Do you wonder if it’s a collection or clutter?

Everyone has garden clutter,…and we here at Flea Market Gardening have lots and lots of garden collectibles sometimes stashed willy nilly in closets or boxes,..in the garage or in a shed.  We joke that our garden objects and Flea market items are our ‘art supplies’ and it’s true we need it all.

And then, we have  collections — indoors or out,…a choice group of things you’ve taken the time and effort to pick and choose over time.  But, what happens when the clutter begins to win out?  Time for action!  See how these clever gardeners display their collections and turned clutter to collections!  They dig into yours!

Jane Krauter’s watering can collection, Most are children’s old watering cans she’s spray painted!

Jane Krauter says, “A couple years ago, I moved this old redwood table against the fence. The trellis didn’t work out for a plant because of the poor soil & roots in that spot. Eventually, those colorful watering cans ended up hanging here all in a row.”

Nancy Carter’s line-up of bird houses

Nancy Carter‎ tells us, “I like to build birdhouses but I don’t have access to old wood so I made them from new lumber and painted them in bright colors to hang in my yard. I am first and foremost a bird lover!

My favorite is the black one that is supposed to be like an old brownie box camera.”

Pat Johnson’s kitschy collection

Pat Johnson‎ says, “Pretty in pink! The flamingos are happy to be back out of the shed. It’s been a long hard winter here in Michigan.”

Ann Elias’s vintage hose nozzles and tools

Here  are Ann Elias’s collection of vintage hose sprayers. Ann says, “My Mother-in-laws old garden tools and her old hose attachments found a special place on my new planter’s bench.”

Ann’s shelf full of terracotta and white garden objects

Ann tells us, “I decided to place some of my favorite items on the shelf my brother made me. Who knew they would complement each other so well. Old enamel pots, old clay pots and anything white!”

Billie Hayman’s cute little nests nestles in a vintage crate…and a mouse!

Billie Hayman says, “My collection of bird nests that I have brought into my home.”

Great collections are:

• Displayed proudly
• Have a color scheme
• Are organized and ‘staged’
• Tell a story
• …and are simply beautiful!

Sara Longale’s cross corner

Sara Longale shows us, “My cross corner. I pick up and make crosses and hang them on my fence. I add a coat of clear paint.”

Lark Kulikowski’s unique collection

Lark Kulikowski used a collection of old gears and lawn edger blades for ornaments in her garden. They’re interesting in any season.

Tina Akers’s hose bip handles

 Tina Akers tells us her husband Larry found all the faucet handles for her.  Nice that she knew what to do with them!

Marie Niemann’s tumbled insulators

Marie Niemann has a collection of glass insulators that she uses to decorate her garden.  They go very well with rust! She puts any broken ones in a rock tumbler.

Marie says, “I first break the glass into smaller pieces, uniform in size. Then fill the tumbler, a Thumbler’s Tumbler, one third full of the glass chunks, add water and sand or grit. I put a half a cup of sand in. I run them for a week, then change the water and add new sand and run until I get the desired look to resemble sea or beach glass, usually about another week.”

Katrina Lounsbury’s jade green garden collectibles

Katrina Lounsbury just sticks to the green gardening stuff, she says.  Bunnies, boxes and watering cans all in jade, with a dash of rusty white makes a brilliant display which shows her garden personality and love of collecting.  Book with green covers and vintage garden signs fill in the details.

Sue Langley’s cobalt blues

My own cobalt blues echo the colors in a painting found in a Mexican art gallery.  Two vases from my Grandmother started this collection.  I LOVE blue!

A few collections for indoors..

Dawn Weiss’s vintage aqua mason jar collection

Pamela Seitz chickens out with her collection

Pamela Seitz says, “I collect purple bottles, chicken dishes and egg holders…just to mention a few. I need to take a picture of the purple bottles someday. I love old mason jars too.”

Connie Dee Schnecker has three amazing collections to show.  Don’t you love it?

Connie’s Pink depression glass

Connie’s many vintage Mason jars

Connie Dee Schnecker says, “I have a colorful collection in my kitchen window…..The large one is a night light…”

Connie’s miniature colored bottles sit on a tray under a stained glass lamp

What Else We Collect at Flea Market Gardening

What do our FMGer’s collect?  You said:

• Helm’s Bakery!!! I love anything Helm’s!
• Salt and pepper sets
• Old pottery dishes & vases, books, garden decor…
• Mason jars
• Cake plates, clocks, windows and wooden ladders.
• Perfume bottles
• Milk glass, cut crystal and vintage costume jewelry
• Crackle glass
• Chinese checker boards and German nutcrackers
• Sea glass shells and dice
• Uncle Sam figurines
• Doll furniture from the late 40s and 50s
• Kitchen items from the 50’s in red and white
• Gone With The Wind stuff & Fiestaware
• Cookbooks, snowmen, Ball jars, music boxes
• Forest green glassware
• Mary Engelbreit everything
• Dachshund stuff
• Santas, snowmen, rug beaters, bottles and perfume bottles
• Old canning jars
• Nativity scenes.
• Authentic glass fishing floats
• Concrete birds, polish pottery, miniature chairs, Easter eggs, Christmas nutcrackers
• Tablecloths!
• Art pottery vases
• Old watering cans
• Watt pottery, Hull pottery
• Depression glass and vintage photographs
• Pretty sea shells
• Stoneware ovoid jugs w/ cobalt blue designs and vintage signs
• Angels and birdhouses
• Pressed glass, anything white, Mason jars
• Vintage watering cans

Fun, huh?