A Growing Insole

My mother's favorite thing was shoes. She was a sweet, kind woman who never complained and really never asked for anything. But when she had the opportunity - she loved new shoes. My father on the other hand did not really care for shoes all that much, but was a die-hard gardener. Put them together and you get a wonderfully whimsical shoe planter!

Garden Walk Garden Talk had a fun photo of a shoe planted with sempervivums...

All of Donna's pictures are beautiful.  This one adds a touch of whimsy!

...in her last post In the Greenhouse with GWGT. 

There is another blog called Shoe Planter Crafts that is dedicated to gardeners on a budget - what fun!

How to Make Shoe Planters from Children's Shoes

And Shoe Metro has Weird Shoe Wednesdays...



Blackberry Creek Home Arts has some wonderful pictures of unusual planters...

Including this boot bragging these beautiful pansies.

So, next time you are about to recycle those Reeboks or shed your Skechers - just remember, they could provide a humorous habitation for some grateful greenery.  (It gives a whole new meaning to Nunn Bush!)

Get your hands dirty!

Salvaged Material Planter

This is a planter I made from scrap pieces of composite decking (TAMKO Evergrain - to be specific). 

Composite decking makes great planters because it lasts forever.  The only down-side is the cost - it is quite expensive.

If anyone in your neighborhood builds a new deck, stop over and tell them you would like their scraps when they are done.  After they look at you like you're crazy they will most likely be happy to get rid of it.

Get your hands dirty!

Hypertufa

 Hyper-What?  HyperTufa!!  (Pronounced  hi-per-two-fuh)

What is Hypertufa?  It's an artificial stone made of various materials - usually a mixture containing one or more of Portland Cement, Perlite, Vermiculite and Peat Moss.  Hypertufa was invented to take the place of Tufa which was used to make garden planters, troughs, garden art, etc...  It has the appearance of stone, without the weight. 

It is great for making garden planters that will last for a

long, lo-ong, lo-o-ong time!