Monday 22 April 2013

Magpie Monday - Garden Delights

Finally the sun is out!  I honestly thought this winter would never end, but at last I've had a chance to get out in the garden, have a bit of a clear up and plant some colour out there.

I emptied out all the dead plants that didn't survive the late snow, and potted up the terracotta pots that I've picked up variously at junk shops and car boots.  I always grab these when I see them, I love the shape of old pots much more than the modern ones and plastic ones just don't cut it for me I'm afraid.


I display my pots on this vintage wooden ladder that I got at a car boot sale last year.  It was laying down on the floor when I paid for it so I was slightly taken aback by the height when we picked it up!  It's pretty hard to photograph it in it's entirety without having to crawl on the floor, but trust me, it looks lovely.

The green and cream pot at the base is actually a kitchen stock pot.  I paid 50p for it at a jumble and always intended to put plants in it.  I love how it looks.


Finally, yesterday as we were driving round Cambridge, we took a wrong turn somewhere - our sat nav has the annoying habit of telling us to turn 'half-left' - what is that anyway?  So, we ended up driving down the back of a row of rather nice houses.  Outside the back gate of one was a pile of bits and pieces with a handwritten note saying 'please take me'.  Naturally, I leaped out of the car to have a gander, and chose this item.


The picture doesn't really show accurately it's full filth.  It was covered in cobwebs and dead spiders, the tealights were all bashed and dusty, and the glass votives were blackened with soot and caked in melted wax.  But I thought it worthy of a rescue.


Cleaned up and outside on my patio table, the glasses sparkle in the light.  I had intended to spray the wire frame but actually I quite like the effect of the aged and rusty frame.  I may replace the candles for evening alfresco dining, or put cut flowers in there, or I even reckon I could serve up some refreshing garden G&Ts.

I think this sun has gone to my head!

What did you manage to rescue this week?  Please grab the badge and link up.

Me and My Shadow




22 comments:

  1. Mother Nature obviously loves a revamp too, that rusty look is amaze. That ladder is a beauty, my OH and I saw one on top of skip a while back but it was really warped so wasn't any good :(

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  2. Oh I adore the thought of plants on ladders, but the reality with two boys and footballs is broken pots and plants everywhere!

    Great find with the tea light holder too

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    1. That's a very good point Jen! So far I've been lucky.

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  3. I am always looking for creative ways to plant flowers. Consider your stock pot idea stolen;) It looks lovely!

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  4. Love the ladder and the cute rusty thingamabob. Can't get enough of rust! x

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    1. Yep, rust is the easy, low-maintenance style!

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  5. Free is the very best!!

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  6. I love the ladder idea! And the stock pot looks fab! Did you just put a load of gravel in the bottom for drainage or have you drilled holes through? I have a few old pots/pans/containers that would work well like this but never sure if I should drill through them or not!

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    1. I couldn't bring myself to drill it either so I popped it in a plastic pot first which sits inside the stock pot, that way I can empty out any water that drains through.

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  7. Superb ladder plant display and loving your rusty free thingy.

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  8. Oh I am desperate for a ladder!!!!!

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  9. ohh lovely ladder and plant pots I may have to do this as our garden is very unloved and is in need of someflowers but flowers in the flower beds always get dog trodden but this would be perfect!

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  10. Love your pots display, very trendy! And the rescued votives holder has been lovingly transformed and given a new life.

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  11. That stock pot is an incredible find - it looks perfect with the plants in it! I've got some old chamber pots that I always intended to do that with as well, but somehow never got round to it. Love the ladder too - what an ingenious idea! *rushes out to the shed*

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  12. I love seeing your ladder again and following your story of bargain-hunting. Glad you turned the right corner and made another find/

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  13. Loving that green and cream pot! Lisa x

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  14. Great way to repurpose - the ladder and the pot and they look fab. It's so satisfying when you clean up a find and it's as good as new (only better because it was a find and, in this case, free!)

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  15. Love the pot with flowers!Wire caddy is pretty too.

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