Last week of August: Can we fit an entire summer into seven days? Watch us try. 

We'll be chasing fireflies, planting a sunset garden, and recycling water troughs into stylish raised garden beds.

Monday

Above: We go behind the scenes with Considered Design Awards winner Maggie Anthony to hear about how she designed an Outbuilding or Shed that fits seamlessly into her garden in Nashville, Tennessee.

Above: Do pears get the appreciation they deserve? It's the height of their season, and this week's Field Guide will tell you everything you need to know to grow, harvest (hint: they won't ripen on the tree), and cook with pears.

Tuesday

Above: Alexa gets creative in Steal This Look, showing us how to create a Scandinavian outdoor dining space that will feel cozy as the nights start to cool (hint: sheepskins are involved).

Wednesday

Above: Erin views autumn's approach as an opportunity to create next year's garden—and gives us step-by-step instructions on saving seeds for next spring in this week's DIY. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

Thursday

Above: This one's for you, dog lovers. Learning by experience, Margot incorporates pet-friendly features into her home and garden in this week's Hardscaping 101. Photograph via Bone and Rag.

Friday

Above: It's high harvest season in Laura Silverman's upstate New York garden. What is she eating this week? In a new Garden-to-Table Recipe, she'll share tips on how to cook with an ingredient from your late-summer kitchen garden.

Over on Remodelista, we'll be featuring Summer Wrap-Up posts all week (plus 15 Secrets for Saving Money on a Remodel).

More Stories from Gardenista

• Trending on Remodelista: Summer Cottage
• Table of Contents: Summer Cottages
• Trending on Remodelista: Down Under

Seventy-acre Goosewing Farm, in Little Compton, is bounded by three bodies of water: Quicksand Pond, Tunipus Pond, and the Atlantic Ocean. For Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, the challenge was to preserve habitats for endangered shorebirds, marsh plants, and wildlife.

The landscape plan, which received an Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2011, integrates the farm buildings with a windswept landscape of meadow and beachfront, while creating sanctuaries for both freshwater and oceanfront flora and fauna.

Photographs via Michael Vergason Landscape Architects except where noted.

Above: "Farmer stack" dry-laid stone walls combine with hedgerows to mark off sloping fields. The land here has been farmed for 200 years. A house, stone barn, and silo sit on a knoll 50 feet above sea level, the farm's highest elevation. 

At the edge of the property, Quicksand Pond is one of Rhode Island's most important naturally flowing salt pond ecosystems. The brackish water is a habitat for fish, shrimp, crabs, and worms.

Above: Image via ASLA. Goosewing Farm's buildings include a caretaker's house, a barn, a guest house, and a main house. 

Above: Photograph via Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.

Native plants—including ferns, blueberries, and cutleaf sumac—were chosen for their hardiness. Woody plants near the buildings provide protection from wind. Lawn was limited to small areas around the buildings.

Above: Large swaths of grasses cover much of the property.

Above: Photograph via Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.

When the 18th-century Sisson Cottage was renovated, French doors replaced windows in the living room. A new deck the overlooks the ocean. Throughout the property, historic walls were preserved, as were an old stone well and cistern.

Above: Rain chains convey water to beds of ferns along the house's foundation.

Working with architects Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the landscape architects created window views of hay fields, stone walls, a lichen-covered silo, and the ocean.

Above: The open space between the Head House and the barn creates a comfortable outdoor room.

Updated from a post originally published December 16, 2013.

For more modern interpretations of the classic American farm vernacular, see An Ode to Landscape Architect Dan Kiley and Stone Edge Farm: A Peaceful Retreat in Northern California.

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• Garden Visit: The Swiss Cottage Garden, Alpine Views Included
• Best Edible Garden Winner: Britton Shepard
• Garden Visit: A Landscape of Reflections in Wales

The winner of the Gardenista Considered Design Awards Best Garden Shed or Outbuilding is Maggie Anthony Design of Nashville, Tennessee. 

