Wednesday 8 April 2015

All Winter Long....The Search Goes On...







As many of you already know...

I am an avid Gardener...

I love Perennials, but realize that we do need some annuals for the extra punch of colour...

To solve the depressing task of planting annuals in the ground...

That do not survive...due to lack of water...

I decided a few years back...to plant annuals in any kind of container known to womankind...

One of the prettiest of those...are BASKETS!!!

They are very easy to spray paint...and can be moved around the garden whenever or wherever colour is needed...

I look for baskets all winter at the thrift shops...

I don't usually pay anymore than $2 per basket...

AS you can see...this was a particularly good basket season!!

All shapes and sizes...even some to hang on trees...those are especially nice!!

I have a few for the bonfire this year...but they have been good soldiers, and provided a few years of pleasure...

A few of these will be painted bright colours...along with a few, at the cottage... that need freshening up...

Readying themselves for a Season of beautiful colour....


this particular one is my favorite...

Looks like someone fashioned a lid for it...Picnic style!!

I do believe this one will be for Miss V...

To store a few special things at the cottage for her...

When she visits ♥️





The top is like a piece of lattice work...

Very pretty...indeed!!

And for those of you...

Whom have not seen my baskets here and at the cottage...

I have found a few pictures to show you...

I line the basket with a plastic bag...

Add miracle gro soil, peat moss and fertilizer, which I mix up in my wheelbarrow...

I buy cell packs of flowers and also larger pots as well...instead of popping each plant out of the cell pack...I simply use my scissors and cut the bottoms of the 6 pack...and plant all in one clump!!!

Way more impact that way!!

I have just given away my biggest secret....EVER....

If you try this...please let me know how you make out.... 




 Here a few of my baskets from previous Summers...

So versatile!!

At the cottage, i can carry them to the shade when we leave to come home...

Give them a good soaking, and they are lovely and lush the following week...

Certainly works for me...

This particular photo is from poolside at home...

And the view from the beach deck at the cottage is below...But...
Most of you already knew that!
 

Hope you are all having a great day...

Rainy...windy...gloomy here...

Perhaps even some freezing rain later!!

I think we will add some sunshine to our day...pick up Miss V!!

Spend the day with her....sounds good to me!!

Have a great day...

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my bunny...or should I say...

Miss B!!!   { thanks Monique}...

                          Cheers!  :o)
                             linda
 
 

56 comments:

  1. Love all your baskets!!
    I'm a basket collector as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love baskets!
      Useful for so many things!

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  2. I love your baskets as well!!!

    ~shoes~

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  3. :)

    Love your baskets..They were such the fashion in the late 70's 80's indoors..I still have some..You know your basket w/ the lid? It comes like that.I have one downstairs:) I think I tried painting the top white..It was my first picnic basket..
    Funny how we both have it.
    You are always near water.My favorite place.

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    Replies
    1. You have that basket? How cool is that!
      I think I will line it with gingham, and it will be perfect for Miss V!
      Yes.....we love the water too♥️

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  4. I'm totally going to steal that idea!
    Do you paint the to protect them from water,or because you like the colour?
    Jane x

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    Replies
    1. Just to brighten them up....not always the first year though.....
      You can see the aqua one with the grass in it? That needs a new paint job this year....
      I want to see them if you do it! Ok?

      Delete
  5. Lovely baskets . Ya know crazy me never thought of using baskets , where was my head ? You gave me some good ideas for my plants to display them outside for a change this year . It is gloomy , windy , chilly and rainy here to maybe a thunderstorm they said may pop up ! Lovely photos . Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !

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    Replies
    1. Get crackin' Elaine!
      We heard thunder around lunch time....
      Still gloomy here......

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  6. We'll have to start calling you the basket lady ... great additions for this year. They are so much better than boring old pots :)

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    Replies
    1. Hey....I've been called worse!
      Absolutely....but....I spray my pots too!

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  7. LOVE the bunny!!! AND, the cute little cardigan! So cute, Linda!! And, all of your beautiful Easter arrangements... =) This basket idea is good. Really good. I've used a few, but you have taken basket love to a whole new level. Thank you for sharing your "serets". blessings ~ tanna

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    Replies
    1. You like the bunny? Or...I should say...Miss B!
      Miss V is not into Miss B yet!
      Enjoy your week....

      Delete
  8. I just love this idea. So pretty.

    My son is not home and unless he is willing to work he won't be coming back. Hard lessons. :-(

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  9. Great idea ! I get baskets at garage sales all the time. I use mine for all sorts of reasons but the outside plant idea is brilliant.

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    Replies
    1. That's me Candice.....brilliant! Hahaha!

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  10. What a wonderful idea, Linda! Thanks for sharing this neat way of displaying pretty annuals. And we do need some of those in the garden.

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    Replies
    1. Yes we do Martha....perennials rock, but annuals got the colour going on!

