A Fun and Simple Do-It-Yourself Project from NativeCast

If you enjoy DIY projects, especially garden related, you're going to love NativeCast’s DIY Cast Your Own Kit. This DIY kit is a simple introduction to making your own container garden and is the perfect rainy day project for kids and adults.

This DIY project is quick and easy from start to finish. So if you don’t have the time or patience for most projects, this is the ideal one for you.

Each kit is comprised of NativeCast’s custom eco-concrete mix, a shaped mold box, organic potting mix and seeds. It includes step-by-step instructions on how to make your own container. If you’re a visual learner, NativeCast also has a great instructional video that can help you create a masterpiece of your own.

The Cast Your Own line has more shapes and sizes to choose from, like circles, squares, rectangles and even stars and hexagons.

How to build your own eco-concrete garden:

1. Wet the mold box
2.  Place the mix in a disposable container and add 2 ounces of water to the mix
3. Stir in water
4. Apply wet concrete to the interior surfaces of the mold box
5. Let concrete dry for 24 hours and then carefully tear or cut away mold box
6. Insert organic starter soil and plant seeds
7. Add water to soil, keep damp until seeds sprout

What do you think? Would you make this DIY garden planter?

NativeCast is known for unique and modern garden planters that are designed and handcast by Ricky Giacco in his Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania studio. Giacco works with recycled concrete and other materials native to the Mid-Atlantic, like shells, sand and pine needles. His planters are durable, surprisingly lightweight, and easy on the planet.

If DIY isn’t your thing, check out NativeCast's wide variety of eco-planters that modernize any living space.  

~Leah
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Create an Instant Oasis this Memorial Day!

The Memorial Day holiday signals the beginning of summer celebrations on decks, patios and backyards across the nation. 
Here in the east, we're just getting around to planting from a long, cool spring and if you're feeling a bit rushed to get your outdoor space just right for the Memorial Day weekend, relax!  A beautiful blooming combination of hibiscus and mandevilla from Costa Farms® Tropic Escape™ Patio Collection can create an instant oasis.

A vibrant outdoor experience doesn't require endless hours of bending and digging when you pair and pot the big, bright blooms of hibiscus and mandevilla.

Hibiscus from the Tropic Escape Collection bursts with some of the biggest, most flamboyant blooms around -- up to seven inches across.  And the color range and mixes are enough to make a rainbow jealous! These hibiscus are sold in citrus-hued deco pots that immediately add color to you patio or porch for an instant view.

The Tropic Escape mandevilla with its trumpet-shaped flower loves the hot summer weather and pumps out flowers in pink, red, fuchsia and white. This twining and climbing plant splashes color while comfortably making a home just about anywhere from trellis to fence to container.

For a dramatic statement, pair them both in a pot and you'll enjoy show-stopping blooms all summer long. Heat tolerant and not fussy, this combination from the Tropic Escape Patio Collection is easy to care for, produces abundant flower power, and is readily available at local home improvement stores or mass merchandiser.

A backyard getaway doesn't have to cost a fortune or require hours of labor.  These tropical wonders can transform your outdoor space quickly so you can enjoy the seasonal celebrations with ease.

Happy Memorial Day!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group 

 

GMG's Friday Find: Garden Goodies for Mother's Day!

We know mom can be tough to shop for, so here are some ideas to make Mother's Day gift giving a breeze.

Easy Edible Pickins

Since moms everywhere love to feed their families healthy food, a gift of these brand new, low maintenance, small fruit shrubs will be most loved.  These compact berry shrubs provide ornamental beauty and delicious berries! RaspberryShortcake™ is a thornless dwarf raspberry shrub that reaches 2-3 feet and fruits the first season.  This compact, rounding plant requires no staking or trellising, no companion pollinators and very little space, and has sturdy upright canes. Raspberry Shortcake loads up with full-sized, super sweet raspberries and is ideally suited for large patio containers, balconies or any size yard.

Take Mom to the Tropics
Busy moms will love the Tropic Escape Patio Collection from Costa Farms®.  This collection pairs bold flowering hibiscus with trailing/climbing mandevilla - an unbeatable combo for mom's patio or garden!  And the best part is these plants bloom non-stop from spring until fall and are easy to care for. Look for the Tropic Escape collection at your local home improvement store or mass merchandiser and turn mom's outdoor space into a tropical paradise!