Her project was chosen as a finalist by Gardenista editor-in-chief Michelle Slatalla, who said: "What a nice commute to the office—walk a few steps through the garden, past the lettuces, listening to the sound of gravel crunching underfoot. Both the setting and the studio's womblike size make it feel like a refuge." 

Take a look below and read what Anthony has to say about the project and her favorite design sources in Nashville. 

N.B.: This is the last in a series of posts spotlighting the winners of the Gardenista Considered Design Awards. Go to the 2014 Considered Design Awards to see other entries, all the finalists, and the winners. And have a look at the winners of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards, too.

Maggie Anthony Design's Design Statement: “The Shelter"—clad in locally harvested eastern red cedar—serves as the homeowner's studio office space, offering a peaceful place for creative and therapeutic work. The north end houses the garden shed, and the metal roof works as a rain catchment system to water nearby vegetable beds. The south wall features exterior art (commercial HVAC panels and vintage auto insignias and a truck door) among naturalized yucca and ornamental grasses.

Q: What were your practical goals for the project?
A: The Shelter is a personal project for my husband's office. We owned a cabin in the mountains of Tennessee and are deeply connected to the grounding force of nature. He wanted to bring that ethos to our urban property in Nashville. It was important that the space be unobtrusive but have a strong presence. He wanted to create a peaceful experience that would invite visitors to a place of refuge in a hectic world.

Q: What are your favorite features of the project?
A: The eastern red cedar batten-board siding! I've worked with Winter Brothers Construction in Smithville, Tennessee for nine years; they went to the mill themselves to select the cedar. We worked together to create the exterior finish—each board was cut on site.

The placement of the building in the context of our gardens (my husband is a Master Gardener) was important from both an external perspective and the internal views.

Q: What was your biggest splurge?
A: Labor on the batten board.

Q: Where did you cut corners?
A: The project was designed around simple materials and a sense of humble simplicity. We saved by purchasing repurposed windows and doors. The shelving by the desk was made with cedar end pieces from the roof beams. And all the furnishings had a previous life.

Q: What were the hardest lessons you learned along the way?
A: The challenge was to maintain the simplicity of the design so it didn't get in the way of the project narrative.

Q: What advice do you have for someone undertaking a similar project? 
A: Spend time with your client to listen to their needs, and learn the purpose of the space. I find that one of the most helpful questions is: “How much is enough?”

Q: Who worked on the winning project?
A: Lead designer and project manager: Maggie Anthony. Construction: Winter Brothers Construction, Smithville, Tennessee.

Q: If your project was a celebrity, who would it be?
A: Poet/farmer Wendell Berry (though he would deny the “celebrity” status).

Q: What does your firm specialize in?
A: 3 Marias, the new iteration of Maggie Anthony Design, is in the process of moving to a new studio where we will continue to work with all things design: residential renovation and building, commercial development, staging for sale, art installation, and collaborative design.

Q: What is your favorite local shop?
A: The Nashville Flea Market never fails. Locals, a gallery in Sewanee, TN, is home to gifted southern artisans. My go-to for in-stock furniture is Merridian Home Furnishings. 

Q: What is your best secret design source?
A: Nashville was recently named the third most creative city in the United States by Forbes magazine. It's infused with so much creative energy, inspiration is everywhere. The design/construction community is a generous tribe and we share our sources freely.

Q: Which architects or designers do you admire?
A: Samuel Mockbee and Commune.

Q: What is your next project? 
A: The primary focus of 3 Marias is Nashville’s vibrant 12South area. The diversity, lifestyle, and community vibe make 12South one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the southeast. Architectural styles range from turn-of-the-century four-squares and Tudor revivals to 1920s bungalows. I am currently working on a 1930s Tudor revival renovation, a new modern bay-and-gable house, an addition/renovation of a turn-of-the-century Edwardian, and a modern midcentury ranch.

