Repeat after us: Shou sugi ban. Devised as a way to make wood less susceptible to fire and to keep away insects and rot, this longstanding Japanese method involves torching your building materials. The charred wood is long-lasting and hauntingly beautiful. And now charred wood for siding—and flooring—is widely available for domestic use. 

Above: Lumber retailers of late have begun to specialize in shou sugi ban. Shown here, a sampling of the shou sugi ban finishes offered by Delta Millworks in Texas, which focuses solely on burnt woods and works directly with private and commercial clients. Another provider is the reSawn Timber Co. of Bucks County, PA. In the UK, Shou-Sugi-Ban supplies, designs, and installs shou sugi ban cladding, flooring, and wall coverings in colors that it compares to "the dying embers of a log fire and the charred effects of a burnt wooden board." 

Above: Charred lumber for use as siding, fencing, decking, and flooring. Photograph via reSawn Timber Co.

Above: Delta Millworks and reSawn Timber Co. specialize in using cypress, as well as yellow pine and vertical grain Douglas fir, all grown in the southern US and treated with variety of burned finishes. Photograph via reSawn Timber Co.

Above: reSawn Timber Co.'s shou sugi ban with a subtle char.

Above: A house with shou sugi ban siding in Kajiyama, Japan, by Sakuma Studio. 

Above: Shou sugi ban siding and a living roof on a farmhouse in Sweden. Photograph via Basic Label Sweden.

Above: A modular studio (for use as a home office, guest room, or play space) made from shou sugi ban siding by Sett Studio of Austin, Texas. In addition to its designs, the company sells charred wood in a range of shades, including pine with a white-washed finish, from $15 per square foot. 

Above: Inside one of Sett Studio's modular studios.

Above: Shou sugi ban timber with bright dividers on the exterior of a residence in Amsterdam designed by architect Pieter Weijnen, who studied wood-charring techniques in Naoshima, Japan. Photograph via Dwell.

For more on burned wood, see Michelle's A Teahouse, Charred and Blackened (On Purpose) and Remodelista's post on Shou-Sugi-Ban Wood Siding. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Vote for the Best Outdoor Living Space
• Beyond Decking: Trex for Exterior Design
• Vote for the Best Garden Shed or Outbuilding in the Gardenista Considered Design Awards

I'm a romantic at heart, and so at the risk of facing commenter-wrath, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it: The season's first mosquito bite isn't such a bad thing. It's kind of like earning your summertime stripes, don't you think?

No? Well, romantic notions about pesky insects aside, I admit that by this time of summer, the first bite has turned into 40 and I'm ready for a bit of relief.

In case you haven't gotten around to whipping up a batch of DIY: Bug Repellent Balm—and we suggest you do—we present you with some natural remedies for mosquito bites that might have you putting away that chalky pink Calamine lotion forever.

Photographs by Erin Boyle.

Above: My arsenal of natural mosquito-bite remedies. We're sharing seven of our favorite remedies here, but if you've had good luck with others, please let us know in the comments section below.

1. Ice cubes: An ice cube or cold pack can be a surprisingly effective remedy for mosquito bites. The ice numbs the area and helps control swelling. Wrap cubes in a towel and press against bites for 10 minutes (or for as long as you can tolerate).

2. Tea bags: Natural tannins in tea act as an astringent, drawing toxins out of the skin and helping to lessen your discomfort. Press a used tea bag against your bites until the itching subsides.

3. Tea Tree Essential Oil: Antiseptic properties in tea tree oil help it treat a variety of skin-related symptoms, including mosquito bites. Dab a little essential oil onto a cotton swab and rub it on the affected area. Lavender and peppermint oils also work well. A caveat: Some people are sensitive to having essential oils applied directly to the skin. If that's the case for you, try diluting the oil or choose a different remedy. (You can buy a 1-oz bottle of Tea Tree Oil from iHerb.com for $6.87.)

4. Baking Soda Paste: Add a few drops of water to some baking soda, mix it into a paste, apply it directly onto bug bites, and allow to dry. The alkalinity of baking soda can help neutralize the pH of an infected area and reduce itching. 

5. Apple Cider Vinegar: In the same way that baking soda can help neutralize a bug bite, a swab of apple cider vinegar (or a few cupfuls diluted in a bath) can help balance the pH of an infected area. Apple cider vinegar is somewhat less acidic than other vinegars and a good choice for restoring natural pH.

6. Aloe Vera: Often associated with relieving painful sunburns, aloe vera is also helpful for mosquito bites. Look for fresh aloe vera in the produce aisle, or buy gel at the pharmacy. If you go the fresh route, peel away the tough skin from the inner gel with a sharp knife. You can then pulverize the gel or just rub it on any offending bites. (A 6-oz bottle of Aloe Vera Gel is $5.76 from iHerb.com.)

7. Peppermint Poultice: Mash peppermint leaves into a paste and apply it to especially bothersome bites for a cooling sensation. If you're an adept forager, you can also make a soothing poultice from jewelweed, plantain, or chickweed. And if you don't happen to have a mortar and pestle handy, you can just chew the herbs to mash them—bonus points for using your very Gardenista wilderness survival skills.

Don't go, we've got more summer bug stories:

Enamored of fireflies? Here's how to protect them.

Are moths feasting on your winter wools? See DIY Modern Mothballs (No Chemicals Included).

Updated from a post published July 25, 2013.

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Our judges have selected the finalists, now you choose the winners. Vote for the finalists in each of 17 Considered Design Awards categories, on both Gardenista and Remodelista. You can vote once a day in each category, now through August 8.

In the Best Outdoor Living Space, our five finalists are Tatiana Barhar/Carlos Zubieta, Jacob Cottage, WE Design, Leslie & Woody Pyrtle, and Hsu McCollough.

Project 1

Tatiana Barhar/Carlos Zubieta | Venice, CA | Casa de Familia

Design Statement: "I love soft plants and a layered look," said Barhar. "Our house is so architectural, and I wanted to make sure whatever we planted was more organic-feeling. I love throwing California poppies and chamomile seeds in with the wild bunch grass." So much of the family's life spills outdoors—cooking, dining, sitting around the fire pit, playing bocce ball, gardening in the raised planter boxes—the expanded home feels much larger than its 1,750 square feet.

Chosen By: Guest judge Judy Kameon, who said about the project: "Casa de Familia looks super fun! Lots of great ways for everyone to engage and enjoy the outdoors."

Above: Twenty-foot ficus with an A-frame tree house.

