•2 dozen small fern fronds and/or fresh and dried flower blossoms
•1 tablespoon powdered alum
•1 roll cheesecloth
Without cutting the cabbage in two, cut the central core out and separate the leaves so that each leaf is as large as possible. Cut the two ends of the onions and peel the skin off, again keeping each piece of skin as large as possible.
Place a fern or flower against an egg, one on either side, and wrap it completely with a red cabbage leaf, using two rubber bands to keep it on. Repeat for five more eggs. Use the onion skins and remaining flowers and ferns for the other six eggs, again using two rubber bands to affix. Cut 12 pieces of cheesecloth, big enough to wrap completely around each egg, and secure with two more rubber bands.
Place the cabbage eggs in one pot and the onion eggs in another. Add water and 1 ½ teaspoon alum to each pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow eggs to cool in water. Unwrap and enjoy your designs. Makes a dozen.
The hours when the mind is absorbed by beauty are the only hours when we really live.
—Richard Jefferies
Eggshell Planters
Ordinary eggshells make beautiful planters for small herbs or grasses. Break raw eggs, leaving shell at least one-half intact. Empty the contents into a separate bowl, and rinse the shell thoroughly. Place already-sprouting plants (mint, lavender, chives, or sage work well, as will wheatgrass, alfalfa, or small ferns) in the shells, anchored with a bit of topsoil. Cushion an assortment of shells and plants in moss, and place in a beribboned basket or pot. Experiment using dyed or decorated eggshells.
Wonderful Water Gardens
It seems that garden ponds are in these days—the garden catalogs are full of such kits. I even have a friend who had an entire stream put into his property. I must say, when I saw it, I lusted after it myself until I realized the trouble and expense it would involve. One day I read an article by the horticulturalist for the Denver Botanic Gardens in which he sang the praises of tiny water gardens. They are easy to create, hard to goof on (you can always rearrange) and—as long you have a location that gets six hours of sun—the plants are hard to kill. So I decided to give it a try. Mine is made out of one of those nine-inch black plastic containers that look like they’re cast iron. All it has is tiny cattail, a spider lily, and a clump of cranberry taro. It sits in the middle of my vegetable garden, and I smile every time I see it.
To live happily is an inward power of the soul.
—Marcus Aurelius
Make Your Own Mini-Pond
All it takes is a watertight container and a few plants. You can use half-barrels, if you line them with PVC liner (available at garden centers), or ceramic pots, as long as you seal them with two coats of sealant. Plastic pots require no preparation. Use plants with contrasting shapes to create an appealing design, but don’t use too many different ones; you’re working in a small space, and too much variety will look chaotic. And remember—they will grow, so take that into account in your design. You just submerge the pot, dirt and all, into the water. You can get height differentials by setting the plants on submerged bricks or overturned pots. Good water plants include water lettuce, water hyacinth, sweet flag, parrot feathers, cannas, calla lilies, giant arrowhead, yellow pitcher plant, and water celery. Fertilize with pellets available at any nursery. If you live in a place that freezes, bring the plants in to use as houseplants for the winter, or keep them in a tub of water in the basement. They most likely will need to be divided in the spring. Start another pond or give the new ones away.
We are not sent into this world to do anything into which we cannot put our hearts.
—John Ruskin
Nourishing Body and Soul
My faith is all a doubtful thing,
Wove on a doubtful loom,
Until there comes, each showery spring
A cherry tree in bloom.
—David Morton
Elderflower Elegance: DIY Tonic
If you live in an area where elderflowers grow, here’s an old-fashioned skin tonic. This is a great gift when packaged in a beautiful glass bottle decorated with an old botanical illustration of an elderflower. Be sure to include storage instructions.
•50 elderflower heads, washed in cold water
•a 1-quart jar, sterilized
•2 ½ cups water
•5 tablespoons vodka
•cheesecloth
•decorative glass bottles with lids
Remove petals from heads, making sure not to bruise the flowers; do not include stems. Place petals in quart jar. Boil water and pour over flowers. Let stand for 30 minutes, and add vodka. Cover and let stand on counter for 24 hours. Pour liquid through cheesecloth into glass bottles and cap. Store in refrigerator until used, then keep in cool, dry, dark place, like a cabinet, and use within one month. Makes 3 cups.
Welcome Your Backyard Neighbors: Giving Birds a Home
Birds really do like birdhouses, as long as you make them hospitable. Make a birdhouse fit into its surroundings, both in color and texture, as much as possible (twigs, bark, and unpainted materials are best; birds don’t want to feel on display).
Place any house at least six feet off the ground and away from foot and cat traffic. Face it away from the sun, preferably in trees or shrubs. Don’t despair if a bird doesn’t move in until the second year the house is there; they need time to get used to it. One easy bird-friendly option is to buy a standard birdhouse at a store and hot-glue straw or dried grasses to the roof, creating a natural thatched effect. For more elaborate handmade houses, consult The Bird Feeder Book by Tom Boswell (Lark Books) and the Bird House Book by Bruce Woods and David Schoonmaker (also Lark Books). Lark (800-284-3388) also has a number of birdhouse and bird feeder kits for sale.
Birds are as important as plants in my garden.
—Anne Scott-James
Grow Your Own Sponge
Did you know that you can grow your own loofah sponges? They are actually gourds (genus Luffa) and are available through many garden catalogs. Plant now and you can harvest next fall, not only for your family, but also to give as gifts. To use, let the gourd ripen on the vine (it turns from green to yellow as it ripens). But don’t let it get fully yellow—slightly green means it will be a more tender sponge. When it’s time to harvest, cut it off the vine, peel the skin like an orange, and let the gourd dry for about ten days. Then cut it open from the big end, remove the seeds by shaking, and strip off any remaining skin. Rinse the inside fibers and then submerge the sponge in water for 12 hours. Peel off the outside layer if any remains, and dry in the shade. If the sponge is too hard, you can soften it by boiling it in water for 5 minutes.
No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth…and no culture comparable to that of the garden…but though an old man, I am but a young gardener.
—Thomas Jefferson
Spring Cleaning for Body and Soul
You can give your skin a great spring cleaning with all-natural products.
For oily skin: Mix 1 egg white and 1 tablespoon of oatmeal. Apply in a thin layer to face and neck and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. Egg white contains