For Dutch designer Debbie Wijskamp, creating handmade peices begins with the material itself. Taking her cue from artisans worldwide who use found matter for making everyday objects, as well as from contemporary environmental designers such as Victor Papanek, William McDonough, and Tony Fry, Debbie began experimenting with making paper pulp from old newspapers, shortly after graduating from the Institute of the Arts in Arnhem.

Today she uses paper from a recycling plant to create earthy, textured vases and furniture, and because the entire process—from material, to mold, to finish—is completed by hand, each piece is truly one-of-a-kind.

Above: Debbie's designs, which are distributed through Serax, resemble heavy materials such as clay or concrete, but in reality are much more lightweight. And even though they are paper, they are waterproof.

Above: Occasionally Debbie also adds color, like tomato red or this vibrant chartreuse.

Above: Debbie's Large Paper Pulp Urns are available online through Klevering; 35€.

Above: in addition to earthy hues, the paper pulp vessels also come in black and white. A small Black Paper Pulp Vase is available through Between the Dog and The Wolf; £13.

Above: The French shop Colonel carries three sizes of Debbie's Paper Pulp Vases both online and at its Paris store; 15-35€.

Above: Weighted by water, this tall urn is sturdy enough for the large branches of a blooming magnolia.

Want to explore more creative uses for old print? Artist Cecelia Levy recycles old books as art in Garden Stories, Told in Paper.

Looking for more recycled designs? See all of our eco-friendly favorites at Remodelista.

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Fiddle Leaf Fig, Ficus lyrata: "Fiddler Under the Roof"

Fiddle leaf fig plants have little to do with fiddles—or figs, for that matter. Unlike their cousins in the fig, or ficus, family, fiddle leaf figs do not produce fruit. And you will not hear them playing Mendelssohn’s concerto in E minor on the violin. However, fiddle leaf fig plants speak to a refined aesthetic palate and are a testament to good taste on the part of their owners. Interior design bloggers are enamored with the fiddle leaf fig; in the background of many a stylish photo shoot, you will spot its rounded, dinner-plate leaves flopping in many directions.

Above: For more images, see Fiddle Leaf Figs in our Gardenista Gallery.

In the U.S., the fiddle leaf fig usually grows indoors, in living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms where filtered sunlight is available. It looks dashing in an all-white space, where it provides a focal point for visual interest. The fiddle leaf fig is equally at home in a Persian-carpeted den of antiquities as in the spare pad of an Ikea lover. With its blunt-edged, guitar-pick shaped leaves lilting at all angles, the fiddle leaf fig resembles the blue plants in a collage by Matisse, or else a wonkily off-balance Calder mobile sculpture. (Be careful: the fiddle leaf fig has been known to induce name-dropping.)

Above: Photograph by John Merkl for Gardenista.

Cheat Sheet:

• If you have humid summers, bring a fiddle leaf fig outdoors in warm weather to remind it of its native jungle climate.
• Evergreen; hardy in growing zones 9-11.
• Good companion to: your furniture.

Keep It Alive:

• When its soil feels dry, give a fiddle leaf fig tepid water and make sure it drains well.
• Prefers bright, indirect sunlight.
• The best time to re-pot is in the spring, when a fiddle leaf fig naturally enjoys a growth spurt.

Above: Photograph by Daniel Kanter of Manhattan Nest.

Though of course they are not actually fiddlers, fiddle leaf fig plants have an artistic temperament. They require just the right amount of filtered sunlight: not too much or the leaves will burn, and not too little, or they will shrivel up and leave you in a costly lurch, as the plants are often priced around $50. At such an exorbitant rate, your fiddle leaf fig deserves a beautiful planter—not too large though, or your plant is liable to get stage fright and die. As far as water, the fiddle leaf fig is closer to a starving artist. It is able to subsist on watering only once a week when the soil feels dry. If you can put up with the diva behavior, you'll have screen-worthy results.

The world's most famous fiddle leaf figs? You've seen them on Pinterest; here's Where They Live.

Read More:

For more, see 10 Tips for Caring for a Fiddle Leaf Fig. Looking for the right houseplant? See 250 images of our favorite Houseplants in our Gardenista Gallery. Browse the rest of our favorite plants in our Field Guide archive.

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The Red Chair in Hudson, New York is an antique shop that transports shoppers to another time and place. The place? A melting pot of Southern France and Scandinavia. The time? A mélange of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The goods? A highly edited palette of white and soft brown furnishings, lighting, and linens. Owner Jocie Sinauer's combination of romance with an eye for good design mean there's nothing cloying about this store. The shop was recently featured in stylist Hilary Robertson's The Stuff of Life, photographed by Anna Williams and published by Ryland and Peters. 

No surprise, it's the tiny courtyard garden that caught our eye. Sinauer has a thing for the Medieval courtyards of Southern France and fortunately for her (and for us), her shop spills out the back into a charming outdoor space where a revolving collection of objects are for sale. Pieces gathered on buying trips to Europe range from architectural salvage to antique urns and cloches, to seating and tables. Her most recent haul will be available to shoppers in late May. Shoppers: be on the look out for Sinauer's exciting score of large 19th century handblown glass cloches from France, or the perfect specimens of large handkerchief planters that she found lightly covered in moss and lichens. Also not to be missed: stone troughs, iron urns, and a collection of English conservatory planters. 

Sinauer explains the European influence of her courtyard design: "It's the way they utilize their spaces in Europe, no matter how small—layering plants on walls like climbing roses, nestling in seating for alfresco dining," says Sinauer. Topiary and a shifting palette of greens with interesting textures are her go-to plants.

Photography by Anna Williams.

Above: Cafe-style tables and chairs are a staple at The Red Chair. Romantic hits of architectural salvage, like the statue shown here, getting paired with more modern stone spheres is very much what The Red Chair and Jocie Sinauer are known for.

Above: Topiary is a favorite of Sinauer's and adds charm to the courtyard.

Above: Large oyster shells, unique terra cotta pieces, and a mix of plants fill the tiny garden space.

Above: The walls of the courtyard were left in their natural patina and give the garden that European vibe, transporting shoppers to another time and place. Stone troughs, concrete containers, and ladders for displaying small potted plants are all part of the mix at The Red Chair.

Above:  Jocie Sinauer is always on the hunt for interesting terra cotta pots, which she displays beautifully on old wooden step ladders.