Congratulations to Maggie Anthony Design! See all the winners of the 2014 Gardenista Considered Design Awards here:

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• Outbuilding of the Week: A Furry Hut on Legs in Donegal, Ireland
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Pear trees come by their gnarled branches honestly. They date back to pre-historic times, and have spread across Asia, Europe, and beyond. Pear trees compete with apple trees for their prominence in legends and fairy stories, and it's easy to see why. Fairies belong among their white blossoms, and must love the way the pear tree's bark subtly changes color as the seasons progress. The blossoms attract pollinators in the spring (think: yellow and black fairies buzzing around to improve your garden).

Above: Photograph by Beth Kirby.

There's another layer of magic to pears. After you've spent the entire summer micromanaging every cucumber and tomato baby, it's a pleasure to simply roll up your sleeves and harvest the fruit. That's practically all the maintenance an established pear tree needs.

Above: Photograph by We Shall Meet on the Beautiful Shore.

If you'd like to start one of these perennial trees, find out from a local nursery which variety will suit your requirements, and buy a year-old plant. If possible, place it on a protected, south-facing slope, and prune it to one central leader in the second spring. 

Cheat Sheet

• Most pears will only ripen after they're picked. To test for readiness, gently pull the stem into a lateral position; if the pear breaks off easily, it's ready to pick.
• To ripen pears, wrap them in newspaper or brown paper and store them in a cool, dark place. 
• Pear trees come in many sizes, from dwarf to 60 feet tall; choose one that fits your landscape.

Keep It Alive

• Pear trees can be susceptible to pests, so surround them with companion plants that counteract that: Try clover, african marigolds, nasturtiums, borage, bee balm, beans, or peas. 
• Pear trees want full sun and an inch of water every week.
• Hardy in US growing zones 2-8 (plus 9-10 on the west coast).

Above: Author Benjamin Swett's favorite Callery pear tree in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. (See photos of it in every season at Required Reading: New York City of Trees.)

Most people seem to inherit their pear tree, rather than plant it themselves. So here's some advice for maintaining your tree: In spring, prune and fertilize. In summer, water. In fall, harvest and mulch. 

Above: Preserve pears with our easy recipe: See Oven Canning 101: Cardamom Flavored Pears. Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.

Soak pears in wine or brandy for an extra-special fall treat. If you're serving sliced pears and cheese (yes, please!), drizzle the pears with honey-lemon water to keep them from turning brown. 

Read More

Above: Read more about pears (and see some of our favorite Pear Recipes).

Looking for companion plants for your pear tree? See our previous Field Guide posts on Alyssum, Crocus, and Thyme.

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The Cottage Garden at Sissinghurst contains no white. It faces west and is full of opulent color and rich scent: a place to sit at the end of the day, while watching the sun go down.

Sissinghurst Castle, in Kent, England, is not really a castle but the ruins of one. The tower where writer Vita Sackville-West had her study is castle-like, but the rest of the buildings are low and long, with a few cottages and barns dotted around. Vita and her husband, Harold Nicolson, used one building for eating, and another for keeping the children and nanny—at a safe distance. The South Cottage, a small Elizabethan dwelling, housed a flower-cutting room on the ground floor (with a sink and a stone floor), a tiny sitting room, and bedrooms for the grownups upstairs. The "sunset garden" is outside the front door of South Cottage.

Photographs by Kendra Wilson for Gardenista.

Above: South Cottage, and Harold's garden chair. Vita and Harold liked to keep pots around the area where they sat, for scent and movable color. Lemon verbena was a particular favorite, to be crushed between the fingers while reading.

Above: All the garden rooms at Sissinghurst were created for living in, outdoors. The Cottage Garden was a place to sit before dusk, while the White Garden was somewhere to eat at night, with the flowers still visible and still sending out scent. For a similar show of orange, you can start Lilium Superbum, also known as Turk's Cap Lily, from seed. A packet of seeds is $2 from Prairie Moon Nursery.  

Above: This yarrow is Achillea filipendulina 'Gold Plate'. For a similar bright yellow yarrow, try Achillea 'Moonshine'; $7.99 per plant from Santa Rosa Gardens. In the background are giant cone-shaped Irish yews. For UK gardeners, Taxus baccata fastigiata is available in several sizes at prices ranging from £10.08 to £57.60 from Hopes Grove Nurseries.

