A new way to recycle?

I'm a HUGE recycler!  My husband has also become a big recycler since moving into LaNa.  However, he'll probably think I'm crazy with this idea...

Have you ever considered landscaping with glass bottles?  We typically have some glass wine/water (ok - mostly WINE!) bottles for recycling and I'm learning that some people love to "recycle" these into their gardens in borders. 

In fact, I even came across a site with how to instructions!

I also stumbled upon The Casual Gardener blog with photos and more instructions:

photo source: The Casual Gardener



I'm really digging the cobalt blue wine boarder. I can see this in the front garden at LaNa!

photo source: re-nest



Plant a Beautiful Terrarium: Windowsill herbs

Midwest Living® Magazine

Plant a Beautiful Terrarium: Windowsill herbs

Create a terrarium: First steps

1. Select plants for your terrarium. Dwarf and slow-growing plants that thrive in warm, moist air work best. Plants with different heights, shapes and textures add interest.

2. Gather ornamental accessories. Small pebbles can resemble rocks and boulders; small branches and moss give your garden a natural look.

3. Choose a clear container large enough to hold the plants you want to enclose. Wash it thoroughly.

4. Put down a layer of drainage material, such as pea gravel. Depending on the size of your container, you'll need about a half-inch to 3 inches of pea gravel.

5. Sprinkle with fine charcoal (generally available at garden centers), which absorbs gasses and chemicals.

6. Layer 2 to 6 inches of a sterile peat-based potting mix over the base.

7. Gently tap plants out of their pots. Trim rampant roots to encourage plants to grow more slowly and to more easily fit into the shallow, restricted root zone in the container.

8. Place plants in holes and press soil gently around the roots. Use long-handled tools if necessary to avoid damaging other plants. Start in the middle and work outward.

9. Add finishing touches such as moss and rocks.

10. Mist with water to settle the roots and clean the plant. The soil should be moist but not soggy. Cover your terrarium. (You can also leave your terrarium open, but it will need more frequent misting.)

Caring for your terrarium

Light: Put your terrarium where it will get enough light to satisfy the plants' needs, but keep it out of direct sun, which will overheat the garden.

Water: Check moisture levels periodically, and mist if your terrarium needs water. Plants should not dry out, but they also shouldn't be overwatered. If spots of mold or mildew appear, your garden has too much moisture; remove or partially open the lid for two or three days to improve air circulation.

Pruning: Prune plants to keep them from overgrowing their neighbors. Remove dead plants and plant parts as they appear.

Channeling Martha

I saw this tip posted on Martha Stewart's Web site and thought it was pretty clever! 

I'm always trying to figure a way to keep labels fresh and dry in the garden...mainly because I can never remember what plant is what!

I did a lot of planting at LaNa this past weekend of vegetables and flowers and am hoping I kept my seed packets to try this at home tonight!

Pothole Gardens!

I came across this posting on erin.ever.after about Pete Dungey's Pothole Garden project.  What a fab idea and much prettier than a big hole in the road.  If I were to plant a garden in each pothole of my street, it would be quite the enchanted scene...aka there are a TON of holes on our lane!!

image courtesy of Pete Dungey

Great garden idea!

What a wonderful idea for a garden!

Image courtesy of Apartment Therapy

LaNa eating local!

My edible garden is going strong!!

Tomatoes a plenty!

Squash blossoms!

Raised bed (and some crazy weeds in the background!)

Kale, bibb lettuce, and red leaf lettuce! My first cucumber!!

Squash!

Yummy Kale!

Prepping Kale Puttanesca!

Yum!!!

Caprese salad w/basil from LaNa!

Cool Vertical Gardens!

Check out these great vertical gardens from Flora Grubb Gardens in San Francisco...cool!!

Hens & Chicks immediately take me back to my childhood...they were faves of mine and my sisters.

Container Gardens!

Photo courtesy of Ngoc Minh Ngo with Real Simple

I saw this photo in my recent edition of Real Simple and plan to do the same with some tomato seedlings from my local farmer's market. At a recent estate sale, I scored some old galvanized tubs just in time for this project!

Stay tuned for some photos of the completed project!!