Above: Curious to see more? Visit the shop for yourself at 606 Warren Street, Hudson NY, 12534 or read more about it in Required Reading: The Stuff of Life on Remodelista. For more from Hilary Roberston, see Marrying Pots and Plants at Mrs. Robertson in Fort Greene.

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We're happy to see more fans out there for ceramic artist Frances Palmer, because we love visiting her country garden in Weston, Connecticut (which we wrote about here), and seeing the hand-thrown pottery she creates in her studio (you can read about that on Remodelista). The May issue of Martha Stewart Living features an article about the kitchen garden Palmer has set up in an unusual spot: an unused tennis court. Much like the way an exercise bicycle that has become a coat tree can prey on your mind, a neglected tennis court sprouting weeds can also induce guilt. Here's how Frances Palmer got the upper hand—and how you can Steal This Look.

Above: Frances Palmer's backyard tennis court had languished ever since her three grown children had left home. Rather than sit and watch the weeds grow, Palmer decided to install raised beds to grow vegetables and flowers. "It was flat, sunny, and already fenced in,” she says. Photograph by Peden + Munk, courtesy of Martha Stewart Living.

Above: Palmer playfully planted flowers in crevices in the tennis court's surface. The vegetable crop, however, grows in raised beds whose soil can be carefully nurtured. Photograph by Peden + Munk, courtesy of Martha Stewart Living.

Above: Palmer's tennis court was already surrounded by chain-link fence, to help keep the balls inside. The same fence now keeps deer out. A roll of green Yardgard 9-Gauge Green Chain Link Fabric is 4 feet by 50 feet; $117 from Home Depot. (If marauding deer are a problem in your area, you may need to go higher. A 5-foot-high roll of Yardgard 14-Gauge Vinyl Galvanized Welded Wire is $62.

Above: Heavy-duty 13-gauge metal fence posts are notched to secure the fencing fabric. A 7-foot-high Yardgard Metal U Channel Fence Post is $7.98 from Home Depot.

Above: If you install your own fence, you will need to dig 2-foot-deep holes for the fence posts (set them in a concrete and gravel bed). Save your back by using a post hole digger designed to dig straight down into the ground. A steel Fiskars Post Hole Digger with a 6-inch blade spread is $59.99 from Grow Organic.

Above: You can make your own raised beds from scratch if you have the carpentry skills. If not, order some Minifarmbox Raised Bed Kits, available in two sizes. A 4-foot-square kit and a 4-by-8-foot rectangular kit are made of FSC-certified cedar; $158 and $378 respectively at Grow Organic.

Above: Palmer, who has a passion for dahlias (she grows more than 100 varieties in her cutting garden), doesn't hesitate to mix flowers with vegetables. See her tips for How to Grow Dahlias at Garden Design. Photograph by Frances Palmer. Some of our favorite varieties include Skipley Spot (available seasonally from Clearview Dahlias), Hollyhill Chloe ($7 from Corralitos Gardens), and Atropurpurea ($6.38 from Old House Gardens).

Above: Bamboo tuteurs will support tall dahlia stalks and climbing beans. Palmer makes her own; to do the same, start with a set of 25 Bamboo Poles available in three heights at prices ranging from $15.95 to $79.95 per set from Gardener's Supply. Lash them together with Nutscene Garden Twine; a 500-foot roll is $15.95 from Kaufmann-Mercantile.

Above: When garden space is limited, look for pumpkins with reduced-length vines, like this Charisma Pumpkin. The pumpkins are light orange in color and resistant to powdery mildew. Seeds are $3.65 per seed packet from Johnny's Selected Seeds.

Above: Nasturtiums contribute sunny colors to a vegetable-bed border. Palmer and her husband like to entertain friends at a table set up right on the repurposed tennis court. She's been known to place nasturtium leaves under the cheeses on a wooden board. A packet of Whirlybird Mix nasturtium seeds is $2.15 per packet from Stokes Seeds.

Above: Palmer's studio is in this barn that overlooks the vegetable garden. It's a quick stroll to harvest the greens for a salad lunch. Photograph by Peden + Munk, courtesy of Martha Stewart Living. 

Above: Palmer's garden is featured in the May issue of Martha Stewart Living.

Choosing dahlias? We have more thoughts on that subject; see Dahlia Fever in San Francisco. And if you're wondering how to arrange your spring flowers, see our recent post about Frances Palmer's Bud Vases.

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• Garden Visit: The Red Chair Hudson, NY
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We recently spotted these woven leather chairs made by Long Beach, California designer, Eric Trine. While their simple, laid-back beach vibe reminds us of spending a day outside lounging, we think they look sophisticated enough to belong inside too.

Available in a range of custom frame and seat options, each chair is made to order by Trine, who graduated with a BFA in fine arts in Interdisciplinary Studio Art from Biola University in 2007 and an MFA in Applied Craft and Design via Pacific Northwest College of Art and the Oregon College of Art and Craft in 2013. That same year, he was named to Sight Unseen’s American Design Hot List: "a totally unscientific, unapologetically subjective portfolio of the 25 emerging and semi-emerging furniture and product designers we think you should know now."

Suffice to say, we're glad to be acquainted—with Eric Trine and with his Rod + Weave Chair, especially.

Above: A custom Rod + Weave with an ombré leather seat and back, white power coated steel frame, and wooden arm rests.

Above: The classic  Rod + Weave Chairs with Powder-Coated Steel Frame is made with a natural vegetable oil tanned leather woven seat and back and a powder coated steel frame that comes in either white or black; $1,200.

Above: Each chair is made to order by Eric and can be shipped or made available for local pickup in from six to eight weeks. 

Above: For a slightly elevated look, the Rod + Weave Chair with Copper Frame has a subtle elegance. The steel hex rod frame is copper plated and available for $1,950.

Above: A cheerful rainbow-colored version with white powder-coated steel frame was custom-made for Poketo in 2012.

Above: Another custom option; a mint-colored powder coated steel frame was designed for the East, Meet West exhibition in 2013. New versions of the chair will be on display at the Sight Unseen OFFSITE during New York Design week, May 16-20.

For another elegant redesign of a classic shape, see The Adirondack Chair Reimagined and browse all of our Furniture posts. On Remodelista, get lost in our archive of Beach Style posts.

