Happy New Year to all of you. I really enjoyed reading your predictions for 2010, both in reply to my post and elsewhere around Blog-world. The general consensus: trends are trends are trends. Megan conveys it neatly. [Paraphrase] On the one hand, there is a sense of validation that your good taste is on the winning team and nurseries usually have a good supply. On the downside, trends can quickly devolve to cliche, with every garden from here to eternity sporting the same trendy thing. Catherine aptly pointed out that tends can tend to be on the pricey side, especially plant trends. Waiting for the hoopla to settle can be a great money saver. And often for me, saving money is the only reason I'm forced into patience.
Above is a photo of my patio during the summer of 2008, another little taste of the good ole days, to warm up by, if I may. Below are photos of my one and only claim to craft fame. I know. Fame is more than a slight stretch especially since the idea is not original to me. Hanging solar "lanterns" first piqued my interest last year while perusing Dave's Garden. I can't remember the name of the real crafter but I must give credit to her, where ever, whoever, she is. Last spring, after I wrote a post about it, the obsession grew. As I tagged along with friends to garage sales, I'd be on the hunt for "lantern" fodder.
First, find these little el cheapo stick-in-the-ground solar lights.
They come in either silver or black. The solar part unscrews easily.
They come in either silver or black. The solar part unscrews easily.
This lantern is my favorite. In its former life, it housed a candle.
I found it for a song at Goodwill. [Thrift Store.]
I found it for a song at Goodwill. [Thrift Store.]
This is my second favorite. It was also used for candles.
I wired the base to a copper pipe, stuck it in the ground and, voila.
It beckons me to the outer reaches of my garden.
Below are the rest of my lanterns, scattered
around the garden. I like that they're unobtrusive, blending with
their surroundings.
I wired the base to a copper pipe, stuck it in the ground and, voila.
It beckons me to the outer reaches of my garden.
Below are the rest of my lanterns, scattered
around the garden. I like that they're unobtrusive, blending with
their surroundings.
Addendum:
There was a slight, [sigh] screw-up on my part, with this post.
The earlier commenters, about 15 or so of you, have been
tragically deleted.
Please don't take it personally. You think by now I'd have
this blog posting thing figured out, but nooo!
Oh and, I'll toy with my camera and see if I can capture a few
solar lantern night shots.
.jpg)
23 COMMENTS, Click here to add yours:
How do you make those lights?
Deirdre
Grace,
Very cool. You've got my brain working. I have some lanterns on the back patio but never thought to use them directly in the garden. I've had a dream to put in uplighting in the towering oak trees for quite some time but it hasn't happened. The lanterns would make a really nice soft touch especially in the back gardens. Watch and see... Smart girl that you are... I'm going to copy you ... you don't mind do you?
Meems @ Hoe and Shovel
Hi, Grace!
Lighting is top o' my list for this coming garden season. Thanks for offering up some fab ideas. :))
Hi Grace, I left a message last night but it has vanished. I love your lanterns ... everyone so unique. I can see how they would have each been carefully selected. Your patio garden is gorgeous! Your garden must be magical at night with all the glowing light... tucked here and there.
Love the funky lights, very original(or I would head to the store you bought them at and pick up a dozen)! The only drag about solar lights here in Alaska is when I really need them, in the dark winter landscape, they would be under a foot of snow. I do have a few but the hubby insists I bring them in for the winter as it is not good for them to be out in below zero yadayadayada. I did leave them out the first winter I had them and a moose stepped on one, so they go into the garage every fall. Ain't Alaska grand?
Christine
Looking forward to the evening shots...maybe you are starting the newest trend. What better way to enjoy the garden during extended hours of darkness?
I knew I liked you. You shop at Goodwill. :)
Love all these lighting ideas! I think the lanterns are very pretty.
thanks for the inspiration.
Rosey
All of these lighting examples are SO COOL Grace! I think you are craftier than you give yourself credit for! I added some solar lights two years ago but now half of them don't work. I think I need to investigate as I really enjoyed the soft glow in the evenings and at night.
The photo of your patio last summer is sumptuous ~ like I'm learning to expect from your garden. I'm supposing (enviously) that you don't have to bring any of these pots indoors during the winter months?
Great idea - I didn't know you could make your own and have original ones in your garden. Very nice!
Hi Grace, I thought I'd left a note here. Great ideas... very inspiring. Hopefully I'll be doing something like this (with my gardening friends?) before Spring! Have a great day! (We're supposed to get more snow tonight.)
Very, very clever. Gloria
I love the mosaic light, that is beautiful.
What a collection your have created! Perfect for your garden, which has plenty of exuberance and room for the best new plants (trendy or not) SOMEWHERE! I'm looking forward to when my garden is established enough that I can get into lighting it.
Fabulous lanterns! You are so creative. Last summer I hung a lantern by our patio and put a candle in it, envisioning romantic summer evenings by the flickering light. Reality hit when the summer sun melted the candle. I still have the lantern there, minus the candle, because I love the way it looks.
Grace, I just discovered your blog. What a lovely garden! Such beautiful designs. I like your summer container garden collection.
Is your entire backyard landscaped, so you have no lawn to mow?
Wishing I was in zone 8 too...
I love your lanterns, Grace.
Gourdo and I need to put some lighting in the garden. I especially love to see trees uplit. It creates such a wonderful and romantic atmosphere in the garden.
Like Carol I had left a message here which I see disappeared. Mysterious!
Anyway, I love the lanterns you used for the lights! Such a great idea. I always love seeing different parts of your yard.
Those lanterns sure look very nostalgic. Bring many past memories where electricity was scare in rural areas during my childhood moments.
I guess its still winter in your place. Hope spring comes forth with new & glorious blooms to brighten your day.
Thank you for the crafty post! I like solar lighting in many ways: my husband pooh-poohs the little guys as finicky and easily damaged, but your description encourages me to try something like that anyway.
And thanks for the lovely reminder picture of your container-covered patio. At this time of year some of us need all the warmth and vicarious summer we can get!
cool collection! I would love love love to have some lighting both for the sake of lighting and also as accessories. I'm so stupid though and since I have nothing, I feel like whatever I get (as my first piece) needs to be perfect - and that of course, keeps me from having anything but my ugly ones from Target that fall down every windy day.
I love that layout of your garden at the bottom of this blog btw! It might be sooo wonderful to stroll these gardens.
I also love the garden relate quote a the bottom. So relevant as there is lots of workplace gossip and nastiness lately...I'll have to remember this quote!!
So very creative and cool...I must get my brain out of deep freeze and put it to work! gail
Oh yes, I forgot about those hanging lanterns. That's the perfect remedy to the broken stick in the ground solar lights I have leftover from last year. Thanks for the reminder.
Awesome lanterns you have there, great accents for your beautiful and wide gardern. How many of the lanterns really have lights? And the growth of the plants in those summer containers are so luscious. thank you.
Post a Comment