The Birds #1 Best Friend
Does your mom love to feed the birds? These new bird feeders from Perky-Pet® look like old-fashioned mason jars.  The Mason Jar Collection is reminiscent of the vintage blue glass canning jars used in the 1800s. They bring rustic, shabby chic elegance to any yard while attracting various types of birds. Perky-Pet® offers three types of Mason Jar feeders including Wild Bird Feeder, Hummingbird Feeder and Wild Bird Waterer.  Mom can have beautiful outdoor décor while enjoying watching the birds.

Eco-Friendly Containers 
Moms love to get handmade gifts from their kids, but if that's not happening this year give her the next best thing - handmade pottery containers from Native Cast. These eco-friendly concrete planters are individually hand-cast, lightweight and durable.  Easy to move and stunning in design, your mom will love this planter for indoor or outdoor, all year long. The heart-shaped cast- your-own kit is a fun project you and your mom can spend time doing together; after all, that's all she really wants!

 Twists on Tradition Cookbook
The next best thing from taking a break from cooking is cooking a meal together with family. James Farmer's newest book, A Time To Cook is a celebration of garden to table lifestyle recipes updated for today's conscientious cooks. Steeped in Southern tradition, A Time To Cook offers scrumptious recipes that are fresh from the land and garden and will be one of your mom's go-to cookbooks for years to come.

Celebrate this Mother's Day with a gift that says "I love you", a gift she'll use and enjoy for years, and a gift that will remind her of just how special she is.

Happy Mother's Day!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group

Hot new plants for 2012

The holidays are just around the corner. With all the busyness of buying gifts and celebrating, and battling wintery weather, here's a peek at new plants for spring 2012 that's bound to bring some cheer, color and life to any size garden.

A few weeks back I mentioned a new Black Hawaiian Spider Lily: Crinum 'Purple Dream' from Hines that's one pretty, durable plant that really rocks!

I promised to give an early "sneak peek" of some well-bred beauties and plant discoveries I think you'll love.

Keep an eye out for these new Hines Growers plants with new Bloomtastic! tags and labels.

The folks at Hines Growers are like plant hunters with a mission... no kidding! To make the cut, plants must be easy to grow and low maintenance and provide continuous color and abundant blooms- just what busy gardeners demand.

The butterfly bush in the above photo is Hines' exclusive new Buddleia Purple Splendor - a robust plant with fragrant flowers that produces waves of spectacular blooms during the summer heat. Best of all, it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds! Zone 5-10

And here's a beauty you can't pass up. Buddleia Lavender Veil from Hines is a compact grower that grows very low to the ground and bears abundant lavender fragrant flushes. This beauty attracts butterflies and hummingbirds with flowers that spill from containers, hanging baskets or look fabulous in your landscape as a groundcover, or in rock gardens, or perennial and cottage gardens. Zone 5-10.

On the left is Bambino 'Sophia' Bougainvillea, and below is Bambino 'Victoria' Bougainvillea, two of eight new varieties in the Bloomtastic! collection.

They are compact and full with dramatic variegated foliage, that contrasts against the profusions of large clusters of flowers, spring through fall! Both are well-suited for smaller gardens and hedges, containers, baskets and medium size groundcovers. Zone 8-10

So keep an eye out for these beauties and many more like the new Agapanthus africanus 'Summer Sky'  (I'll write about this one later) coming nationwide to a garden center and retailer like Home Depot for 2012.
Cheers!

~Lynne, GMG

Campania's Wall of Fame

For several years, Campania has been posting placements on the wall at the world headquarters in Quakertown. Here is Stacey, GMG's buzzmeister for Campania, holding three cover shots in front of the "Wall of Fame"!

Suzi

Garden Media Group

Pick the Right Pot for the Right Spot

Are you as confused as I am when choosing a container for your garden or patio? I never know if I should go for the lightweight option or maybe classic cast stone. With so many choices out there, I decided to check in with our good friend and garden designer Jon Carloftis about selecting the perfect container for my yard.

According to Jon, containers come in a variety of materials including terra cotta, cast stone, and cast iron to brightly glazed pottery and lightweight polyethylene. He says selecting the perfect container depends on personal taste, needs, and affordability. Here are some of his tips for picking the right pot for the right spot.

American Traditional

Cast stone is the traditional material for American decorative garden containers and gives you an immediate look of classic antiquity. Sustainable and durable, they replicate the look of hand-carved stone or marble but at a much more affordable price. “Cast stone containers make a strong focal point for your garden and entranceway,” says Carloftis. “I like to have something tall and elegant in the center surrounded by something shorter.”

Earthy!

Terra Cotta containers, a classic feature of Mediterranean gardens, are now affordable enough for every garden. This natural earthen material, which ages to a lovely patina, is timeless and looks good almost anywhere. Terra cotta is perfect for veggies and herbs because the porous material “breathes” and improves heartiness. These classic clay pots come in a wide variety of quality and prices for every budget.

