Photo by Tom MacDonald
Hello Crafters! Here’s a ‘sneak peek’ of a tillandsias (also known as air plant) story I worked on for Organic Gardening Magazine. The story and all the projects I created will be featured in the December/January 2015 issue of Organic Gardening Magazine which goes on sale November 4th.
Check back after November 4th for all the project details and how-to’s!
Photo by Christa Neu
As consistent warm weather approaches, it’s time to start planning our gardens. And if you have a small back yard like me, I like to get a little creative with some of my containers. I created this simple moss urn for an Organic Gardening Magazine story. It is super easy to assemble and it requires low-maintenance. Follow these simple steps to create your own serene green garden container:
Step One
Gather the materials: a container with a drainage hole, growing medium, and moss. Pots made of porous terra-cotta or concrete will help keep the soil cool, although those made of other materials also work. Harvest moss from your backyard, or call friends until you find someone who has a patch of moss you can harvest from. Or, you can order live moss on-line at mossacres.com.
Step Two
Fill the container with the growing medium. I used compost and commercial potting mix. Press firmly to compact it, and mound it into a dome.
Step Three
Press small patches of moss onto the medium and arranging them to completely cover the surface of the potting mix.
Follow-up Care
Water as needed. Even if the moss dries out, it will quickly revive once you resume watering.
Okay fellow crafters and gardeners. Don’t forget to stop by to see me on Sunday, March 4th at 3:30pm, demonstration room #201B at the Philadelphia International Flower Show.
Here’s a sneak peek at one of the projects I’ll be sharing in my ‘Crafts From The Garden’ workshop...sun print coasters. Fun, super easy and would make the perfect gift for your gardening friends and family.
Sun Print Coasters
Happy Friday everyone! Organic Gardening Magazine asked me to conduct a workshop at this year’s Philadelphia International Flower Show. Check out this link for all of the show details. My workshop is titled “Crafts from the Garden” and will be held on opening day, Sunday, March 4th at 3:30 PM.
If you’re in that neck of the woods on March 4th, join me for a hands-on demonstration of simple and beautiful garden crafts. Learn to create beautiful projects from materials found in and around your garden to enhance your home and make beautiful gifts any time of year.
As a teaser, here are a couple of photos of one of the projects I’ll be presenting. It’s easy and I call it my box full of explosive garden beauties. Seriously, the wooden crate has ‘DANGER EXPLOSIVES’ printed on the side. Please do come by to say hello and learn how to make some special garden crafts you can keep and display at your home or give as gifts. Oh, and we’ll have a dynamite time. Okay, that was lame but that reminds me of something my dad said to me ages ago, “If brains were dynamite, you wouldn’t have enough to blow your nose.” I’m sure I deserved that one.
See you on March 4th!
MARIE SAYS, 'YOU'D BETTER STICK TO YOUR RESOLUTIONS!'
Let’s be honest, we’re all making resolutions, having revelations, and making giant to-do lists about our new year. I suppose mom’s DAILY resolution was to keep her sanity. My guess is that raising five boys wasn’t a cake walk.
My resolution every year is to bring spring indoors every chance I get. I love spring…the trees coming to life, tiny snow drops poking up through the last bits of snow and the smell of fresh soil waking up from a winter snooze. I realize it’s a few months away but even now the days are getting longer and spring will be here before we know it. I’m ready!
During the harsh winter months, Tulips are my go to saviour. In fact, the other day I noticed large colorful bunches of them in our local grocery store along with other floral beauties. Yea! So why don’t you go out, pick up a few bunches and let me show you a simple way to arrange Tulips to brighten your home.
Please visit the Rodale Institute’s website here to learn about their organic tulips! Yep, you heard me…organic Tulips! They purchase the bulbs from EcoTulips…the only American source of organic pesticide free Tulips bulbs. To learn more about the EcoTulips folks, you can visit their site here. You know where I’ll be this spring…sissors in hand.
Think Spring and Happy New Year!
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