Planters

It’s Not That I Don’t Like You. Sometimes I Just Don’t Feel Like Talking To You.

Last month I started to work on the backyard landscaping now that almost all of the updates to the house have been made. The patio is getting rebuilt and the back fence run is getting replaced later this year. I didn’t want to do a full privacy fence across the back so I decided to go with a 4-foot high wood fencing system from Home Depot. Now I like my neighbors, but there are times I want to sit on my patio not have to look at them or have them look at me. The solution is this series of tall planters designed by Fabien Joly. (sorry folks the link takes you to a Flash based website.) IRF is a collection of tall planters that have rectangular shapes and thin and high profile which makes them ideal for patios or terraces where you want a bit of privacy. Each planter is constructed of fiber cement and they come in a variety of colors ranging from bright green and blue to charcoal gray. With the tallest planter coming in at just under 4 feet tall these seem like a perfect solution to have a little bit of privacy while making the patio look better.

ORE Containers.

Over the weekend I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and began landscaping a section of my front yard. I spent a large portion of Saturday and Sunday, planning, and installing edging, moving dirt, and prepping for plants that will go in a couple of weeks from now.

While planning things out and surveying the entry to the house, I decided that I needed to add planters at key locations. I needed to anchor sections of the yard where it meets walkways and the structure of the house. I also started thinking about lighting and the roll it would play at night with the surrounding foliage. Thanks to ORE, I might be able to kill two birds with one stone.

Since 2003 ORE has focused on developing products for the garden design industry by manufacturing contemporary lines of signature containers, fire pits, benches and architectural elements in Utah. Designer Shane Larson used his expertise in sculpture and metal work to create a line of contemporary outdoor furniture that is durable, functional, and elegant. The products produced by ORE qualify for LEED points, if you are looking for ways to green your home, and yard.

I really like the metal cube containers and column containers with integrated LED lighting solutions. The simple shapes with bright color finishes, and hidden ground lighting, make a bold statement without overpowering the surrounding architecture, and landscape. All the containers are available in any of ten colors ranging from powder coated red to neutral gray.

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Antonia Martinez Mid-Century Planter Bench.

Over the weekend I saw this bench by designer Antonia Martinez, and it reminded me of the furniture designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar back in the mid 1950’s. Clean mid-century lines, with ample padding, and this great planter offset on the cantilevered shelf. There isn’t any information on her site, but from the looks of photo the bench is constructed of solid wood, probably cherry or walnut, and the planter is stainless steel. I’ve been searching for additional images, and possible places to purchase, but so far nothing. If I find more information or images I’ll be sure and post it here.

Modern Planters That Match My House, and Don’t Hurt My Wallet.

Finding planters that match or compliment the architecture of my house is kind of a pain. When ever I start looking most are either the typical terra-cotta round plain style, or they are traditional ornate glazed ceramics. So when I found the Lechuza Sub-irrigation planters I got all excited. Yeah I know you all are rolling your eyes and saying “Excited by planters?”. Here’s the deal though, I like plants. I like them in my house. I want the plants to have a house that matches mine. So yeah, I got excited by planters.

Lechuza Sub-irrigation planters, are designed with a modern aesthetic, and finished with in bright glossy paint for a ceramic like look. The planters are made from high impact plastic for durability and resistance to the elements. In addition to looking great, these planters are UV and frost resistant making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.

One of the main features of these planters is the sub-irrigation system that supply plants with water the same way they would be supplied in nature. All you need is to fill a planter’s water reservoir and your plant will become self-sufficient for up to 12 weeks. ( I like this because I tend to forget to water the plants )

Lechuza offers 10 kinds of planters available in different sizes and different colors. One more thing, if you have priced planters at places like Design Within Reach, you know that they can be very pricey. These run from about $40.00 to $100.00 depending on the size.