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Living in New York City, I'm a sucker for anything that adds a little green to my life. Though live plants absolutely do the trick, I also cannot live without the large landscape photographs that adorn my apartment and provide a visual escape from the concrete jungle.

Above: Photograph by Melissa Kasemann. 

The photograph that hangs above the stove in photographer Emily Nathan's kitchen looks as if it were a window looking into a greenhouse. Paired with her white vases and flowers, her kitchen looks like the perfect place to cook or relax with a cup of tea.  Here's how to create a similar look in your kitchen: 

Above: Emily Nathan's "La Banane" is $700 from the Tiny Atlas Quarterly shop.

Above: My go-to places for frames are A.I. Friedman's in Manhattan or Ikea. This Virserum Frame from Ikea is $22.99, and has a thick white edge, like Emily's. 

Above: To recreate the collection of white vessels on Emily's counter, I'd be tempted to choose a set of Frances Palmer Hand Pitchers; $125 each. Each could double as a vase for flowers. (To see more from Frances, check out her Tennis Court Garden.)

Above: For a more affordable option, the Carafe Vase by West Elm is $23 and would go well with Frances's small pitchers. 

 Above: For a similar white bowl, I love the Footed Mixing Bowl from Food52; $36.

Above: Draped from Emily's oven is a rumply kitchen towel. The Washed Waffle Towel in Natural ($19 from Fog Linen) is an absorbent option and would be perfect to use as a kitchen tea towel.

Above: Instead of the bright yellow spoon rest on Emily's stove, I opted for a subtler off-white option. The porcelain Spoon Rest from Food 52 is $20.

Above: Also spotted on the stove, a collection of tiny bowls. For a touch of color, I might choose one of these Shell Bisque Handmade Bowls; $6.50 each from Canvas.

Above: If you're like me, the kettle is always in use, and always on the stove top, so a beautiful kettle goes a long way. Emily's copper tea kettle takes center stage in her kitchen. For a similar look, I like the Handmade Copper Tea Kettle; $395 from Kaufmann Mercantile. 

Above: Next to the stove, Emily has a handy workstation with a stainless steel top. The similar Fisher Kitchen Island is $1,819 and comes in a range of colors. For a more affordable option, the Crosely Furniture Stainless Steel Top Kitchen Cart/Island w/Optional Stool Storage is $328. To personalize it, sand it and then stain it with your preferred color, and replace the handles with something unique. 

Find more kitchen island inspiration in 10 Easy Pieces: Instant Kitchen Islands on Remodelista. Or to steal more good ideas, see our archive of Steal This Look posts.

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Some flowers were never meant to be cut, withering to nothing as soon as they are plucked. Others, it seems, are oblivious to being severed from their original stem. Want to know which spring flowers create the longest lasting bouquets? I put this season's favorites to the test, to see which blooms fared best as cut flowers.

Photography by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

DAY 1

Above: My lab, set up in a cool, dark corner of the house, included the following fresh flowers from Winston Flowers and Garden (L to R): hyacinth, narcissus, sweet pea, grape hyacinth, lilac, ranunculus, and a cherry branch.

Above: After giving my flowers a fresh cut, I placed each in its own water, where it could enjoy its favored temperature. For example, woody stems such as lilacs prefer slightly warmer water, while most others prefer cool. Note that woody stems also benefit from being cut or shaved at a very long angle. Some people swear by smashing or scoring woody stems to allow for maximum water intake. I chose a cherry branch whose buds were still tight.

Above: A close up on fresh sweetpeas.

Above: I bought two narcissus stems, one in full bloom and one that was just coming out.

Above: I started with a ranunculus in almost full bloom, because it has been my experience that unlike a tulip or a rose, after being cut a ranunculus will open only slightly. Buds like the ones shown here will not open in water.

Above: I'd heard that tulips last longest when placed in ice water so I decided to put this theory to the test by dividing my tulips into regular cool water (L) and ice water (R).

DAY 2

Above: For the purposes of my experiment, I changed the water every day to keep my blooms as fresh as possible. Here on day two, everything's still looking good.

DAY 4

Above: By day four, I began to lose some of my more delicate specimens. Here, my sweet peas are beginning to wilt.

Above: I particularly enjoy the sweet scent of lilacs in the home, but even when cut from the branches in my very own yard, they never seem to last more than a few days. By diligently shaving the stems and replacing the water each day, I was hoping to extend their shelf life. Alas, by day four, these were also starting to fade.

Above: My fully open narcissus also started to wither, but the tight bud was just starting to open.

Above: Tight on day one, my cherry blossoms were opening quite nicely by day four.

Above: By day four, I noticed only a slight difference between ones in the ice versus the regular water. Perhaps they are a bit brighter?

Above: Still going strong, the hyacinths on day four are drooping only due to the weight of their blooms. If you don't like this look, you can simply cut the stems a bit shorter.

DAYS 5-8

Above: Though the ranunculus gave out on day five, on day seven the two different hyacinths, tulips, and the cherry were still hanging in there. The tulips and grape hyacinths were gone by day six. The regular hyacinths lasted two days longer, but I tossed them by day eight.

DAY 10

Above: The winner! Here is my cherry branch on day ten. It actually hung around another four days. At two weeks, this guy was definitely the longest lasting bloom in the bunch. 

Obviously results may vary. In a bouquet I bought a couple of weeks ago, my sweet peas lasted almost a week. A cherry branch that I bought for a friend last week is already starting to fade (but she did not change the water). 

My takeaway is that freshness is key.

• If you can't harvest flowers from your own garden, try to buy them as locally as possible. Ask your florist or grocer where the flowers came from or try to buy what is in season in your area right now.
• Find a florist you really trust. Though I have had some success with less reputable flower shops and grocery stores, it's really luck of the draw. For the most consistent results, I opt for florists whom I know take great pride in the quality of their product.
• Fresh, cool water (except for woody stems) changed often also seems to help. 

N.B.: Want more tips for extending the life of your flowers? Erin experimented with popular preservatives in the water in Tried and Tested: How to Make Fresh Flowers Last Longer, while I recently explored How to Make A Vase of Flowers Last a Week. 