Project 2

Jacob Cottage | Swansea, United Kingdom | Outdoor Kitchen or "Man Cave"

Design Statement: Our outside kitchen was born out of two necessities: firstly to turn a previously overgrown and unused area into something useful, and secondly to find a place where we could cook fish without stinking the house out. We felt it important that the kitchen was sympathetic to the style of the house, which is a Victorian cottage, and so tried to use reclaimed or recycled materials. The retaining wall was built from old bricks that were found on the land during renovation and the area was then filled with gravel. For the walls we used reclaimed scaffolding planks so that it wasn’t too pristine; the table is an old work bench from the garage—both are battered and have old paint splatters, which add character. We wanted to raise the area to make it stand out from the rest of the garden, so we backfilled it with several tons of hardcore that were hacked off the house when we renovated. We are growing herbs in the kitchen to use when cooking. The surrounding border and gardens have lots of ingredients that can be foraged throughout the year, such as wild garlic, berries, and elderflower. Most of the items on display are car-boot or charity-shop finds, such as the Clint oil painting. The kitchen is west-facing so it's the last place in the garden to catch the evening sun—perfect for a sloe gin sundowner.

Chosen By: Gardenista Editor-in-Chief Michelle Slatalla. "Finally, an iteration of outdoor living my husband can embrace: the man cave. (The only thing missing is a spot for his man cave TV.) Extra points for the thoughtful reuse of materials."

Above: Workbench.

Above: Staff plank shelves. 

Above: Garden mint.

Above: Storm lantern. 

Project 3

WE Design | New York, NY | Chelsea Rooftop Terrace

Design Statement: On this rooftop terrace, lush plantings create private outdoor rooms for dining and entertaining, while preserving views out to the Manhattan skyline. A custom outdoor kitchen, new green roof, and thoughtful lighting all play important roles in establishing this previously underutilized rooftop as a lively space at all times of day.

Chosen By: Judy Kameon: "This rooftop terrace in Chelsea is an elegant re-imagining of an often underused space."

Above: View of continuous seating bench with storage below.

Above: Detail of continuous seating bench in open position, showing storage trunks below.

Above: The outdoor kitchen.

Above: Detail of step light beside the green roof.

Above: View showing interior butler’s pantry. 

Project 4

Leslie & Woody Pirtle | New Paltz, NY | Garden Room

Design Statement: We wanted to design a quiet contemplative space for sitting and reading.

Chosen By: Michelle Slatalla: "The word 'magical' is not one I throw around lightly, but it's appropriate in this context. The juxtaposition of rough stone walls and velvety green vines creates an otherworldly sense of peace."

Above: A quiet place to sit in the garden room.

Above: View from above the garden room. The chicken coop lies just beyond.

Above: Approach to the garden room. Climbing hydrangea covers the exterior walls.

Above: Entrance to the garden room, with tree stump seating in front of the firebox.

Above: A diagonal view across the room. 

Project 5

Hsu McCullough | Los Angeles, CA | Boise Residence

Design Statement: Hsu McCullough maximized the gardens and living spaces on a corner lot adjacent to two alleys, maintaining privacy with property edges of exterior wood walls, cherry laurels and pepper trees. Exterior living spaces are deposited over multiple levels of wood deck and at grade, including an outdoor living room below the yuccas, a dining terrace below the pine tree, and a fire pit below the poplar tree. All exterior living spaces, the driveway with motorized vehicular gate, and the detached accessory structure are connected with interchanging paths of flagstone, broken concrete, and decomposed granite with sage and lavender edges.

Chosen By: Judy Kameon: "Wonderful privacy paired with considered outdoor rooms creates a real extension of the home."

Above: Looking west, with exterior dining terrace deck and exterior living room deck with chaise lounge connected to master bedroom.

Above: Looking east at dining terrace deck with accessory structure, driveway, and wood wall that screens trash and compost bins beyond.

Above: Looking northeast at dining terrace deck with driveway and wood wall that screens trash and compost bins.

Above: Looking west at dusk, with dining terrace deck and living room deck with chaise lounge connected to master bedroom.

Above: Looking northeast at fire pit, with dining terrace deck beyond.

Above: Looking northwest at dusk, with fire pit and living room deck beyond.

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Argentario is a promontory on Italy's west coast, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is also the name of an estate with wooded hills disguising some fine minimalist architecture, including this open-air platform for gazing at the Tuscan Archipelago. It's a good place to hang.

Photographs by Clive Nichols.

Above: The ongoing project in this area of Argentario began in 1996 with the involvement of Paolo Pejrone, Italy's most renowned landscape architect. Manmade verticals mingle with those of the woodland in a way that doesn't disturb nature but somehow enhances it. As Mediterranean garden writer Louisa Jones says: "Almost nothing on site was removed but much was added."

Above: There are a number of boxed areas and platforms on the Argentario estate, but none are quite as dramatic as this one. The elongated construction appears to hang off the side of the mountain. It looks right.

Above: Materials have been carefully considered. Chestnut planks form the flooring: burned for darkening and then varnished. The topography here consists of the brown and green of bare earth and trees, the latter mainly oak and pine. Argentario was once an island—it is now a promontory—and there are sea views on almost every side.

Above: Paolo Pejrone is known for his sense of space and his in-depth knowledge of plants. He was aided in the architecture by Rome's Studio Lazzarini Pickering, and in the approach to planting by the estate's very keen owner. Eight full-time gardeners are employed to maintain about 35 acres. But the estate covers 80 acres in all, and more is being cultivated—mainly through pruning, which is done three times a week.

Above: Wooden steps, decks, and walkways appear to float over the shrubbery. The evergreens either grow in small tight groups or are kept that way—though the landscape looks natural, it is highly maintained.

Above: Nothing is fixed in this floating box. The surrounding screens are removable and the furniture can be rearranged for eating or just sitting. It is an adaptable viewing/eating/living area.

Above: The greensward, most definitely manmade, is a sign of luxury. Grass here requires constant watering, unlike the neighboring shrubs. These are part of the Tuscan macchia, the dense evergreen shrubland found all over the Mediterranean.

For a Greek approach to building on wild mountains, see Landscape Architect Visit: Thomas Doxiadis on Antiparos.

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• Architect Visit: An Urban Garden, Tokyo Edition
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• Garden Visit: A Family Friendly Vegetable Garden (Chickens Optional)

Can you imagine if every room in your house had its own garden? If you lived in a palace, mansion, or manor house, perhaps. But what if you lived in a 13-foot-wide, five-story house in a commercially dense section of Tokyo?

Composed of a series of structural slabs and glass walls, this house and workplace designed by Japanese architect Ryue Nishizawa appears wall-less and light-filled; perfect conditions for the plants in all those gardens.

Photography by Iwan Baan via Design Boom.

Above: The hard edges of the concrete slabs are softened by the abundance of green plants.

Above: Plants and curtains provide a screen of privacy from the urban street traffic.

Above: A plant-filled office provides pleasant working conditions.

Above: A curtain on a wraparound track separates the office and the bedroom on the second floor.

Above: Every room, from living room to bathroom, has a garden of its own—a pure luxury anywhere, but particularly in an urban environment.

Above: The staircase fits into a cutout in the concrete slab.

Above: A cutout on the fifth-story slab allows for extra-tall plants.

Above: A view to the sky above.

Above: The "wall-less" house allows light to flood into a very narrow house on a sliver site between two tall buildings.

Above: The architect's diagram aptly captures the spirit of the house.

For more on Japan, read about decidedly nontraditional bonsai at A Bonsai Revolutionary in Tokyo, and about a house surrounded by a courtyard (rather than vice versa) in Architect Visit: A Hidden Japanese Garden. 

