Beautiful Modern Bird Feeder

Check out this beautiful Take Away Bird Feeder from Eva Solo. It won the IF Design Award in 2007, and it’s not hard to figure out why. You can purchase it here for $60.

Now is a great time to start thinking about bird feeders, as Fall is the time when many birds migrate South (in the Northern Hemisphere). Also, birds that stick around for the winter might appreciate some healthy snacks to supplement their diet.

What Barack Obama Would Plant If He Was a Small-Space Gardener

In honor of the beginning of the Democratic Convention, I thought I would take a moment to imagine what Barack Obama would plant if he had a few containers on a sunny balcony. Here is what I’ve come up with:

First, I think he’d pot up some Silver Lace Vine. According to Beginner Gardening, this is one of the fastest growing vines known to man. I figure someone who has skyrocketed to political superstardom would want to plant a vine that can keep up with his meteoric rise.

Second, because Obama has campaigned on mortgage lending reform, I thought he would like to plant a Mortgage Lifter tomato plant.

Finally, as a devoted peacenik, I think Obama would plant a Love and Peace Rose.

Photos by j-dogg2006, karenphillips, and andy57

So…What do you think Obama would plant? Keep it nice! Funny is okay. Just remember that this is a gardening blog not a heated political forum.

When the Republican Convention begins, I’ll post about what I imagine John McCain would plant. Any suggestions?

August 25, 2008 | Filed Under Container Gardening, Outdoor Decor | 11 Comments

Ecoform Pots at Whole Foods

Ecoforms is a company that makes biodegradable, but good looking, pots from the byproducts of renewable and sustainable crops. The company guarantees that they will last at least 5 years.

Wanna check them out in person? You can now find Ecoforms pots at Whole Foods.

[Hat Tip: Apartment Therapy LA]

August 5, 2008 | Filed Under Container Gardening, Outdoor Decor | Leave a Comment

Pottery Barn Sale

FYI, Pottery Barn is having a pretty big sale on outdoor furniture and cushions.

July 31, 2008 | Filed Under Outdoor Decor | Leave a Comment

Deck Tiles for Balcony Dwellers

Check out these SnapDeck deck tiles featured on Apartment Therapy LA. They’re perfect for apartment dwellers who would like to upgrade their outdoor flooring without seriously annoying (or worse!) their landlord. The deck tiles literally, “snap and click into place over your existing surface.”

July 28, 2008 | Filed Under Outdoor Decor | Leave a Comment

Creating Privacy on Your Balcony, Part 1

Let’s face it, one of the worst parts of living in an urban area is that you probably live near at least one person who thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to leave a sofa out on their balcony. Or if they don’t have a sofa out there, their idea of great outdoor living is sitting in white plastic chairs smoking incessantly and talking loudly with their friends. Who wants that view? I certainly don’t. As I see it, you have two options: screen the eyesore out with a physical object or screen them out with plants. In this post I’m going to cover physical objects, and in a future post, I’ll discuss using plants.

Photo by Mr. Laskowski

I’m lucky to have really great neighbors at my current apartment, but I’ve lived at places where I’ve seen and heard really bizarre things on nearby balconies. If you’re living near the neighbors-from-hell, I feel your pain. Here are some tips and ideas to add privacy to your balcony or deck.

Umbrella: If the neighbors you want to disappear live above you, or you want to screen out prying eyes coming from an upstairs window, umbrellas work really well. They give you a shady spot to relax, they block out an unsightly view above, and they don’t look like you’re trying to block out the neighbors. There are umbrellas that are smaller than the typical umbrella which work well on balconies. Also, there are “half” umbrellas that sit flush with a wall.
Pergola: Related to the idea above, if you live in a condo and are permitted to put in a pergola, they also work well for screening out views you’d rather not have.
Water Fountain: If the problem you face is not necessarily that a neighboring balcony is unsightly, but rather that your neighbors sit out on their balcony and talk into all hours of the night, adding a fountain on your balcony may help to neutralize their noise and replace it with something more soothing.
Screen: Another option is to use a screen of some sort. Pier One Imports has a couple of good looking options: Indoor Outdoor Wall Panel, Capiz Shell Sun Catcher.
Curtains: A pretty piece of fabric gently blowing in the breeze could be a beautiful option during the time of year you don’t get much rain. Use a curtain rod or string a taught wire between two posts an either hang a pre-made curtain or sew your own.

Did you like this post? Check out the follow-up post about using plants to block out your neighbors. Also, please subscribe to my feed and never miss great tips and ideas for small space gardeners.

July 25, 2008 | Filed Under How To, Outdoor Decor, Privacy | 3 Comments

Quick and Easy DIY Hanging Vases

Check out these great hanging vases from Do it Yourself. In the picture they’re shown as hanging from a tree, but if you don’t have a tree, what about hanging them from an arbor, or from the overhang above your balcony. Or you could use different lengths of ribbon and hanging them from the balcony/deck railing. They would also look great with tea lights instead of flowers for an enchanting evening dinner outside.

Detailed instructions are available from Do it Yourself.

July 23, 2008 | Filed Under Outdoor Decor | Leave a Comment

Pottery Barn Outdoor Furniture Sale

If you are in need of an outdoor table and chairs, now is the time to check out Pottery Barn. They have a bunch of stuff on sale for up to 40% off.

July 21, 2008 | Filed Under Outdoor Decor | Leave a Comment

Great Outdoor Tablecloths

Tablecloths can really make outdoor dining feel special, and they can make clean up much easier (remove the dishes, pick up the corners, and either toss the crumbs in the trash or toss the whole tablecloth in the wash). My personal preference is to use oil cloth because they’re so easy to wipe down and you don’t have to wash them in the washer. But don’t be afraid to use a cloth tablecloth outside. Just don’t use disposable tablecloths! There is no point in wasting natural resources and filling up a landfill when there are perfectly good reusable tablecloths out there.

Here are some cute (reusable) tablecloths I’ve found around the net:

Red and White Checkered Tablecloth Checkered Tablecloth from A.H. Mercantile

Pottery Barn Striped Tablecloth Fiesta Bold Oil Cloth from Pottery Barn

Summer Swirl Tablecloth from Linens ‘n Things
Apple Blossom Tablecloth from Overstock

July 17, 2008 | Filed Under Outdoor Decor, Product Roundup | Leave a Comment

Good Looking Doormats

Our doormat bit the dust the other day. Well, to be accurate, it has been fighting a long, slow battle with death and I finally put it out of its misery. Due to this act of compassion on my part, our front door is now nekkid and dirt and leaves are being tracked indoors. Here are some of the better doormats I’ve seen while searching for a replacement.

1) Mando from Ikea