we’ve been keeping busy on the garden project front for the past couple of months. projects that have nothing to do with gardening per se, but add personal atmosphere to the places we enjoy spending time in.
one project that i was very pleased see come to fruition was the garden signage for the DIG. friend and fellow MG volunteer judy and i started working on the project quite a while ago. six of these garden location signs were installed for the arboretum dedication that took place on arbor day. the signs were fabricated here in town, on a uv-protected aluminum and vinyl composite panel called signabond. the panels were attached to standard chain link fence line posts using brace bands.
i designed the signs using the bluebonnet of the brazos county MG logo as inspiration for the background logo for the signs. after working on it for so long, i only saw the bluebonnets, but most everyone else saw trees… a subtle coincidence that i thought would perfectly apply to both the arboretum and gardens at the DIG.
the plan is to continue using this graphic style for the rest of the DIG signage. knowing that, i also used it for the dedication invitation and program brochure designs. since it was arbor day, the board requested i change the color to green, a more tree-friendly color.
back on the home front, i updated our address sign from the crappy plastic-plaque-with-glue-oozing-from-behind-the-numbers (no picture, you’ll have to imagine it) to this:
modern numerals floating above a slab of walnut (from upstate ny) we had left over from another project. i still have to modify how it attaches to the brick and figure out some way to conceal the screws. it already gives a warmer feel to the entrance of our home.
mr. grwhryrpltd finished the second of two metal welded sculptures (the first was a christmas present for his mom; unfortunately, i don’t have any pictures of it to show you…), and we planted it in the garden today. he makes me smile:
and finally, today’s most recent garden project consisted of utilizing the tub of vino bottles we’ve acquired over the past two years into a new edging material. because really, when you can’t recycle green or brown glass, what better way to use them?
i’m looking forward to watching how light will pass through the bottles throughout the day and see how the entire edge weathers over time. 47 bottles wasn’t quite enough to finish the entire length of the garden, so i guess we have a few more bottles to consume… like 100 more… garden party, anyone?! come on over, and help us come up with the next round of garden projects to add to the list…
transplant studio 
Just Awesome! You guys are so talented. I love your signs and am always impressed with your design ability. They’re going to add so much cohesion and panache to DIG. And I love the welded metal man in the garden. Do you think I could commission your love to make someone for me? Then I’d commission you guys to deliver too!
And what a clever way to use wine bottles. I would never have thought of it. It looks great and I can’t wait to see your pics of them weathering with light coming through them.
big smooches.
Wow y’all have been busy! Your signs are wonderful, Andrea–a really beautiful and useful addition to the garden and real tangible evidence of just how involved you’ve become down there–they’re lucky to have you!
that house number sign is my favorite though. We’d love to help with the wine bottles if only we could. I’d worry that with my clutziness I’d trip on it and cut off an ankle, so be careful while you weed! Miss you guys 🙂
thanks lynn… glad you like all the signage. now the task of how to light the address sign remains… would love to find some solar powered led’s to downlight the numbers. as for the wine bottles, i hadn’t thought of them as a tripping hazard, but i did realize while watering in some tender new plants that i have to step over them. i’ll try to be careful!
p.s. i see in your twitter link you went to Peckerwood!! do tell!
got the peckerwood pics ready to go, just have to draft the post!
OMG the wine bottle border is amazing…you are a genius and I miss you! M
oddly enough, there’s no campari bottle in the border yet… we should work on that, don’t you think? miss you too, still planning on a site visit to your new home and garden this july…!!!
Love the house numbers. I’ve looked everwhere for modern numbers – for years now – and I finally found some at ACE hardware but I had to go across the border, ordder them and have them shipped back home! Can’t wait!
I love your new house numbers and the welded man is fabulous — what a wonderful addition to your garden.
Lisa
P.S. It’s unfortunate that you can’t recycle green and brown glass! Hmm — surely there’s a market for it not too far away?