Bringing houseplants into your home can be a daunting process, especially if you are inexperienced or think you have a “black” thumb. I have found that a little bit of thought beforehand and a little research can go a long way towards helping you make a choice about what plants to bring home, if any at all. Below are five things you should consider before buying and rehoming real plants. Maintenance First things first…Do you have a green thumb? Do you“over mother” (over water) plants? Or do you forget about them until they wilt? Do you even have time to care for real plants? There are low maintenance plants to choose from—such as cacti, aloe plants, peace lilies—so with a little research you may well be able to find just the right real plant for your lifestyle. Real plants will need watering—some more than others—and usually some type of occasional pruning and repotting. For example, herbs need to be moist, as do fern plants, so keep them moist (I have killed ferns in the past due to under watering). On the other hand, cacti, snake plants, and aloe do not need a lot of water so you can be a little lazier with their care! Make sure to follow the light and water directions on the plants you buy, and give them the proper “home” with appropriate soil and pots. Just like people thrive in the right spaces, so too do plants! So choose their “house” wisely. Remember Form Follows Function. Having said that, the pot style should fit the room decor as well. Always choose plants according to how much time, effort, and experience you have and be realistic. Natural light The second most important aspect of your decision making should be establishing your areas of natural light. Ask yourself: Where is the natural light coming from and at what times of day? Do you have a North facing window, which gets less direct light? Or do you have a South facing window, which gets a lot of direct light? Which window has the most direct sunlight? Which of your plants need direct light, and which would prefer indirect light? For example, aloe and jade plants must have bright light but not necessarily direct light, so they are more at home in windows that don’t necessarily get direct sunlight. Parlor palms can thrive in spaces with lower natural light levels, and don’t tolerate direct light at all. Put herb plants on a windowsill with direct light, however, and they will thrive! It pays dividends to do your research about the plants you want to buy to learn about their lighting needs and then assess your space to determine if you have the right environment for the plants you want. The good news is there are plenty of plant types out there for any lighting needs—even little to no natural light (although I would caution buying plants if you have no natural light, unless you have grow lights). Decor style Plants can enhance decor and tie spaces together, the greenery becoming the common denominator that ties everything together. Just like any other interior accessory, the pot and plant style can be a lovely addition to your space enhancing and breathing life—literally—into the overall style of the space. You can take your room styling up a notch by choosing pots that not only work well with the plant but with the room’s decor. It’s been my experience that plants do better in groups, so if you have the space give them some friends to keep them company! (Sounds weird, but it works!) Choose a variety of colors and textures in your plants to create depth and visual interest, and then coordinate with the pots and overall room decor. The right placement of your plants will also maximize the visual impact and create opportunities for visual exploration. Safety Another issue you will have to consider when buying houseplants is safety. If you have children or pets they may get it into their heads to “snack” on your plants, so if that is an issue you may want to avoid certain plants or “go faux”. Unfortunately, quite a lot of house plants are at least mildly toxic to pets and children, and there are a few that are very toxic and should be avoided. The good news is that it just takes a quick Google search to find out the toxicity of a particular plant, so you can easily assess what plants you need to avoid using in your space. For example, Philodendrons, jade plants, umbrella plants, fig leaf trees, Chinese Evergreens (Aglaonema), and Swiss cheese plants are toxic. Money trees, parlor palms, and spider plants, on the other hand, are relatively safe. Just remember, if safety is a concern, make sure to do your research first! Space At first glance, this may seem like an obvious question, but remember plants grow—some faster (and bigger) than others—so you really do need to look at your available horizontal and vertical space to get an idea of what you can realistically fit into your space. If you have a quite a lot of horizontal space at your disposal you can go wild with a wide range of large, medium and small plants, including floor plants. If your space is limited, fewer and smaller plants may be the order of the day. Many plants will remain relatively small, especially