Spring Chicken: Part I

Part I of my Spring Chicken post is going to be about general chicken keeping. What I do, what i've learned and what websites are good references on the web. Part II will chronicle my To-Do List that is meant to make my gal's lives even better come spring.

I've dedicated myself to being an informed and responsible chicken keeper. My grandfather studied poultry at an Agricultural College before going on to Teacher's College and rasied chickens his entire life. I find it sad that I'm raising hens now that he's gone because I have so many questions I wish I had asked him. It is nice to keep one of his passions alive, though, and I feel like it connects me to my farming roots. I wish I had paid more attention when I was a kid on the farm but when we did chores together I was always caring for the ponies and missed out valuable poultry lessons. My grandfather primarily raised Buff Orpingtons however he always had a variety of other fowl around the farm including peacocks, ducks etc.

As I've said before, it's been a long winter for both the chickens and myself. Keeping chickens in the winter is a lot harder than I expected. My hens are a group of spoiled, fair-weather gals who love to be outside and probably would have prefered to move down south this winter (but hey, so would I). This winter has been extreme both in temperature and conditions; constant cold, blizzards, freezing rain, hail.... you name it we've had it. It feels like it's never going to end! The gals have been inside since early November. They are bored, bored, bored! I did open up the coop for them on two mild days but they simply popped their heads out and went back inside. Next week is supposed to be mild so I am looking forward to letting them back outside during the day.

The Girls say NO to Snow and head back inside.

The Winter Coop: We bought our house a year and a half ago and luckily there was the added bonus of a lovely chicken coop in move-in-ready condition. Before we got the hens I used the coop as a garden shed. It's spacious and bright with floor to ceiling windows on one side, nesting boxes and plenty of roosts. There is a trap door to the outside but we built our own enclosure... the previous owners either took theirs down or had free-range hens. The coop is insulated and has excellent ventilation. We added electricity for the winter and have a heat lamp for them. When the weather gets a little warmer I will start turning it off and letting them outside during the day. We also ran water down to the coop but decided to wait until spring to get that fully functioning so that is something else I am looking forward to!

Keeping Chickens : The Basics 

I have learned a lot about keeping chickens this year but I know that I am far from a poultry expert. I have some serious to-do's to tackle in order to make the lives of my girls even better come spring. I will share a few of the basics for new chicken-keepers before getting into the "Spring List". The blog  Life at Cobble Hill Farm has an excellent section on Chicken Keeping which is a great reference. I also visit Fresh Eggs Daily and Backyard Chickens frequently for information and insights. I do not consider myself an expert however am more than happy to share my experiences thus far.

Feed

I feed a quality laying mash which I purchase locally. As Staci from Life at Cobble Hill Farm says, "if you feed a balanced feed, you shouldn't have to worry about many of the supplements {i.e. vitamins, immune boosters, etc.}". (Supplementing Your Chicken's Diet). I have recently discovered  "scratch grain" which is not sufficient in protein but is often fed as a treat and am hoping to pick up a bag to try out on the girls.

Water 

Fresh water, always. I have a heated water-er in the winter and a pretty standard one in the summer that stays cleaner and holds more water.

Apple Cider Vinegar 

Add 1-2 tbsp.s per 1 gallon of water. ACV promotes health and supports a chicken's immune system. ACV is full of vitamins and minerals and is an antiseptic. Note: unpasteurised ACV is available in large quantities at tack and feed stores. Please see this link for more information: Poultry Keeper. Poultry Keeper's recommendation is to add ACV to the water for the first week of every month not daily. (The Devils Advocate: another blog claims that the recommendation to put ACV in water on the internet is "grossly exaggerated" and points out that there is very little research that actually proves the benefits of ACV in water. See the blog here: Chicken Waterer Blog. I read the article and I'm not deterred from using ACV. It's always better to be informed though, right?)