Above: Pale orange daylilies. (Not sure how orange to go? Experiment with a Border of Orange Daylilies in four colors; $79.50 for 24 from White Flower Farm.) For a good selection of daylilies in the UK, visit The Nursery Further Afield.

Above: Rough stone and brick path flanked by hemerocallis (daylilies) and hosta.

Above: Hemerocallis 'Stafford' is £8.99 apiece from Crocus.

Above: For UK gardeners, Imperata Cylindrica Rubra is £8.99 apiece from Crocus. For a grass with a similar mix of purple and green leaves, consider Panicum Virgatum 'Shenandoah'; $8.99 from Santa Rosa Gardens.

Above: At Sissinghurst, a drift of Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty' with brown centers and orange petals. For a similarly colored flower, consider Helenium Autumnale 'Mariachi Salsa'; $7.99 per plant from Santa Rosa Gardens.

Above: 'Crocosmia Masoniorum Rowallane Yellow'; available from Holden Clough Nursery, £7.

Above: For UK gardeners, Kniphofia Royal Standard is £8.99 per plant from Crocus. For a plant with a similarly colored flower, consider Kniphofia Uvaria Flamenco; $7.99 apiece from Santa Rosa Gardens.

Above: Vita and Harold did a lot of traveling, using Harold's diplomatic work as an excuse. They collected many things, including a donkey, Abdul, that they had shipped over from Morocco. More prosaically, perhaps, they also collected colorful glass. In the deep window sills of South Cottage, the warm, translucent hues work perfectly with the idea of a sunset garden.

Above: In the foreground, daylilies in the Cottage Garden. Sissinghurst Castle's tower rises in the background.

Updated from a post originally published August 30, 2012.

For more on the gardens at Sissinghurst, see The English Gardener: His and Hers, Harold and Vita. For a grand garden in England, see Sezincote in Gloucestershire.

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• Landscape Architect Visit: A Historic Farm on Rhode Island, Ocean Views Included
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The last days of summer have us thinking about the ideal ad-hoc dining space. This set-up in Sweden, with a mix of inexpensive DIY tables and benches and a spare palette, has lots of good ideas to steal.

The deck is part of the Vidar House, designed by Leva Husfabrik—a team that includes an interior designer, an architect and developer, and a gardener. The structure is meant to adapt to a variety of situations; it can function as a home, a hotel, or a schoolhouse. Get the look of Helena Bloom's design and styling with our sources below.

Above: The deck of the Vidar House, via Leva Husfabrik (also see our post on their kitchen project, Design Sleuth: Towel Bars as Drawer Pulls).

Above: Do like Husfabrik and set 2-by-4 studs on small sawhorses to create an instant bench. Premium Kiln-Dried Whitewood Studs are $3.13 each from Home Depot. 

Above: Create a table base with two Folding Wood Sawhorse Kits, made of solid spruce and easy to assemble; $29.99 each from Home Depot. For the table top, source a large board from Home Depot or a local hardware store.

Above: For holding branches, the square ceramic Burlap Pressed Pot mimics the texture of burlap; on sale for $9.95 from Terrain.

Above: Huset Gotland Sheepskins from the Swedish island of Gotland are $410 each. 

Above: The Anderson Teak Andrew Folding Dining Side Chair is designed for outdoor use; $620 for two from All Modern. 

Above: The New Pot 50 is a large-scale planter designed by Paolo Rizzatto for Serralunga. This one, the smallest of three sizes, measures 19.5 inches high by 16.5 inches in diameter and holds 10.5 gallons. Made of recyclable polyethylene, it is water- and UV-resistant; $290 from Design Within Reach.

Above: The concrete and wood Rohbau Birdhouse is €89 at Das Rote Paket; see our post on Prefab Houses for the Birds.

For more outdoor dining patios, see Steal This Look: Cinderblock Chic in Toronto and Starry Night Outdoor Dining in LA.