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What is better than a hardworking tray that actually looks better as it ages? Galvanized metal trays are rust resistant, strong, and can take on a number of outdoor (and indoor) entertaining roles: drink carrier, food server, candle holder, and potted plant perch. They also can handle tougher jobs like gardening supplies carrier and vegetable harvest collector. Here are ten favorites:

Above: The Vintage Galvanized Caddy has a base of salvaged wood and sides of galvanized metal. It is 20 inches in diameter with 4-inch-high sides perfect for corralling drinks; $89.99 at Williams-Sonoma.

Above: The oval Summer Oasis Galvanized Tray has jute-wrapped handles. It measures 19.7 by 12.4 inches and is $28 at Dillard's.

Above: These Galvanized Oval Iron Trays have twisted iron handles. The trays range in length from 16.25 (small) to 26 inches (medium) to 33.75 inches (large) and are priced individually (but work great as a set). They are $54, $76, and $104 respectively at Iron Accents.

Above: This round Galvanized Serving Tray is 18 inches in diameter and has wooden carrying handles; $39.95 at Sur La Table.

Above: Woodland Imports Two-Piece Serving Tray Set is made with a galvanized iron base and 4-inch-high wire net sides. The trays measure 19 by 8 inches and 20 by 10 inches respectively; $68 for the set at Wayfair.

Above: A Set of Three Round Galvanized Trays has bent metal handles and round stamping around the perimeter. The trays measure 13, 15, and 18 inches in diameter and are $45 through Amazon.

Above: Chunky rope handles adorn Cheungs Galvanized Oval Trays. The set of three can be used as planters or serving pieces and range in size from 11 inches to 15.75 inches in length; $39 at Wayfair.

Above: Galvanized steel Biergarten Serving Trays have an antiqued finish. A set of two (18 by 12 inches and 22 by 16 inches) is $100 at Iron Accents.

Above: A Galvanized Oval Tin Tray measures 19 by 14.5 inches and has metal handles and ribbing; $31 through Amazon.

Above: Low sides and a large surface area maximize the food-serving capabilities of the 24-Inch Round Galvanized Metal Serving Tray with curved metal handles; $61.94 at Lights for All Occasions.

Above: A Round Galvanized Tray measures 15 inches in diameter and has jute rope handles; $14.99 at World Market. 

Above: A generously sized Rectangular Galvanized Metal Tray from Pottery Barn measures 27 by 15 inches and has a traditional wooden handle (serving buckets not included); $39.50.

We think Galvanized Metal Troughs are great for holding plants. And, on Remodelista, we've rounded up an appealing collection of Galvanized Containers to hold flowers and cool drinks.

Thinking about spring window boxes? See our favorites at 10 Easy Pieces: Wooden Window Boxes and 10 Easy Pieces: Metal Window Boxes.

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In Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Holly Golightly visited the jewelry store on bad days. She admired “its quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there."

And if Ms. Golightly were a nature girl? She’d have gone to The Gardener—just as quiet and proud, and capable of reassuring visitors that nothing bad could ever happen there. Bedecked with enormous, handmade wooden bowls, lusciously dyed textiles, and exotic rare orchids, the stores in Berkeley and San Francisco are well-known in the Bay Area. 

But comparatively few beat a path to The Gardener's quietest location in Healdsburg, deep in wine country, off the main tourist drag. The Healdsburg shop has a garden which is responsible for the stores’ flower arrangements, handmade sachets, and gift decorations. It also feeds the store’s owner, Alta Tingle, and provides inspiration and rest for employees and visitors alike.

Photography by Liesa Johannssen for Gardenista.

The garden, open to customers, feels personal because the store’s owner, Alta Tingle, lives next to the shop. The garden grows many uncommon varieties of tree and flower. “We want the stores to have things that are not like everything else. The garden helps us do that,” says Alta’s daughter, Donna Tingle, who handles The Gardener’s operations and curates the Healdsburg shop.

Above: Hammocks and lawn chairs in the shade of a giant tree outside the shop’s entrance. It’s a favorite hangout spot for Alta and for kids.

Above: A colorful hammock dares customers to take a nap.

Above: Originally, the garden was three-quarters of an acre of weeds, with two cars abandoned on the property; Alta's house was originally a biker bar. There's now a cutting garden, currently filled with poppies, and intermediate euphorbia. Artichoke forms a border behind the cutting garden. To the right, a lane of persimmon trees—three varieties each of Fuyu and Hachiya—produce swags for the stores. To the left, a path of decomposed granite leads to the open-air ramada.

Above: The garden path is lined with furry Roman chamomile, creeping thyme, and low-growing sedum.

Above: “We tell stories with our merchandise. They're not just things—they are part of a lifestyle,” said Donna. A sculptural chair by local artisans gives visitors reason for pause on the garden path.

Above: The ramada, where visitors have been known to linger after the store has closed. The clean, well-defined lines of the chairs balance the softer texture of the poplars in the background. In the summer, the field behind is covered with nodding red dahlias. 

Above: A patch of collards and other edibles skirts the perimeter of the store, feeding Alta and the store’s employees. Beyond the edible garden, a collection of locally made topiary frames and trellises.

Above: Classic Fermob French bistro tables in bright colors. 

Above: A collection of three plants at the shop's entrance. Mixing woods is a signature look at The Gardener.

Above: A rear view of the garden. The shop is housed in a converted barn, and contains the handmade and the hard-to-find. “We try to approach retail like you approach a garden—you edit,” says head gardener Cindy Pugh.

Above: Inside, a hanging sculpture of wire mesh and tillandsia anchors the room. Gray-green serrated leaves from a garden cardoon fill a planter. 

Above: The Gardener is at 516 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

Looking for an excuse to plan a trip to wine country? See MIX Garden, Healdsburg's Well Considered Shop with a Mission and A Modern Grange Opens in Healdsburg, Kombucha Bar Included on Remodelista.

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In our ideal world, green roofs would be ubiquitous—we're thinking Scandinavia from the time of the Vikings until the late 19th century. And no, it’s not because we are nostalgic for a more picturesque past. We’re actually looking to create a new future, one where entire town roofscapes are living and green, leaving the legacy of a healthier environment. How difficult would that be, we wanted to know? Here’s what we found. 

Above: A green roof tops an artist's cottage, designed by Feldman Architecture. Photograph by Joe Fletcher.

What is a green or living roof?