when kept in smaller pots, but certain houseplants—like the Swiss Cheese plant—can get quite large and need both horizontal AND vertical space to spread out. Succulents, on the other hand are mostly small and confined and can fit into even the tiniest of spaces. If you have vertical space available, a taller floor plant, indoor tree, or even a hanging plant may do well in your space. Tree plants like fruit and fig trees are good fillers for that empty floor space. Parlor palms can grow tall as well (3-4 ft tall). Bamboo plants tend to grow tall, but can be cut back (giving you the opportunity to use the cuttings to propagate new plants—but that’s another blog!). Some plants—like the Pony tail palm and Money tree—start out small and grow very large, but they grow very slowly, which gives you time to make more space. Philodendrons and other “viny” plants will spill out and ramble all over if they are thriving and will eventually take up a lot of room, but like lucky bamboo plants they can be trimmed back and propagated, giving you new plants to fill your horizontal space (for a time). So I hope you at least gained a little insight from reading through my top five things to consider when you are choosing plants for your home. I have found through (painful) experience how important it can be to really be honest with yourself when thinking about buying houseplants. Plants can are living things and some of them can be as needy as pets! I'd love to hear from those of you who have had experiences with houseplants--good and bad--so please feel free to drop a comment below and let's get a conversation rolling! This blog post is highlights products for demonstration purposes only. I am not receiving financial compensation for the mentions. Related blog posts you may want to read: Six herbs I planted indoors Let's talk about houseplants It's planting season again
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This year was the year I decided to take the leap and grow some of my herbs indoors. In the past I planted a few herbs (like chives, mint, sage, chamomile, parsley, cilantro, and rosemary) outside in the garden, but having some herb plants indoors would be so much more convenient when cooking and would provide the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the plants as they grow throughout the year. So the question that needed to be answered was what to grow and why? In addition to the obvious reasons, the herbs needed to provide a natural fragrance to the home. It would also be nice if some of the plant stems could be used in vases, either alone or in a floral arrangement. Ultimately, the decision was made to plant rosemary, dill, parsley, catnip, cilantro, and thyme. I wanted to grow lavender indoors as well, but research indicates that lavender can be harmful to cats (and I have two fur babies), so those seeds were planted outside. The seeds were planted (with the exception of the lavender) in styrofoam cups and covered with plastic wrap. When the plants sprouted tall enough the plastic was removed. Each plant was watered with a tablespoon every couple of days, just enough to keep the soil moist without drowning the poor things! Once they got a little hardier I watered deeper, making sure the soil had drainage. In a few weeks each plant will be repotted into their “forever” pots…But that’s a whole other post! As we are all easing into this growing season, I thought I’d share a few tips for planting and using these six common herbs, starting with one of my favorites—rosemary! Rosemary Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen shrub that has blue flowers in the summer. It’s also an amazing herb to cook with, especially when paired with honey and lemon! I personally use it quite a lot on chicken, and I hear it is tasty with potatoes (and you know I’ll be trying THAT out!) Rosemary likes full southern sun and will grow tall and bushy, so put it in a big sturdy pot in a nice sunny location. This herb is notoriously difficult to grow from seed. I’ve tried four or five times, and even when I get it to sprout, it dies on me within a couple of weeks. I’m trying again this year, but if this endeavor fails I will just go buy a plant! For those intrepid enough to try growing this herb from seed, here are a few tips: Plant the seeds 1/4” deep (don’t “bury” them) and cover with plastic. Water a tablespoon or so a day until the seeds start to sprout, in about 15-25 days. Use soil that drains well (like sandy soil, or premium potting mix) with ph levels ranging between 6.0 and 7.0, or slightly acidic to neutral. Water this plant well then let dry out before watering again. Dill I love garnishing fish with fresh fragrant dill, and I often use this herb with homemade cucumber salads, because it just adds that little extra bit of zest. Dill can also be used as a garnish on deviled eggs (yessss!). This plant has multiple uses in cooking—dill leaves can be used as herbs and the flowers seeds can be used as a spice—and this beautiful feathery herb is apparently good for your health too (it is said to freshen breath and