Creating Space for Plants in Your Home

We’ve moved many times, and our plants never move with us. Instead, they are gifted to friends, family, and neighbors. Once we arrive at our new home, the process of adding plants to the space starts all over again. It often feels like a part-time job, discovering the right plant for the right spot. My trusty geraniums need more sun than the new corners are providing, and the low-light plants need more water than my usual weekly routine. We’ve been in our current house for three years now, and we’re still figuring out what works best. Most of our windows face east or west, so we’ve had to adjust to this new environment.

East-facing windows capture the gentle light of sunrise while west-facing windows catch 

the intense, golden glow of late afternoon. Plants that do well in north-facing windows usually do well in east-facing ones too. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, you can put a plant that demands a little more light in an east-facing window. It just might thrive! But generally, plants that enjoy lower light are happiest there. Plants that like medium light will perform best in windows facing west.

Here are some plants that will thrive in east or west windows, or a spot with filtered sunlight:

1. Kangaroo Vine

2. Holly Fern

3. Creeping Fig

4. Norfolk Island Pine

5. Maidenhair Fern

6. Feather Ivy

7. Rabbit’s-foot Fern

Each one brings something special to your space, from lovely textures to fun, leafy shapes. Try picking a few that match both your style and the light in your room. Learning what works in your space is part of the fun, so enjoy the process of finding the right plants to bring a little joy and greenery into your home. Happy gardening! xo

Garden for the North Window

Years ago we were walking through a big box store and noticed a shelf full of plants living inside, under fluorescent lights. We assumed the plants were artificial. Curious, we picked one up for a closer inspection and discovered it was a living plant. We were surprised at how healthy it looked. We decided to buy one of the plants and put it in our windowless bathroom where it survived very well and provided a nice touch of greenery. As someone who loves a bit of greenery in every room, learning that plants could survive in windowless spaces has helped us outfit all corners of our home with plants.

North-facing windows are often considered inhospitable to plants, but even without direct sunlight, an indoor garden can thrive with the right light. With good window lighting, not only can greenery flourish, but some flowers can bloom! Watching life take root in an unexpected corner is a true delight, and discovering the perfect plants for such a spot can be an enjoyable challenge.

Here is a list of plants for you to choose from to get you started in making a cheery corner in your North window:

1. African violets (Choose from pink, blue, lavender, or white blooms.)

2. Kangaroo Vine

3. String of Hearts

4. Feather Ivy

5. Philodendron (common)

6. Caladium

7. Glacier Ivy

8. Windowleaf Philodendron

9. Piggyback plant

Pick out a few of your favorite plants, and enjoy a lovely garden in your North window. Happy gardening! xo

Bloomsbury Farm Winter Wreath

It’s Friday afternoon, and time for our family to head over the hill to Bloomsbury Farm. Fresh organic produce, stunning landscape, and a rotating selection of local beverage and food vendors make this place one of our favorite destinations just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. We arrive and are immediately greeted by my delightful friend and owner, Lauren. We chat about her farm and upcoming events, and then head into the farm shop to load our basket with goodies: winter squash, spinach, radish, beets, kale, collard greens, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, jars of salsa, a shot of wheatgrass, and homemade bread. A beautiful bounty of fresh goods. Next we check out the seasonal table of handmade goodies, and on this particular visit, we grab a simple wreath made from dried flowers.

The design of this wreath is very organic and lovely. I asked Lauren if we could try our hand at making a few ourselves. It’s the perfect nature craft for winter and the materials are simple. Let’s have a go!

To make your wreath:

1. Gather your materials: wire ring (we used a ring that was 11 inches in diameter, but any size would work), jute twine, and a collection of dried flowers.

2. Wrap the jute twine around the wire ring, ensuring that none of the metal is visible.

3. Across the diameter of the wrapped ring, wrap the twine across the center, creating strands of jute. (We wrapped ours back and forth 12 times.)

4. Place the individual stems of dried nature through the center band, weaving the nature in and out of the twine so it is snug and secure.

5. Add a little loop of twine at the top to hang the wreath.

The Bloomsbury Farm winter wreath is a creative way to spend an afternoon on a lovely, winter day. Gather your materials and a few friends to make them this season, and gift them to neighbors to spread some seasonal cheer. Happy winter! xo