Sunday 8 January 2012

From Skip to Garden

I like skips. I like skips so much that each time we pass one I have to stop & have a good look inside, just in case...I have been like this ever since I was a child. I blame my Dad (I learned by example).


Skips have provided me with some very useful containers for the garden...

An old metal wine cooler
The hopper from a downpipe

My latest hopper...adapted to go on the wall...but not quite there yet...

& decorative items too (Mr TH is less sure)

Air bricks

Imagine how thrilled I was to discover that somebody at RHS Hyde Hall likes rescuing 'rubbish' too...




I'm not too sure about the boots but they do make me smile!

I'm tempted to copy the pipe idea, especially if I can find some of those brown glazed earthenware drainage pipes.

14 comments:

Marigold Jam said...

I love all your containers and displays. I used to have a collection of old red chimneys which I had as a group planted up with flowers - not easy to move without bottoms but they did look good. I must keep an eye open for skips - hadn't thought of this idea before.

Su said...

I share your skip obsession. I was once removing some slates from a skip outside a house when I realised that the family were sitting in the lounge about 2m away! I wasn't sure what to do then but I think I took the cowards way and scarpered! I learnt by example too (my Dad is the culprit!).

Lucille said...

I've just inherited two galvanised dustbins so now I know what to do with them!

Thrifty Household said...

Lucille, I am envious- 2 galvanised dustbins- potatoes, an interesting climber, beans, peas, hops, vines, sweetpeas...oh the potential list could go on & on & on...

Down by the sea said...

Helen Dillon (a famous Irish gardener) has used galvanised bins to display a mass of tulips -they looked stunning. You could then used the container later in the year for vegetables...

Unknown said...

very nice! love them.

Belinda said...

You are keen rummaging in skips! I am obsessed with 'nature strip shopping' (I picked myself up the most glorious vintage vinyl suitcase last week while walking down the street) but I've never been brave enough to dive into a skip. I think I might have to now.

The pipes are definitely one to copy.

Frances said...

Your skip finds are marvelous. You've sort of transported me back to way back when I first got to New York in the mid 1960's and we all knew which posh neighborhoods had all sorts of promising cast offs on certain City-regulated collection nights.

Those days are very gone in this city. It's rather wonderful to learn that around our world there are many locations in which treasures are disregarded by the donaters but recognized by the finders.

I do agree with you about the value of those wellies, but the rest of your photos are treasure filled.

Bravo. Your posts are such fun to visit.

Mrs. Micawber said...

Decorative indeed. The air bricks are beautiful. I love galvanized buckets - something about that mottled finish.

I am sorry to say it, but here in Wisconsin people sometimes plant flowers in old toilet bowls and tanks ... and set them up in the front yard. The pipes are a much better choice, I think.

Annie Cholewa said...

We never see an accessible skip around here, lovely architectural bits and pieces like yours are only to be found in architectural salvage yards, so as someone who loves a good scavenge I'm really envious thinking that all these goodies came for free. I love the hopper planters :D

Scented Sweetpeas said...

lol my Dad was always rummaging in skips when I was young (and still does) :-)

Anonymous said...

You've certainly found some intriguing things, and it is so satisfying to find a use for something its previous owner discarded!

Calico Kate said...

Oh but you're a girl after my own, & my fathers, heart! Last time I was at the tip I came home with a tin trunk and four unopened jumbo rolls of lining paper (useful stuff even if I wasn't about to lining paper a whole house!)
Also dog beds, enamel things, a couple more trunks of various sizes, the most gorgeous, obviously vintage wicker bicycle basket oh the list goes on and on.
Am doing a recycling run today wonder what I'll find! :)
Well done with your finds
CKx

Deb said...

Great finds! I love the boots, they immediately brought a smile to my face.

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