pesky hills and dales that come with living in the foothills. I'm not complaining, mind you. The texture of our landscape is killer. And, sometimes, just challenging.

For those erosion prone spots on our land, I am slowing filling them in with daylilies. Dependable, yet the possibilities of colors and shades keep things interesting. Unlike a lot of groundcovers that are used for slope stabilization. (Not that there's anything wrong with those . . . )

I just bought some daylilies from Parry's Farm through Etsy. "Wineberry Candy" and "Jolyene" varieties. They arrived last week, carefully packaged with a water-proof care sheet - and I planted them this past Sunday.

I will also purchase some Stella D'oro's from our daycare's fundraiser (yes, an over-used daylily, but it was all they were offering as far as daylilies went and I'm hoping that mixing it up with different varieties will resuscitate them in my eyes). And some others will be transplants from around our land.

Daylilies make things happen quickly. Filling in drab spots lickety-split, offering up blooms usually by the first season. Making the sweat equity worth it.

DIY :: Live Curtains

The descriptions my parents paint of their time in Holland during the late 60's stick with me. The cold, the gray, the ever-present damp.

So, while reading through one of my mom's gardening books over Christmas - I stopped dead at a sketch of a live curtain. Inspired by what the Dutch do during the winter months. Little windows are covered with drooping and draping ivy, pothos, philodendron. Some live curtains originate from plants that sit on shelves - built up on high across the window. Allowing the plant to spill out over the window. Covering the winter blahs. Chasing away the drab sky-scapes.

My live curtain starts from the bottom. Corey put two screws on either side of the window frame - so I could string some florist wire across. Then, I pulled up the viney-arms of my pothos and pulled each vine up and over the wire.

It's more fun with plants than anything else. As you can see our mountains and blue skies make the Virginia winters more tolerable than what I imagine Dutch winters in the Hague are like . . .

DIY :: Succulent Dish Garden

While out with Corey a few weeks ago, buying construction supplies at Home Depot, I found mini-succulent offerings and thought they would work in a dish garden. A dish garden is basically like a mini-landscape with a variety of small houseplants. Succulents are especially satisfying in this type of design. And with each being only $1.98, it was worth the experiment.

You'll need a dish or bowl, some potting soil (mix it with some sand if you are planting succulents) and what-ever little treasures you plan on planting. Varying textures and heights can add to the intrigue. Pot 'em up and fill potting soil in around the plants.

Succulents like to be in a southern- or western-facing window and need very little water. Repeat this over and over to yourself, whenever you are tempted to water them. They will love you for the neglect. Go figure.

DIY :: Clove-Spiked Oranges

Anyone else make these during their childhood?

Just take an orange, tangerine or clementine and push whole cloves through their skin (whole cloves have a ready-made spike on one end). The smell is fantastic and energizing during the middle of winter. Children will have fun creating designs or faces . . . we made a swirl and a star-of-sorts.

DIY: Quick Dry Your Herbs

This technique is perfect for sage, oregano, thyme and rosemary. And so stinkin' easy.

Collect about a cup or two of fresh herbs. I dried oregano, rosemary and sage (pictured above).

Place the herbs between two paper towels and microwave for about 2 minutes. Check. Need a little more time? Do it in small, 30 second increments until the herbs are dry.

Let the herbs sit out a bit, on the paper towel. Then, grind and put in storage containers.

I happily ended up grinding them between my fingertips last night. You can also use a pepper grinder or can buy a grinder specifically for herbs. Do what ever suits you, your budget and your energy level!

Working with each herb during an October evening seemed so on time. They were just the scents I craved with winter coming on - oregano had me thinking about hearty tomato sauces, the rosemary brought on ideas of roast chickens and the sage was all about Thanksgiving and stuffings.

Libby - Was this helpful?

DIY and Grow Along - Moss Terrariums

Last month, days of mist, rain, fog and humidity restocked my moss source on our land. When I should have been doing lame things like, I dunno, scrubbing grout (does anyone enjoy this?!) - I instead gathered up a healthy pile of moss and created this. The lidded candy jar was a $1 find at a garage sale. You can also use a mason jar and they are super-cheap ($9 for a dozen at the local grocery store . . . )

Here's my tutorial on how to make one. I skipped the rock layer at the bottom this time around - the moss may not need as much drainage as other terrarium plants . . .