help with digestion)! If you’re looking to grow dill, here are some tips: Dill likes full sun and when it matures it will grow tall and/or long (“leggy”). Plant seeds in a pot about 12” deep, because this plant develops a taproot which will require space under the plant for the root system. (This herb does not like its roots disturbed so don’t transplant it. I do transplant it but it doesn’t always like me for it!) This herb likes well drained or sandy soil and doesn’t like to be overwatered. The seeds will sprout in 7-14 days and the plant will mature in about 90 days, sprouting yellow flowers in the mid summer. Parsley Parsley is amazing in soups and salads! I use it whenever I make homemade chicken soup, roasted potatoes, and in marinades. My research has uncovered a variety of health benefits to using parsley, including freshening breath, improvement to the digestive system, improved urinary tract health, and anti-inflammatory properties. Here are some tips for you for planting parsley: Soak seeds in room temp water, then plant them 1/4-1/2” deep in well draining soil, and you will see your parsley seeds sprout in 21-28 days. Parsley likes full sun, so plant them in a spot that gets plenty of sun during the day, or put them in pots on a sunny patio. If growing indoors, put them in a south facing window and they’ll be happy! Catnip My cats are gonna love me this summer—or they’ll just attack the plant…Either way it should be interesting! If there’s anything left, maybe I’ll try making a tea. Yes, you heard right… People can use catnip too! Apparently catnip can be used in teas to help sooth anxiety, aid insomnia, and help with digestive issues. And it is useful in the garden as well…Plant it in between your plants as an insect repellent. Just beware of neighborhood cats! If you want fresh catnip for your own kitties, here are a few tips for planting: Catnip needs well draining soil and plenty of sun. Bury seeds 1/4” deep in good potting soil and water with a tablespoon until it sprouts in about 7-10 days. Keep soil moist but never soggy. Once the plant starts maturing, only water when the soil is dry. Harvest catnip once it starts to flower, then cut the flowers to keep the plant producing more leaves. Cilantro I have to be honest, I have had little luck growing cilantro, but I am determined! This year I think I got a plant that is growing okay…so far. I’d love to be able to use fresh cilantro in homemade salsas and pico de Gallo, so my fingers are crossed this plant doesn’t die on me! I’d also love to experiment with salad, fish, and soup recipes with cilantro. Oh, and the cilantro leaves are just part of the fun…The plant will produce seeds (coriander) that can be used in additional recipes as a spice—so double the fun! This plant can be used as an anti-inflammatory and for a variety of other health issues related to eyes, skin, diabetes, etc. Cilantro likes full sun and needs soil with good drainage. Water this plant only when semi-dry—don’t overwater but don’t let dry out completely. Plant seeds in their “forever” pot (it does not like to be transplanted, which might be why mine keep dying?!) 1/4” deep, and wait for it to sprout in about 7-10 days. Thyme I have heard good things about thyme, so I thought I’d give it go this year. Typically it is used outside as a fragrant ground cover, but there are varieties that do well in pots. I actually forget which type was planted, but I’m pretty sure I did my homework and purchased seeds that do well in pots (hopefully). If not, there will be nice ground cover for an empty spot in the garden! As for other uses, it is said to help with sore throats, so it might come in handy during cough and cold season. Tips for planting thyme: Plant seeds less than 1/4” deep or sprinkle on soil then mist to water. They should sprout in 8-20 days. When planting outside, plant in full sun about 8” apart in well drained soil. Some varieties of thyme can grow 8-12” tall and work well as attractive and fragrant ground cover. Plants can be harvested in 80-85 days, cutting older leaves to allow younger leaves and new growth to develop. So there’s my herb project for this spring! Well, I’m not quite done. I still have other things to plant and I’m trying to make up my mind which ones to plant next. Recently someone from Happy DIY Home reached out to me with a blog article on a plant called Sorrel—a plant that I have admittedly never heard of before, but it sounds like an interesting leafy plant to grow in my outdoor garden (or maybe even in a pot indoors) for some future salad or other recipes. I hope you found this little article informative, and if you’d like to share your own experiences and comments down below, please feel free! I’d love to hear other people’s stories, triumphs and failures. I’m working on newsletters to start rolling out in a couple of months to allow my subscribers access to all my latest blog posts, merchandise sales, DIY projects, and social media posts, so if you’d like to subscribe to my email list, you can do so here! We’ve all been there…You take down all the festive holiday