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Sundials
A sundial is an interesting addition to any garden. Not only does it look great, it also serves the purpose of telling time if you want to.
Here's how it works. When a sundial is meant to be accurate, it is constructed with a flat face and a pointer that sticks up from the center. This point is referred to as a gnomon.
Depending on the time of day, the sun casts a shadow on a specific area of the sundial's face. The resulting shadow, in unison with the pointer, work together to indicate the time. Think of it like looking at the hands of a clock.
Children and those who are unaware that a sundial is capable of telling time are often quite thrilled when they discover the fact. In other words, sundials are sometimes a great conversation starter.
Sundials are constructed out of several different types of material. Three of the most popular are:
* Brass sundials - These are typically quite ornate and crafted to be the focal point of the area in which they are located. Some of them require more maintenance than others. If you already have other brass elements in your garden, this is the perfect addition.
* Aluminum sundials - These are much more affordable than brass. Even better, they offer just as much of a design choice, so you have many to choose from. Aluminum also holds up well in all different types of weather.
* Stone sundials - These are ideal to use when you want to complement stone statues that majestically watch over your garden space. They blend in easily and generally require no maintenance. In fact, they look better with age.
One of the coolest things about sundials is the fact that they are all engraved with some type of design. Some of the most common designs include flowers, animals, suns, moons and other elements of nature.
In addition, some sundials are available with specific design points. For example, antique and Roman-inspired versions are popular. If your garden fits into either of these categories, these specialty sundials are worth your consideration.
Lastly, if you really love the thought of adding sundials to your garden, you can go one step further. The sundial is actually somewhat of a collector's item. That being said, it's not uncommon to find patio furniture, benches, pedestals, bird baths and more, all decorated in a sundial-inspired motif.
Up-Cycled Pots
When it comes to up-cycled pots, the possibilities are endless. Although you can utilize them anywhere in the garden, they are especially suited for container gardening purposes. If you love flea market and thrift store shopping, this type of pot is just for you.
A fun way to display a small garden of assorted succulents is to plant them in an old metal toolbox - the open kind with just a handle and no lid. If it's a bit rusty, don't worry. That actually adds to the charm. The only thing you need to do is drill several holes in the bottom before adding dirt, for drainage purposes.
If you're lucky enough to have acquired a collection of various planters that resemble people's heads (it could happen), group them together and plant things that will eventually resemble hair or fancy hats. Believe us, it will really get people talking!
Up-cycled pots are really only limited by your imagination. People have used old bathtubs, sewing machines, wheelbarrows, canoes, teacups, rusty gutters, worn-out shoes, garbage cans and hundreds of other things as makeshift planters.
Old furniture is also an excellent choice. It's simple to cut a hole in an old chair just big enough for a pot to fit into it without falling through. You can either paint or decorate the chair or leave it as is. Chairs with wicker seats are a popular option.
It's not impossible to convert a small desk or dresser into an up-cycled container. Of course, you'll need to water-proof it before doing any planting. If you're using a dresser, a neat idea is to fill each drawer with dirt. Open the top drawer about halfway. Open the next drawer a little further. If you repeat the process with each drawer, you'll end up with a staggered effect.
Old wooden crates and barrels are also good candidates for this type of planter. They look best if used in their natural state. But, if you have your heart set on painting them, it's totally up to you. Both of these are great choices for those with an antique-themed garden.
Do you want to get really crazy? Why not give new life to an old pair of blue jeans? Convert them into a hanging planter. To accomplish this, you'll need the jeans, some wire, scissors and some small plastic containers.
Complete instructions can be found simply by plugging the phrase "make a planter out of old blue jeans" into your favorite search engine. You should have several crafty options to choose from. If you prefer, you can use a pair of old overalls instead of regular blue jeans.
You may be tempted to use something like an old cast iron pot as a planter. Yes, it would probably look as great as you imagined. However, it's not recommended. This is due to the fact that cast iron rusts when it gets wet and rust is not good for any plant.
Pinterest is an excellent place to look for more ideas. It's absolutely amazing looking at some of the things that other people come up with. There are also books on container gardening that feature lots of fun ideas for creating your own upscale pots. Don't be afraid to take a look.
The most important thing to remember is that if the container you're going to be using isn't already water-proof, you'll have to do something protect it from water in some way. If you can't, it's best to move on to another vessel that's more appropriate.
If you're into recycling, using up-cycled pots is for you. Why buy something new and boring when you can use your imagination and a little bit of elbow grease and make something extraordinarily cool and unique? If you get really good at it, you can always make the pots to sell. That way, you'll earn a bit of extra cash to buy more garden goodies.
