the haystack needle

what's in store: graceful gardens

I have a habit of attaching myself to one or two shops in my neighborhood that become my little oasis of inspiration – where I go when I'm feeling stuck or want to be surrounded by lovely things. There are some amazing shops in this city that can you give you quite a lift, even if you don't take away something for yourself each time. When I lived in the East Village, my go-to spot was most definitely the John Derian shop. I could get lost for hours in that wonderland of a boutique. Here in Williamsburg, I stumbled upon this new garden shop a few weeks ago called Graceful Gardens. Since then, I've been in at least five times, and the sweet owner, Grace, was kind enough to let me take over with my camera the other day. The shop changes up all the time, so I think I may update this post as new finds come in. (There was this clever cactus display that sold before I had my camera!)

I know I've been on a plant and flower kick recently, but this is no average garden shop. The plants are displayed in so many whimsical ways (I love the air plants inside the spokes of a bike wheel!). I adore all of their gorgeous terrariums — I walked away with one as my first purchase there. And the place is brimming with vintage found objects (for sale), mossy pots, and low-maintenance succulents. There are cut flowers as well, of course. I think the shop is rather magical.

Graceful Gardens also offers garden design services. And I love how they have a mindset of sustainability — their grown flowers and plants are organic and locally grown. The packaging and vases are made from biodegradable or recycled material. And you can bring those plastic nursery pots back after planting and Graceful Gardens will return them back to the growers. 

 

If you're in the area, I highly recommend a trip over to Graceful Gardens. It's one of those places where it's impossible to walk away in a bad mood, even if you came in feeling in a funk.

Graceful Gardens
485 Driggs
Brooklyn
718.782.1365

flowers, pruning, and instant window box

My weekend was a whirlwind of go-go-go followed by an entire Sunday of relaxation and unplanned bliss. It was a weekend that kept throwing me examples of how people and friends can really amaze you. I was up at 5am on Saturday for a photo shoot, which first brought on some crankiness that quickly passed as I soaked in the beauty and quiet pulse of the Flower District. I was floored by the kindness of someone at G.Page who literally ran down the street to hand me the $3 change I'd forgotten. I got to play with flowers for an entire day — and now the apartment is bursting with cut flowers and plants. It's such a treat. 

 

I decided to turn my vintage soda crate into an instant window box. I love the whimsical look of the peppermint and pink blossoms peeking out of the crate. 

A few of my plants came out of winter looking tired and lacking of sun (much like me). On advice from my local garden shop, I took my little ivy plant and clipped off every last dead leaf (there were a couple dozen dead leaves hiding in the twisty vines.) Then I stuck it in the shower for a couple minutes to give the entire plant a spritzing spray of water. The pruning worked! Almost immediately, my ivy perked up and there are new leaves sprouting. This past week, I've looked around to find lots of unnecessary stuff hanging around me like dead weight — I purged a few bags of unworn clothes and shoes. After the shoot, Dan and I realized our apartment needs an entirely new furniture arrangement to open up the space, maximize the sunlight coming in from our windows, and enjoy more walking room in our main area. Since our apartment is a funny layout, the only real way to do this is to create a setup where his big flatscreen and our sofa are not set in position for TV-watching (we're going to put felt pads under our sofa to swing out the sofa when we want to watch a special program or catch a movie on Netflix.) We decided the extra effort needed to watch TV is a worthy sacrifice to have a more open, sunlit living space. And it fits right in with our new goal to limit our TV watching this spring and summer. Dan does have his beloved Red Sox to watch, but overall we want to cut off the television from being that background noise that tends to happen when you're nested inside all winter. It was a full weekend. Hope your week is off to a good start! I'm planning to share my new favorite garden shop with you later this week.

(photographs by me)

vintage european planters

I think this may be my favorite find ever spotted on Three Potato Four: vintage early 20th century European enamel containers with stenciled labels. Our farmers market has a new stand selling potted herbs — I picked up the climbing thyme and peppermint on Saturday – so I couldn't resist scooping up one of these blue pots. Since I don't have an actual garden, a cute garden planter will do.

out & about: inspired by the flower district

I often think that tourists who come to the city believing everyone in New York is gruff and unfriendly should make their way over to the small strip of wholesale flower shops lining 28th Street. The people who work in the Flower District are so welcoming and helpful — and in a good mood despite the fact that their days begin before sunrise. I think it may be the flowers. Could there be a better pick-me-up than being surrounded by cut flowers and plants filling every smidge of floor and wall space up to the ceiling! And these flower shops are the only places in the city not suffering from dry winter air — I walked in and was immediately transported to a warm humid oasis mixed with the scent of Azeleas and Ranunculus. Heaven.

For this second Out & About, I arranged a roundup of blooms and garden tools inspired by a trip to NYC's Flower District, which is starting to overflow with spring plants and blossoms right about now.

 

(from top left): more blooms I spotted at the flower district; Victorian terra cotta pot with a mossy finish; Wally Pocket wall planters; watering can from upcoming Liberty for Target collection; flowers in a birch bark tube; another amazing Studio Choo arrangement; packaged flower collection;  daisy print garden set. 

grow your own garden kits

I cannot wait for spring — cabin fever hit hard this week. One of my favorite finds from the recent Gift Show: grow your own garden kits by Ecosource (still loving their ecopots.) I'm forever wishing for a little veggie garden — or even some space around a window for indoor container gardening. Aren't the labels on these garden kits absolutely adorable? I'd keep the tin to use as a cute container in the kitchen (chopsticks, you have a new home.) These Grow Your Own kits will be showing up in stores, including Anthropologie, come March. Imagine growing your own strawberry garden! Or watermelons!! Yes, please. Happy weekend!

 

terrain online

Terrain has been one of the longstanding reasons why I wish I owned a car. Unlike many sought-after spots in the area that have an alternative route — the infamous IKEA shuttle or a Zipcar transporting you to the subway-free neighborhood of Red Hook to try out Baked — there's no way around needing a car to travel to Glen Mills, PA, to visit Terrain. And this garden + home center, started by the folks that dreamed up the ever-amazing Anthropologie, looks to be no average place to buy seeds and planters. I'm in love with Terrain, and I haven't even met her. That's why I'm super excited to hear that Terrain has now opened an online boutique with some of its one-of-a-kind finds. Here's a peek at my wishlist.

+ This terrarium is that perfect mix of style and price that works for me. I've wanted a terrarium for a long time, but forking over more than $100 for one (when it's in doubt whether I possess a green thumb and can keep some moss alive without issue) does not feel like a practical choice for me. Love the rope handle on this terrarium.

+ I'm normally not a harvest wreath kind of girl, but this pretty wheat strawflower wreath (made with lavender and thistle) is making me reconsider hanging one up just 'cause. I've been stuck on thistle ever since I saw the decorations from this fantastic wedding.

+ I wonder if this sphere-shaped lantern with its delicate pin dot holes would make the walls of my bedroom look like the night sky.

+ Terrain sells Weck jars, which are just the prettiest canning jars I've ever seen. Sold solo and with gifty fillers (like this one which has culinary lavender), Terrain is my new place to stalk Weck jars.

+ I'm completely clueless as to how I'd even use Scottish Hanging Bobbins, but I want them! Jute twine wrapped around reclaimed bobbins — so sweet!

Until the fieldtrip to Terrain happens, at least we all have an online boutique to shop, browse and bowl us over with cute things.