and winter decor and you’re left looking at a cold empty chasm whose soul left the building! This year I tried—in vain—to decorate and make things look nice, but I needed more. I needed my space to feel alive. I needed something organic and living (besides my cats) in my “living” room. I don’t know why I never bothered to get a lot of houseplants before. I like plants. I like poking at them and watching them grow. I do have a few of them already—they have become sad and neglected, but still alive (well, mostly!). Sure I kill a few here and there, but overall we have a symbiotic relationship. This year—of all years—I decided I had to make a major change. This year I wanted to buy some beautiful houseplants and become a proud plant mom. (Yeah, that sounds weird even to me!) Sounds simple enough, right? But these are not inanimate objects you are bringing into your home. Unlike a sofa or chair, a plant will wither and die if the conditions are not right—trust me, I know—and there is soooo much to learn about plants! Once I started down that road, I realized other people are probably in the same boat, wanting to bring real plants home but feeling overwhelmed with all of the new information and responsibility that would come with having plants. After going through my own experience, I thought it would be helpful to share my thoughts on that process and maybe provide you out there with aspirations of being houseplant moms (or dads) some helpful tips I learned to successfully bring more greenery into your own spaces. There’s a lot to consider from budget to safety to lighting and care, and it pays dividends to learn as much as possible up front BEFORE you go shopping for plants. So let me walk you through my experience… Budget: Yeah, so let’s talk about budget. As with any new design, you should always have a budget, but expect to go over that budget! There will always be aspects of the project that cost more than you had guesstimated, and there will always be unforeseen expenses you had not even thought of (like maybe potting soil, plant stands, decorative pots, and plant food). My budget was about $200.00…Yep, I blew it! I ended up spending $330.00 at Home Depot, and I’m still not really done yet. I discovered that I need a few more things, like Neem Oil (for pesky gnats), more potting soil, specialized potting soil (for my succulents) and a few more pots. (I also have to replace a couple plants that tragically didn’t make it! Safety, health, & maintenance needs: One of the most important things I researched before I bought any houseplants was plant toxicity. I have two beautiful kitties, and it would absolutely devastate me if they got sick from munching on a toxic plant I was responsible for bringing into the house! My cats have never really bothered any of my existing peace lilies—which are not said to be good for cats—but they don’t bother them, so I think these are safe to keep. In addition to safety, any plants I bought needed to be low maintenance, because me and finicky plants don’t get along. So when it comes to constant watering and pruning and feeding…Nope. I just don’t have the time. My Dieffenbachia can go for a few weeks without watering, as can Ponytail palms, succulents, and the Money Tree. My Ficus does not like to dry out completely, but equally doesn’t like to be soggy, and so it requires slightly more attention than the plants just mentioned. On the other end of the spectrum are my Bromeliad and Tillandsia (air plants). The air plants (which are part of the Bromeliad family) require frequent misting and soaking. The Bromeliad (which technically does not require soil) needs humidity—which it gets from the air in nature—and so requires more attention than some of my other plants, but all of the bromeliads are so intriguing to me that I’m willing to exert the effort! Another “must” on my list for preferences are plants that filter the air, because I am really big on indoor air quality and doing things naturally, if possible or feasible. Peace lilies are good to buy if you want plants that help filter the bad stuff out of the air in your home. (They can be especially useful in bedrooms, as they will remove the toxins from the air as you sleep.) With three Peace lilies my indoor air quality should be superb! Spatial considerations: A helpful activity you should do before picking out plants is to think about WHERE your plant will live. Not just the room or general area, but on which table or windowsill. Or do you want a floor plant? Do you have a plant stand or other space you want to fill? How much actual space do you have to give up for plants? The tabletop plants you choose will probably need to be small or medium size or maybe tall in stature. When I was assessing my own space I decided that I could comfortably accommodate plants in five, maybe six, spots in my living room. Of those spaces, I had two windowsills at my disposal that could fit small pots. Which brings me on to my next point, lighting. Lighting needs: If you remember nothing else, remember that lighting is almost the most important thing you need to