The Impatient Gardener: Bring beauty inside with Indoor Plant Decor + a giveaway

06 May 2013

Bring beauty inside with Indoor Plant Decor + a giveaway

I have only two indoor plants that I really care about. One is a spider plant I bought at the farmer's market the day I moved into my freshman year college dorm, making it, well, old enough to be at college itself. The other is a large ficus tree I got from my grandmother's house after her death. In her later years it also served as a Christmas tree of sorts, bedecked with red ribbons and a set of lights.

I have other indoor plants, but they take a back seat to these other two, and I have no doubt that were it not for their annual vacation outside during summer, when I actually take care of them along with the outdoor containers, they would have been goners long ago.


 Still, for a long time I've known that there was a whole other world of indoor plants out there. And that's where Indoor Plant Decor comes in.

The new book—a "design stylebook for houseplants," according to the subtitle—by Kylee Baumle and Jenny Peterson spoke to me from the first line of the introduction. "It used to be that indoor gardening meant a ficus tree in the corner of the living room, a pothos plant trailing from the top of the entertainment center and a row of African violets in the kitchen window."

Plants, Indoor Plant Decor proves, can be just as much a part of your home's decor as a throw pillow or decorative vase but with far more style and the benefits that come from plants, including some that actually purify the air in your house.

The book is unlike most gardening books, possibly because it straddles an interesting line between gardening and home decor. Although small in size, the book is big on information, and the size seems well suited to the layout. Each chapter starts with a scrapbook-style series of photos setting the scene for  a design aesthetic and finishes with a DIY project to create plant decor in that style.


The latter is where the book shines. Too often, projects spelled out in books are excessively complicated, but Indoor Plant Decor hits the right note with its easy-to-understand, step-by-step instructions. Several projects are approachable enough that I found myself wanting to dig into them right away. Mini succulent cork planters are adorable and would be the ultimate in table decor-turned guest gift and the "planted book" is a creative take on plant design that you're not likely to find elsewhere.


While the front of the book is dedicated to inspiration and how-to, at the back of the book is an easy reference guide to houseplants. A list of houseplants ranked from "easy breezy" to "design divas"  is alone worth the book's cover price. Following that is some information on common houseplant ailments and basic care information. None of it is overly extensive or mind-numbing, instead it is the right amount of easy-to-access information.

Sentimental houseplants are great and Indoor Plant Design doesn't discount the importance or beauty of fiscuses like mine, and in fact the tips contained in the book will only help those plants thrive in my house. But the book leaves you looking at houseplants in a completely different way; one that makes you want to explore just what you could do for your home with a few plants.

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I have a great giveaway to make indoor gardening even more fun. The Bonsai Tool Set by DeWit Tools  is just the right size for maintenance of your Bonsais or other small plantings. Don’t let the size (6-7 inches) fool you, these tools are made with the same quality materials as the larger DeWit tools.

All four tools have blade made of Swedish boron steel and fitted with an ash hardwood handles from FSC Certified forests. The set comes with wood storage case and is guaranteed for life.

DeWit Tools has been producing hand forged Dutch garden tools in the north of Holland since 1898. Every DeWit tool grew out of a need to solve a gardening problem and today, 3rd and 4th generations run the DeWit factory. 

To enter, just use the Rafflecopter widget below and leave a comment telling me if you get sentimental about your indoor plants (or just tell me about your favorite indoor plant). You an also get an extra entry by following The Impatient Gardener on Facebook.




I was so excited to be part of this blog book tour happening all over the gardening blogosphere today. Everyone who has reviewed the book is also giving away a great prize, so make sure to visit these bloggers and enter to win a great prize.

I was provided a copy of Indoor Plant Decor by St. Lynn's Press for review purposes. All opinions are my own. Indoor Plant Decor is available at Amazon.com and at booksellers throughout the country.

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46 Comments:

Blogger kristine said...

I've got a spider plant I bought from Target when I moved into my first apartment with my husband (in 2004!) and believe it or not, that sucker is still going strong and has gotten HUGE. Very sentimental about it!

May 6, 2013 at 8:22 AM  
Blogger Devon said...

My favorite house plant is anything I can keep alive. Houseplants are HARD!

May 6, 2013 at 8:41 AM  
Blogger Cortney @ Box & Bay said...

