BARGAIN HUNTING
Off-the-beaten-path yard décor
Local garden centers are stocked with every manner of artful planter. But after the cost of plants is figured in, they put a pinch on the budget. One solution? Your favorite home-decorating discount store. These galvanized steel planters, for instance, are available at Tuesday Morning in a variety of sizes, with prices starting at $14.99. (This particular model has a removable plug for better drainage.) Tuesday Morning also stocks steppingstones, birdbaths, tools, outdoor furnishings and more. To find a nearby store,visit
FOR YOUR BOOKSHELF
Up your Zen ante
Water features might be the only garden element that’s more fetching than healthy plants. But installing and maintaining a pond might seem daunting. Author Linda Adkins argues in her new “Mini Encyclopedia of Garden Ponds” (Firefly Books, $19.95) that the benefits of a water feature will outshine the hard work it takes to design, install and care for one. “The aim of this book,” she says, “is to help make the most of your pond and avoid some of the pitfalls.”
Elana Ashanti Jefferson, The Denver Post