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  11. I used to have a basket for flowers on the patio until it fell apart. I bet the paint would help them last a little longer. I'll be looking for some baskets! Thanks for the reminder, I'd forgotten about the basket idea. Love your pretty flower photos!

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    Replies
    1. Not sure about the paint making them last longer, but it sure makes them look purty!

      Delete
  12. A great idea! Such a lovely way to grow and display your flowers, love your planting idea too, ours tend to come in those polystyrene boxes so we can't copy, but I wish we could!! xx

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    Replies
    1. So you don't get them in a small 6 pack?
      Ours is very thin plastic, that I cut with great big scissors!
      Happy Gardening!

      Delete
  13. Great idea and much easier to move around than those heavy planters. I love baskets and have many that serve all sorts of purposes. I have a few old-fashioned picnic baskets as well with the lids. They are my favourites. Betsy had a great one in her shop that I think was used in a magazine spread and she also has some very interesting buttocks baskets that are too cute! I love your collection.

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    Replies
    1. I had to look up buttocks baskets....and guess what? They look like their name! Hahaha!
      Can hardly wait to plant these ones up!

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    2. ps.....thanks for the Easter card!♥️

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    3. ♥️ You're very welcome!

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  14. What a lovely lot of baskets Linda . . . :)

    I am back home . . . they kicked me out today ~ I would have liked a couple more days there really . . . :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Eddie.....
      I was wondering about you....
      Glad you are home.....were you too cheeky?

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    2. No . . they loved it and I was appreciative and adorable as well . . . lol
      They loved my ambulance stories and came home in an ambulance manned by some ex- colleagues of mine . . . .will do a post about it ~ very funny . . . glad to be back really . . . :)

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    3. Hahaha!
      Glad you are back too!
      Leg better?

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    4. Leg better in part but will take weeks/months to heal properly.
      I have a vacancy here for a night nurse . . know anyone? . . . . but will have to make do with District Nurses visiting daytime . . .


      I have done a quick post about my return, to be followed by a post of my adventures in hospital . . . :)

      Delete
    5. Months? Crickey!
      Nope...do not know any Nurses.....cheeky!
      Will pop over.....just relaxing after a very busy day!

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    6. ok . . . It's great having immediate internet access without the very involved procedure at hospital on their Wi-Fi . . .drove me nuts sometimes . . . :)

      I suppose I am a little cheeky . . . lol

      Delete
  15. I love baskets too, though I've never thought to hang them on trees. Will try that! Stay warm :)

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  16. I love baskets too, especially the ones at HomeSense. I have lots of uses for them but now I have your great idea too, thanks LSK. Such a gloomy day, brought home the new Fushion, parked it safely in the garage, then went to see the new Helen Mirren movie, "Woman of Gold." Highly recommend it. Nice that you had little Miss V. today. :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Hester.....
      Do you mean Fusion? Easy spelling mistake....:o)
      Always nice to have a brand new car!
      She was a joy♥️

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    2. Ha, ha, ha, Fusion it is! Take care...

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  17. I've always admired your baskets of flowers...what a great idea! Just use them until they are past their prime and then replace them! Do you poke holes in the plastic liner so they will drain? I think I'll try this! You're right...the thrift stores are always over-run with baskets!

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    1. Thanks Betsy!
      No, I don't poke any holes....with them mostly being at the cottage, they need all the wTer they can get!
      I don't have too many with the liners...they are harder for me to find....
      I guess it would be a good idea though....

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    2. OK...great! I'm going to give it a try!

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    3. Super! Pictures please!

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  18. Your baskets look lovely, Linda. I wonder if that idea would work in our climate? Might try it some time, as I need to keep moving plants when it gets too hot for them. Your are a real green-thumbs!

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    1. Why not?
      That is what I do at the cottage.....tuck them away for the week, and bring them to the beach deck when I am there!
      Give it a try!
      Your trip to Canada is getting closer! Excited?

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  19. I love your baskets they look great.. Going to hunt me down some.. We just had rain im hoping it will sunny tomorrow.. New follower. Come by and visit some time Mz witherspoons rose cottage with love Janice

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    Replies
    1. Hi Janice.....welcome!
      I am always interested in how people find my blog.....do tell!
      Hope you visit often....

      Delete
  20. oh my gosh.
    i don't even know if you'll see this comment... i'm so late this time...
    but i think you're BRILLIANT! I love your baskets of color. love the texture of baskets with the beautiful flowers. oh my cc girl.
    you nail it! and the planting of the little packs... wow. didn't know you could do that! thought they HAD to be removed!
    but then i have a BLACK thumb!!! LOL. ♥
    you make me want to try again to have some on my balcony. but it's already been in the 90's here. IN APRIL! so the summer sun would cook them for sure. we had no spring.

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    Replies
    1. You should get a big pot, and plant some tomatoes!
      You can also put flowers in with the tomatoes!
      I see EVERY comment, Tammy....

      Delete
  21. Great shots! Love all of those baskets! And that journal is perfect. Sweet Lissa!
    xo Kris

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