Updated from a post originally published March 5, 2013.

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There's a lot to be said for staying in town while everyone else packs up: Rules loosen, breezy cafes beckon, and it feels like there are more hours in the day—which means more time to take in the spectacle. Here are some of this week's tips from Remodelista for urban living, heat-wave edition.

Above: In A Ceramicist at Home in the City, the owner of Elephant Ceramics takes Julie around her cheery apartment in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood, with its splashes of color and remodeled kitchen.

Above: Hally’s, a new deli in southwest London, was inspired by California beach cafes—you're hanging ten in London, dude. Get the details at LA-Style Dining in London, Sunshine Included.

Above: Come next winter, you might be needing a quiet place to plan next year's garden. Get ideas for Ingenious work areas slotted into closets, corners, even under the stairs at 10 Favorites: The Niche Workspace.

Above: In Architect Visit: Musings from Bloomsbury, find out how London architect William Smalley transformed a rental flat into a sanctuary of visual calm. This balcony is where he and his flatmate catch up at the end of the day.

Above: Obviously, the classic German beer garden table is great for outdoor spaces. But it's also ideal for narrow apartment rooms. 5 Quick Fixes: The Versatile Biergarten Table shows smart ways to use them indoors.

Above: A quirky hostel in Berlin welcomes overnight guests to its six refurbished campers and cabins, clustered in an indoor campground replete with birch trees, picnic tables, and lanterns. Read more in Into the Wild: An Urban Campground in Berlin.

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• Table of Contents: Urban Escape
• Current Obsessions: Urban Greenery

Take a look at a few things we've been loving lately: 

• Above: Residents of Brighton, England, can enjoy a Sunday morning delivery of seasonal flowers and a fresh-baked cake thanks to a new (read: amazing) service offered by Canopy Creative.
• Is it just us, or did Johnny Depp forever change the way we look at topiary? 

• Above: A tour of landscape designer Scott Shrader's Southern California home, tangerine espalier and succulents included. Photograph courtesy of Garden Design.
• A Los Angeles backyard is overflowing with plants—but not a single one is in the ground. 

• Above: Lamp or mini greenhouse? Both! Meet Milo, the latest creation from Polish lighting studio Lightovo. Photography courtesy of Design Milk. 
• What we're drinking this weekend: raspberry and pomegranate smoothie with green tea ice cubes. 

• Above: We had lots of France in last week's Bastille Day issue, but we can never get enough. This week we found ourselves roaming the streets of Paris on Design Love Fest. Photograph courtesy of Design Love Fest. 
• There's still time to pick the winners for this year's Considered Design Awards. Go vote!

For more from this week on Gardenista, see our Urban Escape issue. And don't miss Remodelista's week of summer in the city. 

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Urban living is all about making the most of available space, especially outdoor space. Ever wonder what's up there on New York City's rooftops?

To create an elegantly simple roof garden in Manhattan's East Village, Melissa Baker and Jon Handley of Pulltab Design (members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory) maximized the impact of panoramic views while maintaining a sense of privacy, which they achieved with strategically placed walls, canvas screens, and plantings.

Photography by Bilyana Dimitrova.

Above: The East Village roof garden offers several seating areas, reprieve from the sun, and even an outdoor shower.

Above: The expansive views take in the East Village and the city skyline.

Above: Steel beams were installed across the entire roof to support the new construction. "We worked with a creative structural engineer [Dan Cuoco from Robert Silman Associates] to figure out the required loads and level changes," says Jon Handley. "Plantings and water features create additional loads that need to be accounted for early on in the design; we brought in the landscape gardener [Roger Miller Gardens] from the start of the project."

Above: "We designed this project to weather well," Handley says. Over time, the ipe decking will turn gray, the Corten steel water basin will continue to rust, and the oak block will blacken.

Above: "Every project has a hero," says Handley, "the place where you spend a little extra to get what you want." The oak block water feature, nicknamed Chunky, was the hero for this project. Baker and Handley specified in the building contract that furniture builder Stephen Iino would make Chunky. The oak block, which came from a Pennsylvania mill, also serves as a bench.

Above: Like the other materials used in the project, the Corten steel screen will continue to weather and rust.

Above: Inspired by the late Italian architect Carlo Scarpa, a master of architectural detailing, Pulltab lined the framed opening of the view to the power station with a 12-inch section of gas line pipe, designed deliberately to rust onto the stucco wall.

Above: Typically, exceeding the budget is the Number 1 concern on every building project. Baker and Handley believe that a detailed set of construction documents is the key to minimizing changes after the budget has been set. The construction bid for this project included 20 pages of drawings, leaving little room for interpretation or doubt. “We draw everything,” Handley says. “It’s the only way to know your project and avoid surprises.”

Above: The outdoor shower was designed for privacy, but it has a small rectangular opening that offers a glimpse of the Empire State Building.

Above: The canvas partitions were made by Mark Washam from Doyle Sailmakers on Long Island, using military-grade surplus canvas.

See Pulltab's stylish East Village loft apartment with a vertical garden on Remodelista at Architect Visit: Pulltab Design in New York. Wondering what else is growing on New York's rooftops? Check out NYC Rooftop Garden Roundup. 

Updated from a post originally published May 26, 2012.

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It always feels exotic to prepare food outdoors, whether you're cooking on a gas grill, roasting skewers over a campfire, or arranging a platter of vegetables picked from the garden. Maybe one reason it feels liberating: In summer, we keep it simple. (Plus there's the fact that men like to grill.) Here are some ideas to help you keep it simple.

Monday

Above: When the owners of a townhouse in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill neighborhood hired New Eco Landscapes to overhaul their backyard, they asked for "a showstopper." See what they got in this week's Landscape Architect Visit.

Tuesday

Above: Kendra pays a Garden Visit to illustrator Celia Hart in Suffolk, England, and finds flowers that reach to the sky and chickens living in a rather stately henhouse (along with Cheep, the rooster).

Wednesday

Above: In Bouquet of the Week: Hydrangeas Gone Wild, Justine accepts an assignment that turns her opinion around. 

Thursday

Above: "For me," says Michelle, "the perfect summer kitchen is one I barely see." She's rounded up five of her favorite garden-to-table recipes for summer salads; no cooking allowed.  

Friday

Above: Could this kitchen look any more summery? It's tucked into our Outbuilding of the Week, a summerhouse in the backyard of a grand brick house in South London. The doors open wide onto a dining deck surrounded by flowers. Heaven. 

Over on Remodelista, the editors are also looking into Summer Kitchens. Too bad they have to be indoors.

And don't forget: Voting is now underway for the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards. You can vote for the finalists every day until August 8th. The winners will be announced August 9th. 

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When Sarah and Mike Hudnall bought a renovated townhouse in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill neighborhood, they were thrilled to finally have a backyard. But they knew it needed lots of work. They wanted the long, skinny space—typical of New York City backyards—to serve many functions: providing space for cooking, for hanging out, for growing things, and for the kids (aged 10 and 4) to play. Sean Lewis and Jesse Terzi, partners in Brooklyn's New Eco Landscapes, got the job done in four weeks.