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• Best Garden Shed or Outbuilding Winner: Maggie Anthony Design
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Compared to photographing them, catching fireflies is about the easiest thing to do. And in the summertime, spending at least one evening running around a field, mason jar in hand, should be a priority if not a requirement.

In the northeastern United States, firefly season is at its peak in the weeks after July 4. But if you noticed fewer tiny twinkling bugs in your backyard this summer, that might be because firefly populations are apparently declining. But do not despair. Firefly.org has outlined a few ways you can help protect fireflies. We're republishing some of them here in hopes that our fellow gardeners can help spread the word.

Photographs by Erin Boyle.

Seven things you can do to protect fireflies:

1. Turn off outdoor lights: Fireflies use bioluminescence to communicate and attract mates. There's evidence that light pollution from humans interferes with that, making it harder for fireflies to mate and breed.

2. Let logs and litter accumulate: Rotting logs and litter on the forest floor can provide crucial habitats for firefly larvae. 

3. Get a fountain: Most species of fireflies thrive in marshy areas near standing water. If you don't live by a natural water source, consider adding a small pond or fountain—or even a birdbath—to your garden.

4. Don't use pesticides and fertilizers: It shouldn't come as a surprise that spraying pesticides to eradicate one type of insect can have detrimental effects across species. And though there's no direct link between fertilizer use and firefly decline, it's common sense that you will create a richer natural environment if you avoid synthetic fertilizers and chemicals. Better for you, better for the bugs.

Above: On a recent weekend at my parents' house in Connecticut, we enjoyed a nightly firefly show. An abundance of habitats like the woodpiles, wildflower meadows, and marshes around their place are likely why we saw so many. (Kendra had the right idea in Can We Please Be Less Fanatically Tidy?)

Above: Reducing outdoor light pollution is good for star-gazing, fireflies, and just about every other living thing (including humans). My mom hides the back porch light under a Red Trumpet Honeysuckle Vine ($19.95 from Gardener Direct) to reduce its impact.

Above: Can you spot the fireflies in my mom's garden? I promise you, there were many more of them.

Above: I armed myself with a wide-mouthed jar and a square of cheesecloth to do some old-fashioned firefly-catching.

Above: The cheesecloth did double-duty as a breathable barrier and a translucent lid on my temporary nightlight. Don't worry, I was a gentle captor, and I let this guy go before too long.

Updated from a post originally published July 17, 2013.

For more of Erin's countrified exploits, see Meadow Muddle: My Laissez Faire Approach to Arranging Wildflowers and 12 Tips for Growing Cutting Flowers from Barberry Hill Farm.

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The Geometric Fire Pit, designed by architect John Paul Plauché of Houston's Plodes Studio, gets my nomination for best portable fire pit ever.

A versatile piece that can also be used as a grill and, when not in use, a wood-topped table, the handcrafted Geometric Fire Pit is available in two metals—Corten steel or A36 low-carbon steel—and two sizes. The small fire pit measures about 31 inches square and stands 14 inches tall; the Corten steel version is $1,675 and the carbon steel version is $1,195, at Design Within Reach. The larger fire pit, 40 inches square and 14 inches high, is $2,145 and $1,850. They can be used to burn seasoned wood or charcoal. 

Above: Both versions of the Geometric Fire Pit will rust when exposed to the elements; the rust becomes a protective layer. A drain plug “pipe” prevents coals and ash from falling through the opening, while still allowing airflow to help fuel the fire.

Above: An optional Fire Pit Steel Grate Top ($175 small; $289 large) adds grilling capability.

Above, two photos: When your fire pit is not in use (and fully cooled down), top it with the Fire Pit Cedar Top ($160 and $222) to transform it into a table.

Above: The Corten steel version of the Geometric Fire Pit will stop rusting after several months; the A36 carbon-steel model will continue to rust, blacken, and peel. But both of these fire pits are good for years' worth of al fresco evenings.

Updated from a post originally published July 13, 2012.

