Repurposed Colander Planter

My mom taught me about reusing things from the kitchen in the garden.  I'll admit though that I used to roll my eyes and groan inside at her thriftiness.  Now I do the same thing. 


I had an old colander that had been banging around in the garden for a couple of years and then - aha!  This is how it was turned into a pretty little hanging planter.

I used this really lovely color - 'peekaboo blue' and sprayed inside and outside the colander 4 times.  I did the inside even though it won't show to protect the metal from rusting and running through onto the exterior.




The chain is from ACE Hardware (it's right around the corner from us).  And I love s-hooks, they are so handy I use them for hanging stuff outside all the time.  To keep the soil from washing out put a coir liner inside the colander.  When you first water go slowly so that the liner can absorb as much water as possible.

I always use a swivel connector for my hanging plants.  It makes it easy to rotate the planter to get even sunlight.  They are 'officially' used on dog chains to keep them from getting twisted up.  I added my chains to the colander with the s-hooks and pinched them closed. 






I guessed too long on the length of the chain that was needed.  But instead of cutting it off I let it dangle down in the center of the plant.  It turned out to be a nice touch and added some interest and movement.



 

And here's the finished planter on my front porch.  It's hanging over another pot which catches the drips when I water.  Check the weight of the planter after you water and see how heavy it is - this can be used as a guide for when to water next - never let it get too lightweight or your plants will quickly suffer.  Remember to put another pot underneath and the runoff won't be wasted.

Saving Seeds

My neighbor has been saving seeds for a few years and has shared some

with me.  Now she has shared this great resource with me: 

http://theseedsite.co.uk/

This is the perfect time to start learning about collecting and storing your own seeds to grow again and to share with others.

Still Alive!

Well, our granddaughters' visit is done.  They were here for a month and and I promptly came down with my post-visit cold.It  was lots of fun (not the cold) and exhausting too.  Sadly I'm not as young as I wish and my personal energizer bunny now has lots of gray hairs.  (Oh no, not another gray hare!)  

We had lots of fun and they spent a great deal of time out in the garden.  E told me that my garden keeps expanding even though the size stays the same.  I try to have things in the garden that they will enjoy.  

This summer  we made a hopscotch place for them from concrete blocks.  They numbered and decorated it themselves with sidewalk chalk which has washed off in the rain. 








 I also have an old repurposed breadbox that I use to store a few garden tools and supplies down on the lower level.  The girls got to decorate it for me.  Now its lovely with birds, bees, flowers and K's contribution of pink.

Don't let the summer heat get to you - remember to water your garden, planters and pots enough.  They get sick of the heat the same as we do.  Fertilize your heavy feeding veggies especially tomatoes.  Container plants and pots need deadheading and fertilizing.  Keep up with your garden now and it will reward you with a new blast late summer and early fall. 

A Little Bit of Earth

L packed her planter box

Twice a year my granddaughters E L K get to plant their own little garden in a garden box.  In the fall they do pansies that winter over and do great in the spring.  

The droopy African Marigolds are fine now

When they come in the summer they get to choose their own plants. They get to learn about proper planting and watering (at least that's the general idea). 

K likes to supervise, doesn't like dirt on her hands.

We've had quite an assortment over the last few years - tomatoes, zucchini, lots of pinks and reds.  I send them pictures to update them on the progress of their gardens.  

E went with a minimalist look with lots of textures.

L's African Marigold is fine now, just needed water and good soil.

K is quite proud of all 'her' work.