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April 14, 2015 By Shirley

How To Use Vintage Items For All Of Your Planting Needs

Why buy new things to contain your plants and flowers

when you can make the plants or flowers even prettier by using vintage items.

So today, I will show you how I use vintage items for all of my plants and flowers.

Orchid in vintage pitcher-Housepitality Designs

You know those orchids that you can get quite inexpensively at the grocery stores?

The containers are not all that interesting, so remove the orchid from the container

and place it in a wonderful vintage pitcher

or any other vintage container that will beautifully accommodate the plant.

Boxwood Topiary-Housepitality Designs

When I buy preserved boxwoods or other faux topiaries

I usually remove them from their department store containers.

This particular one, I placed in a vintage McCoy flower pot.

Vintage Ironstone/Kitchen Vignette-Housepitality Designs

As the ones shown here that I purchased from HomeGoods

and placed them in vintage ironstone sugar bowls.

Vintage tureen plant container-Housepitality Designs

This tropical plant sits in a vintage ironstone tureen

that was purchased at a great price because it did not not have a lid.

Faux topiary in live plant-Housepitality Designs

I am now experimenting with adding faux to real plants.

I took a faux boxwood topiary ball . . . attached it to a stick . . .

and placed it in the center of the live plant that is in a vintage ironstone commode.

Vintage transferware urn/settee-Housepitality Designs

This vintage transferware urn previously contained faux evergreens.

Removed the faux with a pretty green tropical plant (that I call an umbrella plant).

Antique blue and white transferware commode-Housepitality Designs

For as long as I can remember, I have had a plant

in my treasured blue and white transferware commode

a gift many, many years ago from a friend. It was a family piece.

Olive Bucket/Dining Room-Housepitality Designs

Many of us place a plant in these olive buckets.

I just love the difference in the textures. Great juxtaposition of natural and rusty metal.

I am making a conscious effort to “go green” with my plant containers.

Maybe that will give me more of a green thumb!

To use the gently used treasures of the past.

On another note . . . I was in Florida last week. Another season of bleachers and red clay.

While I was there, I met up with a sweet lady!. . . . A blogger that I have not met in person,

however, feel that I know her.

Shirley/Sherry/Merry

That’s me on the left, Sherry from No Minimalist Here, and my friend Merry.

Sherry is a joy!…We had lots of fun and she took us to her favorite antique places.

So happy that I finally got to meet her and can’t wait to see her again at Haven.

It is always so wonderful to be able to meet fellow bloggers and get to know them.

Have a most fabulous day!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: faux boxwood, houseplants, McCoy flower pot, Olive Bucket, preserved boxwood, Topiary, Vintage Ironstone 27 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rita C at Panoply says

    April 14, 2015 at 11:37 am

    Shirley, you are certainly one of the most social and friendly people I’ve come to know in blogland! All your ironstone (and metal) look great with your plants, and I have one question – do you always insert your plants inside another vessel first (like plastic, etc.) with drain holes, before you ‘plant’ it inside the ironstone, and lift out to water? I know I’ve had old ironstone that seeps if I place wet soil or water for flowers directly in, so I was wondering what you do.

    Reply
  2. Kim says

    April 14, 2015 at 11:58 am

    Love all your plants tucked in cute containers. Yes, good to reuse those items and nothing better than adding some life to them. I love that blue and white one.

    Reply
  3. Anne@DesignDreams says

    April 14, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    So much better to get the pieces out and used for pots than to keep them in a cupboard! Great idea Shirley!!

    Reply
  4. Karena says

    April 14, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    Shirley your plants all look wonderful in the vintage wares you have collected over the years! Love the orchid and topiary balls! How great to meet Sherry!! She is such a great lady; another with a discerning eye!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena
    Artist Nathaniel Galka

    Reply
  5. Donnamae says

    April 14, 2015 at 1:18 pm

    My grandmother taught me the value in using unique containers for plants….she had a teapot without a lid…what to do? Put a plant in it! I’ve followed in her footsteps! You have a beautiful collection of planting vessels…the plants look much more elegant! I’m always looking for “vessels” in antique and thrift stores…never know what you will find! šŸ˜‰

    Reply
  6. Celestina Marie says

    April 14, 2015 at 1:19 pm

    Hi Shirley, Love your plants in vintage treasures. The blue and white is gorgeous. I also like to help a real plant along with a stem or two of faux. You can’t tell and fills in the empty spots if needed.
    How great to meet Sherry. Great pic of you girls and glad you had a nice time in Florida.
    Have a good week.
    Hugs, CM

    Reply
  7. Pat@back porch musings says

    April 14, 2015 at 1:27 pm

    Love every bit of this, Shirley. You remind me I need to pick up my olive bucket when we go to storage this week.

    It is so much fun meeting blog friends!

    Reply
  8. Betsy@coastal-colors says

    April 14, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    Shirley, you have some amazing containers that are perfect accents with the preserved boxwood and plants in them! Thanks for the wonderful ideas on the versatility of containers. I love your blue and white transferware chamber pot; it’s a stunning piece! I know you and Sherry has a fantastic time; she’s one sweet lady! So sorry I haven’t been a ble to visit as often as I would like- Dad is keeping me busy these days!

