Hello,
While you are out and about, don’t forget to check yard sales, flea markets, and antique shops for interesting and useful containers for planting and as vases for cut flowers.
Antiques can have extended lives being used for their original purposes. But they are also useful as “containers”.
Coffee pots and tea pots are a creative way to decorate a table with cut flowers. And a cute way to transport flowers for a hostess gift or to a friend.
Old baskets from the flea market, thrift shop, or yard sales, are a nice way to plant a low growing herb like thyme or salad burnet. They can be grouped on grass or in a flower bed, or even on an informal patio area. I prefer “natural” hued baskets. But a bright teal, pink, yellow, or red basket can be a fun accent.
I totally astonished some friends that love antiques by planting in some really nice pieces of enamelware. I put down a layer of stones prior to the dirt. Generally, I would suggest using enamelware that already has rusted through holes, for better drainage. But in this case, there were some flat basins and tall pots that I wanted to utilize. One of my friends couldn’t stand it and moved the plants and then cleaned the basin out. But some generic pots in a big box store are expensive…and generic. Interesting antiques or vintage items can be more complementary to the plants, and cost the same, or less, than other plainer containers for planting.
I also pick up vases at yard sales, or thrift shops for taking plants as gifts, or for sale at the Farmer’s Markets. I like clean, medium sized ones, with not too many scratches or water marks.
“Canning jars” are another nice way to transport a gift of flowers. The old blue ones are my favorites. But the newer pasta sauce jars can be cleaned and utilized for larger, more casual displays. Currently, the daylilies, black-eyed susans, and shasta daisies are flowering profusely here in my gardens. Canning jars are just the right size for a mixed bouquet. Maybe with some bronze fennel or tansy stems tucked in for foliage.
Old chairs are another way to add presence, height and uniqueness to a garden. Sometimes, I’ll just place an old colorful chair or bench near the garden, or under a tree. But I have also put brightly painted straight backed chairs in a flower border…with a basket or pot of herbs cascading out and over the seat and rails. I also had an old wicker rocker that spent a few years in the garden. It was not sturdy to begin with and didn’t seem to warrant repairs. I put an old pillow out with it and some varying height baskets and pots and plants in the ground nearby. It eventually had to go to the scrap wood and branches pile that we keep on the edge of the field for birds and bunnies to nest in. But we received several years of pleasure with it out in the garden. If the chairs are not very sturdy, make sure that you pot a pot or basket on them, so a guest doesn’t accidently sit on it and get hurt.
Single plates that have chips or cracks can make good saucers for your plants that are in plainer solid color pots. Terra cotta pots look nice on an enamel plate or stoneware piece. Solid colored planters look sweet on dessert plates with frilly edges and/or flower-patterns on the borders.
If you have pets, plates or platters can be a charming substitute for a pet dish. And stainless steel mixing bowls are easily cleaned water pans. In the summertime, the stainless steel bowls with some iced water or cool water stay cooler longer for your pets.
Our motto around the farm is reduce, reuse and recycle. Repurposing vintage, antique or even just “old” items gives your home and garden areas character and style.
Antiques & More at Morgan Lane 