Oyster Shells

Can be purchased from your local tack or feed store and act as a calcium supplement. I used to just throw the shells down for them to pick at but have more recently been feeding it to them in a separate feeder. I find they poop in it but recently read the suggestion of positioning it under a hanging feeder to protect from droppings... might have to try this! Otherwise I will have to raise it up.

Grit

I don't worry about grit because the girls have access to the ground/dirt and pick up stone on their own (except in the winter of course). Grit is available at the feed or tack store.

Treats

Our chickens are our new composting system. They love our leftovers and I actually grow veggies in the garden specifically for them. When they see me picking tomatoes on my way to the coop they go nuts! They've actually started jumping up in the air when they see me coming with my treat basket. Treat should be just that, though, a treat. The chickens should never consume more 'treats' than food. Here is a list of treats to feed and treats to avoid: Chicken Treat Chart.

Have any helpful hints for me and other chicken keepers? Feel free to share them here. I will post Part II tomorrow :)

Why I'm Excited for Spring

One of my absolute favourite blogs is Life at Cobble Hill Farm. If you haven't checked it out you really should. Staci blogs about homesteading, raising chickens, cooking, making soap... I can't even list all of the amazing things she does. I admire her approach to living simply and enjoying animals, food and life! Plus, she has two adorable Frenchies. Staci recently posted a blog entitled

20 Things I Look Forward To Doing This Spring and it got me thinking and planning for spring. I decided to make my own list of reasons why I'm excited for spring. In yoga last week we set an intention for spring hoping that our energy could help coax spring along. Unfortunately, it snowed the next day. Today is -10 (Celsius) here and spring doesn't feel any closer than it did two weeks ago.

Source: We Heart It

I've always been a lister. Listing helps me get organized, gets me excited for upcoming events and has been integral to packing for trips and moves. I've made a "Summer List" every year since I was in highschool but this is my first spring list. I don't think i've ever had to make a spring list before -  normally spring feels like it's on it's way by March 26th - but not this year!

Spring List

1. Longer Evenings: I love when the sun stays out longer. It feels like we get longer days.This has already started happening however, I find because of the cold weather it isn't enjoyable the way it is on a spring evening.
2. Spring Flowers: I planted a "spring bed" last fall. 200 bulbs. I planted mainly tulips and hyacinths however I included a few crocuses as well. I cannot wait to see what comes up and how the bed looks.
3. Dog Walks: Harley and I have had a seriously limited walking route this winter. Between snowed in trails, icy paths and sub-zero temperatures we have cut back on our walking routine. I cannot wait to get my hunter boots on and start exploring all of our old haunts and as many new trails as possible when the weather turns!
4. Sitting Out: We installed a new second storey front porch last summer. I can't wait until it's no longer covered in snow and we can eat out dinner outdoors again!
   
5. Planting the Veggie Garden: Last year was my first year with a veggie garden. I loved every minute of it. Cucumbers and tomatoes were my favourite. The chickens were in heaven with all of the fresh produce treats they could want! This year we'll try a few new veggies and remember our favourites from last year!
6. Planting Planters: I love planters and hanging baskets. I can't wait to choose what I'm going to plant this year! Last year I enjoyed mixed planters and a couple of strictly geranium planters on my front porch. This year I am testing out two planters with hyacinth bulbs that have stayed out all winter... will they bloom?
7. Cute Sandals: It always amazes me how quickly we get to start wearing sandals. I've already bought a super cute pair of leather bottomed pink strapped flip flops.
8. Letting the Chickens Out: It's been a long winter for the chickens. It's been a long winter for a first-time chicken owner, too. They were so happy all summer and fall... they love being outside but ever since I shut them inside they've been bored, bored, bored! At this point they haven't been out since November because of the extreme weather. I did open the doors for them on two mild days and they popped their heads out but quickly went back inside. I know they will be thrilled to get back to scratching in the dirt and eating bugs in the sunshine!
9. Cottaging: I love our family cottage. It's my safe place and my happy place. Our cottage is on a huge acreage on the lake and is truly simple: no tv, no internet, just hammocks and the screened in porch for napping, books for reading and the dock for lounging. I can't wait to get back there.
10.  Driving with the Windows Down: I love the feel of the breeze while I'm driving on the country roads!
11. Screen Doors: Just like the windows down, I also love letting the breeze come into the house through our screen door. There is nothing better than the fresh spring breeze.
12. Frappuccinos: I'm a Starbucks addict. I try not to get Fraps too often because they're terrible for you but they just taste so damn good. Cinnamon Dolce Frap, Si Vous Plait!

