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By the light of the silvery moon
Using the idea that plants respond to the same gravitational pull of tides caused by the moon, Gardening by the Moon calendar tells you exactly when to plant. This method of gardening has been practiced for hundreds of years. The calendar, developed for three frost-date areas, also reminds you which garden activities you should do each month, such as hardening off seedlings and digging organic matter into beds. Calendars are $12.95. Call 707-869-3974 or visit www.gardeningbythemoon.com.
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From junk to treasure
Salvaged items usually are old and rusty. Some are battered and broken. But some are intrinsically beautiful and fit right into the garden. For “Salvage Style for the Garden: Simple Outdoor Projects Using Reclaimed Treasures,” by Marcianne Miller and Dana Irwin (Lark Books, $17.95), designers were asked to create projects using “architectural salvage that was completely different from the object’s original purpose.” Some of the most beautiful pieces are made with old gates and other ironwork. But other pieces gain renewed vigor: glass light fixtures become planters; doors and balusters become a bench; and vintage heating grates become steppingstones. Lists of materials, tools, directions and patterns are available for more than 40 projects.
