You know the old saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure"? Well, I think you found a great treasure! That CD shelf makes a nice plant stand and it looks to be a great size for holding quite a few pots!

I've retrieved a couple of things from neighbor's trash ... one time a nice dressing table that I used for a plant stand and to hold a couple of my decorative bird houses. Another time I picked up a big mirror from the trash, painted the frame and hung it on the side of my garden shed. I'm still looking for an old bicycle to sit in the garden; I'd hang a basket from the handlebars and plant it up with flowers spilling out over the edge. I almost scored a child's little red wagon years ago when a neighbor was moving and had put it out for the trash. I was in a rush to get to an appointment and figured I'd pick it up when I got home because I knew trash pick up wouldn't be by until very late in the day, but it was gone when I got home ... someone beat me to it. I would have drilled holes throughout the bottom and either sat potted plants in it or planted the whole thing.

Trash to Treasure ... love it!

Looks great ! Good find.

And it is such a sturdy looking metal stand. What a find.

I wish we had a once a week recycling in my neighborhood. That stand is perfect, I would have grabbed it too. I lost track of my gardening passion most of this year. I became a caregiver to my DH and gardening was put on hold. He has passed and I'm trying to get myself back to digging in the dirt. It may take a while but reading all these articles has motivagted me.

Had to look at the photos several times. Was trying to figure out if my eyesight was going bad - the pictures looked all 'wavy'.
Then I laughed at my mistake when I realized the shelf has style!
Good find.

Don't feel bad Greene - I had the same thought the first time I saw one of those - thought maybe I was having a flashback from my misspent youth.

I frequent thrift stores and come home with all sorts of things to re-purpose. I look for milk crates and plastic children's furniture which I end up painting if it's a garish color.



I use the milk crates to sit plants on during the growing season .. and in winter I turn them sideways and put dormant tropicals like elephant ears and gingers in the bottom in the greenhouse then put some plastic shelves I found on top of them then more plants .. the shelves keep water from dripping down into the pots below them.

Pegi,

Sending ((((( Hugs ))))) your way. I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of your husband. Being a caregiver for a loved one takes a lot of time, energy and commitment and it's understandable that gardening as well as many other things get put on the back burner when something of much more importance is at hand. With this years gardening season winding down in the north maybe you could plan a small memory garden for next spring. You could spend time over the winter months browsing seed and garden catalogs in preparation for the coming season and find a special spot in your yard where you can plant a flowering shrub or tree in honor of your husband. Tending a memory garden can be very rewarding and therapeutic as one goes through the grieving process and looks to the future.

~ Lin

Anne, very smart ideas there and nice greenhouse for overwintering all your lovelies!

Pegi Sending you (((((( hugs)))))) Lin has some great ideas when you are ready to get back in the dirt I'm glad you are here this is such a warm community

The stand is heavy I'm glad it was only up the block from me I was so excited to find it and last night I found a 20g fish tank on the street which will become some sort of planter for tropicals.



Thanks to everyone for the comments now I have some great ideas from all of you

@Samigal So sorry to hear about your husband's passing. As Lin has said, being a caretaker takes more energy that anyone can imagine. She has given some very good suggestions. Hope to see you posting in the spring about your garden plans.
Great finds y'all!

I am sorry to hear about your husband passing away Pegi.
It is good to see you posting again.

Thanks everyone, I'm just starting to think of digging in the dirt again. Right now the heat is keeping me inside the house, where I have a lot of work to do too. Getting rid of all the junk in the back yard is a major chore, but slowly son and I will get rid of it and have more gardening space. He likes to plant, mostly veggies, but not good at weed pulling. DH was a major pack rate, but nothing that interests me. Car parts that never got thrown away over the years. Wow, where to begin!!!

Samigal,
I share your pain.
I understand the pack-rat thing. I have been helping to clean out two homes that no one else will touch, but since I am a pack-rat I can handle the job.

Take it one day at a time; one area at a time; one pile at a time; one box at a time.

Step away and take a break as needed.

Divide into categories - car parts/magazines/clothes/tools, etc.

Then make the decisions:
- Goodwill/Salvation Army or other thrift store - check to see if your local Humane Society has a thrift store. (Some of these organizations will pick up for free.)
- Craig's List for things that people might pay money for.
and my favorite place -
- FreeCycle Network. Post items to be given away for free. There is a chapter in your area:
https://groups.freecycle.org/g...

Love the CD stand....the "wavey" adds class!!

{{{HUGS}}} to you Pegi....one day at a time....even if it's only 15 mins.....it will get done

I love the idea of a "memory garden"....how about maybe saving a few of the car parts and include them in the garden since that seems to be something he enjoyed... here's a few ideas for you!!

@greene I totally agree with your method of cleaning out homes. If you look at the total job, it will be too daunting.
@klc Those are some good ideas for the memory garden.
@Samigal As one who has been there, too, greene's method works.

Here it is the end of an old year and beginning of a new one. May 2015 be g happy, safe and healthy one for all. I'm doing much better in getting some things packed up for thrift store. I gave a box of shirts to a friend and she is going to pass it on to others interested. A lot of car parts so I may make garden art from it. His passion was fishing so have many things I can use there. Son is a fisherman also so what he doesn't want I will recycle. Just need more time to decide on a lot of things. I can't even seem to clear out my office and everything in it is mine.. Just made sure I had a direct path to computer.