sort out for your plants (besides watering). Too much light can kill some plants, and too little light can stunt the growth or even kill others. I almost killed a Parlor palm and Lucky bamboo that were left sitting in a window, forgotten, for far too long. (I’m so sorry!!) Below I have photos of my two plants—now separated (they were in the same pot) and in the rehab stage. The Lucky Bamboo is getting its darker green color back, but the palm does not look like it’s going to make it. But there’s still hope! Know your plant, know its lighting needs before you bring it home. Southern facing windows will always get the most direct bright light (unless you have awnings or some other obstacle that blocks the light). North facing windows will get light, but not the bright direct light that you get from the south. This is really important for plants. In my situation, my living room windows are southeast and southwest facing. This is good for most plants, but some plants may need to come away from the window a little bit to avoid some of the really direct light that is hot enough to burn the leaves of sensitive plants. My Peace lilies got a few crispy leaves from being in my front window, and I will have to move my Bromeliad when the hot summer sun starts to beat through the window. Conversely, if the only natural light you have is a north facing window, you’ll need a plant that does not require full sun or bright direct light. Any plant that needs quite a lot of light that is put in a place without adequate light generally won’t do well at all. There is so much more information to digest—and I’m just really scratching the surface—but these are a few of the primary or basic considerations you will need to assess before buying real houseplants for your home. Inevitably, some plants just won’t survive, and sometimes that just comes down to either the plant being sick when you bought it, the shock of being moved, or just not having the right environment for the poor thing. When in doubt, buy one plant. Try one plant that you find fascinating, research it, and try to figure out how to help it thrive (and survive!). Once you figure out how to keep one plant alive, you will find yourself wanting more plant babies…’cause one is just not enough! Plants are so fascinating! And they really bring an empty inanimate space alive! I hope you found this article useful! If you did please share it and help my community grow. And please feel free to add your own thoughts and experiences below…Let’s get a conversation started! Feel free to add your name to my email list if you would like to start receiving monthly notifications for new blog posts, new items, sales, and other exciting stuff from Di’s Studio Designs. This article contains external links for demonstration purposes only, and I am not being financially compensated for specific products or brands. Related blog posts you may want to read: Six herbs I planted indoors It's planting season again Bio…what?! Merriam-Webster defines biophilia as “a hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature : a desire or tendency to commune with nature”. That’s all well and good, you might say…What’s that got to do with interior design? Biophilia is a word I’ve seen floating around a lot lately. It’s become a trendy term that encompasses the significance of how people relate to nature in their everyday environments. Biophilic interior design addresses the human need to engage with nature, especially since modern life finds us spending most of our lives in enclosed artificial spaces, separating us from the natural world. Biophilic interior design tries to incorporate natural elements into these built interior spaces, addressing natural lighting, open and accessible views to the outside, indoor greenery, naturally sourced materials for furniture and finishes, and furniture and finishes that remind us of the features we find in nature. This approach to indoor styling reassesses interior environments, placing more importance on natural aesthetics and lighting and exploring the impact on the occupants’ psychological and physical well-being. A perfect design will blur the line between interior and exterior spaces and create a calm and serene space. As for effects on mental well-being, it is well known that calm, serene environments promote a sense of healing. We are instinctively drawn to places of healing, like moths to a flame. Human beings have a subconscious reaction--a primal need--to find healing in nature. And our environment—both built and natural—has a direct psychological impact on us. Natural surroundings open up our creativity and give us a sense of comfort and peace. Isn’t this why we all cherish vacations to beautiful places like national parks, the mountains, campgrounds, and the seashore? But can biophilic design improve our physical health? Research says yes. Just being around natural things—or things that remind us of nature—can lower blood pressure. Calmer, healthier individuals have better cognitive abilities, perform better at work, are more engaged in their surroundings, and get along