Source: We Heart It

What are you excited for this spring? Comment and tell me I'd love to hear from you :)

Selecting the Bridesmaids Dresses

Choosing bridesmaids dresses has been the most difficult aspect of the wedding planning thus far. I have seven lovely ladies in my bridal party and as wonderful and accomodating as they have been I am mindful that they are making both a huge financial and time commitment by being a part of the wedding. I wanted to respect their budgets and also give them some choice in the matter. One of the girls had expressed her annoyance in being maid of honour last summer and being told to "pick up and pay" for the dress without having an input in the matter. I took her complaint to heart and decided I don't want them to feel like they have no say. The bridesmaids dresses at the boutiques and salons I visited were upwards of $400 which was just too much, in my opinion. I set a budget of $150 max and managed to stay within ten dollars of my budget with my final decision.

The photo below was the initial inspiration for my dress search. It inspired the navy colour scheme and my original desire to have long dresses with a sweetheart neckline. To me, this is the picture of elegance from the manicure to the perfect posture.

Source: The Every Last Detail

I looked high and low for the perfect dress. The closest I could find in our budget in an actual store was at David's Bridal. There are countless online shopping options for bridesmaids dresses but I didn't feel comfortable asking the girls to spend such a large amount of money on a website I'd never ordered from before.

Source: klambinewomen

If you are looking for this type of dress and have a bridal party with a bigger budget I recommend checking out J Crew. My favourite dress in the search was from their birdal line for $425. It is an absolutely stunning dress:

Source: J Crew
(Arabelle long dress in silk chiffon)

My MOH tried on the long chiffon sweetheart neckline dress at David's Bridal. It was stunning on her. Unfortunately, our sales girl told us that at 5'10" these dresses hover above the ground and if someone tall-er is wearing heels they have the same issue. DB has no "extra long" option. With one bridesmaid who is over 5'10" and two around 5'8" this helped me decided to go with short dresses.

As much as short dresses weren't in my sights when I first started looking I came around to the idea pretty quickly. When I saw the girls trying them on I loved them. I love that we're going to go with mismatched styles so they can each choose what suits them best. The dresses are young, fun and summery. The girls won't have to pay to get them hemmed which is also a major bonus.

Here are some photos from Pinterest (source: Pinterest search results for Short Navy Bridesmaids Dresses) to help me get a grip on how the ladies will look! I am going to give them the choice of heels or flats in any nude colour.

So this has been my first lesson in compromise and change in my overall wedding plan. The dresses won't be what I originally envisioned but I think they will be better all around for everyone... my girls are so gorgeous I don't think the dresses will make or break any part of the wedding day. They all seem excited about picking out their dresses and I am happy that they get to have that choice! :)

A few of the David's Bridal short bridesmaid dresses in Marine. The dresses are so cute and have great detail. They range from $120-159. (Source: google image search).

Propogating Plants in Water: A Step-by-Step Guide

I've always been obsessed with plants and greenery in the home. Outdoor gardening is new to me;  I am equally interested just more inexperienced. You might have noticed my planting obsession from my premature but oh so enthusiastic visions of spring post or my obsession with my antique fernery. I started growing plants from cuttings when I was young – probably in sixth grade – I thought it was such a wonderful miracle that you could snip off a sprig and it would start to grow! As a kid, I set up shop in all of my mom’s window sills. Now I fill my own!