Photography by Douglas Lyle Thompson for Gardenista.

Above: "Mike and Sarah were open to design ideas," says Sean Lewis, "but they specifically asked for a 'showstopper'." They got it in the wooden pergola, a cantilevered structure that shades the dining table in the middle of the day and defines the space. 

Above: Much of the backyard was concrete slab; New Eco covered that with gravel and bluestone. The designers also sourced the furnishings: blue Fermob chairs; teak tables, couch, and chairs; and barnlight sconces. Heat lamps for chilly evenings are mounted over the couch and on the pergola.

In an unusual move for this densely populated city, several sections of fence were left partially open. "We did that to allow more light in," says Lewis, "and not shut out the neighbors so much."

Above: New Eco custom-designed the two powder-coated steel brackets that support the pergola. The footings are anchored in 3 feet of concrete underground. "They're not going anywhere," Lewis says. Behind, a shade-loving acuba shrub and liriope, a hardy perennial that thrives in full sun or full shade.

Above: "The stump stools are from a locust tree that fell across the yard at my place in upstate New York," says Lewis. Waterproof white paint provides a finish for the tops. New Eco suggested a green wall of ivy, but the Hudnalls found something they liked better. They collaborated with artists Gray Edgerton and Manoela Madera of Kiik Create to come up with this colorful mandala-like mural.

Above: A request for a "fire feature" resulted in this wood-burning stove from the Dutch company Weltevree; the stove is rusting beautifully in place. Open the door and slide in a pizza to bake.

Planted next to the stove: coreopsis, a reliable, low-maintenance perennial that flowers all summer. A water-efficient irrigation system keeps all the plants happy.

Above: A propane grill expands the cooking possibilities. It stands on a custom-built cedar cabinet with poured concrete countertops on both sides and plenty of storage space. (Tabletop items provided by ABC Carpet & Home.)

Above: Pots of mint and other herbs sit on a ledge beside the stairs leading down to the yard, close at hand whether the food prep is indoors or out.

Above: Locust trees shade the back section of the yard, but Lewis suggests they might need a trim to encourage the lawn, which was put in a few months ago. Sarah planted the raised bed with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and jalapeños—a small crop, and mostly for fun. 

"Having a Brooklyn backyard was our dream," says Sarah. "And the way Sean and his team completed it was beyond all our expectations."

For another style of Brooklyn garden, see Steal This Look: Midcentury Mod Townhouse Garden. And check out the before-and-after shots of a Brooklyn garden where plants rule at The Magicians: An English Professor and a Novelist Conjure a Garden in Brooklyn.

And don't forget to vote for the finalists in the 2013 Considered Design Awards. You can vote daily in all seven categories, now through August 8th. Winners will be announced on August 9th.

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• A Manhattan Roof Garden with a Panoramic View
• Architect Visit: An Urban Garden, Tokyo Edition
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I can't remember the last time I had dinner indoors. March? January? It seems like a distant memory. I hope summer lasts forever. Meanwhile, the only challenge is to not run out of ideas for delicious (and easy to assemble) dishes to pack in the picnic basket. Here's one of my favorite summer menus, with recipes from our Garden-to-Table Recipe files:

Above: Cookbook writer Aran Goyoaga grew up in Basque country, and her approach to cooking is "taking what is available and fresh, and preparing it as simply as possible. No big fuss." For more, see Basque Cooking Demystified . . . or try her recipe for a no-cook cold soup, Blender Magic: Instant Watermelon Gazpacho.

Above: You can make Olivia Rae James's Avocado Lemon Sprout Sandwich in less time than it takes to slather on sunscreen. While you're at it? Make two (trust us on this).

Above: Take along a pitcher (or thermos) of Kendra's minty Caffeine-Free Herbal Iced Tea.

Above: For dessert? Pack a batch of Quinoa Fruit and Nut Bars. He Needs Food blogger John Bek makes a batch every week, just to have them around. It only takes one taste to understand his motives.

For more easy dinner ideas, see our archive of Garden-to-Table Recipes.

And don't forget to vote for the finalists in the 2014 Considered Design Awards! You vote now and every day until August 8th. The winners will be announced August 9th.

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Spinach, Spinacea oleracea: "Mr. Workhorse"

I'd like to express my gratitude to the Arab traders who brought spinach to China, where it eventually spread with the help of travelers and farmers right to my own backyard here in North America. Can't forget to thank Popeye, too—his thrilling biceps spiked American spinach consumption by 33 percent in the 1930s. While Popeye may have been the one pumping iron, spinach is the real workhorse. It's easy to grow, tastes amazing with just the barest of seasonings, and can be wilted onto or into almost any dish for an extra boost of incredible nutrition.

Above: For more images of Spinach, see our Gardenista Gallery.

Spinach packs a laundry list of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, in particular delivering hearty doses of iron and calcium per calorie. Weird health tip of the day? The oxalates in this dark leafy green hinder our ability to take in spinach's iron. But nutritionists have a simple solution. Just serve the wonder-green with a side of orange slices to combat the oxalic effect.  

Above: Photograph by David Ferris.

Cheat Sheet

• When sowing seeds directly into the garden, clear soil of weeds first. This delicate green can suffer from undue competition during its early growth
• Spinach likes full sun to partial shade and consistent water (it will bolt if soil is too dry)
• In hotter climates, plant in containers and move them away from the heat of the sun at midday to prevent bolting

 Above: Elegant Deer Fencing protects the salad greens in garden designer Lisa Bynon's garden in Southampton, Long Island.

Spinach might be available year-round in grocery stores, but you'll get the best results in your home garden if you treat the green as a cool-weather crop. Plant a few successions in early spring, take a break in the summer, and plant again in the fall. In mild climates, you can mulch with straw or lightly cover the plants to keep your crop growing through the winter, or at least to reap another harvest from the same plants in the spring. If you live in a climate that's too warm for spinach, or want nutritious greens all summer long, try an alternative such as purslane, lamb's-quarters, amaranth, or orach. 

Above: What's for dinner? May we recommend Crostini With Lentils, Spinach, Herbs, and Greek Yogurt? Photograph via 101 Cookbooks.

Read More:

For more dinner ideas (and leafy green love), see our archive of Garden-to-Table Recipes. And read about Tomatoes, Lettuce, and Chives in our Field Guide archives.

Voting is on now for the 2014 Considered Design Awards. You can vote for your favorite finalists every day until August 8th; the winners will be announced on August 9th. Let your voice be heard! 

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Question: What is the modern equivalent of a root cellar? Answer: A root cellar, of course. Unfortunately, most of us don't have one these days (I imagine that even my grandmother's has been turned into a basement rec room by now).