Glamorous

Make a powerful fashion statement and transform a staid garden setting into an eye-catching landscape with glazed pottery in bold color and artistic designs. Vibrant colors from classic black to rich earth tones or two-toned glazes provide style and contrast especially when positioned with other pieces, such as cast stone, or as a focal point nestled in a garden bed.

Lite & Carefree

For those who want lightweight and flexible features, polyethylene and fiberglass containers are excellent choices. “You won’t compromise style or attractiveness with upscale look-alikes,” he says. Check out Campania International's Lite pots, which replicate the look of terra cotta, cast stone, iron, or lead that you have to touch them to know they aren’t the real thing. They are easy to move and are perfect for apartments or decks.

Classic Beauties

Except in the severest climate, cast iron containers offer gardeners high strength and durability. A classic material for urn shapes, cast iron is especially appropriate for those who wish to create an historical or traditional look.

Now you have all the options that you need for selecting that perfect container to transform your patio, deck or outdoor space!

Photo Credit: Campania International

-Stacey

GMG

Accessorize Inside this Winter

Those beautiful planters on your deck or patio were a sight to behold this summer. Overflowing with brightly colored flowers, they brought you pleasure all summer long.

But now that the colder weather is starting to set in do you need to unplant them and store them out of sight where no one can enjoy them?

Of course not! Just bring them in to use as accent pieces during the holidays and winter months.

Here are some fun ways to use planters indoors from the folks at fine garden accessories manufacturer Campania International:

• Fill a cast stone urn (or small birdbath) with fruit such as apples or pears and set it on your table as a centerpiece when you are entertaining guests. Remember to use felt coasters on the bottom of your containers to easily move them from table to table.

• Keep an interesting large cast stone planter by your door to catch umbrellas or gloves, mittens, hats or other winter paraphernalia tossed by your kids as they race into the house.

• Create your own indoor water garden by adding plants such as spider lilies, taro or water lettuce to a glazed or lightweight container.

• For parties, fill an empty lightweight container with ice to keep beverages cold.

• And of course planters can hold plenty of magazines and newspapers.

With a little creativity your planters and garden accent pieces can be versatile and elegant enough to bring indoors for four seasons of enjoyment -- and an extended life.

-Stacey

GMG

Halloween is Over. Time to Start Thinking of Holiday Spending!

It seems as soon as Halloween is over, Santa comes out! If this year's number of trick or treaters is any indication, it looks like the economy is turning around, and we might have some good news for which we can be thankful at Thanksgiving.

According to all reports, this holiday season is expected to be the best for retailers since 2007!

After a ho-hum 2009 and a disastrous 2008, holiday retail sales in the US are expected to increase 2.3% this year to $447.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.

The results look about the same in the UK, where sales are expected to be up 1.9%, according to a new study from Verdict Research reported in Garden International.

The report says "seasonal products and gardening items will be the main areas to push sales for DIY and gardening retailers. Eye-catching homewares ranges should provide an opportunity for gifting and entertainment."

So here are a few ideas from GMG:

Orchids are a luxury anyone can afford. Orchids from Costa Farms are easy to grow, last for months and make a great hostess gift or elegant holiday decorations.

Containers, statuary or fountains: A great gift for avid gardeners and homeowners, Campania offers a wide variety of garden “jewelry” to accessorize the garden. From classic planters, birdbaths, benches to dancing frogs, pigs, cats and dogs, just wrap them with a big red ribbon and put them under the tree.

Tools -- What gardener doesn't love a new tool in their stocking. The new titanium tipped tools from Centurion are as pretty as jewelry! This folding shovel seems a must for every mom's trunk!

So, this year, put something for your garden on your wish list.

Suzi

GMG

Sneak Preview

Each summer I'm fortunate enough to attend Campania's annual sales meeting, where the unveiling of their new product catalog/supplement takes place. The handing out of the catalog is by far the most exciting aspect of the meeting. It's also fun to hear everyone oohing and aahing over all the beautiful new designs.

This year consumers and retailers alike won't be disappointed with the selection of products being introduced. One of my favorite collections is their Garden Terrace Collection, which was designed to meet the consumer's desire for smaller products for their home and garden.

Here's a sneak peak of some of the items that I've already fallen in love with. From new "mini" fountains in various sizes and shapes to really cool contemporary linen glazed planters, Campania has something to complement all tastes and styles!

Look for these and their other new products this fall and next spring at retail garden centers nationwide.

-Stacey

GMG