One of the reasons I think starting houseplants from cuttings is so great is that it’s a virtually free method of gaining houseplants! Like a friends plant? Ask for a cutting!

Here is a list of plants that will propagate:

African Violet, Angel’s Trumpet, Avocado, Basil, Begonia, Christmas Cactus, Coleus, Croton, English Ivy, Gardenia, Geranium, Hibiscus, Impatients, Lavender, Lemon Grass, Mint, Petunia, Pothos,  Roses, Rosemary, Salvia, Sedum, Spider Plant, Verbena, Wandering Jew

Starting plants from cuttings is literally as easy as making the cut, putting it in water and finding a sunny window sill. If you want more information read my step by step guide below! A true gardener will tell you there are better mediums than water to root in (perlite, vermiculite, seed starting mix) and yes, the plant does get a bit of a shock when it is moved from water to potting soil and the roots are weaker and more brittle however I’ve always had about a 70% success rate so I don’t think propagating in water should be ruled out. Be flexible and expect that some plants won't take. If nothing else it’s fun to watch the roots grow in water!

Step One: Make Your Cut

Cut a section off of the pre-existing plant  - around 8-12 cm - using sharp scissors or shears. Take the cutting from “new growth” (usually a lighter green colour) for best results. Make the cut directly under a “node”. A node is the small bumps or rings where a leaf is or was attached. (How Stuff Works)

Step Two: Remove Extra Leaves

You don’t want a bunch of leaves attached to your cutting so remove any “extra” leaves from the cutting especially those that will be below the water level. You can add a rooting hormone at this stage. I don’t normally do this however if you want to go all out “rooting hormone, available in the form of a powder, gel, or liquid, can be applied to the cut section. While not absolutely necessary, it can help stimulate faster rooting” (How Stuff Works). If you're a seriously results driven person you may want to do this. If you're in it for the fun I wouldn't bother.

Step Three: Put the Cutting in Water

Fill a small glass container (mason jars work really well) with water. Remember to change the water regularly. I do every couple of days. If you have a water softener or are on city water you may want to try distilled water instead.

Step Four: Watch it Root

The roots will form. The process varies and can take either weeks or months depending on the plant and the growing conditions. This is the fun part in my opinion!

Step Five: Plant the Cutting in Soil

To avoid the root starting to rot in the water move the cutting from the water to soil as soon as you have roots that are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length. Some internet sources say to cover in a plastic bag at first to trap in humidity. I’ve never done this. Others say to keep shaded for the first little while. I've also never done this. This is the hardest step and where the plants often wither. Some withering is natural at first.

Step Six: Water, Water, Water

Water your cutting generously once they have been planted in potting soil. Try using a mister if you feel like you’re over-watering. Remember: not all plants can be grown from cuttings and not every cutting you start will take. English Ivy is one of my propagating  go-to’s  however the one I started last winter withered up and died once planted in soil. Try to roll with the punches and start more than one cutting to avoid disappointment!

Step Seven: Enjoy Your New Plant
The most important step - enjoyment! Once you have a new healthy and happy plant I have a feeling you will be as addicted to propogating as I am.

The finished product: I decided to start an English Ivy & a Geranium after writing this! They are hanging out on my windowsill until they have roots long enough to plant. 

On my kitchen window sill :)

ETA: I'm coming back to this post to update with my Ivy which I have officially planted in soil! It flourished on my windowsill and I finally felt like it was ready to be planted just in time for spring.

May 7 2014

May 7 2014

Weekend Update

“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.”
― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower 

 

It was a weekend of change for me. I know I’m not alone in my aversion to change. Change is hard, change challenges us and change can be scary. But change is also what makes us grow. I had a lovely time with my two girlfriends who I hadn’t seen since November; we got a chance to catch up, go thrifting (5 china teacups for the wedding for.25 cents each!) and even got to do some hot tubing and champagne drinking. My friends, being their wonderful selves, also helped me collect what I was given from my grandfather’s house and to say one last goodbye to the house. I wrote about some of the wonderful memories I’ve had in the house here. It really hit me as we were driving away how much I will miss the house. As my mom said, it's a house with great vibes. It will be missed.

