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Junk Finds in my Gardens

October 16th, 2008 in member junk     
MimiToria Gretchen Schaumann, contributor
1 user recommends
I have had this in my flower garden forever.  We found the old fence post floating in the lake on my husbands Grandpas lakeshore years ago.  It had a pointed end, which made it easy to put in the ground in my garden.  I attached the metal rusty vintage top off a smoke stand and than added the removable green container.  Sometimes I just let water collect in there for the birds, and sometimes I have birdseed in there for the birds.
Notice the cool driftwood aging appearance on this fence post from years of being in the water. I also added a green vintage hook (look closely below the rusty part) and I will add a potted annual plant to that in the summer for extra color in the gardens.
This is a verdigris lightning rod from my Grandparents summer farm house.  I just love it!  It just adds a little interest in the garden and special memories for me when I see it as well.
This was a dumpster find that I found at the Coon Rapids Dam on the Mississippi River.  If you look closely, you can see that the deer ate a lot of the feeder sides and I suppose the Park and Rec. Dept. decided it needed to be changed out.  I love it as is.  It is a a bird feeder for me, or so I thought.  Note the next photo.
I went out to take these photos, and guess who was dining in the feeder?  Busted!!! 
This photo shows our home in the background, so you can see that this is located in our front yard.  What I want to point out, is that their was a flowering crab tree that died and this is what was used for the feeder stand(the old crab tree trunk).
I have had this in my flower garden forever.  We found the old fence post floating in the lake on my husbands Grandpas lakeshore years ago.  It had a pointed end, which made it easy to put in the ground in my garden.  I attached the metal rusty vintage top off a smoke stand and than added the removable green container.  Sometimes I just let water collect in there for the birds, and sometimes I have birdseed in there for the birds.

I have had this in my flower garden forever.  We found the old fence post floating in the lake on my husbands Grandpa's lakeshore years ago.  It had a pointed end, which made it easy to put in the ground in my garden.  I attached the metal rusty vintage top off a smoke stand and than added the removable green container.  Sometimes I just let water collect in there for the birds, and sometimes I have birdseed in there for the birds.
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I just love these additions to the gardens.  The well loved junk, falling apart, rejected, dumpster thrown, chipped up painted, and memory built in junk (lightning rod was from my Grandparents and the fence post was my husbands Grandparents).


Pattern or design used: My own design
posted in: member junk, metal, wood, outdoor spaces, garden
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Comments (16)

MimiToria writes: Dumpster Diving Diva- Thanks for the nice comments. You will love this site. Looking forward to your posting. Now, I need to leave a comment on your bird bath.
Gretchen Posted: 12:14 pm on October 23rd
MimiToria writes: fellowjunker - you got to me. Now will you get this from me? The site administrators are actually working on figuring out a way for members to communicate with one another, but it isn't a feature as of yet. If you ever want to email me, I'll list my email here. gretchen.schaumann@comcast.net
I've really enjoyed your posts and I'm so glad I was able to help you figure out your camera issue a bit. It's amazing what they all can do. I will be posting soon some photos I took in Illinois that are taken with sepia (which your camera probably also does). It does pay to have the directions handy, as these new cameras do soooo much more than we even realize. I have a 14 year old that has the newer/better camera than mine, so she's helped me out a lot.
Glad you're here on the site.
Gretchen Posted: 12:13 pm on October 23rd
DumpsterDivingDiva writes: Hi Gretchen,

I just love your cool Garden-Art.
We have the same taste.
I love finding treasures on the streets or dumpsters, etc... bringing it home and put it together to make a piece of art.

Your ART is FAB!

Deidre


Posted: 10:25 pm on October 22nd
fellowjunker writes: Hey Gretchen. Wasn't sure what the best way was to get a message to you, so thought I would try this. After two days of looking I finally found that close-up icon you were talking about. Thank you so much. It is a fairly new camera and I've never bothered to read the direction booklet and have been very frustrated with the pictures I have been talking. I am so glad to find that closeup button and wouldn't have without you. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou. Hope you're having a good day.
xojanis Posted: 8:04 pm on October 21st
MimiToria writes: Thanks guys! I thought you all might appreciate that rusty top off the smoke stand that was screwed into a fence post. I had forgotten about it, but took a walk through my yard and noticed it one day, and thought to share it. In a earlier post others were converting other parts of smoke stands and it was mentioned that someone had extra parts, so thought maybe they'd get an idea from this.
Gretchen Posted: 2:16 pm on October 20th
csudderth writes: What a wonderful yard. I'm soooo jealous. I love the bird feeder. Good look keeping the squirrels away--they've eaten several of my birdfeeders over the years.
Christy Posted: 9:51 pm on October 18th
roadtriplouise writes: sorry missed some letters, ( you have a beautiful back yard ) Posted: 10:51 am on October 18th
roadtriplouise writes: Love your garden junk. You a a beautiful back yard!
Ann Posted: 10:48 am on October 18th
fellowjunker writes: I just love this. Give me a little bit of rust and I'm happy. Posted: 11:34 pm on October 17th
Junk_Sophisticate writes: The rusty smoke stand top is the best! It could be used in so many ways but I love what you've chosen.

Beautiful yard.

Candy Posted: 11:01 am on October 17th
italianpeasant writes: mimi, great look,i sent my squirrel, to drive ya nuts :) i have a lightning rod in my garden also from my hubbys dad old farm! great minds think alike! Posted: 10:04 am on October 17th
MimiToria writes: Thanks guys! Junkinart - You have a great suggestion. When I get back from Illinois I will definitely add some embelishments for the feeder. I had not thought of that. It always did look a little plain, so now I know why. Ha!
Thanks for the rust/junk solution.
Gretchen Posted: 10:57 pm on October 16th
junkinhart writes: Gretchen -- the bird feeder would be a great piece to add some metals to, to rust........I like it added to the top of a cut down tree - perfect!

Cindy Posted: 8:09 pm on October 16th
shabbychick writes: Gretchen - Ditto...(what they said!) - I LOVE the old smoking stand piece - just the perfect touch of "rust"! LOL :)

Kathy Posted: 7:44 pm on October 16th
LuAnn writes: Love your garden art, bird house (squirrel too) and lightning rod. I am so into anything chippy, rusty and the like for my gardens. Your garden's are great--you do good work!

LuAnn Posted: 7:31 pm on October 16th
junkin4fun writes: I love the whole look of your house and your yard surrounding it. I so appreciate the inspiration that you always send our way. Thanks so much for sharing.

Robin Posted: 7:00 pm on October 16th
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