better with those around them. For those with a green thumb (or “wannabes”), taking care of plants can be therapeutic. And as a bonus, plants help filter the air. People who feel better also tend to take better care of themselves, so I view biophilic design as a more holistic approach to design--thinking about the whole person and how that relates to the space they will occupy. Biophilic design is near and dear to my heart. It’s the reason why I create “nature-inspired” designs. I believe wholeheartedly that it is crucial to surround yourself with things that bring you closer to nature, even while you are trapped indoors. Artists like myself tend to spend more time indoors, making it critical to have access to natural surroundings to stabilize mood and inspire creativity. So, I think it’s just a natural inclination to be interested in how biophilia can be incorporated into an interior space, particularly the more holistic design approaches. What are some design options that will help you embrace this design ideal? There are countless ways to bring the essence of the outdoors into your home, and which way you choose will depend on your tastes and budget. The simplest, most budget-friendly option is to bring greenery and flowers into your space. This approach can be as simple as creating floral arrangements around the room—mixing live and artificial florals in arrangements or including floral candleholders—and complementing these with organic tablescapes. Using actual greenery is essential, as it will bring a necessary vibrance to hanging planters and flower arrangements. You could even go strictly green (with no flowers), creating plant groupings or vertical green walls that combine several types of plants to create a more engaging visual impact. Bring water into the home--the only thing more soothing than greenery is water. Placing a water feature in a space will create a calm visual and aural space. There are tons of water features to choose from, ranging from cheap tabletop models to full-on floor or wall feature extravaganzas! Place comfortable seating in the space where you can close your eyes, relax, and meditate on the rhythmic sounds. If you have a larger budget, maybe a room makeover—and extra landscaping—is the way to go. Inside finishes—such as floral or textured wallpaper, textured fabrics, wall art with nature scenes, furniture with the look and feel of raw wood, and the use of stone—can go a long way toward establishing a more natural look within your space. But don’t forget the view from the outside! Frank Lloyd Wright created buildings that were deliberately designed with the idea that you could expand the interior space by allowing for ample views of the outside. Exterior views could include interior courtyards filled with lush plant life (my dream) or landscaped gardens outside windows and doorways. Biophilic design is not just adding a plant or two to a space. The design concept addresses the WHOLE space, how each element works with another, and how the entire finished space ultimately affects you. Here’s the thing…Interior design trends come and go, but biophilia never goes out of style because it is a basic human need to surround ourselves with nature. And it’s nothing new. Frank Lloyd Wright was doing it throughout the 20th century (with the iconic Fallingwater being one of my favorite examples), with his emphasis on creating buildings that are “of” the landscape instead of sitting on the landscape, with interior concepts that reflected the need to expand interior spaces by framing views to the outside. Biophilic design elements are versatile enough to be incorporated into any design trend. The Scandinavian hygge style works well with natural materials like wood or wool blankets. Or the popular coastal design style, with its airiness and white or weathered woods. And especially one of my favorite styles for its use of natural decor and plants--Bohemian. But really, it doesn’t matter what style because there are always ways to incorporate nature into an interior. Even a minimal, streamlined style like Mid Century Modern can be easily enhanced by adding organic elements like plants or natural textiles. This particular style works well with biophilic design elements. The orderly lines of modern furniture, lighting, and decor are balanced with the unpredictable nature of plant leaves, water, or natural stone. Juxtaposing a modern wood table with tabletop plants or large leafy plants in metal or ceramic pots introduces a softening element to the space in what could otherwise be a cold, sterile environment. Hopefully, you gleaned something valuable about biophilic design from today’s article. I could go on about biophilic design for days! Have you embraced biophilic design in your own space? Feel free to share your own experiences and thoughts in the comments! This article contains external links for demonstration purposes only, and are not endorsements for specific products or brands.
