Showing posts with label great gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label great gifts. Show all posts

Garden Bells - A Sonorous Addition to Your Landscape

Decorative Garden Bell from Cox and Cox

 Tintinnabulation  is one of my favorite English words.


It is a noun that refers to the ringing or sound of bells. The word sounds like what it is describing....

Edgar Allan Poe used this word in his rapturous poem about THE BELLS. It is one of my favorite poems and Phil Ochs put it to song.
Here is a snippet :

"Hear the sledges with the bells -
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells -
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells."

How can you not want a bell in your garden after that?  :)

Here are a few bells you may be interested in...or Make Your Own...My mother, when she attended Cooper Union as an art student, made a memorable sound sculpture from hanging cans and lids that I would hit with wooden kitchen spoons.  I loved that thing.


The Harmony Hollow  Gardeners Bronze Wind Bell


Gardeners Bell
From  Harmony Hollow Bellworks

This bell is hand made from brass, finished in a beautiful verdigris patina. A perfect gift for a gardener.  I particularly like this bell because each gardeners bell comes with a lovely message that says

"It is universally believed that bells have forever driven away bad spirits and called upon good ones, and this GARDENER'S BELL is no exception.

By attracting the spirits of air (a soft breeze), of fire (warm sunlight), of water (rain plus a little help from the watering can), and of earth (rich soil), its pleasant vibrations are conducive to growing healthy plants.

 Moreover; this bell's melodic ringing puts anyone aspiring to a green thumb directly in touch with the natural rhythms of Mother Nature.

May you dance in her beautiful garden, rejoice in a bountiful harvest, and in so doing, may you cultivate your soul."


I have to buy this bell after reading that! Their website lets you choose which  specific bell to attach  in the middle and lets you hear each sound that their different bells make.  I like the A6. (Click on it to hear)....

Cox and Cox  - Decorative Garden Bell



This cast iron outdoor bell is individually hand cast and can be attached to any door or wall. Beautiful and rusted - it is a euphonious way of calling one in from the garden.


This is hand wrought with flame cut details and a natural rust patina. It comes with a 7" wall mount which allows for mounting to any vertical surface. The 3" steel clapper had a Rawhide pull.

There are so many more and I will feature more in the future....





We are the children of our landscape; it dictates behavior and even thought in the measure to which we are responsive to it.

Lawrence Durrell

If this is true, and I think it is, then we are children of strip malls, power lines and asphalt paving.

The yellow double lines confine our minds as we travel the landscape of modern life in a numbing cavalcade. No footsteps do we hear. No grassy breezy plants do we admire. Our thoughts are responsive to squat office parks and bright colored signs.


Dali


Children of the landscape must change the view and remember that we choose to live among the functional detritus of the everyday. We tell ourselves we love high tech but inwardly we cry for the soft vine, pregnant with fragrance.

It follows then that if you create a garden -and dwell in it - it will dictate your behavior. And all for the better. You can't be in a bad mood when surrounded by wondrous sounds and effervescent greens

Garden by Jan Johnsen







.

Garden Calendars for 2011 - Serene, Arty, Informative - and Best selling...


How quaint! a calendar on paper...with little boxes denoting days! 

You might think that calendars are passe due to all of our cell phone and computer schedulers....but the Gardener's calendar still lives on. 

 I looked at some calendars that go beyond the cottage gardens and beautiful flowers variety (although these are all wonderful) ....and I found a few that might be of interest to you.

The 2011 University of Massachusetts Garden Calendar is titled,  'Plants that Inspire' (click on title for info)

It showcases a collection of plant images with a brief description of each plant photo. Daily gardening tips provide information on garden pests and management strategies as well as “how-to and when” tips such as dates to plant peas, renovate lawns, prune and fertilize roses and conserve water in the landscape and many more.

A great and informative calendar.



You might prefer the Trees calendar from National Geographic. Long and narrow, it is perfect for that skinny wall that nothing fits on.... and pretty too.







Or if you are more Design oriented then try the Art Forms in Nature calendar. It is a collection of photographs by the famous Karl Blossfeldt, a 20th century photographer with an amazing eye.




Or perhaps you choose serenity and calm over all the others and gravitate toward the Zen: A Year of Reflection Calendar





And the perennial best-seller The Old Farmer's Almanac 2011 Gardening Calendar which offers gardening tips, timely advice, and an original full-color illustration.

Plus, an outdoor planting table identifies the best days and Moon phases for planting vegetables.