Have you had fun with moss lately? Or terrariums? Post your links!

DIY: Herb Ice Cubes

With that first frost closing in on us, this is a quick and easy way to preserve your basil and/or other herbs.

1. Harvest and rinse your herbs.

2. Chop them up.

3. Fill up most of a clean ice cube tray with the chopped herbs.

4. Pour hot water over them (this should be water that has been boiled, first).

5. Freeze. Then, you can pop the ice cubes out and store in freezer bags. Make sure to label the bags.

I can't wait to surprise Corey - mid-winter - with a batch of my friend Nina's Killer Meat Sauce and have fresh-tasting basil on-hand. You can also freeze chervil, chives, cilantro, comfrey, dill, lovage, mint, parsley, savory, sweet fennel and thyme.

Container Gardening for the Sweltering South

Plant swap find - my container hosta.

Boxwood as backbone.

Glazed, fancy pottery. A late season sale purchase didn't hurt the purse.

Salvation Army pottery find for hens and chicks - $2.

Galvanized tin bucket for petunias.

Elvis Costello, Weezer, Loudon Wainwright and Frank Black have been keeping me company while I get a few things done in our Sugar Hollow Deck Garden. After a few years of container gardening (one of my all time favorite ways to garden, by-the-by), I have a few tips that I hope can save you some precious time and Benjamins - while keeping the frustration factor as low as possible. 'Cause you don't want to run away from the experience pulling your hair out, right? Right.

1. Treat yourself to some backbones. Good for quick greening up of a space. Little evergreens, boxwoods, hostas, ivy - all surprisingly interesting when potted up in a container garden space.

Keeping-it-cheap - I find my little boxwoods and shrubs at The Big Home Improvement Stores for a few dollars. My hosta found me through a plant swap. Ivy can be propagated easily through cuttings. Quick growing vines like morning glories and hyacinth bean are easy to start from seed and fill out vertical spaces.

2. I love the look of terracotta. However, it is a losing battle during the really hot months. And the smaller the container, the more difficult it will be to keep things watered.

Keeping-it-easy - Put (or keep the plants) in the plastic container you bought them in. Use these as inserts for the terracotta pots. They'll retain water while you enjoy the look of the terracotta. Kick back with container garden cocktail with all of the time and energy you save on watering.

3. Containers don't need to be expensive. I use old bushel baskets, galvanized tin containers and thrift store finds.

Keeping-it-cheap - Check out my post on transforming galvanized buckets into a salt-of-the earth container for your garden goods.

4. If you can afford them, buy glazed containers. Real deal pottery. These can get pricey. I usually wait until the end of the season and treat myself to one or two - at 40% off. But they withstand winters, retain moisture and can add another depth of character to your garden.

Keeping-it-cheap - Wait for October or November to make your purchase or visit local thrift shops for unique finds.

5. Plant wisely. Certain plants are more rewarding than others during our summer months.

Keeping-it-easy - My thoughts on what has worked during the thirsty months of July and August are here.

6. Watering can start to bite you in the ass. I know it is hard for me to keep up with it. Think about ways to cut back on feeding the water monster (with the right containers) or consider an on-the-fly container irrigation system.

Keeping-it easy-and-cheap - This idea from Gayla at You Grow Girl for a pop bottle irrigation system. Going on vacation? Put your beloved plants in an inch or two of water in your bathtub.

DIY: Teacup Cloche

Indie shopping mecca Modish has a fun blog post on terrariums. A new twist on something I am obviously obsessed with . . . and my teacup cloche photo was included.


My cloche was made on the super-fly, super-cheap. A sweet little tea cup find from a local thrift shop makes for the perfect spot for a fern (think dewy, misty and ferns being okay with wet feet). I had mentioned the cloche idea in a previous post - candle holders, bowls, hurricane glasses, vases - can all be turned upside-down and become - poof! - a cloche. Which is a good thing - because whenever I see these cloches for sale at garden centers, they cost more than a pretty penny. And I need all my pennies these days for plants, plants and more plants!