For more fire pit selections, see 10 Easy Pieces: Fire Pits and Bowls. And see Architects' Roundup: Fire Pits and Outdoor Fireplaces for lots more inspiration.

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Who isn't transfixed by flames? The winner of the Best Amateur-Designed Office Space in this year's Remodelista Considered Design Awards has a fixture that intrigued readers: a wood-burning camp stove that can be used indoors and out. Here are the hearth-warming details:

Above: Located in a converted 10-by-10-foot backyard shed in San Francisco, the office is the work of Caitlin Long, mother of two, who chronicles her projects and family life in The Shingled House blog. Like everyone else, Long singled out the stove as her favorite element in the room: "I installed the woodstove (a portable camping stove) with my older son, who loves to have a little fire going when he uses the office to study at night." 

Above: The stove is from Kni-Co of Wallowa, Oregon, a company that specializes in US-made lightweight, portable stoves (shown here) for use in tents as campfire alternatives. Long chose the Denali Camp Stove of 10- and 12-gauge steel; Kni-Co calls it the largest camp stove on the market (weight: 72 pounds). Prices for the Denali start at $314.95.

Above: Long installed a fireproof cement board to insulate the wall behind the woodstove "so that we don't catch our shed on fire." She then painted the board dark gray with Rust-Oleum High Heat spray—see the Before and After at The Shingled House.

Above: Here's the stove awaiting installation in the shed. Go to The Shingled House to see Long and her son put the pieces in place—and light the first fire.

Above: The award-winning office, with a fireside stump (and a carbon monoxide alarm installed for safety). Says Long, "Obviously, it isn’t freezing here in San Francisco, so the woodstove isn’t a necessity for warmth, but it sure does add magic." 

Anticipating an autumn chill? Don't miss Geometric Fire Pit: Do the Math. And over on Remodelista, see 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding Woodstoves. 

Click here to see the other winners in the Remodelista Considered Design Awards. Gardenista's Considered Design Awards winners are here.

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I'm the first to remind friends that we've still got a few weeks of summer left. But in the garden, there are signs of a shift in the season as plants start to wither. Rather than yanking spent plants out of the earth, however, you should be gathering their precious seeds for next year. 

Abby Meadow, from the Tend Collective, grows heirloom vegetables in her Oregon garden. She took photographs of her own seed-saving endeavors, and says, "Growing seed can be simple and intuitive. Most plants, if let be, will do what they need to do to reproduce. Typically, a plant will fruit, flower, set seed, and then wither away. As the plants wither, the seed dries up, falls off the plant, and sows itself for germination at a favorable time.

"In most cases, this is exactly how to approach saving seed for your own deliberate use. Allow the plant to take its full course, and when the seeds are fully mature and dried on the plant, it's time to take them inside to store."

Here is Abby Meadow's advice for saving seeds:

Photographs by Abby Meadow.

Above: This sage plant has given its show of beautiful purple blooms. Each dried blossom hides a small cluster of seeds. 

Above: Sage seeds, which are almost black, fall easily from the flower when they're ready to harvest.

Above: Calendula seeds are ready to harvest when they can be easily rubbed away from the flower heads. At this point the seeds may still be green, but you can set them out to dry thoroughly before storage.

Above: Calendula seeds drying.

Above: Sometimes saving seeds takes patience, and a sacrifice of garden space. The Bull's Blood Beet plant is a great example: In the stage of seed-production pictured here, it's about 5 feet tall, and a leggy, floppy sprawl (and it's already looked this way for several months).

Above: But once the beet seed is ready to harvest, you won't need to save any more for a while. A few unruly months yields several years' worth of viable seed.

Above: Just leave peas and beans on the vine until the pods are fully dried. Says Abby Meadow: "I make a rough determination of how many plants I'd like to grow the following year, and then leave enough pods on the vine to accommodate my hopes for harvest. Once dried, the peas and beans inside can be removed and stored."

