A Rustic Garden Blog

What part of the holidays is more fun than decorating? A lot of people focus on cheesy inflatables and stringing up colored lights. I like to be a bit more creative in my choice of outdoor decorations. Over the years, I have built up a formidable collection of whimsical lawn ornaments.

For the fall, I have lawn ornaments in the shapes of ghosts, pumpkins, and jack-o-lanterns. I even have a lawn ornament turkey that’s a Thanksgiving favorite. Of course, I have a slew of lawn ornaments for the winter holidays. From wrought iron reindeer to tin Christmas trees to penguin sculptures made from recycled tin- I have it all!

If I could cover every inch of my property with blooming shrubbery and flowers, I would. Of course, this is not practical, but I do have quite a large garden. To add flowers to areas of the exterior that don’t have soil, I like to incorporate garden planters.

For instance, I have two large garden planters made from cast iron that flank either side of my garage. I also have a medium size planter on my front porch. Both are filled to the brim with flowers that spill elegantly over the edges during the spring and summer months. I’m thinking of purchasing a few smaller wrought iron planters to keep indoors in my heated sunroom, so I can enjoy beautiful blooms even when cold weather sets in.

When I design garden landscapes I like to add unusual elements. I’m known for incorporating water features, architectural elements, and height to my designs. In smaller yards I definitely focus on adding height to make the space seem larger. One of my signature pieces is a flower fountain.

A flower fountain is not an actual fountain, it’s just meant to give a flowing effect. What I do is I find a wall or fence and create a focal point. I stack three to five wrought iron window boxes in a pyramid shape. Then I plant bright, colorful, cascading flowers in each bed. The flowers spill from the top box to the one below creating a fountain effect, all while adding much needed height to a space.

Good fences make good neighbors. Good fences also keep pets in and pests out. They can add privacy to a yard as well as protection. When installing a fence for any reason the aesthetic quality should be taken into account.

A wrought iron fence is among the most beautiful that you can use to secure your yard or garden. An iron fence is stately and timeless. Many wrought iron fences made today are easy to install. You don’t have to dig post holes at all, just use a hammer to drive the stakes into place.

My littler brother, Tommy, is always getting into some kind of trouble. Last week it was the kitchen sink; he dropped his Yoda action figure down the garbage disposal and then panicked. He knew that if anyone was to flip the switch, his prized Star Wars character would be ground up into un-repairable bits. He knew he was in a time crunch to rescue Yoda before mom found out her sink was clogged, and when he springs into to action spurred by frenzy, the result is always negative.

 He started by cramming a long wooden spoon down the sink in an attempt to pry out his action figure. No such luck; it only got worse when the spoon got stuck. He then filled the sink with dish soap thinking he could send both logged items into a slip-and-slide  course and that only resulted in a soapy bubble filled kitchen and an angry mom.

Today he left the garden fence wide open and let all kinds of wildlife – rabbits, deer, raccoons and possums – into our vegetable garden – well, it was a vegetable garden. There aren’t many veggies to speak of anymore. Bummer!

There’s nothing more rewarding than watching the spring flowers bloom that you had planted in your very own garden just weeks before. I love to sit out on my back porch, a glass of iced tea in hand, and scan each flower, every bush and nearly every patch of grass to watch as the beauty of my garden blooms with each passing day.

I have big plans for my garden this year; once my flowers are partially in bloom, I will add an urn pedestal in each corner of the patio. Inside these urns I’ll plant multi-colored hydrangeas – pink, blue and yellow – to complement the azalea bushes that border my property. Oh, I can’t imagine what I would do with my time if I didn’t have a gardener. In fact, I wouldn’t want to imagine a life without the natural beauty that grows from the ground.

It is essential that yard ornaments that are displayed year round are properly secured. With the help of a shovel and some quick dry cement, you can make sure that your yard ornaments stay put. Start by properly arranging your yard ornaments; it can be difficult to move them once they’ve been secured.

Once the yard ornaments are in place, mark the spots, remove the ornaments, and dig six to eight inch holes large enough to accommodate each ornament. Mix the cement and fill each hole. While the cement is tacky, lower the ornament into place so that the cement can grab hold. Be sure not to lower the ornaments so deep that the bottom halves are covered. When the cement dries your yard ornaments should be quite secure.

The holidays are here and that means it’s time to head out and brave the challenges and frustrations of holiday shopping. From traffic and crowds to long lines and high prices, holiday shopping is something very few of us look forward to. My wife can be particularly challenging to shop for which can only add to that feeling of helplessness when facing a crowded mall and no idea what to buy.

Since my wife likes spending so much time in her garden I think I’m going to spring for a cast iron planter. She’ll appreciate its durability and its uniquely attractive look. And the best part is I don’t have to head out to a huge home improvement store or big-box retailer to get it. With lower shipping costs I can now get great garden décor online. And I can save myself a bundle in the process. So if you’re anything like me and you don’t know what to get the missus for the holidays, take a look at her garden and you’re sure to come up with more than a few good ideas.

One of the downsides to owning your own home is all the upkeep and maintenance required to keep everything in working order. Keeping things aesthetically pleasing is another job altogether. Put them together and you’ve practically got a full-time career. One of the biggest challenges most homeowners face, but don’t anticipate is flooring. Whether it’s wood floors, carpeting or even tile or stone, our floor is the most used part of our living space and therefore requires the most upkeep, attention and care.

If you’ve ever had to have your floors professionally cleaned or replaced then you know how expensive it can be. People will often try several different strategies to cut down on the wear and tear their flooring endures but some of those strategies can be unattractive and even downright ugly. On the other hand, buying a rug to cover your high traffic areas can protect your floor without sacrificing the attractiveness of your home. Braided oval rugs are an excellent option, as they are light weight and easy to clean. They can even be matched to your existing décor. Make the small investment in protecting your flooring and you’ll save big in the long run.

Sometimes no matter how hard you work to give a special gift the safest route to take is a gift certificate. Knowing what someone really wants can be difficult and searching their closet to see what they already have is not always convenient. So the best fit might just be the Gift Certificate.

Trading gift cards at Christmas time is not that interesting unless you choose a unique store. Find a store with lots of variety. Choose one where your gift dollars will go the farthest.

I know just the online store that will bring a smile to your friends and family this year. A Rustic Garden is full of antiques, garden planters, fencing and home decor.