COUNTRY GARDENS MAGAZiNE COMES TO THE GARDEN

 Two photographers and a writer from Country Gardens Magazine visited From the Summer's Garden studio and gardens today. We shot step-by-step projects for two different issues of the magazine.  Both were popular projects from our Hypertufa Studios, hand-sculpted mosaic stepping stones and sculpted owl heads.  Thanks to Marty, Greg and Nick for making this busy day fun and enjoyable!

COOL IDEA USING HYPERTUFA!

A Tisket, a Tasket… Make a Hypertufa Basket

I was rummaging around in the attic and found a pile of old baskets, which I decided to pitch to make more room.  Then I remembered a magazine article suggesting the use of a basket as a mold or armature for hypertufa planters.  Bypassing the garbage can, I mixed up a batch of hypertufa and set to work.

First, line the entire inside of the basket with the material, pressing it firmly into the weave of the basket and smoothing the inner surface.  It squishes nicely through the weave on the bottom providing an interesting surface.  (PHOTO: TUFA BASKET 1)

Roll and smooth the edge of the tufa to meet the edge of the basket.  Then cover the handle be sandwiching it between handfuls of tufa. Gently smooth to even it out.

(PHOTO: TUFA BASKET 2)

The basket is strong enough to serve as an armature for a usable planting container, permanently becoming part of it.   If and when the basket rots or falls apart, who cares? The hypertufa container will remain intact.  This is a simple, practical way to re-purpose an old basket.

Want to learn more about making your own hypertufa?  Consider taking one of the Summer Hypertufa Studios at From the Summer’s Garden. 
 CHECK OUT THE INFO TO THE RIGHT.

IT'S SUMMER-...IT'S HYPERTUFA TIME!

We had ideal weather for the first Hypertufa Studio of the season and had the doors wide open. Don't miss your chance to join the fun. Sign up for a Hypertufa Studio today!

Connor is  making an owl head sculpture, one of our new projects. These owls are fun to position in different spots of your garden and like the Grots or garden gnome sculptures, make perfect plant stands.

 Robin is packing her mold to make a box planter.

 Nathan demonstrates how to cast hydrangea leaves as ornaments for leaf platters and planters.

 Here he is experimenting with sculpting letters of his name on the surface of leaves.  

This is a really cool idea!

There are many ways to make a stepping stone.  In this studio, we use a free-form sculpting technique that works well for everyone.  What's nice is that no two are alike.