Rusty buckets, wheelbarrow and galvanized tub make a quaint and colorful display
After a comprehensive and highly sophisticated poll, we’ve drilled down on the 10 recycled treasures Flea Market gardeners especially love and collect in their gardens. How many on this list do you have?
An old contractor’s wheelbarrow was my first ‘ junk’ gardening item and one that got me started eyeing the large items set out on trash day. Here it is today, filled with Dragon’s Blood sedum, Yellow Ball sedum and Sedum Blue Spruce:
For how to see this: “How to plant a rusty wheelbarrow for the garden“
Darlene Danielson loves planting in wheelbarrows. This one has African Daisy, Nasturtium, pansies and lavender Lobelia
Be cautious here….collecting even a few watering cans can become an obsession…they are that much of a gardening icon!
“Small, medium, and large. A few watering cans…” Majella Maas says.
See many, many wonderous watering cans here: Wishing for watering cans: A gallery
Garden Bling! We love this! What’s is more fun…collecting the pieces, or actually making garden totems? I don’t know! Just visit any glass section of a thrift shop and you’ll get inspired by what you fid. It’s something we can’t explain,…but understand.
Cobalt blue goes very well with terracotta and rust…
“Flea Market Glass Garden Totem: Step by Step”
“What to do with recycled dishes and china in the garden?”
Galvanized metal is simply steel in some form that has received a thin coating of zinc oxide, which simply prevents containers from rusting when exposed to the elements. This makes it perfect as a planter for bright succulents or spring annuals on the patio.
Arlene Brenneman says, “Here’s a massive hanging basket I bought recently and potted in my mop bucket. I repot them so they don’t dry out so quickly. Those hanging baskets are always dry!”
“Getting galvanized…in the garden“
Jill Ruskamp says, “My tank garden is all from flea market types of buys or finds!”
Marie Niemann’s garden chair created a sensation! With a simple enamel bowl filled with flowers on the seat, it’s a charmer, but she’s upped the ante by adding the heart with its key. Now look what else there is here for inspiration and then see what YOU can do! Just an old chair….plus your imagination.
Marie Niemann says, “I love how my garden chair turned out last year, now if only I could remember what I planted! Purple and yellow are my two of my favorite colors together. I mainly plant containers so I change them up every year and move them around for a new fresh look.”
“Sitting pretty in the garden”
A discarded or dilapidated bicycle can anchor a flower bed, looking as if the rider has stopped for tea and will be back any minute to pedal off! It’s such a quaint, ‘All American Summer’ look.
Jessica Eiss-Healthcoach says, “Summer bike being swallowed up by the perennials, with our cat Jack.”
“Pedals and Petals: Old bikes in the garden”
Nancy K. Meyer received this from an anonymous neighbor. She says, “This special “trike” just showed up in my park one winter. When people know you like flea gardening –they leave gifts!”
Who can explain why we decorate heavy bowling balls for garden art? It may come from the desire for expensive glass gazing balls and the pure fun of embellishing them in various ways,…with pennies, or sparkly gems or crushed glass. Here’s how to make a Penny Ball.
Marie Niemann says, “Here’s my first penny bowling ball and t was a great winter activity! It was a fun project that didn’t involve any thought process, so it was very calming and serene to work on. Right behind it is a wonderful old copper boiler I plant every year. I used GE Silicone ll Clear that can be found at most hardware stores.
I really don’t know how many pennies it took, about $10 dollars worth, but. I cleaned out my piggy bank, too. I spread some glue over a small area with a knife and towards the end I’d just dab a bit on each penny to stick on for the second layer. Just think… they eventually will turn BLUE!”
“Glossy garden art using bowling balls”
Fast forward a few months…
Marie now says, “Here’s my penny bowling ball after one year.. I sped up the aging process by spraying it with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and a little salt. And of course Mother Nature helped too! the pennies glued on with GE Silicone ll waterproof have held up very well outdoors, only one penny fell off. I made this using a double layer of pennies so the black ball didn’t show through, but some like to keep it bright and shiny and have painted their bowling ball first in a copper paint to hide the original color.”
“‘Rust is a Must’ in the garden”
“Join the garden ‘Rusty Rust Club’”
My bucket along with several other Flea Market and trash day finds
How to display vintage tools in the garden
Cherrie Carine tells us, “I love old doors in the garden…photo is of my arbor “Door to the Garden”.. door opens to my back lawn gardens.”
For how to use old doors, see “The garden door to ‘nowhere’”
Angi Thornton says, “This is my Frank Lloyd Wright inspired painted window.”
For more see “Winsome window mosaics, for the garden”
You’ll know if you find one,…something so different, one-of-a-kind, something, after some experience searching, you have never seen before. Kathy Engel found this unique item, a vintage sink, just covered in a fine rusty patina.
See “Marvelous mailboxes in the garden” for how to do this project.
Grow, Grow, Grow, Your Boat... These boat gardens are beautiful, colorful, and well grown. It looks like a lot of… Read More
'Paint' Your Garden with Blue... Is your garden is singing the blues? Mix recycled containers and crafts with blue flowers… Read More
See this hilarious and sometimes poignant list of lost items in the garden Question.......what was the last thing you lost… Read More
Designing a charming garden baker's rack When I first saw Jeanne’s well-arranged and simply delightful Baker’s rack, I thought, ‘Somebody… Read More
Choosing a color from 'Over the Rainbow Garden' Billie Hayman's garden is full of color and she shows how one… Read More
Alliums are drama queens in the garden! Whether real flowers, grown from bulbs or the crafted faux flowers modeled after… Read More
View Comments
The galvanized planters and enamel pots look great, but what about drainage? I would think the plants would become waterlogged and putting drainage holes are impossible to drill. Give me some ideas please.,,and thanks
I drill holes in enamel and knock holes in galvanized tubs myself with a small ax. These holes ar evenly spaced on the undersides.
I have the same LOVE of galvanized both inside. Thanks for sharing.
I have 1, 3, 8 and 9. Good stuff!
All my favorite things! I have galvanized tubs planted, chicken waterer, watering cans, vintage plates for edging and much more. Alas, my planted wheel barrow totally rusted out and collapsed! I'd love to participate in this wonderful blog by sharing photos. How could I do that? Sincerely, Plays In The Dirt
Laura,...you can comment anytime here, and if you'd like to post a picture to our Facebook page, that would be great! We love to comment and encourage there. It's the most friendly FB gardening page ever! Most people post 2 pictures a day there to share the Wall and there is the most fun because you can make friends. Or you can email photos to me at sue@fleamarketgardening.org
I have everything but 3 and 7.I got all my wonderful ideas from you guys and i love when i get a post from you. Thanks so much.
I don't have a wheelbarrow, bike or bowling ball, but I'm on the hunt for a window, and I have everything else. I also have metal animal sculptures that move, and all I need to set up my fairy garden this May (unless April is warmer than usual). I have a LOT of glass, and many windchimes, most of which hang on my larger porch, so as not to annoy the neighbors. Do I get extra points for the last two sentences? ?