Gardening and housework??

It’s said ” God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done”  At Flea Market Gardening we do both,…we take our ‘housework’ outdoors and add a bit of whimsy to our gardens.  How?

One of the easiest ways to add some pizazz to your garden is to arrange items into vignettes, or groupings, by a wall, next to a tree or in a corner somewhere.  Take something meant for indoors, surround it with interesting related items,… add beautiful plants and it becomes garden art!

Think of it as creating a unique still life.  Just look at the scenes our gardeners have created and you’ll see how creative you could be, too!

OK, let’s get to work:

Barbara Stanley shows us how to do dishes…

Barbara Stanley: “I wanted to share pictures of the “dish garden” that’s on an old typing table in my herb garden. An old red dish drainer is lined with landscape fabric and edged and accented with vintage china and an aluminum teapot. ”

Barbara’s ‘Dish garden.’

“Another picture of the dish garden, showing the typing table and part of an old cider press in the foreground. The herbs here are Blue African basil, lemon verbena, lemon grass, lemon balm, and ‘Berries and Cream’ mint. ”

Clean up the sink… Linda Maddox’s kitchen sink.

Linda Maddox: “My outdoor garden sink with chicken feeder planter …hubby says I took away his fish cleaning space…oh well. ”

What’s next? Katrina Lounsbury makes the bed…

Oops! Do the bathrooms need cleaning, Cherrie Carine?

No,…in Ann Elias’ bathroom it’s neat as a pin!

Ann Elias: “Inside of the out-house…magazine rack and all!  This is the out-house my brother made me…he used the old windows from my basement..an old shutter he had for the door..and all the wood was from fencing that did not stand up to a bad storm that hit our area. He has enough wood to make a whole bunch of them. He is so handy!”

Jeanne Sammon’s tub ‘scene’

Jeanne Samons: “Here’s my old tub with.the old rustic red pump added to the vignette.”

Tammy Blair-Lack…time to throw in a load of wash!

Colleen Havens is doing the laundry, too…charmingly.

Ann Mowry puts all the clothes away..

Ann Mowry: “I’m pretty happy with my dresser. Just need to find a little braided rug to place in front of it and it will be complete. It’s on my front porch. I filled the empty space in the drawers with last years cocoa mats, no sense in throwing them away. Found the straw hat at Goodwill.”

Pam Stotts stops for a comforting cuppa tea.

Brigid Williams hangs her bloomers out to dry…

Debra Clark runs after the kids and washes muddy hands.

Debra Clark: “Can’t celebrate Spring any better than with three of my favorite things. My daughter Bella, flowers , and an old cast iron sink!”

Mary Trogg runs to the grocery and puts everything away in the pantry.

Mary Trogg: “I’m waiting to see how these metal tins handle the heat before planting any more. I think it still needs a softer look. I’m open to suggestions.”

Nancy K. Meyer starts a soup dinner a-cooking…..in blue granite ware….

Nancy K. Meyer: “A friend gave me this cool blue soup pot, isn’t it neat. My friends know me all too well.”

Sue Langley sets the table

Sue Langley: “I built this table as a cool spot to rest while we worked on our home..the ‘u-neek’ iron swivel chairs were at the Goodwill.  I agonize over spending $12 per chair but did!  Now, I’m glad…metal things last much longer outside.

Oh, Michelle Honstain,…what’s for dinner?

Michelle Honstain: “One of my yard sale goodies. $2.00! I love to imagine the history of rusty treasures.”

Donna Dunn says…Calgon take me away!

Donna Dunn: “My idea for recycling a claw-foot bathtub works as a watering hole for wildlife also. Birds, squirrels and deer all use it. We get terribly dry in Central Texas and they really appreciate having a drink of water.”

Liz Davey has a fabulous place to relax after a long day of ‘housework’

Liz Davey: “This is one of my  “resting places” … spots to sit and enjoy the garden -stop and smell the flowers or take a rest from other garden chores.”

Hope you’re not too tired from all the housework!  If you have a ‘home making’ scene in your garden, share it on our Facebook page, won’t you?  ~~ Sue