Most of the furniture, family heirlooms and photographs are being kept by the family member who is moving into the house. However, there was a nice selection of family dishes that I was able to choose from.  My new collection includes our family china that we used at every holiday meal, a silver platter from my grandparent’s 25^th wedding anniversary, a cake plate with topper, some beautiful mismatched floral china plates, a floral tea set and many crystal pieces which I haven’t unpacked yet.

I also found a neat little pottery dish that says "Pinaud New York"on the bottom. I found this Etsy listing which describes it as: from the "1930's, held shaving creme for men. Pinaud was a french company, selling products in New York". Further googling finds that "In 1920, Pinaud opened its American branch on 5th Avenue, New York City. The Ed. Pinaud Building, as it was known, was an elaborate, million dollar construct that opened to great fanfare...It wasn't until 1933 that Pinaud began to reach the "common man" with their introduction of the low priced, re-formulated Lilac Vegetol aftershave which ended up being a big hit. (wiki) The jars aren't worth much online - anywhere from $12 - $45 on ebay - but its a nice reminder of my grandfather who I remember shaving "the old fashioned way" and always smelling of aftershave. The jar is the perfect size for jewelry.

The only non-dishware item I received is an oil lamp that has been in our family since we first came to Canada from Ireland. It still smells of kerosene and I know my grandfather often lit the lamps up until not too long ago. I haven’t had a chance to properly unpack or photograph any of the items but I do have a few quick snapshots to share with you for fun :).

I loaded everything into a hutch that was previously standing in as my linen closet. I love this piece and hope to have it in the kitchen eventually.  I am planning on actually having the china in a proper china cabinet (my mom offered me one that is in her basement) but waned to get everything inside for now. It's one of those things that if you don't unpack it will never get unpacked. I'd hate to store any of these items in  my basement. Unpacking the china and dishware was hard, I was overwhelmed by a sense of sadness and loss. I know I will use all of the dishes and will give them a great new home and life but it was hard to see them in a new setting.

Temporary China Cabinet

Cake Plate

25th Wedding Anniversary Platter

Other purchases this weekend included a sink from IKEA for our bathroom and two Boston Ferns for the fernery. If you’re interested in my fernery blog post read here about styling an antique plant stand in the home. I decided to leave the plant stand as is and to house Boston ferns in it for authenticity (it is a fernery after all). I didn’t account for how BIG the plants would be compared to the poor little plant stand so we may move these ferns outside when the weather turns and get smaller plants for the stand. I apologize for the poor quality picture I will upgrade it for you when I have better lighting.

The Fernery is now in the Office

What were you up to this weekend? Have you ever had to deal with moving heirlooms into your house and having mixed feelings about it? As always, I'd love to hear from you!

The End of an Era

My grandfather passed away last summer just before his eighty fifth birthday. I miss him and think about him often. I credit him for so many wonderful things that are a part of my life now; my love of farm life and the country, my love of animals (specifically horses, ponies and now chickens) and the importance he ingrained into us of family and togetherness. I spent a huge part of my childhood at his small farm playing with kittens, dogs, chicks, baby lambs and sheep. I learned the daily routines ("chores") and most importantly I learned to ride and interact with horses. He always had ponies and horses but raised two Shetlands for me and my other horse crazy cousin to enjoy.