I am super sentimental about the 3 African Violets my parents got me when my first dog had to be put down... I've propagated them, babied them, and now the three have turned into 6 (which could probably be divided out again into 9!) Also, I have a ponytail plant I got when I started my first job and it has quadrupled in size despite many bouts of neglect, now it is pampered and growing!

May 6, 2013 at 8:49 AM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

Not really sentimental about my houseplants, they usually die, but I do have a couple of African violets that have been hanging in there for awhile. Thanks for the chance, love the little tool set!

May 6, 2013 at 8:59 AM  
Blogger Sue said...

Those tools are so cute and look really well made-handy for getting into small spaces!

My favorite indoor plants (outdoor as well) are those shared by friends. I often think of the special friend who shared them as I pass by. They tend to get a bit more frequent care resulting in a slightly longer predicated lifespan than some of other indoor plants in our midst.

May 6, 2013 at 10:02 AM  
Blogger Abbey Forney said...

My favorite houseplant is my yellow moth orchid. I'm so pleased that I finally have the right conditions to grow it in.

May 6, 2013 at 10:05 AM  
Blogger katina said...

I tried to grow some bonsai trees (from seed no less) when I moved to Austin - they didn't do very well...but then, that's because my house is a dark little cave. My office, on the other hand...I think it's time that I tried bonsai again.

May 6, 2013 at 10:48 AM  
Blogger pigbook1 said...

I don't think I get sentimental about houseplants, but I haven't really kept any lately, instead focusing on the outdoors. a book like this is exactly what I need to get some life inside too!

May 6, 2013 at 11:23 AM  
Blogger Erin said...

I had to give up on house plants after we moved out of our first house... I'm hoping to start growing some herbs at the new place, though - does that count? :)

May 6, 2013 at 11:46 AM  
Blogger Mrs. (Mis)Adventure said...

I don't think I get sentimental about houseplants. I have some that I propagated in college and a few that I received when my father passed. Ferns never seem to survive in my hands!

May 6, 2013 at 12:36 PM  
Blogger treehugger said...

I'm so happy that there's someone else out there that is attached to houseplants too! Mine include a spider plant that was born from one of my mom's plants, a jade plant I was given by a friend when I moved from the beach to the mountains and a peace lily from my grandfather's funeral. I have others, but these are the ones that I baby :)

May 6, 2013 at 3:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love my house plants, but......they usally HATE me.

May 6, 2013 at 4:03 PM  
Blogger Goneahead said...

well, the first houseplant I fell in love with was an aloe and now twenty years later, I have about 50 pots of different aloe. I wouldn't say its sentimental - more like an addiction!

May 6, 2013 at 5:54 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

My favorite thing about my spider plant is that so many friends have "babies" from it now.

May 6, 2013 at 6:53 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

Some definitely are, but it's nice that the book has a list of easy houseplants. I've decided I should probably just stick to that list, though.

May 6, 2013 at 6:53 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

Oh that is so sweet about the violets. I got a violet from my godmother's collection when she died and I was horrified that I killed it in no time.

May 6, 2013 at 6:54 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

Sure! Herbs count!

May 6, 2013 at 6:55 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

Oh ferns are hard (and messy!)

May 6, 2013 at 6:55 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

I love jade plants and they seem to live forever. A friend has a huge one that had been her grandmother's fo decades.

May 6, 2013 at 6:56 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

Sometimes I think mine feel the same way.

May 6, 2013 at 6:56 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

Oh wow! That is so cool I love aloe (and so handy to have around). Some aloes are just so beautiful. Do you have a special planting mix you them in?

May 6, 2013 at 6:57 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

Wow ... that's impressive! You must have far more patience than I do!

May 6, 2013 at 6:57 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

It is!

May 6, 2013 at 6:57 PM  
Blogger Erin @ The Impatient Gardener said...

Oh beautiful!

May 6, 2013 at 6:58 PM  
Blogger Patty said...

Erin, I think my whole plant addiction is due to the influence of women who came into my life when I was a very young girl. They were gardeners and plant lovers who passed along the hobby to me in the form of advice, pots, and of course, plants. I still have one of those pots and remember Mrs. Sheldon very often. I'm pretty sure I still have descendents of the plants I received also. I attend 4 plant swaps each year and have great memories of wonderful people who gave me special plants from their own collections. Some of these people are no longer with us, but have gone to their reward. This is what makes gardening sentimental for me.

patty
soriano471@sbcglobal.net

May 6, 2013 at 9:12 PM  
Blogger jchapstk said...