You can get it for a great price on Amazon:















what I want for the Holidays....GardenGrips



So what do I want? (and won't get but then I will buy it for myself at some point) are GardenGrips.(click here to  find source)

They are engineered like running shoes to provide a high level of comfort and support. They are good looking and tough and have a patented Grip-n-Go outsole which provides traction on wet grass and more.

The upper is made of double-stitched, water resistant, full-grain leather which easily sheds mud and clippings.


The Anti-microbial and removable sock-liner Moisture wicking Dri-Tec lining keeps feet dry and comfortable and they have a flex panel on top with cushioned insoles.

The protective steel toe keeps your toes safe while the molded rubber overcoat keeps them dry.



That is my wish - What do you Gardeners want?



Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Gardening Pals #1


It is that time of year and you want to give wonderful, heart warming gifts to your dear friends...unusual and touching presents that acknowledge who they are and what they are into...not just hand cream.... right?

And you don't have a lot of money to spend and you would rather order now, from the computer, than go crazy in a crowded and crazed shopping scene...

So in that spirit I am going to suggest some inexpensive gift ideas for your gardening pals...the money limit is $15. and less for some fab ideas...

the market research is this:  If I want it then they will too.


and remember that the gift wrap is as important...  http://www.realcountryliving.com/ recommends getting flour sack dish towels and using them as gift wrap - two gifts in one! and no waste.

Here are some ideas ( click on the titles for the websites)




Enjoy a full year of Horticulture on one handy disc. This CD contains the 7 Horticulture issues published in 2008, reproduced in their entirety, appearing just as they did in print.  and best of  all: it is SEARCHABLE, PRINTABLE & PORTABLE
This keyword-searchable collection includes internal and external links — you can quickly flip between articles and instantly visit helpful Web sites. All articles are in PDF format, making them viewable on both PCs and Macs with Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher.


Practical advice

Turn to the Q&A column in each issue for help with common lawn and landscape problems. Get advice on hand saws, light stands and the home greenhouse. Learn to combine bulbs and other plants to best effect.

Inspiring gardens

Visit the Chocolate Flower Farm, Joy Creek Nursery and the rock garden at Plant Delights Nursery, as well as private gardens in New York, Alaska, Connecticut, Washington and England.

Outstanding plants

Echinacea, African daisies, flowering tobacco, unusual impatiens, violets and agaves were featured in 2008, along with many other ornamental and edible plants.





This high quality gift wrap from Amazon measures 20 by 28 inches each and is wonderful for mounting and even framing. Cavallini Papers has been producing high quality images on paper products for over 20 years. Images are taken from various museums and archives throughout the world.

Buy this and then go to Office Max (or more expensive Kinkos) and get it laminated and mounted on foam core board ...Voila! An inexpensive wall print....ready to hang...


Herb Garden Wheel  $7.50


Rotate this smart colorful wheel to plan your next culinary herb garden. Edited by one of America's leading horticulturists, Ruth Rogers Clausen, this waterproof wheel is packed front and back with herb gardening and cooking information and colorful photographs. For USDA Zones 4 to 8. (Diameter: 10 1/2 in.) 7.50




What every gardener wants but won't spend  the money to buy : soil enrichments. Organic SoilSyrup is the most concentrated organic material available for improved plant growth and soil improvement. SoilSyrup's rich organic makeup is incredibly beneficial for improving the growth of all plants and quickly revitalizing soils. SoilSyrup is a must-have to condition and activate the soil in potted plants and container gardening. With SoilSyrup, there's no need to go through the hassle and mess of changing potting soil, simply add SoilSyrup every time you water for healthier soil and better indoor gardening, container gardening, rose gardening and houseplant care. It's that easy.

Provides a rich supply of humus to your soil to greatly improve growing conditions in the soil and improve nutrient uptake. Simple to use liquid concentrate is a perfect addition to any fertilizing program for more effective fertilizing.




 
A worm compost tea kit to  brew your own vermicompost tea.  6 tea baggies (enough to make 12 gallons of tea) in a nice little box. Worm compost tea - what every gardener dreams of (smile)...