Related blog posts you may want to read: Design concept for a dreamy coastal interior Let's talk Bohemian I’ve had an outdoor herb garden with mint, sage, and chives for several years. And boy, are they flourishing this year! Lavender and rosemary were also planted, but neither ever came up. Finding an empty spot in my garden, I decided to pop in some carrots. Time will tell whether they will grow! This year, I decided that I also wanted an indoor herb garden and more of a variety of herbs. The lockdown prevented me from getting all the seeds I wanted, but I did manage to purchase dill, chamomile, cilantro, parsley, and rosemary. The first four I planted in a long planter on my front windowsill, where they get tons of light. Part of my decision to have an indoor herb garden was influenced by the desire to have more indoor plants. I feel better when I am around plants! And I’m pushing myself to learn more about them so that I can better incorporate a variety of plants into my home. So this year, I will cultivate parsley, cilantro, chamomile, and dill indoors. My little plants are looking great so far, but my kitty seems to think the planter is a cat bed and is squishing my precious sprouts! But they seem to be taking the abuse well! The rosemary was planted in a large pot with more chamomile, but the first sprouts died. More were planted--and now some vicious critter keeps digging in my pot! I am just having no luck with rosemary! Maybe I’ll plant it in a pot that stays indoors. I love rosemary. I love cooking with it. I love the smell of it, but I can’t seem to grow it to save my life! Herbs are amazing--not only are they useful in cooking, but they are so fragrant and beautiful! Sage leaves are one of my favorite foliage for the aroma. And the delicate little flowers are beautiful when they are in full bloom! The one issue is that sage and mint take over a space. It looks beautiful, but my chives might get squeezed out! That would be a shame since I love fresh chives, and those purple flowers are simply gorgeous. At some point, I may try to grow some mint indoors, but I may try a different variety—one that is more minty. And I’m still trying to source some catnip seeds for my kitties! Speaking of kitties, a little bit of research turned up some interesting tidbits of information about cat-friendly herbs you can grow. I've also been investigating how to grow herbs indoors to get more tips about what to grow and how to use the herbs--other than for eye candy--so no doubt the number of plants will increase. Anyway, stay tuned for updates, as I will be tracking the growth and progress of my new herbs and taking plenty of photos with my DSLR camera (which I am having too much fun with, by the way).
Feel free to share your experiences with your herb gardens below, and have a great day! Related blog posts you may want to read: Six herbs I planted indoors Let's talk about houseplants Capturing the beautiful details in nature Last summer, my husband and I went to Longwood Gardens in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Honestly, I don’t know why we don’t go there more often, because it is less than an hour from where we live! Hmmm…I think I am just now hatching a plan to visit again this summer—provided this coronavirus doesn’t keep us away. Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked… We decided to go there on a gorgeous summer day in August to see all the colorful and exotic flowers, creatively sculpted formal gardens, and equally stunning water fountains. It had been YEARS since I had been there, so I had forgotten how beautiful this place is! And I took my Canon DSLR camera…Man, am I glad I took my camera! Can you say eye candy?! This place is a dream for me. I love nature and the healing effect it has on me. Maybe that’s why I started an art and design business that is “nature-inspired”… And I have a thing for photography as well. I’m still quite the amateur, but I’m getting better every day, motivated by the drive to capture the exquisite but often minuscule details in the flowers, trees, and plants around me. (If you haven’t seen my Instagram profile, you can find me at @disstudiodesigns.) I don’t know…something about the incredible variety of life and complexity of the details brings me alive. Hidden worlds are happening right under our noses and all around us. I say “hidden” because it’s only unseen. After all, we don’t take the time to see them. But they exist—and I’m trying to capture whatever I can with my handy dandy camera! Sometimes, that camera will be my iPhone, but whatever gets the job done, as they say. (And these iPhone cameras take AMAZING photos, by the way.) On this trip, I took my Canon DSLR and tried to take as many photos as possible of whatever beautiful gem called out to me. Vibrant colors, lush green plants, and dancing water were all around me, and I had to stop myself from spending hours in one spot. The day got hotter as the hours ticked by (this WAS August), but I had so much fun capturing the colors, patterns, and textures. Just look at the precious little tendrils in this plant below, curled inward like it’s hugging itself! I don’t even remember what type of plant this is, but I’m glad I found this tiny little plant nestled in the sea of green. (Update: I discovered that this exotic fern can be found in tropical places like Malaysia. