Middletown, NY on Jul 22, 2012

My Topsy/Turvy Planter

This is my topsy/turvy planter. I decided to put it on a Shepherd's hook instead of Rebar because I could only find 10ft legnths and didn't have the resources to cut one down. I decided also to hang a lantern from it. As you can see in the first picture I hung one of my old lanterns but then changed it to a newer one I'd bought recently and didn't know where I was going to hang it. I got the general idea for a topsy/turvy planter from Beth H...thank you! I would have loved to make one just like hers but time and money ran out so I used what I could find in my yard.

32 Comments Displaying 25 of 32 comments | See Previous

Jeanette Country Design S... Payson, AZ

Love it that you just adapted and hung a lantern.

on Jul 23, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Yeah Marg!! YOU DID IT - and added you own twist to it!! I love the lantern hanging on the shepherd's hook!! FANTASTIC ;~)

on Jul 23, 2012 · Like 1
Patty S Sturgeon Bay, WI

Very inovative Marg, love the look and the rustic charm.

on Jul 23, 2012 · Like 1
Marg C Middletown, NY

thank you ladies! Teresa...I only had to make the hole larger in each pot. I used 1-1/4 CarbideGrit hole saw(which go right on a regular drill)...and then just slipped the pot on to the pole....I was surprised that when I put the pot on the hook part that it made all the curves up and over the shepherds hook and then down the pole. Then just plant as usual. Everything in the pots are annuals except the bottom pot which has Tickseed and I'll plant that in the ground in the fall as it's ...»
a Perennial. I just used what I had laying around to get the job done quick.

on Jul 23, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

So Marg - can you actually light the lantern? That would be pretty cool if you could!!

on Jul 24, 2012 · Like 1
Marg C Middletown, NY

I changed the battery operated lantern with a real lantern today. It looks so nice.
- 2
on Jul 24, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Now that is really beautiful Marg!! Love the effect ;~)

on Jul 25, 2012 · Like 1
Marg C Middletown, NY

thank you Susan!

on Jul 26, 2012 · Like 0
Marg C Middletown, NY

I now have the hummingbird feeder hanging from it and I think that will be the permanent fixture for this year :) Just wait until next year! One by the mailbox, one by the front steps, one by the........hehehehehe!

on Jul 27, 2012 · Like 1
Leida R Tampa, FL

Marg C, VERY NICE!!! I think you as well as I have gotten Topsy/Turvy Planter happy, but I haven't done any YET. LOL!!!

on Jul 27, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Actually Marg, if you have at least a couple of h'bird feeders it kind of gives them a little leeway. They tend to be very territorial so if you keep the feeders a little out of view from each other, then they all get a chance to sip nectar. There's usually always one or two who constantly chase each other and try to keep everyone else away from the feeders. If they can't see who's at one of them then everybody plays well! But, on the other hand, some of their antics are pretty funny when it comes to who's the top hummer!!

on Jul 27, 2012 · Like 0
Marg C Middletown, NY

lol Susan! I know exactly what you're talking about... I have 5 feeders total and love watching them....they are VERY territorial...lots of buzzing going around in my yard, past my head too when I sometimes am near one of the feeders :). I even have a little chubby one that sits on a shepherds hook near one of my kitchen windows and watches me do the dishes. He stays for a long time. I love it. I can reach out my other kitchen window and grab another feeder to fill it and they will ...»
hover at the window as if to say "hey! bring that back here!". lol.

on Jul 27, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Oh - I thought it sounded like you only had the 1 feeder!! My Bad-sorry 'bout that!! Yeah, they can be so comical at times and when we bring the feeders in to clean & refill them, the hummers just hover and look soooo confused sometimes!! BTW- where's Sherrie been?? Haven't heard much from her lately?? Anybody know?

on Jul 28, 2012 · Like 1
Patty S Sturgeon Bay, WI

Love it Marg, lighted is so charming. I love how aw-inspiring everone is. :0)

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 2
Marg C Middletown, NY

Leida...do you plan on making one?

on Jul 31, 2012 · Like 0
Leida R Tampa, FL

Marg C, yes I'm planning on making one sort of the one you did with a Shepherd's hook.

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 1
Marg C Middletown, NY

nice! The one I'll be doing next year will all be the same color :) Different pots of the same color :)

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

OK, so how do you use a Shepherd's Hook to do this? Mine have an "H" sort of configuration at the botton where you sink it into the ground and the top has too much of a curve to slide the pots over?????

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 0
Marg C Middletown, NY

ok then....I used a 1-1/4 carbide hole saw to make the drain hole larger. I didn't plan on using the Shepherds hook but the pole I had was 10ft and I had no way of cutting it down to 8ft. I thought to myself how would look if I could use the pots on the Shepherds hook and tried to slip the pot up and over the hook and to my amazment it worked! So, just put the hook end in to the hole and slide the pot right up and over the curve and down the pole. It really does work if your pots are ...»
8" rounded pots. I didn't try terra cotta shaped pots but they might work too.
My SH also has the H configuration at the bottom. Bang it into the ground and slip a pot on, plant, do the next pot, plant and so on. It's nice and sturdy. I think the weight of the pots also help keep it in place and weighted.

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

HMMMMM - well go figure!! The two SH's we have are very firmly planted cause my hubby had those "topsy-turvey" tomatoe planters on them for a couple of years and that was some serious weight!! BTW- don't bother w/the tomatoe things!! I'm just gonna have to go digging through my pots and see what I have that might work. Gettin kind of late in the season though . . . . . :<(

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 0
Marg C Middletown, NY

late in the season for VA? nah!

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 0
Clearissa Poston Cary, NC

Really, really cute. I'm new to this, but think I can adapt this project. Love the latern idea! I will be trying this one! Thanks Marg.

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Marg C Middletown, NY

thanks Clearissa! next year I'm going with pots that are all one color, I think it might look better but these are all I had on hand this year :)

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Clearissa Poston Cary, NC

Oh I love the designing on a budget. Sometimes the budget is smaller than others. It just shows your creativity. :)

on Aug 11, 2012 · Like 2
Marg C Middletown, NY

thank you :D

on Aug 11, 2012 · Like 0

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My Topsy/Turvy Planter

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