These Boots are Made for....

CONTAINER Gardening! How to be creative, functional and make a definite conversation piece were my goals for boots that were no longer wearable and bound for the local garbage bin. I was reading today about using your creative sources to be green when I looked in our closet to discover these. A very worn out, embarrassing pair of boots that had been sitting in our hall closet begging for me to throw them away. Art sometimes begins as necessity.


First to create your little piece of art, you need some really worn out boots. These are a great example of some good container boots. New boots just don't have any impact here and basically would not be reusing materials to create a greener environment. Those old boots are the main ingredient. These happen to be a size 10.5 but any size makes a great container.

• Here's your supply list:

• 2 Focal Flowers *Daisies, roses or even some lovely asters* 2 varieties you love with good vibrant color(s) are great. I used pink roses and some ice blue tall phlox plantings.
  
• 2 vines * English ivy and black heart sweet potato vines were my choices.

• Very good potting soil (fill the boot up to the bottom of the tongue to start). Later you will fill the boot almost to the top. make sure when you start (you unlace the boot as shown). Later when we finish you will lace the boot to the top and allow the ivy to trail over the lace of the boot. You want to create a tumbling effect with the vines over the laces.

• Spanish moss to fill in the top of the boot and allow the plants to retain more moisture. Luckily we have that in our back yard *which I have already cleaned* and prepared for plants. *Next week a lesson on Spanish moss live and dead cleaning*

Place your focal plants in the middle of the bottom of the boot. Then tuck the roots of the vines and vines in front of the focal plants inside the boot sole. Fill the boot with potting soil to stabilize your plants. Some arranging may be necessary to get the look you desire. Make sure the sole of the boot is full of plant roots to get that lovely antiqued container look.

Lace the boot up to the top and fill in about 2 inches down with soil. Allow room for the moss and to water. Generously place your moss on the top and be sure to fertilize and water your newly started creation.

Place in a location where you can create a focal point. The porch stoop, on the steps beside a pond, on the sidewalk leading off the driveway...let your imagination go here. A friend of mine has her's sitting beside the workroom door (as if they were just taken off to enter the door).

Not only have we created a green container, we have something to talk to our neighbors about.

Wishing you a "boot-i-ful" day!