A green or living roof is a specially engineered rooftop that supports vegetation and plant life to the benefit of the environment. There are three categories of green roofs; depending on how deep the planting medium is and how much maintenance they require: intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive. Intensive green roofs recreate the conditions of a traditional garden above ground and are require substantial effort to maintain. At the opposite end of the spectrum are extensive green roofs, which are self-sustaining with tough and drought-resistant plants, making them relatively maintenance-free (they're the ones we'd like to see everywhere).

Above: A living roof designed by Rothschild/Schwartz for a couple nearing ninety in Sausalito, CA keeps the house cool in summer and warm in winter. Photograph via Rothschild/Schwartz.

How are green roofs good for the environment?

We all know the benefits that plants and vegetation provide for the environment. Green roofs in urban environments pack an extra punch because they replace greenery lost to dense neighborhood blocks of buildings.

Green roofs reduce air pollution through plant respiration while mitigating against heat gain as the plants absorb and retain the sun's warmth. Traditional roofing materials, on the other hand, re-emit the sun's heat and cause temperatures in cities to be higher than in surrounding rural areas.

With their ability to absorb rainwater and act as a filter, green roofs decrease surface runoff, keeping water supplies freer of pollutants while reducing the chances of flooding. Buildings with green roofs have built in thermal insulators and do not require as much power to heat and cool. And finally, green roofs create valuable habitats for wildlife, helping to preserve and promote biodiversity for the future.  

Above: A detail of the drainage and gutter system for a green roof designed by Feldman Architecture. Photographs by Joe Fletcher.

How are green roofs made?

Modern green extensive roof systems are from 1 to 4 inches thick and are composed of manufactured layers that support a growing medium and vegetation. The five primary layers include a waterproof membrane, a root protection barrier, a drainage layer, a growing medium, and plants. 

Above: A diagram of a green roof and its component layers. Image via Safeguard Store. 

What types of plants will grow on a green roof?

The two most important factors to consider when choosing plants are how much maintenance you want to undertake and how sunny your roof is. Remember when selecting your plants that many will have a dormant period, so if you want green color year round, add some evergreens to the mix. A general rule of thumb is that the more variety you plant, the thicker your growing medium must be, which increases the weight of your roof.

Above: Pallets of plants ready to be installed on a 1,000-square-foot green roof designed by Alive Structures. Photograph via Marni Majorelle.

How much maintenance does a green roof require?

At the minimum, an extensive 4-inch green roof system planted with mixed sedums (low-maintenance plantings) in its first year requires watering and weeding every few months. In the second year, it only will need to be weeded three or four times and after that, just once a year. You will need to fertilize once a year.

At the other end of the spectrum, depending on what you plant, maintenance requirements can increase to the point where you might want to consider an irrigation system. See Hardscaping 101: Drip Irrigation for details.

Above: For a residence in downtown New York City, Goode Green designed a 6,000-square-foot green roof that includes a wildflower meadow. Photograph via Goode Green.

Does the weight of a green roof require additional support?

Green roofs weigh more than traditional roofing materials and if you are considering installing one, it is best to consult with a structural engineer. While new construction can easily be designed to incorporate the weight loads of a green roof, retrofitting existing buildings requires careful consideration.

Above: A green roof in San Francisco by Feldman Architecture. 

How much does a green roof cost and how long will it last?

Standard 4-inch flat, extensive green sedum roofs are estimated at costing between $10 to $20 per square foot including materials, preparation and installation (which is significantly more expensive than the installation of a Traditional Asphalt Shingle Roof at an average of $1.20 a square foot). By protecting the roof membrane, however, a green roof can extend the life of a roof by two or three times beyond its typical lifespan. In Europe, where they have been building with green roofs since the 1960s, green roofs have been known to last for from 30 to 50 years. 

Above: Prickly pear (L) planted with blue fescue and native wildflowers on a New York City roof designed by Alive Structures.

Green roof recap:

Pros:

• Good for the environment
• Lower utility costs because of a green roof's thermal insulation properties
• Low-maintenance
• Long life

Cons: 

• Significantly higher initial installation costs than traditional roofs
• Heavier weight may mean incurring additional structural costs

Want to see more? Remodelista Architect and Designer Directory member Jonathan Feldman and landscape architect Jori Hook design two green roofs for Cottages in the Mill Valley Forest while we take a tour of the Academy of Sciences' Rooftop Garden. For more renovation ideas, see our catalog of Remodeling 101 and Hardscaping 101 posts. 

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In the heart of Middle England is Stamford, an outrageously pretty town. Miss Pickering's flower business is just off the High Street, in a low-ceilinged shop, serviced by a single window. It is heavenly without being twee and the business is far from provincial.

Photography by Miss Pickering except where noted.

Above: Miss Pickering, a name not to be quibbled with, was at school in Stamford. She saw the world via London, Italy, France, and Spain before deciding to move back here. In London's Notting Hill, she got a job with legendary florist Nikki Tibbles of Wild at Heart, taking phone orders. Miss P. left seven years ago, the same week as Vic Brotherson of Scarlet and Violet, another Wild at Heart alumna (see Shopper's Diary: Scarlet & Violet).

Above: With a concrete floor and low light, Miss Pickering's shop is a perfect stopping-off point in the journey of a cut flower. Fortunately the low-level lighting is flattering as well as practical. The shop building itself was built in 1463.

Above: Miss Pickering began to write a blog when she moved to Stamford from London, partly for the sake of her sanity. It was quickly picked up and is a wonderful read, not only for the afianced.

Above: Having sent an experimental bouquet to the editor of Country Living when her shop opened, Miss P. has been in demand ever since.

Above: Miss P.'s wedding flower business thrives on personal recommendations. Her brides have a good idea of Miss Pickering's style through the blog and through her posts on Instagram. They put their trust in her and may be persuaded to be more adventurous than they realized they could be, hitherto: "We're here to make something for someone else's day."

Above: The only permanent member of staff is the Hound. Miss Pickering likes to do everything herself, which is difficult to conceptualize: her weddings are not small and they are all over the country, though often in London or for London-based people. The Hound has his own blog.

Above: A wedding takes about a week to prep, from conditioning the flowers to figuring out the mechanics of building a floral arch for the church. Miss P. studied biophysics at university. She approaches each wedding with a healthy mix of emotions: "I'm excited and terrified in equal proportion." 

Above: Being located in the middle of the country has its advantages for getting to bigger projects; the shop in Stamford is also open from Tuesday to Saturday for bunches of flowers. Photograph by Kendra Wilson.

