container gardening – Page 5

Design Your Own Garden Oasis, Year Round

In the harsh winters of the northeast, the challenge of creating a year round garden seems out of the question. But imagine designing your own lush paradise, full of the unique and exquisite plants that you admire. Fortunately, there are ways to keep this environment accessible all the time, with a clever greenhouse.

For decades, master architects and garden enthusiasts have designed greenhouses that ensure a thriving garden throughout the year. Take a look at some of these inspiring greenhouses from all over the world.

Built by ON Design Partners, this Japanese greenhouse provides access to lively plants and fresh vegetables (used for local restaurants) in the middle of a busy city.

This contemporary greenhouse, designed by Gora Art & Landscape is situated in a Sweden courtyard.

Some additional stunning greenhouse designs.

Designing a greenhouse is something that can be done in virtually any space. Even with just a few square feet and sunlight, a remarkable greenhouse can be created to keep you connected with nature all year round. Next, we’ll share more with you about how to create your very own greenhouse.

What do you think of these greenhouses?

Images via Garden Design (1-2), Etsy (3), EcoFriend ( 4 – 5)

Create Your Own Tabletop Garden for 2012

If you’ve spent much time with us here at Marvin Gardens, you know about our passion for bringing new life to old items and traditions. Though each object may begin with one role in your home, there is no reason why that role can’t be expanded and molded into something new over time. That’s why we wanted to share with you the concept of creating your own tabletop garden!

It’s true – gardens are often something we envision for our outdoor spaces or for sunrooms and windowsills, but there is much more that can be done with nature. Taking the colors, shapes, and textures of nature, and forming them into a tabletop garden can bring an inspirational element of nature inside.

Here's an example of one of our succulant and sedum garden arrangements.

What’s even better about using a tabletop garden in your home is that you are able to craft the setting in whatever way you choose. Selecting plants and potting tools that you love will inevitably create a space reflective of your own tastes. For ideas about what you can use in your arrangement, just visit Marvin Gardens on Facebook!

Fall Sale

It’s here! Marvin Gardens is having a grand sale on most items in the store. Discounts are from 10%- 50% off most items excluding new arrivals, cast iron urns and gates. Here’s a sampling:

Vintage and antique sconces and chandeliers: 30%-50% DISCOUNT

Upholstered Furniture: 50% AND MORE DISCOUNT OFF ALL IN STOCK ITEMS

Industrial goods: 10% DISCOUNT

Plant Material: non seasonal – BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE

All Specimen Coral: 30% DISCOUNT

Furniture: 30% DISCOUNT

Non-Cast Iron Containers: 30%-50% DISCOUNT (INCLUDES CONTEMPORARY ZINC AND FAUX BOIS; EXCLUDES VINTAGE)

Glazed Garden Seats: 30% DISCOUNT

Many other items 10%-50% DISCOUNT

See you soon!

Amabel

Crazy About Containers

If you’re a fan of Marvin Gardens on Facebook, you’re probably well aware of the fact that we’re just crazy about using industrial containers for new planter styles this fall as we’ve been uploading images of plenty of them. Well we’re not just crazy about them anymore—we’re carrying an exclusive handful of them that are now on sale! Many are made of zinc and have clean lines and a few particular recent additions include unique turpentine barrels (early 1900s) and bakery ingredient bins from the 1920-1940s. These styles can’t be found in catalogs anywhere and are entirely unique, which is our new focus. We want as much vintage as possible with the exception of modern day castings of iron urns.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be introducing individual items with photos and the story behind each, so check back with us soon to see them all!

Marvin Gardens’ Latest Collection

As we mentioned last month, Marvin Gardens’ philosophy is simple and is one that aims to break the traditional mold when it comes to sophisticated garden design. That’s why every single item we obtain has a unique history that comes along with it and can be used in a number of creative ways. Take this particular item from our most recent collection. The vintage cast iron fountain can be used as a garden accent among a variety of other softer items but is still bold enough to stand alone as a centerpiece!

Here are some more versatile items we just received.

If you’re in the New England area and are in search for some innovative garden pieces to accent your landscape, visit our Facebook page or contact us directly for more information on our entire collection!

Vacation-Proofing Your Garden

You tend to your prized flower beds every single day. You water and fertilize them consistently with care. But even though your precious garden may be getting pampered throughout the year while you’re home, chances are, it’s going to get a little lonely during those days or weeks that you’re away on vacation. Luckily, though, with a little planning, your garden will be just fine while you’re away.