My Shetland :)

Since this is the internet and my blog is technically published for any eyes to see I won't get into the intricacies of the will or what is happening in that respect however, I will say that everything physical (house, farm and "contents" of the house) were left to one person. My grandfather never updated his will after making it in the 80s and it therefore does not include his grandchildren. Thus far, I have been given one piece from "my" room at his house: an antique clock. After getting it home I had it appraised to learn it was made between 1880-1910. It is absolutely beautiful and timeless and despite the appraisers "poor" evaluation of its current "value" (about $250) I am totally enamoured with it. (To be fair he said antique clocks are hard to sell in this day and age which has brought down their value.) I love having it with me in my home and I love that it will be a part of my life. In my opinion, that is what is so beautiful and wonderful about antiques and why they should be shared; they carry memories and time throughout our lives.

This weekend we are going up to (hopefully) select a few more meaningful items from the house before it transitions from being my grandfather's house to the full time residence of the inheritor. It's probably the last time I will ever set foot in the house again after spending every holiday and many, many weekends of my life there. It's a great house. Unlike our family farmhouse which was given to another family member, the house is nothing large, grand or impressive. It's a cute-as-a-button brick bungalow my grandparents built to house their family. And it did just that. Everything about it is cozy and reminds me of family. It was always comfortable and welcoming. I hope to capture these elements in my home.

The person who is moving into the house essentially wants to keep most of the valuable and sentimental goods but is open to us taking things he is not interested in. Everything about an "estate" is unfortunate and difficult. Why does it seem these things always happen? When my grandmother on the other side of the family passed away that family used multi-coloured stickers and took turns selecting items that meant the most to them selling the rest in a garage sale. It was an equitable solution that worked for everyone and I highly recommend it if you're in this situation.  I would love to gain a few pieces of china, pink depression glass, odds and ends like book ends, a small white book case and a standardbred horse print that hung in "my" room. My grandfather loved to drive and often bought SBs from the amish community. I don't love the idea of breaking up the house but if things are going to be given to the thrift store I'd like to have an option to incorporate them into my own home, being a devote thrifter myself.

I will miss the house and I hope it never fades from my memory. It was the start of a lot of amazing things in my life. The more I "get into" country living the more I feel like I continue on my grandfather's legacy. I am so thankful for him and can't imagine where I would be today without his influence on my life.

Have you been here? How did your family do things? Why are these things always so hard?

An Antique Wicker Fernery Style Guide

I bought an antique wicker fernery at a silent auction a couple weeks ago (I may have mentioned it already –  I’m a broken record when I'm excited!). The auction was under-attended and I ended up getting the plant stand for the starting bid of $25. I was pretty excited! I absolutely love plants in the home and can’t wait to display them in my fernery. The seller guessed that mine is from around 1910 and previously belonged to her mother who got it for from an elderly neighbour. I like how it’s been passed around from home to home. Another seller was weighing in on the value and said with a scowl “if this was Toronto it would be painted white”. They then talked with disdain about the trend of painting furniture. Personally, I would never paint an antique piece made of beautiful wood but in my mind an ugly piece of furniture can be given new life with paint! I’m all for painting furniture if it keeps the piece around longer. That said, I can’t decide if I’m going to paint this piece. I think this plant stand treads the line of looking a little old lady-ish in the home if not styled just right. Can you picture the look I’m thinking of? A dingy grandmas home with dim lighting and a lot of dust? I think the colour, placement and plants in the stand will directly effect the overall look. I’ve decided that a good look around the internet will help me decide a) whether or not to paint the fernery and b) what plants I should house in my fernery for optimum style.

Interestingly, even though the seller told me it's called a fernery - and as an antiques vendor I believe she would know - I had a hard time finding any online that were actually holding ferns. I also couldn't find any pictures of home interiors with ferneries. (Psst. if you have one in your house send me a picutre!) There was one picture with ferns from a Sears catalogue that I didn't bother re-posting because the quality of the image was so poor. Most pictures I found were actually of the empty plant stand itself I assume this is because they're mainly photographed for sale purposes. I’ve done my best to gather a collection of images that show the different ways to style and place a fernery in the home.

