Wednesday 13 May 2009

Vintage Recycling

That title is just a way of making "buying old junk and stuffing in the garden to rust quietly" sound good! So what goodies have we scrounged up this week?

Well for starters we managed to get just over 4 meters of this lovely old metal border edging last weekend from the even bargain packed Gardenalia in Bath...



Isn't it great! I'm totally in love with it and have to keep wondering down the garden to look at it, we've got it edging the orchard (my Mum insists that its very Jane Austen?!) Rich recons our stupid cat will get her head stuck though one of the loops! This was a bit of a treat for Rich and I as we don't really need it, but it was just to pretty to leave there (and at £2o a bargain)

I also got this from the same place a few days later...



I've already got 2 of this old zinc plant numbers, I just love the way they look and at £3 how could you say no! This is the problem with walking past Gardenalia on the way to work, I'm always tempted to nip in and see what new treasures he has.

We went to another good car boot on Sunday, this time it was the Castle Combe Race Course one, which is held roughly once a month so its usually pretty big. As I have mentioned before we are on the look out for stuff for the wedding and this weekend didn't disappoint...



We got 2 more storm lanterns, still in their wrappers (£2 each, down from £3!) and this lovely old stop clock that Rich really liked, its in the most lovely shade of duck egg blue!

I also got this great old bucket for £3...



This was planted up with more of the Molly's Cottage Garden Mix and few of my Opium Poppy's.



This one and the other metal tubs I planted up last week will all be used at the wedding reception as decorations (fingers crossed!) The other tubs are starting to sprout little green shoots...



I can't wait to see what flowers we get. At the moment their all crowed round the pond up by the front of our cottage.



Another wedding bargain was these 2 beautiful Lavender bushes, their from the supermarket where I work (but only for a few more days thankfully!) and where in a state from not being watered so I got them at a knocked down price. They will have ribbon wound around the stems and little lights in them and will be on either side of the door into the reception hall.



And finally, things you can do with an old BBQ...



This old cast iron pot bellied BBQ belonged to our neighbours, one of the legs had snapped off so they where going to chuck it, I cheekily asked if I could have it and they said to help myself! Whilst moving it I managed to snap the other legs off (very cheap cast iron!) so I have put it up off the ground on an old chopping block and decided to us it as a planter...



Most of the belly is filled with old crock and polystyrene to help weigh it down and give good drainage, then I filled it with compost...



and planted with with a few more of my Poppy's and some trailing Lobelia I brought the other week. Much better than it moldering away in a landfill and free, so I think this classes as the best bargain of the week!

4 comments:

Carrie said...

Fabulous work! Recycling is fun and I love the quirky look it gives to a gardern or home. You are great at getting bargins! It's so hard here and car boot sales are nothing like the ones in other countries. That shop sound heavenly, though a little dangerous to the old bank account, i think i could go mad in a place like that.

Unknown said...

Wow, I've driven past that shop loads of times and always assumed it was another expensive bath shop :oops: will have to call in there next time :)

great finds, and your garden is looking lovely!
Maxine x
http://slowingdownwiththejones.blogspot.com

Kat said...

Hi Maxine

Gardinalia is a brillient shop, Richard the owner is very nice and always happy to haggle (especially if you buy a few things, which we always seem to!)

ReapWhatYouGrow said...

I can't believe the 52 was only 3.00. I love it - I will have to seek out that shop!