The next best thing? Get a woven basket with good ventilation that allows air to circulate around your onions and heads of garlic. Hang the basket in a cool spot and your vegetables will stay fresh for weeks. We've rounded up 10 of our favorite woven hanging baskets for onion and garlic storage:

Natural Fiber Baskets

Above: Handwoven in North Carolina, a Root Basket keeps vegetables dry and within easy reach; $39 from Clyde Oak. Note: If you have space for two baskets, separate the potatoes to avoid contaminating them with onion odors.

Above: Woven from fiber rush, a "tautly twisted paper material," an Onion Basket measures 10 to 13 inches high and has a 4½-inch handle; $15 from Gather Journal.

Above: Made of reed, a Shaker Onion Basket "smells like a hayride through a forest on a fall day," says Alisa Grifo, proprietor of the homewares store Kiosk; $45 from Cooper Hewitt.

Above: A set of two hand-woven rattan Onion Baskets (the tall one is 14 inches high, including its handle; the smaller one is 13½ inches) is $29.95 from Williams-Sonoma.

Above: A vintage, one-of-a-kind Three Tier Woven Wicker Hanging Basket is $22 from White Elephant Co. via Etsy. For a contemporary version, a three-tier Hanging Basket woven from Nito vine measures 25 inches tall and 12 inches in diameter; $59.50 from Kouboo.

Above: Working with dyed jute and cane, Auckland artist Ruth Castle weaves Black Garlic Baskets in three sizes; for pricing and availability, see Everyday Needs.

 Wire Baskets

Above: Hanging Wire Baskets from Australia are available in black or white wire; for more information and prices, see Love Loans and Linens.

Above: A steel wire Spherical Hanging Basket made in Connecticut is 14 inches high including the hanging loop and will hold garlic, onions, or small tomatoes; $60 from Provisions.

Above: A Traditional Garlic Basket will hold from five to six bulbs; £8.75 from Nutley's Kitchen Gardens.

Above: Made in France, a galvanized Metal Basket with a wooden handle measures 25 centimeters long (nearly 10 inches) and is €24 from Neëst.

Headed to the farmers' market? See our 10 Easy Pieces: French Market Totes and, on Remodelista: 10 Parisian-Style Net Bags.

Have you voted for the finalists in the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards? You can vote every day for your favorites in all seven categories. Voting ends August 8th; we'll announce the winners on August 9th. Click below for details!

More Stories from Gardenista

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When I was offered the assignment to make a hydrangea bouquet, I was skeptical. It's well known that Gardenista harbors pro-pom-pom sympathies. But why did Michelle choose to ask me if I wanted to create a DIY bouquet with summer's favorite bloom?

There was only one reason, I figured. Michelle had turned to the resident Cape Codder because, let's face it, hydrangeas reign supreme here. 

"Err, trouble is, Michelle," I said, "I don't actually like hydrangeas."

Dead silence on the other end of the line. Clearly I had committed a floral faux pas. 

If I can judge by the number of hydrangeas in New England landscapes, my opinion is in the minority. But I guess something has to be done with them. So despite my initial objections, I accepted Michelle's assignment, treating it as a design challenge. Could I create a hydrangea bouquet that even haters would love?

Photography by Justine Hand. 

Above: Because I have no hydrangeas in my yard, my friend Alexandra kindly donated a few of hers to my project. (OK, I have to admit, they do look lovely in the amber light of dusk.)

My main problem with hydrangeas is that they're so common on Cape Cod they've become a cliché. One too many quaint cottages with hydrangeas, and I want to bury my head in the sand. I respond to the area's more dramatic, windswept landscapes, with the textured grasses and hardy natives. Hydrangeas feel too cultivated, too precious. 

So once I'd agreed to create a bouquet, my first thought was that prim hydrangeas might benefit from a walk on the wild side. Maybe I could I add a little Danny Zuko to their Sandy (to use a Grease reference)? I set out in search of some unruly locals.

Above: Though these grapes are cultivated in my grandparents' yard, their wild cousins are abundant along Cape Cod's shores. The creeping vines, vibrant green leaves, and dripping fruit seemed the perfect counterpoint to hydrangea's neat blue pom-poms.

Above: Almost as ubiquitous as hydrangeas (but far less adored by Cape Codders), locusts are considered a weed tree. But these scrappy trees have sweeping boughs that would lend an informal grace to hydrangea's pert blooms.

Above: Specimens in hand, I was ready to arrange. (Photograph by my friend Alexandra.)

Above: Prepping the stems. Hydrangeas were named for the Greek word "hydro" (which means water) and they need lots of it. But their ability to draw water is compromised once cut. My local florist recommends making a long diagonal cut on each stem to prolong their life as cut flowers. Others swear by smashing the stems. I tried both and found the long diagonal slice worked best.

There's not much research on how to keep cut grapevines or locust boughs looking fresh, so I experimented with three methods: smashing the stems, making long diagonal slices, and giving them a simple 45-degree cut. I found that grapevines prefer to be smashed, while the locust lasts longer with a simple cut.

Above: Arranging the flowers, I began by placing the hydrangeas toward the center of the vase. Then I worked the wilder greens in around the edges (up high and down low) to create a cascading, overgrown effect.

Above: To me, pairing hydrangea with its more feral neighbors enhances its bountiful appeal.

Above: The acid greens of the grape and locust also complement what I consider the "tricky" blue of hydrangeas. 

Above: In my cottage window, my wild hydrangea arrangement pays homage to Cape Cod without being too predictable.

Above: A closeup shows why this arrangement has even made a convert of me.

Want more hydrangeas? See our quick Field Guide; discover our Magic Trick: How To Make Your Hydrangea Change Color, and learn how to Dry Your Hydrangeas: Two Ways. And here's a hydrangea-blue landscape that even I love: Tiina Laakonen's home on Remodelista, at Rhapsody in Blue: A Finnish Stylist at Home in the Hamptons.

Did you vote yet today for the finalists in the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards? You can vote once a day in all seven categories until August 8th; we'll announce the winners on August 9th. Just click below!

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There is something deeply satisfying about eating directly from the garden. The fruit of one’s own labor really does taste sweeter. As my husband, George, and I finish our fifth year of living full-time in our cedar-shingle cottage in upstate New York, the garden we have created together—full of native plants and heirloom vegetables—feeds us in so many ways.

Photography by George Billard for Gardenista.

Above: Our modest half-acre is surrounded by tall pines that rob us of precious sunshine. We began our garden with a couple of raised beds in the back. Those have now quadrupled and spread to the front as well, maximizing our growing area.

Above: At this rate, there will soon be no lawn at all. That’s fine with us.

Above: Hops nearly cover our little barn out back, which serves as a writing room and guest quarters. Other crops that do well in these beds include sorrel, horseradish, lovage, shiso, amaranth, kale, garlic, scallions, hot peppers, rhubarb, squash, and catnip. Cucumbers climb over the fence, obscuring the clematis that bloomed so profusely in June.

The tender shoots of hops are a traditional Italian dish; they're delicious in a spring omelette. In fall, we harvest the beautiful flowers for brewer friends who make gluten-free beer for George.

Above: Field garlic, transplanted from the wild, and echinacea both find their way into the kitchen. I make an elixir with citrus and the dried flower heads to ward off flu in the winter.

