Some photos and a story...

...that only a gardener will appreciate.

A friend and I decided to go check out garage sales Saturday a.m. We drove by one that said garage sale and plant sale so we went in. The woman had potted up quite a few containers with plants, but not really my style and while not expensive, certainly more than the containers and plants were worth.

But she did have this old wheelbarrow in her 'free' pile. So of course I glommed onto it immediately. (The little round thing was also free and I'm going to put a pot on it and use it as a little pot stand.) So when I went to tell the woman I was taking her wheelbarrow, she asked what I was going to do with it and I said plant in it. And she said she figured someone would take it for that. I asked her why she wasn't planting in it, didn't she want to keep it, etc. She said she had planned to but never gotten around to it so just decided to get rid of it.

Well, when I went to put it in my car, I discovered why she didn't keep it! The whole thing began to crumble as we picked it up - wooden handles, rusty insides, etc. I did manage to get it inside the car and home, but I realized that once it was planted, no one would ever be able to pick it up or move it too far!

I didn't have it home very long before a bird did a big white streak in it too! LOL My husband was appalled. Makes me like it even more! My friend and I decided when he asked how much I paid for it (and he did), I'd tell him she wanted $50 but I talked her down to $40. LOL He wouldn't believe me when I told him I got it free. (Obviously he thinks it has value!!!)

Here is a little area I'm working on. There's a Sally Holmes climbing rose that will go over the arbor and also a purple clematis that will hopefully go up the arbor as well as across the back fence. Then a purple jacobs ladder, some purple phlox, and a couple other things. It's going to be my blue/purple and apricot bed. I have an apricot nicotiana and some other blue thing to put out there today.

Then this area is in my red/white garden. This ledge butts up to the greenhouse. It is always full of weeds but I spent one day last week pulling the weeds on the ledge (you can still see all the tall weeds in the foreground that cover the rest of this area) and putting in the groundcovers. I also sprinkled a lot of seeds I had laying around, red poppies and the like, so we'll see if any of them come up. I found this little bench in an antique store last month and immediately in my mind it went into this spot. So that inspired me to come home and pull the weeds, which had completely engulfed the red windmill.

What a great story! Too funny about needing the wheelbarrow to have a monetary value before it can be accepted for its intrinsic value. I love the little white bench in the red and white garden. Isn't it funny how one new thing helps us refocus on something we already had in hand.

Gwen - I have an old wheelbarrow that has become a planter by virtue of its "holy-ness".
To strengthen the bottom (which was rotting out), I placed a piece of metal mesh cut to shape, and over that a piece of window screen, slightly larger to follow the contour of the sides. The mesh provides stability and the screening allows for the soil to stay in place as well as drain. I used these materials because they were what I had on hand.
I have no idea how long it will stay intact, especially with the moisture level, but I will enjoy all its days as a useful tool given a second chance. Fun stuff, and so far the slugs have not discovered the high-rise bounty.

OH, Gwen Katye,
You have given me a great idea, I have a old barro ( almost looks like the one Gwen has, its bottom gone) line it with mesh and paint it lilac then plant in it, it will match the trailer when ever I get that done. LOL DH will think I went off the deep in.
Thank you Thank you
Hugs
Tills

Love the bench

Tills - men like "practical". Tell him it is a useful tool: a movable planter!
Also - you are granting extended life to something that will prove its worth.
Hmmm, I can't think of any more. I have to do this too with mine, but he believes that I've been certifiably off the deep end for maaannnnnny years.
I don't care - it's fun out here!
Oh, and Tills - night-night, & beware the cats! You have spoken two concepts that they don't like to hear joined in one sentence: water and spray bottle!!! =:0) Kate

Gwen, great finds!!!

I will beware and sleep lite. They can get even. LOL

And the Barrow will come to life again and make a statement, that it has retired and has a new found lease on life has a handsome planter.

I was going to line mine with plastic with some drainage slits in it. I thought the plastic might keep the bottom from direct contact with soil which would make it corrode even faster. I had thought of the screens but then thought I should try and keep the soil/water away as much as possible. Do you think the screens would be better?

I dawned on me that I could finally have a place for sun loving plants - I could move the wheelbarrow around following the sun. LOL But that would be too much work. I think I'll park it outside the greenhouse as a garden accent there.

Gwen, I think using the plastic would more enhance the moisture, and make it rust more, the screen at least would drain better and not leave the moisture as much. I'm thinking the screen would be better.

Okay, that's what I'll do!

Gwen

Great finds, Gwen! I love that little bench!