    Reply
  9. Des says

    April 14, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    Love the plants paired with the containers you have chosen! I would have never thought about placing an Orchid in a pitcher, such a clever idea! How fun to be able to meet up with other bloggers and make new friends too!!!!
    ~Des

    Reply
  10. Debra@CommonGround says

    April 14, 2015 at 2:39 pm

    Love your ironstone pieces; they’re perfect for beautiful indoor plantings! and how fun to mmet up with the gals!

    Reply
  11. Mary W. Ferguson says

    April 14, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    You have given me lots of ideas. Everything looks so good and live plants are so good for oxygen in a house.
    Go glad that you got to meet up with a fellow blogger that you met while in Florida.
    Have a great week Shirley.
    Mary

    Reply
  12. Cindy says

    April 14, 2015 at 3:26 pm

    Nice that you got to meet Sherry. Everything looks great

    Cindy

    Reply
  13. Pinky says

    April 14, 2015 at 4:47 pm

    That is so nice that you got to meet Sherry! Great idea to use vintage pieces for plants too. I never keep plants in the containers they come in either but don’t really have vintage pieces to use. I DO have a VERY old cachepot that was my Grandmothers and can’t find it:( You reminded me to look again for it.

    Reply
  14. martina says

    April 14, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    How nice that you were able to meet up with Sherry!! Your plants look great in all your pretty containers!

    Reply
  15. Shenita says

    April 14, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    Shirley, all of your plants look so great! It looks like you get a lot of natural light in your home. How fun that you got to meet up with Sherry! You are truly Miss Social Butterfly…lol! I’m sure you ladies had a great time!

    Reply
  16. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    April 15, 2015 at 12:23 am

    Shirley, It was so fun to meet you and spend some time antiquing. You are just as sweet as I thought you would be! I am looking forward to us getting together again at Haven. I love all the containers and especially the blue and white transferware.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  17. Kathy @ Creative home expressions says

    April 15, 2015 at 1:14 am

    How fun that you met Sherry! I’ll bet you had a ball shopping with her, too.

    I love all the different ways you’ve repurposed your containers to hold plants. I have a tureen without a lid that I’ve used once to hold a plant (at Christmas time) and I love the look. If I can find another tureen with a lid to replace it in my tureen collection above my cabinets I would use the non-lid one to hold a plant.

    Reply
  18. Joanne Boulter says

    April 15, 2015 at 2:03 am

    Beautiful plant ideas Shirley. Have a great day! Jo

    Reply
  19. Doreen@househoneys says

    April 15, 2015 at 2:58 am

    I was just having this conversation today with a friend. She’s super creative and always finds unique items to place plamts in. I’m wondering if you provide for drainage when you use items that don’t have holes? That’s always my biggest challenge. Sometimes I use small rocks, but I’m wondering what you do?

    How nice that you met a fellow blogger and yes, it’s always fun to do so!

    Reply
  20. Nancy Brantley says

    April 15, 2015 at 3:18 am

    The plants look great in those vintage containers. Glad you got to meet a blogger.

    Reply
  21. Cindy says

    April 15, 2015 at 4:15 am

    So many beautiful containers, I love using them for plants too! I purchased a small orchid a while back and kept it in an ironstone pitcher. I don’t usually have much luck with them ever blooming once the flowers fade, but this on has new growth on it…I’m so excited!
    I’m sure you had such a great time with Sherry, I’ve never met her in person but I’m sure she is a joy!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  22. Kristi @ Chatfield Court says

    April 15, 2015 at 7:11 am

    Great way to go green and reuse your beautiful pieces. I especially love your blue and white transferware commode.

    Reply
  23. jeannette says

    April 15, 2015 at 8:13 pm

    Great container ideas Shirley. I particular love the tureen without lid, perfect for a plant!

    Reply
  24. Jeanette Price says

    April 17, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    Shirley , you always provide us with such great inspiration. I love that you think out of the box all the time. Your plants and greenery look wonderful. Have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  25. cathy says

    April 18, 2015 at 11:58 pm

    You gave me some great ideas for using unexpected containers for planters. All of yours look gorgeous! Since last fall I have gotten rid of all “faux” greenery except for a couple of preserved box wood topiaries and a tall palm. I am much prefering real plants even if it means they have to ve replaced every so often.

    Reply
  26. Mary says

    April 20, 2015 at 9:29 am

    Love your creative use of containers Shirley, especially your transferware and lid-less tureen! Fun meeting up with Sherry šŸ™‚

    Reply
  27. LorB says

    April 21, 2015 at 12:17 am

    Gorgeous plant ideas… You inspire me to change it all…

    Reply

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About Me

Hi I’m Shirley and I am here to share my love of classic interiors, french country style, my passion for flowers and making our home, The Hickory Cottage, a warm and hospitable home for family and friends.

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