A Rustic Garden Blog

Giving loved ones gifts has been a basic part of human interactions.  From the beginning, during the primitive era, people gave gifts to one another to draw peace lines in the ground.  To show that they were brethren, these primitive peoples would give each other a commodity of some kind.  Now this is not in the same way that we think of a commodity today.  Their interactions with one another were strictly utilitarian. 

These people would give each other a gift that could be used in some way to better improve their lives.  That should be the standard really that we should follow when it comes to giving each other gifts. Gardening not only helps the environment, it’s also a means of cathartic release, which is why I prefer to give my loved ones garden plant holders and other things to enhance their home’s natural beauty.

Today I have been trimming the spend flowers from my flower beds. I hate to admit this but the weeds were way taller than the flowers in many places.  It rained often here in middle Illinois so most everything grew taller than ever.  There is always some bad with the good.

The good is being outside and creating beauty without spending very much. Most vines and flowers  spread after 2 or 3 years. You can split most plants and move them to help fill in an open space in another bed. Getting a plant  start from a friend or neighbor is also helpful.

As I am moving away out the dead flowers I reposition my containers filled with annuals to  a cleaned out area to add  color. It is also a good time to add some fall garden art  creating a new focal point to your landscape.

Gardeners are a sociable sort – and there’s nothing they love to discuss more than the fruits of their labor. In late March, the topic of conversation might be a proud stand of daffodils. By midsummer, it’s time to trumpet the arrival of petunias to the garden. No matter the growing season, gardeners are focused on one objective: making their workspace even more aesthetically pleasing.

Unique garden décor should be subtle enough that it doesn’t compete with the headlining act – the flowers themselves. With that in mind, a garden plaque can bid visitors welcome without distracting them from the colorful surroundings. Plaques can be affixed to trees or on the side of a home or garage. Either way, their presence in the garden ensures a smile from passers-by.

Please come take a look to see  the new redesign of A Rustic Garden. The home and garden online store is now easier to navigate and has many new features.

Metal fencing for the yard and cast iron urn planters are the sites specialty. You will also find wrought iron trellises, arbors, and decorative containers for growing all types of flowers and vines.

Outdoor area rugs have a tendency to attract dirt, grime and a variety stains. And, some stains just never seem to want to come out. But most stains will come out if you follow some important instructions. Remember that it is always important to test cleaning agents on fabric before spraying an entire stain area. Here are some tips on how to get stains out fast and efficiently:

~Scrub the stain from the outside towards the center.

~Don’t scrub a carpet. The friction can ruin the carpet’s tufts. Instead, remove the stain by blotting—the less brushing the better.

~Use a clean spray bottle to apply cleaning agents to the material. Do not pour liquids directly on the stain.

~Don’t mix too many chemicals on the stain. Mixing chemicals can create harmful fumes. If this does occur don’t breathe in, or wear a mouth-and-nose mask.

~Bleach is never an option in stain removal. Remember: Once you apply bleach, you can’t do anything to remove

Metal art is being found more often in modern interior decorating. While in the past metal art was more restricted to the outdoors, it has become a lot more common indoors, and can be used to represent a wide range of people, places, and objects. Wall hangings are some of the most popular forms of metal art, and silhouettes make ideal artwork for the home to place emphasis on a wall. Most walls are neglected, being either ignored or laden with pictures and photographs. However, metal wall art can make bare walls look much more appealing, and metal silhouettes work well with all different wall colors.

Metal art is a great interior decorating solution, and it’s so diverse that it can be used on all different kinds of interiors and still look amazing. You can even repaint metal wall art in different colors to better complement the interior!

A trellis is a framework most frequently constructed for support of a climbing plant or plants such as sweet peas, ivy, or grapevines. Different trellises are available for an assortment of appropriate plants and locations.  A trellis attached to the roof or exterior structure of a house can also be known as an arbor or pergola.

While a wrought iron trellis or other metal model is very striking and often come in ornate designs, they may not be the best choice for vining plants.  The sun can cause the metal to become very hot and stunt plant growth. For tender plants that are incapable of resisting cold–such as sweet peas, beans, and morning glory–a wood trellis can prove much more beneficial.

Are you trying to enclose your yard to keep something in or out? Most of our metal fencing orders are placed to keep children or animals safe. We have several heights and options to complete your project like gravity latches or springs in the gate hinges so it closes automatically.

A few of our customers have purchased our handmade wrought iron fence to keep animals and children out. One instance was to keep geese from flying into her back yard. We let her know that that would not work since they can fly. She told me recently that our metal fence did the trick! Apparently the geese decided to go to the neighbors yard to graze.

Whether to choose a small garden topiary or a large one. Experience tells me to have high expectations in the garden. Just a little bit of the right elements and your flowers and vines will flourish. Enriched soil, water, and fertilizer will do the trick.

Many times the larger size is just a few dollars more. Seeing the perfect wrought iron obelisk standing in your flower garden is a eye catcher during the summer or during the off season for interest when your plantings are dormant.

I have been feeding my fish a little more lately so they are getting excited when I walk by. I have 3 fish ponds that just completes my out door experience. This time of year I have so much work to do but taking the time to relax is vital and my time in my flower gardens and watching my fish help me do just that.

This picture of my fish pond at my business, A Rustic Garden. The lilies are in bloom and about to cover the waters surface. Outdoor water fountains are another way to create a soothing space to relax in.