Metafilter Talks Terrariums

Weblog Metafilter did a bit about terrariums last week. Here's the link to their page - scroll down to January 25th.

They included a blog entry little 'ole me did about terrariums-on-the-cheap (the 'easily and cheaply' link below - 'cause I'm classy like that).

"When it's been gray for days and it seems like spring will never come, making a terrarium (sometimes known as a Wardian case) is a good way to keep from going mad. Your own little ecosystem can be set up easily and cheaply in almost any clear-walled, enclosed container -- even a Mason jar or a two-liter Coke bottle. (Inspired by this.) "

If you can't get out to a greenhouse these days, bring the greenhouse to you!

DIY: Raised Bed Reclamation

Raised bed run amok.

With cardboard mulch.

Raised beds that were cardboard mulched last season.

*************************************

When I first got into gardening, it was with a zest and Tasmanian devil-whirlwind approach that almost did me in. I had lists upon lists. I created insurmountable projects. I worked until my back screamed 'Uncle.' Moving out to our five acres almost paralyzed me. So much land. So much to do. The lists multiplied by three, by six, by nine. I started to lose sight of it all.

Then something shifted. My pace became more plodding. I could laugh at my mistakes. The pressure was off. I made peace with my garden. I liken it to ants and their ant hills. Each small step could be a contribution. Each seed, each bulb, each new plant had possibilities that I could relish and appreciate.

I am almost eight months pregnant, but still wanted to get out in the vegetable garden yesterday - to enjoy the smell of the soil, some sun and the balmy 60-degree weather. I needed to feel closer to the earth and to the mountains. Even if it was only for half-an-hour.

I have two raised beds that are overgrown and need major overhauls. So, I weeded one corner of one bed yesterday and put down cardboard. Cardboard is a great mulch. Last year I used it on three other beds to smother remaining weeds over the winter. I then pulled up the cardboard in the spring and fed the beds with compost and shredded leaves. They have been on their best behavior ever since. Beautiful, dark soil with lots of fluff and air to it.

Winter garden projects. One corner at a time.

DIY: Cloches

The inspiration from English Creek Gardens.

My solution.

I have pined over cloches for years now. But always balked at the prices.

Then, during lunch one day, I skulked around Michael's - (you know, the craft place). They were selling huge hurricane vases, brandy-snifter-type things and tall candle holders - waaaaaay cheaper. You just had to envision - turning them upside-down over a favorite plate or bowl - and there you had a cloche. Another mini-greenhouse option for houseplants. Plus, the combinations are limitless.

My cloche was made with a $.50 plate from a thrift store and a $6 hurricane candle holder from Michael's. (BTW - Their candle holders were all on sale as of this past Saturday . . . )

Indeed!

She's Crafty - Flower Presses

Last week, I splurged for a $10 flower press. I harvested the remaining stalwarts of our fan flowers and some bits of ferns for my first test. The pansies that are out and about in people's gardens right now would also be lovely when dried.

This is a great end-of-the-season project and a nice foil to the heavier work that lies before me - labor-intensive cleaning up of the garden.

I'm not even sure how I may use these flowers - the little kid in me just wants to see how they turn out. How they are preserved.

I also found this microwave drier and press on-line. Flowers can be dried within minutes. Nifty!

She's Crafty - Herbal Honeys

Herbs from the garden (from top left, clockwise) - Chocolate mint, lemon balm, thyme and lavender. Not pictured - a basil with cinammon honey.

Sometimes a girl who works at a desk/university job needs to inject a little witch-y-ness into her life. Weekends are my witching hours.

As I learn about possible herbal concoctions, I need to keep these experiments on a small scale. To ensure some moments of relaxation and maybe, success.

Herbal honeys seemed simple enough. *And,* I could use up the last of my container herbs - before the frost hits. This past Saturday, I went to the website of herbal goddess, Susun Weed for inspiration.