Above: George grows potatoes in these wooden barrels (and extra tomatoes and cucumbers, because he can never have enough), building them up with wire cages and straw.

Above: These Mexican sour gherkins, a new addition this year, have really taken off. They drop from the stems when ripe, at which point I'll pickle them in a spicy brine.

Above: A hard pruning made our black raspberries more prolific this month—and for once, the birds and chipmunks did not make off with every last one. I used the berries as topping for a delicious cornmeal skillet cake. 

Above: George grows complementary plants around his tomatoes and tomatillos, using nasturtiums, calendula, and ground cherries to help draw away predatory insects. In turn, I put the peppery nasturtium leaves in salads, make compound butter with the brilliant petals, and pickle the caper-like seed pods.

Above: The front beds hold beets, collards, kale, chard, lettuces, and as many herbs as I can fit. Off to the left, you can just make out the two beds devoted to George’s dozen varieties of heirloom tomatoes. And back to the right are our beehives—we got our first honey this year and it had the citrus taste of pine.

Above: Though he doesn’t care for beets, George grew these gorgeous cylindrical Foronos for me. I ate them roasted, along with fresh ricotta and a sprinkling of piment d’espelette dried from last year’s harvest.

Above: The great diversity of herbs inspires and transforms my cooking. Some of my favorites are epazote, essential for authentic Mexican dishes; delicate chervil; pungent rau ram (Vietnamese coriander); and several kinds of basil for pesto, pistou, flavored oils, and even cocktails.

Above: I grow lots of medicinal herbs and many that are delicious in tisanes. From left to right: lavender, lemon verbena, chamomile, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. (Elsewhere are dill, wild fennel, tarragon, summer savory, cilantro, and a variety of mints.)

Above: I am never happier than when I’m walking through the garden in high summer, surrounded by the wonderful fragrance of crushed tomato leaves, wild bergamot, and spicy herbs. Except maybe when I get back into the kitchen with an armful of bounty and time to play. See more of my garden on my blog, Glutton for Life.

Wondering if the inside of Laura's house is as magical as her garden? It is. See Laura Silverman at Home in Sullivan County, NY on Remodelista. For another of our favorite cook's gardens, see Architect Visit: Sheila Bonnell's Kitchen Garden on Cape Cod.

And don't forget to vote for the finalists in the 2014 Considered Design Awards, for Gardenista and Remodelista. You can vote once a day until August 8th; the winners will be announced August 9th. Click below to cast your votes!

More Stories from Gardenista

• Best Amateur Garden Winner: Molly Boxer
• Garden Visit: A Modern Farmer and Her 10 Acres in Australia
• Announcing the Winners of the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards

Here's a door with a split personality. Open and welcoming on the one hand, private and protective on the other. We're talking, of course, about the Dutch door. A precursor to the screen door, it keeps unwanted visitors out while allowing sunlight and breezes to wander in. The Dutch door may be rooted in agricultural history, but it's perfect for modern living. Find out if it deserves a spot on the front (or back) of your house (or even inside):

Above: With the top section open, a Dutch door offers a welcoming peek into your house while maintaining a degree of privacy. Photograph via Sköna Hem.

What is a Dutch door?

Simply put, a Dutch door is one that's divided into two parts horizontally, so the bottom half can remain closed while the top half is open. When the connecting hardware is locked, the two halves act as one, posing as a solid door.

Above: A wide Dutch door made by Josje, who blogs at A Beautiful World, allows light to flow into this kitchen in the Netherlands. Photographs via A Beautiful World. 

What is the history of Dutch doors?

The name is a dead giveaway (though they're sometimes called stable doors, half doors, and double-hung doors). Dutch doors were common in the Netherlands in the 17th century. They were devised for use as exterior doors on farmhouses to keep animals out and children in, while allowing air and light to come and go. Dutch settlers brought the style to the US, where it appeared on rural houses in New York and New Jersey. The style soon migrated to the cities, where they kept out vermin, street dirt, and debris. They also allowed residents to interact with deliverymen and the like without letting them inside the house. 

Above: A Dutch door hung with strap hinges on a Pennsylvania barn from the 1700s. Photograph via Brandywine Forge. 

What are the benefits of Dutch doors?

Besides adding a certain historic charm and casual indoor-outdoor feel, Dutch doors also:

• Keep pets and/or small children contained to the outside or inside while still letting in the sun and breeze.
• Act as a solid-door alternative inside the house, for example as the door to a laundry room or office, where you want to let light into the room but still have a barrier for pets or children.
• Allow airflow into a garden shed or tool shed, while keeping out visitors such as wandering chickens or unwanted vermin.
• Act as an attractive and functional alternative to an indoor baby gate, especially at the top of stairs.

Above: Two views of a Dutch door at a Santa Monica residence remodeled by architect Roy McMakin. Photographs via 338 East Rustic Road.

Above: A clean white home office with a Dutch door leading to a trellised garden. Photograph via Glynn Design Build. 

Are there different styles of Dutch doors?

Most variations in Dutch doors are found in the choice of wood, the panel designs, and the height of the dividing break in the door. And, while the design DNA of Dutch doors is country, their appeal hasn't escaped minimalist modern remakes.

Dutch doors offer the flexibility of two styles in one, as you may choose different designs for the top and bottom. While the bottom half should be solid, many doors have a glass panel for the top half. Designs for both glass and solid panels vary widely: single or multiple-paned; clear or stained glass; flat, raised, or board-and-batten panel faces, and more. 

Hardwood is the recommended material. Many homeowners choose to paint their doors, and a high-gloss, richly hued Dutch Door Paint exists for just this purpose. 

Above: The bottom half of a Dutch door can have a windowsill-like perch, such as the one on this welcoming door at a Sausalito cottage by Deer Creek Studio. 

Above: An updated barn house by D'Apostrophe Design includes a modern slatted-wood Dutch door at the entrance. Image via D'Apostrophe Design.

Above: Seattle-based Deforest Architects mixes modern style with traditional elements of farm living, such as the minimalist Dutch door they built at Yum Yum Farm in Iowa.

Do Dutch doors require special hardware?

Here's the lowdown on hardware:

Hinges: Dutch doors require a minimum of four hinges, two for each door half (standard doors only need three). Standard door hinges will work if they meet the weight requirements. Period hardware is often used, such as sturdy Colonial-style Strap Hinges.

Knobs and Locks: The door knob and lock are installed on the lower half. For added security, a deadbolt can be placed on the top half.

Latch: This is the special piece of hardware you need to interlock the top and bottom leaves of the door. The bolt must be used when the door is closed, but you can leave it in place when the door is open for traditional door functionality.

Above: This traditional Dutch door with a paned top half has four sturdy hinges, a heavy-duty Dutch door bolt, a classic knob with lock, and a deadbolt on the upper half. Image via C&M WIndows & Doors.

Above: Heavy door bolts are commonly used for latching the two halves of a Dutch door. The Deltana 4-inch Heavy Duty Dutch Door Bolt in oil-rubbed bronze is $23.63 at Amazon (other finishes available).

