This costs nothing to do

 For a quick and inexpensive way to change up this bathroom

I put little branches that had fallen off the tree outside
in little brown recycled bottles.
I thought they would look nice on the window sill for something different.

I went away on holidays and thought all the leaves would be in the tub when I got home.

But instead this seems like the perfect place for plant propagation.

All the little branches grew roots instead.

The best part is now I don't have to worry about them at all 

except for topping up the water every few months.

Hassle free vases!!!

$ 0

Fern weeds...to free pot plants

Ferns...

love them or 

hate them.

They really are an interesting plant. 

I recently visited a home

 with some very sad and lonely pots scattered around the house.

The owners also had ferns overgrowing the fish pond at the front of the house. 

They saw these plants as an absolute weed,

but instead of just throwing them out...

I suggested a compromise.

Why not plant the ferns we pull out of the front yard....

and replant them in the vacant potters around the house?

 It was so simple

and it didn't cost a cent.

$ 0

Now at least, there are a few less ferns in the front

and a few less vacant pots in the back.

If I had these at my house 

I would probably be trying all different florist techniques with my never ending supply of ferns.

Terrariums are back

Terrariums are back.....

 and are more expensive than I ever imagined they would be?

I recently walked by the florist at the back of Myer in the City.  The amazing terrariums caught my eye so I went to see how much they were.

$300-$450 each!  

What?

I could buy flowers for a year with that!!!

So I started to search my house for things I could use to make my own.

I managed to make one for only $10!

This was my Easter display last year.

  I bought moss to surround my orchid,

 then I added this cute little Bambi from the kids toy farm.

Unfortunately,

 I have no idea where the Bambi is now

 since I think the kids reclaimed for their farm, and then lost it again.

 But I still have the moss,

even though it has suffered some serious neglect since last Easter.

I have been advised that it can bounce back with proper care?

So I will give it a go.

Fortunately I remembered I had this huge, glass, hurricane type candle vase.

I also found these lovely grey stones the kids and I collected on a recent camping trip to Cape Paterson.  I used them to fill in space

 since I didn't really want to see the dirt.

 All I needed now was a proper terrarium style plant.

I went to an amazing Florist up on Brunswick street

called Flowers Vasette

http://flowersvasette.com.au

They seemed to have everything there,

 so I told them what I was making and they showed my some options.

I chose the vibrant yellow green plant to contrast well with my now...

 brown moss.

The plant cost me 

$10

Now what else can I add????

In my bathroom some magic has been happening.

I always pick branches from my Fica tree in the front yard

and put them in vases of water with fake tulips.

(more about that another time)

But I recently noticed the branches have been growing their own roots.

The same thing happened with some succulents I had in mini vases.

Awesome...

2 more Free plants!

So I decided to plant them in my new

terrarium as an experiment.

So far so good.
It is actually growing in there.
I see some new leaves!!

 I still can't find the little Bambi, which would have looked so cute.

Instead I found these little red mushrooms in my kitchen junk draw.

I have no idea where they came from,

perhaps a cupcake or something?

 I will use them to add a touch of colour and fun to the end result.

So now

 for only $10

I have a lovely new terrarium to enjoy until they go out of fashion again.

;-)

 This one looks great in my bathroom

Oh yeah,

the lid didn't come with the vase,

 but the store where I got the vase closed last year

 and they were giving away bits and pieces they couldn't sell.

This lid was part of something else that must have broken, so I took it home hoping I could use it for something....

so glad I did now because it will be easier to keep this terrarium alive with a lid on top.

Long Lasting Greenery

I love keeping my old Santa Vittoria Fruit Nectar bottles.

Sometimes I  wrap a piece of wire around the top
to create an interesting &
 hangable bud vase.

However,
as much as I love Flowers,
the cost can really add up when they need to be replaced every week.

My solution,
so as I always have something lovely in a vase,
is to pick out interesting plants from my neighbourhood.

This little plant above I found outside Zach's Kindergarten.
I picked a few of the buds
and they have lasted about 6 weeks
 and are still going strong!!


Or

When I visit a florist and they have really nice Philodendron leaves,
I won't pass them up.
 The ones below are called Window Leaves.

They have been in those vases for
 2 Months now!!!!

I am quite impressed how long they are lasting!