Marvin Gardens has come across a handy preparedness list from ShelterPop for you to follow before you head out on holiday and it’s sure to keep your garden looking lush and healthy while you’re away.

Weed and pull off spent blossoms. This will help guarantee that water is reaching your plants and not being sucked down by the weeds.

Make sure that your flower beds are properly insulated. If you’ve already laid down mulch earlier in the season, just top it off with a fresh layer.

Make sure your garden is watered while you’re away is a must.

Group potted plants together out of direct sunlight and go for self-watering planters.

Contact Marvin Gardens today to for more gardening tips and to learn about our large selection of vintage garden urns and accessories!

Photo Credit: Prairie Rose Garden

Introducing Rosemary Milner!

If you’re not already familiar with the deeply imaginative work of Rosemary Milner, then pay attention. Marvin Gardens has absolutely fallen in love with the screen-printed wallpaper, books and fabrics from this English artist. Her patterns are whimsical and she loves traditional approaches to printing and production and has perfected the art of hand stitching, hand etching, silk-screen printing and lino illustration. We came across some of her swatches on decor8 and we’re simply enamored with her current collections. They are inspired by flora and fauna with historical narratives including woodland animals, British birds and botany, alongside her own fresh take on them. Take a look below at some of the sweet and charming patterns that possess a fairy-tale like quality. From the soft butterflies to the fleeting foxes and everything in between, her patterns are perfect for a powder room or perhaps and children’s room reading nook.

Rosemary’s designs have a traditional, rural and bespoke quality; hand stitched motifs, stitched-into papers and fabrics and embellished vintage found items are quintessentially Rosemary’s style. The range also extends into mass-printable linens and furnishings for the home, evoking a subtle, composed feel for interiors.

Visit Rosemary Milner’s website to learn more about her creative designs!

Photo Credit: Rosemary Milner

On-Site Container Gardening

Warmer days are approaching (finally) and we are closer to the last potential frost date. On-site container gardening begins in late April. Marvin Gardens’ containers are always low maintenance and tolerant of high neglect. Please call Amabel at (203) 544-2020 or email MarvinGardensUSA@gmail.com to schedule your appointment and make your color/plant selection. On-site fees are $25 per container (includes composted dirt) plus retail cost of plants. Minor fuel surcharge applies.

Luxurious Low Maintenance Container Planting at Your Home

Marvin Gardens takes pride in creating low maintenance container gardens at the home owner’s site. Amabel will come to your home and transform individual containers into lush, long lasting plantings that will carry a beautiful effect from late April to late November – no fertilizer or dead heading required! Each container is filled to the brim with composted soil that will feed the plants for the duration of the season. Plants are chosen according to the home owner’s selected color pallet and personal style. Amabel impresses upon the homeowner that common flowering annuals typically require frequent fertilizing, watering and dead heading to maintain a lush effect. In lieu of using such high maintenance plants, a variety of perennials, leafy tropicals and a limited number of annuals (typically only white double petal impatiens) are used.

Book your appointment now. On site container gardening begins late April, but keepin mind that the frost date is typically Mother’s Day. Some frost protection may be required if April planting is requested. Cost of container gardening is $30 per container and the retail cost of plants. A delivery charge may apply depending on proximity to Wilton. There is no charge for the compost soil and your container garden will not require any further enhancements until the first hard frost in the fall!

Living Walls and Interesting Wall Containers

Vertical Zinc Wall Planter — Stylish Vertical Gardening

Gardening can be a challenge especially when ground space is limited. Why not go up? Unused interior or exterior wall space is very easily enhanced by hanging flat planter boxes, wall fountains, coral, colorful dishes (yes!) or anything that can be attached to a flat surface. A little ingenuity and creativity is all that is needed to create a spectacular impact. Remember, if using smaller items (coral, fish, mirrors, etc) the effect is greater if a large volume of the item is used. Large wall art can be placed singly, in pairs or trios to create geometrical and structural effect.

Please inquire about our custom-made lightweight zinc wall planters. Created to encase baby ferns, ivy, succulents or multiples of any 2-3″ potted plant, these slightly industrial rectangular wall planters are affordable, extremely interesting and fun to plant. Reserve yours now or special order complete with plants. Sizes range from 20″ x 30″ to 36″ x 48″.