Recycled Garden Decor

Figure B—A scratched-up porch post has been transformed into an art piece. Recycled bits of tile and old pieces of broken glass were glued to the post, then the cracks were filled in with grout, smoothed with a trowel and wiped off.

Figure C—Good garden design includes staggering the heights. An old birdcage stand balances the height of a trellis. The metal has been painted and now serves to hold a wind chime and add design. In reality, the three globes are a discarded parrot toy.

Figure D—Clay-pot shards work perfectly as plant markers. Use a waterproof, felt-tip marker to write the names of individual plants. Inverted small clay pots can mark where bulbs are planted, alerting you not to dig under the marker.

Figure E—An old suitcase lined with plastic becomes a creative container garden. The plastic protects the bottom of the suitcase from drainage water. An alternative is to drill holes or keep the pots in saucers to catch drips. Pack the suitcase with color, so choose any plants in bloom at your local garden center. Six-inch plastic pots are the perfect size for the suitcase, so there is no need to transplant. Fill in the gaps and hide pot rims with Spanish moss.