1. Chop up herbs and fill to top of mason or jelly jar.
2. Pour honey over the herbs.
3. Work herbs through - getting rid of any air pockets.
4. Seal and allow to sit for several weeks.

Susan also includes a intriguing recipe for a Russian Cold Remedy on her site. Honey, garlic, onions.

What, no eyes of newt?

Alright, the weekend warrior witch gig has gone a little too far.

Wattle Fencing

When I saw my first wattle fence a few years ago, during a horticulture class field trip, I fell deeply in love. It looked like it was from another time and place, while complimenting each and every plant that bumped up against or trailed over it.

Wattle fences can be very simple to make. Usually woven with green sapling-type branches from willows, I have heard you can also use honeysuckle, sycamore, maple or oak. Just as long as the branches are pliable. I found this article from Mother Earth News the most helpful - it has succinct directions and focuses on using materials you can find easily. That is a key ingredient for my trying anything new. And, if you want to go to the next level and grow willows specifically for this purpose, it includes details on that as well.

Several companies are making willow edging, wattle fences and hurdles. The first photo below is from Plow and Hearth. The second photo is from an English company (of course!) - English Hurdle out of Somerset.

I'm looking forward to the day when the mayhem and the madness of house construction is through and I can have a small, civilized garden bed with my own bit of wattle fencing. Oh, to dream!

DIY - Building a Raised Bed

My introduction to our land was almost comical. Not truly knowing its history, I set out during my first spring in Sugar Hollow with great hopes. I arose with the sun - with a naive plan to create my little bit of heaven. All 5' 1" one of me.

I stretched in the sunlight, took in a deep breath of mountain air, put my shovel over my shoulder and headed out back with a spring in my step. I readied myself and went to dig my first patch of land. Then, in an almost Wile E. Coyote-moment, the shovel hit the compacted clay - making my arms, and then whole body, vibrate with the impact.

Disappointed and immediately overwhelmed, I went back to the drawing board. Clay compacted by cattle for decades was not going to be moved by the likes of me. Then, an idea - The Raised Bed.

Lumber. We are trying to do things as organically as possible. When we built these beds a few years back, we used borate-treated pine. Be forewarned, it is expensive and heavy. You could also use composite decking material. Some people just use downed trees. Or, if you do the lasagna bed method, you don't even need lumber.

From the Ground Up. We put chicken wire as the base layer (to foil little diggers and voles). Then, I would recommend you lay cardboard down. It will suppress weeds (but does eventually break down). Follow that with a mixture of compost, shredded leaves, grass clippings, coco-peat (a.k.a. coir) - to create your soil. If you have access to nice topsoil, that'll certainly do, as well. Then, top it off with a generous helping of mulch. Make sure to replenish the soil with either compost throughout the season or cover crops.

Pathways. This turned out to be one of the more time-consuming aspects of our raised bed area. First year - we went with grass pathways that were tricky to keep up with . . . and I mean tricky in that we'd-rather-sit-on-the-deck-and-drink-a-beer-vs.-mow-the-pathways-kinda way. The second year - I tried landscape fabric. Um. Landscape fabric is a ruse. A scam. Useless. It was complete mayhem out there last summer. This year, I'm thinking that I have it in the bag (as I thought I did last year. A-hem.). I put layers of cardboard down and covered it with a thick layer of straw. Fingers crossed.

Fencing. I have found that there are certain crops our local deer enjoy more than others (i.e. tomatoes). So, to help safeguard those plants, Corey attached posts to one of our larger raised beds. Then, depending on my energy level, I either staple deer fencing to the posts - or just wrap fishing line around the posts at several levels (the deer walk into the 'invisible' line as they go for a nibble and get spooked).

The Goods. I have had great luck growing tomatoes, greens (kale, swiss chard), lettuce, spinach, radishes, peas, beans, zucchini, herbs, annuals and potatoes in these raised beds. I am testing out rhubarb, onions and asparagus this year. Corn and pumpkins will go in the ground - in a small plot next to the beds.