Grow your own fresh herbs and you'll soon be addicted as well.
The flavor and aroma that fresh herbs add to your cooking is well worth the effort of raising your own crop.
A window box is not only an ideal spot for an herb garden, but a wonderful way to brighten any window in your home.
Creating your own window box is a fairly simple craft project, an ideal and thoughtful gift, or a wonderful way to dress up your own home.
It is almost as much fun to watch your window come to life as it is to have the fresh herbs available for cooking.
To make a window box, you will need:
- A drill
- A plain window box, either store-bought or home-made with drainage provided,
- A drainage tray,
- Sand-paper,
- Compost and soil,
- Seeds for your favorite seasonal flowers or herbs,
- Acrylic paints, both white and colors,
- Clear gloss paint for a top coat to hold the colors,
- A 2 inch paint brush and
- Turpentine for clean up.
Using smooth strokes, apply a base coat of white paint, once the first coat has fully dried, apply a second coat.
When this second coat is completely dry, it's time to decorate.
Paint on colored designs that you like - Hearts, leaves, lattice and stripes are some popular choices for decorating a window box.
You can also create your design separately and glue on individual pieces Why not create some stamps to use? Once this final layer of colors or glue has dried completely, apply an overcoat of clear gloss.
Again, let dry completely, preferably overnight.
Now that the design stage is complete, it's time to move on to the planting.
Place the drainage tray and a one inch-thick layer of pebbles in the bottom and cover these with a compost and soil mixture, then sprinkle with the plant seeds.
Lavender and Geranium grow well in small areas and create a wonderful smell as well as pleasant look.
Chives, mint and sage will also do very well in a window box.
If you are opting for different varieties of plants, take a little time to create your display.
Start by sowing the tallest of your plants at the back, follow this with bushy plants in the middle and finish with some trailing types towards the front of the window box.
This will give it an aesthetic look that will be eye catching and graceful.
Whatever you choose to plant, be sure to water and fertilize your miniature garden on a regular basis to keep it growing at its best.
Place your new window box in a sunny or light window and enjoy the view as your garden comes to life! These miniature gardens make an ideal gift for friends or family that live in an apartment, or in a home with limited yard space.
They are compact, easy to care for, and will provide fresh herbs or just brighten a corner of any indoor living space.