Pikake Plant - Jasmine of Hawaii  $8.95


Familiar to world travelers who have spent time in Hawaii, this fragrant member of the Jasmine family is called the princess flower in the islands and is used in the famous Hawaiian lei. This is also the source of the floral flavoring in jasmine tea and the jasmine scent in many perfumes. Gently vining, evergreen plants with masses of fragrant white blooms, grow slowly and are well suited to containers. Pikake plants bloom from summer into fall and full sun produces the best flowering. Note:  Pikake ships early March through June, Priced for a sturdy plant in a 5.5" pot :

12-15" tall, spreads 10-12" wide, Full sun to light shade in very hot areas, USDA zones10-11 outside, anywhere indoors, Bloom Time:Summer into autumn




FLOWER VASES - not your mom's vase...


courtesy - martha stewart living

Flower vases may be the most overlooked decor item for the home but still every designer has tried his or hand at vases....and you can see why - this lovely cottage kitchen above would not be the same without all those flowers in vases scattered about!

So now, as we venture indoors in the colder time of year, it may be a good time to explore some possibilities for showing off Nature's bounty:

First possibility : The Watering Can

 any old one will do - go to antique stores and stock up on watering cans - a great gift as a vase....

courtesy Slack 12

 
An unusual idea : the faux Grass Vase.





The Normann Copenhagen website writes:

 "Grass is a reminder of the strong contrasts that exist between the civilised and the uncivilised, as expressed in the contrast between the asphalted road and an untouched roadside."

Claydies, the creators of this stoneware vase, explains:




"During the development phase of the vase Grass, we carefully hand modeled all of the details. A small and humble flower can become important in Grass. The flowers grow in grass, so for us it was natural to surround the flower with grass. But Grass can also stand alone and just be."

This vase was so popular that they ran out of the medium size... so they decided to have a class make their own grass vase!  Look here for photos by clicking.


Third : Japanese Sensibility


This gorgeously polished agate vase was created for the Japanese art of flower arranging, Ikebana, with its emphasis on simplicity and balance. A slice of Brazilian agate, it has a small water reservoir within that keeps blossoms and stems fresh. Harmony with nature. Handcrafted in Oregon.


Fourth : Take a Can, Cover with Cork....


You must check out the directions for making this - Click HERE ... buy a sheet of cork and clean an empty can and there you go!


Fifth:  GOLDEN FRUIT VASE


This is my favorite...from Henry Road website....Perfect for the holidays.  Makes any flower look amazing. (But now it seems to be out of stock - I cannot find it on their website a mere 8 hours later.....such is life...)

Candlelight in October ....Cool Outdoor Lights

(from Ubud Hanging Gardens site)

Its October!

The nights are getting dark but with an extra layer and some cool outdoor lights you can enjoy a magical early evening outdoors. Add some white mums, montauk daisies and white Japanese Wind Anemones ( Honorine Jobert) and - in the full moonlight - you have a captivating moonlight garden.

Montauk Daisies in October

White Mums look great next to dark green boxwood

Japanese Wind Anemone - Honorine Jobert

But if you have some extra money....consider the following lights for your garden:

The cool new OXO Candela Luau is a wonderful light that you can use on a leisurely nighttime stroll, place on an outdoor table or use indoors.....it is part table lamp, part emergency light, part night light, part flashlight, part candle and part lantern.


This rechargeable light stays lit for up to 10 hours and uses a dimmable, 50-Watt-equivalent LED light source inside. It features a durable, water-resistant polycarbonate housing with a stainless steel handle. Control brightness with a simple turn of the base.


A little expensive but .......



The Lucina Lantern (from Frontgate) provides a roomy interior for a large three wick 6" pillar candle or an arrangement of several size candles for an enticing glow.


If you like more earthy elements in your garden consider the smooth and sculptured Fire Rocks. (from Grandin Road)

Cast from concrete, these hand painted rocks add drama and flame to the garden. It uses Gel as th eflame source which burns up to 3 hours.





The elegant Atmosphere Lamps  are designed to thrive in the elements. These unique, weatherproof fixtures cast a warm, natural glow on outdoor rooms and patios. They plug into standard household outlets.



Solar Slate Step Stones  are made from natural slate with an energy-saving white LED light unit embedded in them. Place these solar lights flush in paths and walkways for added ambience and safety around your  garden. They  automatically illuminate during darkness because they are powered by an integral solar panel.
 
And lastly, consider the very cool new  Tomori  Seasonal LED Japanese Paper Lanterns ($26)...

It is the safe and modern version of the ancient Japanese paper lantern that uses LED lighting to create a multi-hued glow.  The lights subtly segue between 7 different colors to add an ambient glow to your space.

THESE ARE NOT WEATHERPROOF ...but they look so neat I had to share. This unique lantern is available in 4 traditional Japanese seasonal themes: Asagao (morning glory), Ume (plum), Sakura (cherry blossom) and Kouyou (fall leaves). 

Perfect for October.....