Above: The quadrant is another option for latching top and bottom. The Baldwin Non-Handed Dutch Door Quadrant is offered in 16 finishes and is $54.60 at Low Priced Doorknobs.

Any tips for installing Dutch doors?

• Consider whether to have a paned or solid top half. Do you want light to come in when the door is fully closed? Or do you want full privacy? 
• Remember the door swing. We're not just talking about the standard door swing, but where your open top half will rest. Will it be in the way physically or visually? Is there ample space while it's in open position? 
• Think about how you'll hold the top half of the door open. My contractor and I failed to consider that detail when we installed a Dutch door on our kitchen in Seattle. But it came to my attention during a dramatic finger-pinching event: My son had his hand over the lip of the door's bottom half when the wind blew the open top half (nearly) shut. We quickly installed a hefty hook and eye to hold the top section in place when open. 
• For an exterior door, you'll need weatherstripping between the upper and lower leaves to keep wind and wet from sneaking in when the door is shut.
• We recommend hiring a professional installer, especially for exterior doors where security and sealing out the weather elements is important. That said, if you're an avid DIYer, there are many tutorials available. (This DIY Interior Dutch Door tutorial from HGTV explains how to turn a solid door into a Dutch door.)

Above: A Dutch door entrance is part of the farm vernacular for this house on Vashon Island, Washington, by architect Roy McMakin. Image via Domestic Architecture.

Where can I get Dutch doors?

Many door and window manufacturers offer Dutch doors, if not in their regular stock, by special order. Oregon-based Jeld-Wen seems to have one of the larger ranges of Dutch doors. Reclaimed doors are available through architectural salvage suppliers. And a few online suppliers offer Dutch doors, including Sun Mountain and Vintage Doors.

Above: A striking yellow Dutch door at Dutchess House No. 1 by Grzywinski+Pons Ltd. 

Dutch Door Recap

Pros:

• Keeps out unwanted elements while letting in light and fresh air
• Adds a casual and welcoming personality to an entry door
• Offers a visual connection between indoors and out, or between two indoor rooms
• An alternative to a baby gate indoors

Cons:

• Might not be good in insect-ridden areas (it's cumbersome to install a screen with a Dutch door)
• Can be easy to pinch fingers between the door halves 

For more door inspiration, see 5 Favorites: Daring Red Doors and 7 Retractable Garage Doors, used not for cars but for large entries to living spaces. And on Remodelista, they examined the Ins and Outs of French Doors and offer more Dutch Door Ideas.

Planning a major outdoor renovation? See all of our Hardscaping 101 Features.  

And don't forget that you can vote once a day for the finalists in the 2014 Considered Design Awards for Gardenista and Remodelista. Voting ends August 8th; the winners will be announced on August 9th. Click below for details.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Outbuilding of the Week: A Rocky Retreat in the Czech Republic
• Best Outdoor Living Space Winner: Leslie and Woody Pirtle
• Bathing en Plein Air: 29 Outdoor Summer Showers

Summer is a season of contradictions: so much delicious fresh food, so little desire to cook. For me, the perfect summer kitchen is one I barely see. Cold drinks and colder salads are the answer. Plus an endless supply of corn on the cob (but that goes without saying).

After conducting extensive taste tests, I've rounded up five of my favorite garden-to-table salad recipes:

Above: In Catalonia, they know how to keep cool. I recently traveled all the way to Barcelona for a lesson in how to make the perfect White Bean and Cod Salad. Photograph by Pancho Tolchinsky for Gardenista.

Above: Sweet and sour, a Purslane and Watermelon Salad is just the thing to defeat a heat wave. Photograph by Rebecca Baust for Gardenista.

Above: A lemony dressing turns an Arugula and Proscuitto Salad into a surprise. Photograph via White on Rice Couple.

Above: Warning, obligatory kale salad ahead. Except this one doesn't taste like a cliché, thanks to the crunchy bits in Erin's favorite Raw Kale Salad With Apples and Almonds. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

Above: Have we mentioned how much we love corn and tomatoes? And corn? And tomatoes? Throw in some basil and red onion to make our favorite Corn and Tomato Salad. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

For more of our favorite Garden-to-Table Recipes, see our archives for Summer Cocktails and A Perfect Sandwich to Take to the Beach.

And have we mentioned that you can vote every day for your favorite finalists in the Gardenista and Remodelista 2014 Considered Design Awards? Voting ends August 8th; we're announcing the winners on August 9th. Click below!

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Our judges have selected the finalists, now you choose the winners. Vote for the finalists in each of 17 Considered Design Awards categories, on both Gardenista and Remodelista. You can vote once a day in each category, now through August 8.

In the Best Amateur Small Garden category, our five finalists are Ashley Hamilton, Sarah S., Joke de Winter, Bridget, and Susan Nock.

Project 1

Ashley Hamilton | Edinburgh, Scotland | Evergreen

Design Statement: Measuring in at 1.4 by 9 meters, my north-facing balcony is long, skinny, and shady. It took me a few years to figure out what to do with it, but I knew it had to be green year-round and offer some privacy. There have been a few casualties as far as plants are concerned. Sun-loving herbs and fragranced flowers suffered from the winter winds and lack of light. I got wise and started to embrace shade-tolerant plants. My foxgloves, bluebells, delphiniums, Jacob's ladder, and clematis are quite happy with the sliver of evening sun. My ivy pom-poms are coming along quite nicely; that's my take on urban topiary. I carry my dining chairs out when I fancy eating outdoors. Given how narrow it is, I didn’t want to take up space with unnecessary furniture. To be honest, I’m happier with a picnic on the floor. My marble table is usually topped with all sorts of cuttings in jars of water. Growing from cuttings and seed is my new thing; I feel pretty smug when I get a new plant for free. This year, my bird box hosted a nest of blue tits, my bird feeder is busy, and I’m thinking of building some tenements for bees. Future plans include some herbs, more flowers, more green. Other than that, I’m more than happy with my chilled-out green haven.

Chosen by: Guest judge Isabelle Palmer, who said, "Immediately on viewing this garden, I wanted to explore it. For me that is a key of great design. The ivy seems to be draped over the space in different forms—hanging, twisted, placed—and the bamboo acts as a stage set to really evoke a sense of intrigue."

Above: Long and skinny.

Above: Tea and biscuits on the floor.

Above: Late spring.

Above: Lupin positioned for the evening sun.

Above: A tiny bit of color for the beasties.

Above: Ivy pom-poms in the making.

Project 2

Sarah S. | New York, NY | Harlem Patio

Design Statement: An urban patio garden.

Chosen by: Isabelle Palmer, who said "This speaks to me of the challenges of overcoming a small space to create a garden. I was instantly intrigued by the quirky design but also by its resemblance to an artistic installation. This garden, with its fall colors of coleus, geraniums, and herbs, uses its space to its fullest. It's functional in covering the window bars, delightful in bringing color and cheering passers-by, and useful in producing herbs for its owner. The different heights of the planters demonstrate the key to creating a miniature garden: utilizing available space."