My indoor plants can be mood changers. I look up and see one blooming and I get all excited (still). Loosing one sends me through the 12-stages of grief sometimes. It's silly, but that's okay. Many are gifts that have a personal connection.

May 7, 2013 at 6:07 AM  
Blogger Nancy Carr said...

I love my succulents as they are so easy to take care of and the different shapes are pretty. nancythedove@aol.com

May 7, 2013 at 7:28 AM  
Blogger Diane said...

I desperately tried to keep a Serissa bonsai alive several years ago, and cried when it finally died. Lesson learned: I kind of suck at bonsais. But my other plants are doing great! I'm currently in love with my burro's tail sedum and have starts of it all over the house.

May 7, 2013 at 10:13 AM  
Blogger Glenda said...

I just started bonsai!

May 7, 2013 at 3:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I get sentimental about all of my plants! Right now I have a Diffenbachia that is suffering, possibly from a bacteria, and unfortunately, everything I've read says the only thing you can do is to toss it (boo hoo)!

May 7, 2013 at 3:42 PM  
Blogger Terry said...

I'd love to try an orchid.

May 7, 2013 at 8:10 PM  
Blogger Edith said...

I'm sentimental about ALL plants. The ones indoors need to be rotated outside regularly, though, because my house is dark! Succulents and a lovely combination of equisetium and striped spider plant are hardy enough to stand being inside for a couple of weeks at a time. I put them in clay pots on a white tray for a coherent look.

May 7, 2013 at 10:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Erin. I'm new to your blog, but will be stopping by often to check out your posts.

I don't currently have any favorite houseplants. I think that could change with a lot of the great ideas found in the Indoor Plant Decor book.

Susanne
From the Market to the Plate
Putting Words Down On Paper

May 8, 2013 at 10:44 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I really love my bonsai tree!

May 9, 2013 at 1:31 AM  
Blogger Manda said...

I love my mint plant. It is the only thing I have kept alive during the past year so it is very special (and hardy).

May 9, 2013 at 9:44 AM  
Blogger Sunflower Days said...

I love love my orchids, the gifts that keep on giving! Thank you! Pamie G. New Braunfels, Texas

May 9, 2013 at 10:48 AM  
Blogger Elisabeth said...

I have a spider plant that my Mother in Law gave me when my husband and I first were married and I'm definitely attached to it!

May 9, 2013 at 4:51 PM  
Blogger Barb said...

I have a mother-in-law tongue that is quite huge now. It is very special to me. The origins go back to 1972. I was going away to school and my dad gave me a mother-in-law's tongue. He died 2 months later, so this plant was the last thing he ever gave me. I kept it until 1991, 21 years, until my house burned in the Oakland Firestorm, and it was destroyed. Shortly after, a friend (not knowing the meaning of this plant to me) gave me a well-developed mother-in law's tongue, which I still have today, almost 22 years later. This plant is a daily reminder of my dad, of friendship, and perseverance in the face of tragedy.

May 10, 2013 at 2:07 AM  
Blogger Barb said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

May 10, 2013 at 2:11 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Mine is the Spider Plant,My grandma had three of them growing up and always gave her babies to friends and family,she had so many of them and it has always been my favorite plant because of her,now I give away my own babies !

May 10, 2013 at 9:04 AM  
Blogger Julie said...

My favorite indoor plants are my apple blossoms

May 10, 2013 at 1:51 PM  
Blogger Donna said...

I love houseplants! Cyperus Ornamental Grasses are my favorite

May 10, 2013 at 3:28 PM  
Blogger Mr. Marmaduke said...

I bought a white bat flower plant this past winter, and have been exceptionally excited to have it bloom, but unfortunately it has not been happy with the overly dry conditions during our cold months. I'm hoping a place on the porch during our humid summer will make it a much happier plant!

May 11, 2013 at 1:57 PM  
Blogger Carol Y said...

I love my Snake Plant. I received it 33 years ago in a planter for the birth of my son. How memorable!

May 11, 2013 at 2:33 PM  
Blogger Kristin said...

I love my Christmas Cactus.

May 11, 2013 at 9:36 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

well, the first houseplant I fell in love with was an aloe and now twenty years later, I have about 50 pots of different aloe. I wouldn't say its sentimental - more like an addiction!
delo

July 20, 2016 at 3:22 AM  

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