Above: Coriander (cilantro) seed is a delicious culinary addition when still green. But for seed harvest, it's best to allow the seeds to dry on the plant. You can then use the seeds in cooking, or for planting in a new season. Cilantro flowers also add a delicate beauty to the garden and are loved by bees and other pollinating insects.

Above: Kale is another generous seed producer. One plant will grow enough seed for countless gardens full of kale. Let the pods dry on the plant, then snip them off and extract the seed. Honeybees are crazy for kale flowers, making them a great attraction for beneficial pollinators.

In addition to providing food for the future, Abby says that "saving seeds also provides pollen for insects during periods of the year that can otherwise be sparse. When we save seeds, pollen-producing flowers are left on the plants for beneficial insects, extra seed can be left for the birds, and the cycle of food production can continue for us gardeners."

For advice on keeping your seeds safe for next year's planting, see Store Your Own Seeds. And now that we've got you thinking about seeds, read about this intriguing resource: A Bank for Rare Seeds in Petaluma.

N.B.: This is an update of a post published September 3, 2013.

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What to do with a bushel of nearly gone fruit? Thrifty American colonists added sugar and vinegar to make a sweet and sour syrup that would last the winter. What did they call it? Shrub.

Don't worry, no one's suggesting you add boxwood to your G&T. But modern-day mixologists are taking a page from their forebears in tricornered hats, and adding this delightfully acidic syrup to cocktail recipes. Make your own and try it with seltzer, whiskey, or whatever your favorite beverage is. Here's a collection of shrub recipes that have tempted us this season. 

Above: Fresh Apple Shrub; photograph by Marisa McClellan via Food 52.

Marisa McClellan shared her recipe for apple shrub on Food 52. It's just three ingredients: shredded apples, apple cider vinegar, and granulated sugar. She suggests mixing it in cocktails, stirring it into sparkling water, or whisking it into a salad dressing. We'll try all three. 

Above: Plum Shrub from HonestlyYUM.

Red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and over-ripe plums are the ingredients in a syrup concocted by Todd from HonestlyYUM. "Try saying 'plum shrub' three times fast without smiling," he suggests. Or just add a splash of his fruit syrup to vodka and shake over ice.

Above: Peach Shrub from Brooklyn Supper; photograph by Elizabeth Stark.

"If you were looking for the opposite of a schmancy cocktail, and you wanted something simple and down-home and good, surely then you would want a shrub," says Elizabeth Stark, from Brooklyn Supper. Head to the market this weekend to get ripe peaches.

Above: Calamansi Lime Shrub; photograph by Marvin Gapultos via Burnt Lumpia.

Marvin Gapultos set out to make a shrub inspired by his native Philippines, using calamansi, a citrus fruit from the Philippines, and Filipino sugarcane. The result? "A shrub syrup full of bright, calamansi aroma—think mandarin orange crossed with a lime."

Above: Peach and Berry Summer Shrub from Oh So Beautiful Paper; photograph by Nole Garey.

When Nole Garey makes shrub, she doesn't stop with just one kind of fruit. Here she combines peaches, blueberries, and strawberries in a trifecta of summery tastes. She also uses two vinegars: balsamic and champagne.

Above: Cherry Balsamic Shrub from Reclaiming Provincial; photograph by Carey Nershi.

Balsamic vinegar and cherries give this shrub a moody hue. Carey Nershi, from Reclaiming Provincial, describes it as "wonderfully tart (and a gorgeous shade of red, to boot)."

Above: Concord Grape Balsamic Shrub from Documenting our Dinner; photograph by Brianne Looze.

For late-summer drinks, Brianne Looze captured the flavor of Concord grapes in a balsamic vinegar-based shrub. "It takes a few days to put together, but the end result rewards you well for your trouble," she says. "The nostalgic flavor of Concord grapes is elevated by adding a bit of earthy balsamic vinegar, but the mixture retains brightness from a hefty amount of white wine vinegar as well. The shrub strikes a brilliant balance between sweet and tart." We'll take ours like she did, with whiskey. 

Above: Blackberry Rum Shrub from Saveur; photograph by Nicole Franzen.