Above: Miss Pickering flowers is at 7 St. Paul's Street, Stamford PE9 2BE.

For more cut flowers that have a distinctly English style, see Wildflowers Delivered to Your Door. Getting married? See DIY: Secrets of Growing Your Own Wedding Flowers. How to keep your cut flowers from drooping? See DIY: How to Make a Vase of Flowers Last a Week.

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I love it when a vase does most of the floral designing work for me. Even better when it's a vase that's an objet d'art all on its own.

I recently came across a small company called Wsake run by a father and daughter team and based in Regensburg, a town in Southern Germany. The father is an experienced silversmith and the daughter is a trained graphic designer who grew up assisting in her father's workshop. Today the two collaborate on a series of brass vases with geometric openings that assist in showing off even the smallest group of carefully chosen stems picked from the garden or on a walk home.

Above: Wsake makes single Vase Caps out of brass that are meant to add to any glass tumbler (they measure about 3 inches in diameter). The caps are available with two different designs: the single wave (€75), shown left, and the double wave (€85) shown right.

Above: The full-size Big Can Vase is handmade entirely in brass and measures about five and a half inches tall by four inches in diameter. It's available with or without changeable caps; €130 for the vase alone.

Above: The caps designed for the Big Can Vase come in three different designs: a cap with a slim rectangular opening, another with a single off-center circular hole, and one with sixteen holes total for small stems; €85 for each cap.

Above: The Small Cap Vase measures about three and a half inches tall by two inches in diameter and can be purchased alone or with an accompanying geometrical cap. Caps come with either a round, square, or triangular opening; €120 for the vase and €65 for each cap.

For a look at some of my favorite easy-to-design-in vases, see our previous posts: Flower Arranging a la Parisienne and 10 Easy Pieces: Ikebana Vases.

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J. Wes Yoder usually refers to the 1962 Shasta camper that sits in his leafy East Nashville backyard as "the camper," but he says that when he's feeling especially Southern, he likes to call it "the trailer." Whatever you decide to call it, I think you'll agree that the tiny aluminum outbuilding on wheels is 100 percent charming. I first read about the Yoder's backyard retreat on Megan McEwen's Daytripper and I've been drumming up reasons to head to Nashville ever since. 

The Nashville, Tennesee novelist and author of Carry My Bones, had been wanting to make room for a garden house or writing shed in his yard when he came across a listing for a beat up camper on eBay—available immediately and ready for pickup just 45 minutes outside of town. With its canned-ham design, the camper wasn't the exact 1950s aluminum model Yoder originally had in mind for his outdoor workspace, but it was an affordable entry-level variation on the theme. Undaunted by the extensive renovations his new charge would require, he set to work gutting the camper and building an accompanying outdoor shower, bathhouse, and deck.

By the time Yoder finished the remodel, he had decided to recoup the renovation costs by listing the camper on Airbnb the very same day he completed the project. No surprise, it's been booked almost every night since he finished the project last October.

Above: Inside, Yoder worked wonders with a coat of fresh white paint. Cozied into one end of the camper is a double bed with built-in storage below. Clever grommeted curtains can be moved during the day to let in the light.

Above: Originally festooned in Budweiser paraphernalia, the camper's clean lines were emphasized with the addition of simple handmade and vintage furniture.

Above: A tiny kitchen complete with sink and hot plate provides guests a place to prepare meals.

Above: Less than two miles from downtown Nashville, the camper sits in a quiet residential neighborhood that doesn't have many other lodging options. Yoder provides a hand-drawn walking map of the neighborhood for guests. 

Above: Yoder built a transomed bathhouse complete with clawfoot tub with the help of his dad and uncle. He sought inspiration from garden sheds and outbuildings online and cobbled together plans for the simple outbuilding.

Above: A peek inside the bathhouse.

Above: For guests who prefer to shower al fresco, a simple outdoor shower above slate pavers set in gravel is hidden between the bathhouse and camper.

To book your own stay, visit Yoder's listing on Airbnb. Rates start at $95 per night. 

Inspired? See Wanderlust: 10 Airstream Trailers for Living Small and 5 Essentials for the Retro Camper on Remodelista or browse the rest of our Outbuildings archive.

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Our friends at Etsy had a hunch that we've been visiting their gardening marketplace. Maybe it was that Michelle finally found the 1970s style wooden planters she'd been looking for through a seller on Etsy or maybe it was our post on wooden bead hanging planters that gave them the hint. Either way, they asked us to curate a collection of our favorite garden-related Etsy goods and share some tips for keeping plants happy indoors. Take a look at some of the handmade and vintage products we found, and head to the Etsy blog for our full post.

Above: We picked this Vintage Large Glass Apothecary Jar ($40 from Kibster) because it's big enough to accommodate a hefty bouquet or just a few architectural branches.  

Above: Good gardening shears can become a close friend when tackling a pruning project. We like these Vintage Garden Shears from the 1950s; $24 from TriBecas Vintage. 

Above: Are you surprised to see that a Brass Watering Can from England made it on the list? Didn't think so. CostaSul, the Etsy shop that sells this beauty, is currently on vacation but we think it's worth waiting for. 

Above: Our infatuation with marbling continues with handmade hanging Marbled Hanging Planters; $80 from Leah Ball. 

Above: We love a good multi-tasking vessel. When this porcelain vase isn't holding flowers, it can be topped with a cork stopper and used as kitchen storage. Although this larger one is no longer available, you still can pick up a smaller Simple White Vase; $40 from Vitrified Studio. 

Above: Some of us at Gardenista are apartment dwellers in SF and NYC without much outdoor space of our own. Since herbs can be the easiest plants to grow indoors, we picked an Herb Heirloom Seed Kit (tiny vials and wooden box included); $40 from Sarah Rainwater Design.

Take a look at a string of starry outdoor lights that Michelle found on Etsy and see Remodelista's post on Colorful Tables from an Etsy Star.

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Almost as American as apple pie, lilacs were first cultivated in this country by the founding fathers—both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington made entries in their journals about their preferred methods of lilac care. Perhaps this is why these fragrant spring blooms have a quality of old-fashioned elegance and country romance.