Above: Coleus, geraniums, and herbs.

Above: The garden in the fall.

Above: Herbs from the garden: mint, chives, basil, rosemary, oregano.

Above: A full view of the patio.

Project 3

Joke de Winter | Loughborough, England | The Back Yard

Design Statement: A small garden to grow things to brighten up breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. A place to eat or just sit around. A haven for beneficial insects and not so beneficial ones, too. And last but not least, weather permitting, a place to dry the laundry.

Chosen by: Gardenista Editor-in-Chief Michelle Slatalla. "In the best tradition of a kitchen garden, this backyard combines edible and ornamental plants—and some that qualify in both categories—to create a pleasant, rambling space that's as delicious as it is beautiful."

Above: A view from the top.

Above: Digitalis for the bees, and raspberries (in the back) for breakfast.

Above: Dill—great stuffed inside a roast chicken.

Above: Chives: a nice border plant, and the flowers are great in salads, too.

Project 4

Bridget | Brooklyn, NY | Fire Escape Window Boxes

Design Statement: These images are of my first garden. I recently became interested in gardening/farming after stumbling upon a few blogs and books that speak to the subject matter (The Dirty Life; Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; Reading My Tea Leaves). I think it is important to have some understanding of where our food comes from, and what goes into producing it. I am slowly learning the process through my small green space, nestled on our fire escape. While the food grown here is not intended to fully sustain me, it has helped me make smarter decisions about what I'm putting inside my body. I enjoy coming home from work and taking a look to see how the plants have changed from the day before, and dreaming of a day when more space will allow me to expand.

Chosen by: Michelle Slatalla. "This garden is testament to the ingenuity of both the dedicated urban gardener and the dedicated urban squirrel. Happy to see the gardener winning. (Also happy to see you can still use the fire escape for its intended purpose.) Now, if only your neighbors' roofs also had tomatoes growing on them . . . " 

Above: I started the seeds in a plastic greenhouse in March. When I transplanted them outside, I quickly learned that the local squirrel population was a fan of everything I had planted. The chicken-wire frame was constructed to protect the plants.

Above: Just-ripened cherry tomatoes.

Above: South view: lots of sunlight; not much space. But the added greenery outside my window makes me quite happy.

Project 5

Susan Nock | Wellesley, MA | Shady Container Garden

Design Statement: Welcome to a small container garden in a mainly shady corner of our deck. I have planted the containers with a variety of shade-loving perennials, including ferns, masterwort, and ajuga. One large container holds cimicfuga, heuchera, ornamental oregano, and tuberous begonias. A few pots of succulents also live here. The bench is also home to a collection of heart-shaped rocks and lanterns. It is a place to sit and relax.

Chosen by: Isabelle Palmer, who said, "I love the way this space is used to sit and relax. This is an integral aspect to any small space I design, even if it's just a view of a windowsill. I get a sense of the designer's style in the ornaments placed around. The tones in the thoughtful color scheme really complement each other. Nothing jars, and the different greens are so calming. The textures also create a wonderful display and flow."  

Above: The shady container garden in a corner of our deck.

Above: The large container is filled with cimicfuga, ornamental oregano, tuberous begonias, and heuchera, and surrounded by pots of masterwort, thyme, and succulents.

Above: A lantern surrounded by a fern and succulents.

Above: A pot of succulents.

Above: A grouping of containers, lanterns, and rocks.

Above: Cimicfuga, ornamental oregano, tuberous begonias, and heuchera.

Click below to vote for your favorite finalist in the Best Amateur Small Garden category—and for the finalists in the six other Gardenista categories. You can vote once a day until August 8th; we'll announce the winners on August 9th.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Best Amateur Garden Winner: Molly Boxer
• Garden Visit: A Modern Farmer and Her 10 Acres in Australia
• Announcing the Winners of the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards

In the South London backyard of a grand brick house sits a shingled one-room cottage. It feels like a secret clubhouse, peeping out from behind the flower beds.

The summerhouse, not far from Wandsworth Common, was spotted by Julie via Light Locations a few summers back. It's still one of our all-time favorite outbuildings:

Photography via Light Locations.

Above: Sets of double doors on two walls swing open to help obliterate the boundary between outdoors and in.

Above: Beds of perennials and a potted olive tree bring the garden onto the deck.

Above: Unfitted cabinetry, whitewashed walls, and a glossy painted floor make the kitchen feel as if it's on vacation, too.

Above: Twin skylights keep the inside bright even when it's cloudy outside.

Above: With all the doors thrown wide open, the summerhouse's interior becomes a natural extension of the garden.

Above: Meals are taken on the deck, which means less furniture is needed indoors.

Above: Picnic benches and a slingback chair strike stylishly casual notes.

Above: Tiered flower beds cleverly keep the garden at eye level when you're up on the deck.

Above: At the other end of the lawn is a stately brick house with a Victorian conservatory.

For more interior views, see House Call: Summerhouse in South London on Remodelista. For another London surprise, see A Backyard Writer's Shed by Weston Surman & Deane.

Don't forget to vote for the finalists in the 2014 Considered Design Awards! You can vote once a day for all categories in Gardenista and Remodelista. Voting ends August 8th, and we'll announce the winners August 9th. Click below to let your voice be heard!

More Stories from Gardenista

• Outbuilding of the Week: A Rocky Retreat in the Czech Republic
• Best Outdoor Living Space Winner: Leslie and Woody Pirtle
• Bathing en Plein Air: 29 Outdoor Summer Showers

Some days it's too hot to think about food. By all means, skip dinner. But dessert? Never. Here are five of our favorite recipes for garden-to-table summer desserts. Second helpings will make you feel even cooler.

Above: Flower petals are an essential ingredient in Justine's Rose Geranium and Meyer Lemon Tea Cake. Photograph by Justine Hand.

Above: Cut back on sugar (and substitute vitamins instead) with DIY: Garden Popsicles. Photograph via Rancho Valencia.

Above: Another frozen dessert for a hot day. Yossy Arefi went foraging with self-described weed eater Tama Matsuoka Wong and came back with the ingredients for DIY: Green Juniper Berry Granita. Photograph by Yossy Arefi for Gardenista.

Above: Get a leap on apple season with DIY: Apple Coconut Crisp. Photograph by Olivia Rae James for Gardenista.

Above: Justine has a suggestion for your berry harvest. Try her DIY: Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups. Photograph by Justine Hand.

Need suggestions for the cocktail hour, as well? Try our DIY: Raspberry Sparkler and DIY: Sour Cherry Rickey, Brooklyn Edition.

If you haven't voted today for the 2014 Considered Design Awards, click below! You can vote for the finalists once a day, on Gardenista and on Remodelista. Voting ends August 8th; the winners will be announced August 9th.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Restaurant Visit: Aussie Style Invades Brooklyn at Brunswick Cafe
• Shopper's Diary: Wild Beauty at Fowlers Flowers in Melbourne
• A Starlit Greenhouse Dinner, Martha's Vineyard Edition