Update: snapped a picture of my fernery (still in my garage) to my delight after writing this post yesterday I found out that mine has a bottom shelf * happy dance * :)

Quick Snap of My Fernery :)

 

How to Style a Fernery:

 

Source: EBay

Mine is a lot like the fernery above (which is currently on E-Bay for $337) except that mine has not (yet) been painted and is a natural brown colour.

Source: cynfullyfunfurniture

I love this bright red fernery in the garden! I don't think i'd ever paint mine red but I appreciate the bold colour choice. It definitely makes this fernery look modern.

Source: Red Beet Mama

A white stand with lavender on the front porch.  Absolutely love the lavender! I'm not sure if I'd put mine outside for risk of wear and tear although it does look absolutely fabulous. (Further research tells me that they make more of a rattan style fernery - brands like Ty Pennington's - for outdoor use).

Source: Etsy via Google Images

A white stand with English Ivy. I have a lot of English Ivy in my house already and I absolutely love it. It's so hardy and easy to care for! It loves going outside in the summer. However, this look enters the territory of looking a little out of date to me like someone transported this right out of grandmas house in the 90s. I want mine to look fresh and chic so I think ivy is out and perhaps white is out, too.

Source: Rita May Days Blog

Another white stand with the hardy Pothos plant in it. This stand looks better in white! The blogger that I sourced the photo from, Rita, calls this plant "pathos for the pathetic". She says: "pothos is the easiest houseplant to grow. It’s a long-growing, leafy vine that confines itself to about 6-10 feet in large containers or hanging baskets, where it trails freely. Pothos is tolerant of low light conditions and erratic watering.  Water whenever the soil feels dry. It's high on the list of plants that can help purify indoor"(Rita May Days Blog). Apparently they are also very easy to root and re-grow! After a quick google about Pathos plants (also known as Scindapsus Aureus or Epipremnum Aureum) it seems Rita's description is sourced from About so go there to learn more about growing a pathos plant!

Source: The Martha Blog

A brown wicker stand from Queen Martha Stewart's Bedford house! She describes the look on her blog: "the wicker planters in the canary room were adorned with snake plants. In its native tropics, this evergreen perennial forms dense stands, spreading by way of creeping rhizomes. I love its serpentine qualities" (The Martha Blog). I wish I had a canary room! I am loving the look of snake plant and according to Plant and Flower Info's list of  the Top 10 Houseplants they like bright light.

Source: Wicker Warehouse

This stand makes me wish mine had a lower shelf! I am really digging the look outside and I love the natural wicker colour of this one. I like the variety of plants this stand holds, too.

What House Plants Like Sunny Spots?

 

Since the planter would look best under a window and our big windows are South facing I need to select plants that like direct/indirect sunlight. Two more hardy indoor plants that like bright indirect light from Plant and Flower Info's list of  the Top 10 Houseplants include  Philodendron Cordatum (Heart Leaf Ivy) and Dracaena Marginata. They also recommend a Guzmania for a hardy flowering plant. 

Barn Nursery has an awesome .pdf on plants that like light (I highly recommend checking it out). They recommend Jade Plants (Crassula Argentea) which like sun and infrequent watering and grow like cacti and succulents. They also recommend Croton and Anthurium (both of which I already grow in my house) that add colour. I have only seen these two plants in smaller sizes though and I want something big and luscious in my stand.

On Martha Stewart's Blog she lists houseplants for any kind of light. I've been hearing a lot about Goldfish Plants lately and she says the sprawling plant "requires bright but not direct light and plenty of humidity, and must not be allowed to dry out during the growing season". I think they would look good hanging OR in a planter! She also mentions Spider Plants for medium light which I can see looking very cool in a plant stand.

So, what do you think? Should I paint mine? What house plants would look best? Do you have one in your home? If so tweet me a picture I'd love to see how you styled your fernery.

Once my fernery finds its home in our home I will post an update :)