Around the same time that Jefferson was busy perfecting his own lilacs, Boston merchant Benjamin Bussey planted lilac hedgerows on land that would later be donated to the Harvard University and form the foundation of what has become one of the oldest and largest collections of lilacs in North America. Today, the lilac collection at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University boasts more than 400 plants representing nearly 200 distinct species, making it one of the most comprehensive and famous in the world.

This week, I spent a delightfully fragrant morning among the impressive display, documenting the breadth and depth of the lovely lilac.

Photography by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

Above: Native to temperate parts of Europe and Asia, lilacs or Syringa are members of the olive family (Oleaceae). Here, a Syringa hyacithiflora 'Louvais' blooms about a week earlier than the more common Syringa vulgaris.

Above: Syringa hyacithiflora 'Necker' has lush, pale pink blooms. 

Above: With opulent bluish flowers, the striking Syringa vulgaris 'President Lincoln' was one of my favorites. (N.B.: Want your own bush? Syringa Vulgaris President Lincoln is available from White Flower Farm (ships for spring planting); for availability and price, see White Flower Farm.)

Above: As old and established as the Arnold Arboretum is, it only make sense that it would have its own cultivar. Syringa chinensis 'Lilac Sunday' was cultivated from a seed supplied by the Beijing Botanical Garden and named after the arboretum's annual Lilac Sunday event, held each May since 1908.

Above: Another view of a lush Syringa chinensis 'Lilac Sunday'. Each year Lilac Sunday entices as many as 30,000 people to the arboretum.

Above: With abundant white blooms, Syringa vulgaris 'Frederick Law Olmsted' was named for the famous American landscape architect who designed both Central Park in New York City and the Arnold Arboretum.

Above: Two Frederick Law Olmsted lilacs line a path that their namesake designed.

Above: Syringa pubescens 'Hairy Lilac' has smaller blossoms than other cultivars and downy leaves.

Above: Benjamin Bussey, the wealthy merchant who donated much of the land for the arboretum, planted the first lilacs here. (The oldest specimen still in existence is from 1897, but arboretum officials guess that Bussey planted his lilac hedgerows in 1806.) The arboretum's gardeners have taken cuttings of the remnants of Bussey's lilacs and recreated the hedgerows on what's now called Bussey Hill. 

Above: Syringa vulgaris 'Atheline Wilbur' has rosy blossoms.

Above: It was the arboretum's first director and co-designer, Charles S. Sargent, who began predicting the best day to see the lilacs. After "the winter that wouldn't quit," the lilacs this year are a little late to open.

Above: Syringa vulgaris 'Jean Bart' has a striking double flower in dark magenta.

Above: A perfectly pruned Syringa vulagris 'Humphrey' looks pretty on a patch of lawn.

Above: The cut-leaf or fern-leaf Syringa protolaciniata 'Kabul' has leggy blooms and smaller leaves than other lilac varieties.

Above: No shrinking violet, the recently rediscovered Syringa vulgaris 'Hulda' displays proud, unabashedly purple blooms.

Lilac Care:

• Location, location, location. Much like people, lilacs thrive in the right spot: full sun with well-drained soil. If you give them this, they are a relatively low-maintenance shrub.
• Watering: Water lilacs with at least 1 inch per week, but don't drown them. They don't like it if their roots stay wet. 
• Pruning: According to the Arnold Arboretum, you should prune your lilac right after it blooms. Since flowers form in the summer, fall/winter pruning will effect the next season's bloom. Remove all dead blossoms and cut back flowering stem to the next set of leaves. To encourage new growth in older plants, cut 1/3 of the oldest stems back to the ground for three years. Remove excess suckers. 
• Fertilizer: Lilac don't require much and, in fact, too much nitrogen can affect the bloom. A general fertilizer in the spring and again after blooming should do the trick.
• Pests: Your lilacs don't mind the cold; keep lilacs clear of mulch in the winter, as mice and moles can find harbor under the cozy wood chips and eat the roots. 
• Disease: The most common problems for lilacs are powdery mildew fungus and scale. To combat powdery mildew, The Helpful Gardener suggests a green solution of 1/2 cup milk in a gallon of water sprayed over the leaves. The resulting sour milk culture leaves no room for the mildew. (Anyone ever tried this?) For scale, prune back the most invested branches, but don't compost. Project a hard spray on the plants to remove the "crawlers."
• Propagation: To share the lilac love, simply dig down on any suck to expose a bit of the root and separate from the mother plant. Place in the same soil you dug it from, mixed with a little organic matter and water thoroughly.

Above: To see the lilac collection for yourself, visit the Arnold Aboretum at 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130.

Want to see more lilacs? Erin conjured Gatsby glamor in Glamorous Lilacs Inspired by Daisy Buchanan. Can you spot the lilacs in A Room with a View in Upstate NY on Remodelista?

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In an ideal world, work would be defined by the tasks of pulling weeds and turning garden beds in the great outdoors instead of pushing papers in a stuffy building. Lucky for us, the editors at Remodelista spent the week proving that the office life doesn't require fluorescent lighting or generic cubicles.Here are a few of our favorite posts from their Working It issue. 

Above: Dalilah pays a visit to a bright and airy workplace of a fashion start-up in Office Visit: The Everlane Studio in San Francisco.

Above: Alexa acquaints us with a plant-filled home office in A Whiter Shade of Pale: Weaver Caitlin Emeritz at Home in Seattle.

Above: Sarah shows where some of our favorite garden planters are born in At Work in Silver Lake: Kelly Lamb's Art Studio.

Above: Hunching over a garden bed can be tough on the back and knees, but it turns out that sitting up at a desk all day can be even worse for our well-being. Julie joins the standing desk revolution in 5 Favorites: Longevity-Promoting Standing Desks.

Above: Running a business just a few blocks away from where you live? Sarah calls it the "ultimate walk-to-work situation." Read more in House Call: Joan at Home in LA.

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A few things we've had on our radar this week:

• Above: Remodelista's Alexa Hotz, shares her recipe for a spring bouquet with Food52. Photograph by Aya Brackett
• Marine-like life on land. 
• What's better than a fireplace inside? One that's outside, of course. 

• A naked almond cake topped with edible flowers. Photograph by Eva Kosmas of Adventures in Cooking.
• Gardens after nightfall. 
• 7 backyard upgrades, budget edition. 

• Above: Notes on arranging with lilacs. Photograph courtesy of Rip + Tan. 
• Eye-candy from Chealsea Flower Shows of years past. 
• A backyard parking lot turned rose garden. 