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a decent website to share. I'll keep my eye open!) I had two regrets, though… The first one was that I didn’t have a tripod. I have notoriously shaky hands, so some shots were difficult for me. I powered through it and made do. On the next trip, I will need to pack my mini tripod. Many of the shots I struggled with were closer to the ground, and a mini tripod would have done wonders for my nerves! My second regret was not taking a longer lens. There was a point where we were watching the fountain displays from quite a distance back, and I tried to zoom in as much as possible with my standard lens, but I was so disappointed with the lack of sharpness in my shots, and I couldn’t zoom in enough to get something creative. So next time I need to take more kit...and choose a day with cooler weather! But it was a relaxing yet invigorating day, and I enjoyed it immensely. Spending time in nature is healing and therapeutic, as is the sight and sound of water. I watched the shimmering water bounce and bubble and was instantly in my happy place! So, for one glorious day and afternoon, I was in heaven! I need to find that sense of peace again…I need to immerse myself in nature and focus on something positive and something bigger than myself. I need to find those “hidden” worlds again and explore the tiny details that make up the natural world around us. I need to plan another trip…And—of course—I will take my camera along to capture as much as possible!
Related blog posts you may want to read: Biophilia in Interior Design Nature and well-being Inspiration I have always been deeply affected by nature—trees, flowers, plants, animals, water, soil, and stone. It’s not just about hugging trees. (In fact, leave those trees alone! They don’t deserve the indignity!) This is a beautiful and sacred rock that we live on and on this rock spring forth all of the life-sustaining elements that we need as organic beings. The natural world provides the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. This is not optional—we NEED these things, so they need to be respected and preserved. Hide in your concrete jungle all you want, but you can’t survive without the natural world. Not even in the worst-case scenario post-apocalyptic vision of the future. (Does Wall-E ring a bell?) But it’s not even just our physical needs that benefit from exposure to natural elements. Our SOULS need to see and experience the creations of whatever divine beings you may worship or whatever wonder you may experience as you ponder the existence of the universe. We do not live in a bubble. We live in a complicated, multifaceted, connected universe on an equally complicated, multifaceted rock that acts as an incubator that keeps us all alive—without exception! Which brings me to why I do what I do…I create things that mimic those things that I hold most dear. It’s that simple. I get nothing but joy out of a finished piece—even after all the frustration, mistakes, bleeding, cursing, and things being thrown. It’s all worth it in the end. Just seeing something that mimics the natural world makes me feel more peaceful and whole, and I feel like this is something that I have to share. I have to share it because it means something to me. My background in interior design may seem counter-intuitive--much of what designers create is non-organic. But the real magic comes from combining man-made materials and organic elements. My pieces bring a sense of nature into the home—a place often void of anything organic. For example, many people don’t put plants in their homes…And I get it. I suffer from the “black thumb” syndrome myself! In my household, some plants make it…and some plants don’t! I make a point of apologizing to all new plants the first day they enter my house. I know as sure as I am sitting here that a certain percentage will fall victim either to well-intentioned over-watering or under-watering due to my short-term memory loss. If a month has passed and they are still alive, they’ve won the lottery of life. (BTW—don’t ever give me an orchid. I’ve killed two out of two…so far.) Poor thing! I love making candle and home decor pieces incorporating nature into the theme. It stays alive forever and brings endless beauty into a space. My vision is to create a world where it is no longer necessary to create awkward moments with the trees in the backyard. In my vision, the outdoors finds a way into the interior through nature-inspired decor that will put a smile on the face and create a more harmonious interior space. Put one of these beauties on your table…The trees will thank you! Shop for handcrafted nature-inspired decorative candleholders and faux floral centerpieces by Di's Studio Designs here!
Related blog posts you may want to read: Capturing the beautiful details in nature Creation of a centerpiece Art imitates nature Inspiration |
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