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Penny Carnathan
Penny’s a Nurture And Hold (NAH): Nah, I won’t pull that out yet, it’s still got a green shoot. She likes dragonflies, lady bugs and new stuff only after weeding, pruning and fertilizing.
Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
Both advocate Plant Choice (SOMEthing besides crotons. Please!), lots of color and low maintenance. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re smart enough to learn from each other - and from you.
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Merry Christmas Eve! Let the garden gifting begin
Posted Dec 24, 2009 by Loren Omoto
Updated Dec 24, 2009 at 02:15 PM
Gifts are NOT my favorite part of the holidays. Really.
But gifts are fun, and garden gifts are a lot of fun. (My son has shared his discovery that shopping for spray hose nozzles for me can be almost as much fun as beer pong. The boy is growing up.)
FOD Susan Gillespie sent a photo this week under the category of “Red in the garden,” but I think it fits better under “Favorite garden gifts.”
“I made this wreath for my mother a few years back,” she wrote. “She loved Betty Boop so I thought it would be cute on her door. She will be gone almost 3 years now so I dug this out and hung it on our door this year. That way Mom is with us in spirit.”
I love the sentiment, and the wreath!
Staying with made gifts for a moment, I was proud of the plant markers I came up with for the pots of herbs my daughter’s boyfriend wants. I looked around for markers when I bought the pots—I’m not sure he’ll know which herb is which—but didn’t see any I really liked.
Later that day, while pulling the vacuum cleaner out of the closet where it lives with 20 years of board games, I noticed a Scrabble tile on the floor. Lightbulb!!
This is pretty easy if ever you want to copy. I attached the tiles to the wooden game trays with hot glue, then my husband drilled long screws into the bottom to use as stakes.
Kim and I exchanged gifts last night. Every year, we vow not to give each other garden gifts, and every year, we just can’t resist. And I’m very glad of that. I love Kim’s garden gifts!
This one her son actually spotted at Pier 1 Imports and bought as a gift for another relative. (Kim’s hoping he got one for her, too.) Just in case, she was going to buy this for herself, but opted to be extra sweet and get it for me. I love the last little bird on the right.
And lastly, here’s mine for Kim. I found it while I was in Vermont in October. Every time I go to Vermont, it seems I’m hauling home her Christmas gift. Like her, I really debated whether to get this for me (my veggie garden could use it) or take the nobler route.
If you get, or give, a fun garden gift, send it to me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). I love seeing the cool stuff people make and find almost as much as I love peeping in on their gardens.
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Reader Comments
Posted by (shirlgirl) on December 25, 2009
That idea for plant markers with Scrabble tiles is great. I would like to borrow that idea, my family is a group of Scrabble fanatics and would really get a kick out of that. One idea that links two of my favorite pastimes.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on December 25, 2009
I’m with shirigirl, Penny. I love the Scrabble tiles idea. So clever and inspired.
Merry, Merry to you all.
Posted by (Chip) on December 26, 2009
I like this Idea of useing the scrapple tiles a lot. we move thing’s and change thing a lot in our garden so I think I will try to glue a magnetic back on the tile’s they sell 8x10 sheets at michile’s and JoAnn’s this I think will be a big help. I am working on fitting my train into the garden that is going to be harder than I first thought..“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on December 26, 2009
I was not jokeing they have G scale {that is the size} G stands for garden it is made for outside and I bought a set! ok so it is used but it works and now I have to make it fit somehow it is not an ity bity train the engine itself is 18 inch’s long and from beginning to end it is four and a half foot long it came with 20ft of track. I will have to wait until spring and I will have to get creative to make it fit. but it should be cool…“Chip”
Posted by (Janna) on December 27, 2009
Susan, the Betty Boop wreath is a “forever keeper.” I’m sure your mom loved it and would smile to see it decorating your door!
The Scrabble tile idea is great! Also nice to know that they sell the tiles at Wal-Mart. Now I can copy, knowing I can buy the tiles separately. I come from a family of Scrabble-lovers and have to have my complete game ready to be played at a moment’s notice!
Chip, we’ll definitely have to see pictures of your train when you get it set up and running!
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on December 27, 2009
Thanks Janna. I agree with you about the wreath. We’ve enjoyed having it up this year.
I thought I would put my two cents in about how to attach those scrabble tiles since I play around with mosaics. It is recommended for outdoor projects to use something called thinset. It holds up well outdoors and I’m pretty sure that’s what I used on Boots. I hate using it and it comes in these huge heavy bags at Hone Depot. I’ve also used Weldbond pretty successfully on some of the pots even though you can clean it up with water. The thinset is like concrete so you have to have a bucket of water at your side because it can’t get into you pipes. You’d all have to call Penny’s husband to replace your pipes..
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on December 27, 2009
You picked that up, huh? Ha! They do have a premixed thinset in smaller containers but I haven’t tried it yet so can’t recommend yet. And there’s a something called Mac glue that, so far, I can only get on the internet for glass on glass artists that has real stickability in outdoor use. I wouldn’t want to use super glue for all my projects but I will be interested in how it holds up in our wet/hot weather
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on December 27, 2009
I think I’ve seen it at Lowe’s and Home Depot and at this store called Floor Decor where I by my colored grout. Gluing, then grouting, then sealing may make it truly weatherproof.