• Above: A giveaway! This handcrafted Garden Trugg ($72 at Archer Hard Goods) can be yours. Check out our Facebook page on Monday, May 19th for more details.
• Pastoral paradise in the Hamptons. 
• 4 steps to a DIY raised bed. 

Have a look at Outdoors In, our week of bringing the garden indoors. And for considered workspaces see Working It on Remodelista. For daily inspiration from the garden, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

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Some summer afternoons the sun beats down so relentlessly that white is the only acceptable color—to wear, to eat (hint: gelato), and to cool off the walls.

The Greeks get that right, with whitewashed walls that reflect light and keep interior temperatures comfortable even under a hot Mediterranean sun. Here's a simple recipe we spotted for making your own whitewash that may revive limp spirits enough to get you thinking about adding a dash of blue to the color scheme. For step-by-step instructions, see Greenchicafe:

Above: Whitewash can be used on plaster, concrete, masonry, and stone walls. Image via Travellerspoint.

Above: Whitewash is a mix of hydrated lime and water. For proportions, see Greenchicafe. Image via Bungalow Blue.

Above: A gallon of white wash will cover 250 square feet of concrete or 270 square feet of plaster. Image via Bungalow Blue.

Above: For accent trim, consider Annie Sloan Greek Blue Chalk Paint; it's £18.95 for a one-liter can or £5.95 for a sample pot from Annie Sloan. Image via Finding Silver Pennies.

N.B.: This is an update of a post originally published July 16, 2012 during our A La Plage issue.

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Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis: "The Brain Teaser"

For a plant believed to boost memory, rosemary is hardy enough to be forgotten—that is, until there is a Mediterranean dinner to cook, or any occasion that involves roasted lamb, potatoes, or chicken. Otherwise, this low-maintenance herb plays well by itself, no surprise given that it earned its Latin name, “dew of the sea,” by surviving on nothing but water vapor carried on the breeze. 

Above: See more images of Rosemary in our Gardenista Gallery.

Spending time alone on a Mediterranean crag, rosemary has ample time for contemplation; from Middle Ages apothecaries to modern herbalists, centuries of healers have believed in the herb’s memory-promoting prowess. It was ground into a poultice and chewed—bitter!—and also used, as it is now, to flavor food.

Above: Rosemary has delicate blue flowers. Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.

Rosemary rituals: it was thrown into graves so mourners would remember the dead, and handed to newlywed couples so they would, er, remember they were married. Appropriately, Ophelia grips a sprig at the end of Hamlet, symbolizing the forgotten promise of marriage. 

Above: Rosemary, a perennial in warm climates, can be trained as a low hedge.

Cheat Sheet:

• Rosemary transitions easily from indoors to out and grows as happily in containers as in the ground.
• Marries well in a windowsill garden with lemon balm, parsley, and mint.
• Tiny blue flowers summon bees to an herb garden.

Keep It Alive:

• Give rosemary full sun.
• Drought resistant; water occasionally if you keep it potted indoors.
• Plant seeds outdoors in early spring, two months before the last frost date.

Above: Rosemary seedlings can be set in a cold frame in small pots (with 2.5- to 5-inch diameters). Photograph by Erin Boyle. 

Shakespeare never answered our most salient question: what kind of rosemary was it between Ophelia’s chilly fingers? The Tuscan Blue, favored for its gentle flavor and small blue flowers, or the long-leafed Gorizia, ideal for drying and pestos? In winter, it would most likely be the Rosemary Arp, which perseveres in colder climes, but our guess is the creeping Rosemary Prostrate, the most aromatic variety and the most romantic, cascading over the edge of walls and the lip of hanging pots.

Read More:

Above: For more, see our archive of posts about Herbs. 

Planting your spring edible garden? We have more tips for you in Field Guide: Chives and Field Guide: Lettuce.

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If I ever have the opportunity to stay on an island in the middle of the Aegean Sea, rest assured that I'll want that vacation to include ample amounts of lounge time. A shady hammock on a balcony overlooking the crystalline waters? Perfect.

At the San Giorgio Mykonos, the designers have gotten the look just right. Simple and understated, there's nothing to distract an eager lounger, but enough to keep her comfortable. Read on for how you can recreate the look.

Above: Photograph courtesy of San Giorgio Mykonos.

A whitewashed balcony shaded by a simple canopy of bamboo looks luxurious without necessarily costing a fortune. No vacation home on a Greek island? You can still recreate the island look with a few simple components.

Above: Canopies offer welcome respites from summer sun, at the risk of feeling stuffy. But a canopy made of bamboo poles? It offers shade while also allowing a cool breeze to filter through. To recreate the look, position Bamboo Poles that are 1 inch in diameter by 6 feet long across an existing or just-built frame; $39.97 for a bundle of 25 poles at The Home Depot. Alternately, consider Bamboo Reed Garden Fence, which comes pre-attached. A 6-foot by 16-foot length of fence is $23.97 at The Home Depot.

Above: To secure the bamboo to the canopy frame, it looks like the San Giorgio has used square dowels. Poplar Square Dowels that are 36 inches long by 1 inch thick are $1.77 each at Home Depot.

Above: To cozy up your outdoor nook a bit, a simple throw pillow or two will do the trick. For pillows similar to the ones shown here, I found the Napoli Vintage Belgian Linen Pillow; from $75 to $110 from ABC Carpet & Home.

Above: Maybe the most important element of all: a comfortable hammock. The Big Sur Hammock looks breathable and plenty roomy at 84 inches wide and 72 inches long; $179 from Yellow Leaf Hammocks. (For more hammock options, see 10 Easy Pieces: Nap-Worthy Hammocks.)

Above: To complement the rustic look, the San Giorgio affixed its hammock using sturdy rope. A 1-inch thick Natural Manila Rope is $80 for a 75-foot-long crown bolt at Home Depot.

Above: In the doorway to the right, a gauzy curtain blows in the sea breeze. For a similar option, try the French-Belgian White Linen Panel; it's from $49.95 to $69.95 at CB2. 

To recreate the classically Greek whitewashed walls, see DIY: Whitewashed Greek Walls. To steal another look from the San Giorgio, see Steal This Look: San Giorgio Mykonos Hotel Bathroom on Remodelista.

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