Impatient food preservationists, rejoice. This shrub syrup is heated for speedy results. You'll have a crimson cocktail in no time.

Above: Strawberry Drinking Vinegar from Five and Spice; photograph by Emily Kuross.

Strawberry season has come and gone, and we're wishing we'd bottled up a taste of the season with Emily's recipe. We're saving this recipe for next summer (but for now, we're following her lead and using fennels sprigs as a garnish from here on out).

Above: Rhubarb Shrub from Hungry Ghost; Photograph by Andrea Gentl.

Here's one to save for next spring. Andrea used a cold process to make a rhubarb shrub, allowing the fresh rhubarb and sugar to steep on the counter for 72 hours.

Search our Cocktail Recipes for other drink ideas.

N.B.: This is an update of a post published on September 17, 2013.

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Your seemingly innocuous garden hose may be brewing up a dangerous cocktail. Before taking another drink, consider investing in a chemical-free, drinking-water-safe option.

The vast majority of garden hoses are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which contains harmful lead that leeches into water in levels deemed unsafe to drink. And, while it is believed that plants don't absorb lead, I can't stand the idea of spraying my garden, especially my herb and vegetable containers, with lead-ridden water. Fortunately, there's a new breed of PVC-free garden hoses made with FDA-approved materials that are not only drinking-water safe but also durable and lightweight.

N.B: Even with drink-safe hoses, it's important to let the water run until it's cold before you drink it, as contaminants can grow in warm standing water.

Above: The Heritage Garden Hose is made of chemical-free polyurethane that is resistant to cracks and leaks. The 50-foot hose weighs only three pounds, comes in four colors, and has chrome-plated brass fittings; $58 at Terrain.

Above: The Slim and Light Professional Garden Hose is lightweight (it also weighs 3 pounds per 50 feet), soft, strong, and flexible. The ultra-slim hose is made from FDA- and NSF-approved food-safe polyurethane that is toxin-free and won’t kink or crack. Made by Water Right, a family-owned company in Oregon, it is available in orange and olive and in lengths of 50 and 100 feet; $59.95 and $99.95 respectively at Williams-Sonoma.

Above: Another Water Right product, the Lead Safe High Flow "Big Guy" Garden Hose is made of lead-free polyurethane. Available in two colors (eggplant and olive) and two lengths, 50 and 100 feet; $67.83 and $104.39 respectively from Amazon.

Above: Also from Water Right, the 50-Foot Coil Garden Hose is ideal for small urban or balcony gardens (longer coil hoses are also available). Manufactured in the US using FDA-grade drinking-water-safe polyurethane and commercial-grade brass fittings that are plated to prevent lead from leaching into the water; $69.95, including a nozzle and quick-release coupler.

Above: The Armadillo Garden Hose has a galvanized steel outer shell over reinforced nylon-grade tubing. The couplings are nickel-plated and crush-proof (ever ruin your hose by backing over it with a car?). Resistant to pets (and rodents) who like to chew, it is available in seven lengths ranging from 6 to 100 feet; $139 for the 50-foot length at Wayfair.

Above: The GatorHyde Drinking Water Safe Garden Hose is made of 50-percent recycled polyurethane with nickel-plated ends. The company claims that it's up to two times lighter and three times more durable than other hoses. The 50-foot length is $59.95 through Amazon.

Updated from a post originally published April 19, 2013.

To keep your hose tidily stored away, see 10 Easy Pieces: Crank Hose Reels. For some old-fashioned irrigation methods, see Metal Watering Cans in Primary Colors and Belgian Basics with a Fairy Tale Twist.

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The typical rectangular raised bed is a space hog that tends to dominate a garden. The other day I ran across a stylish alternative—painted livestock water troughs. Here's how to get the same look:

Photography by Marla Aufmuth for Gardenista.

Above: The raised beds, seen in the distance beyond a trellis, look like large decorative planters when viewed from the house.

Two troughs with a small footprint—each is 2 feet wide and 6 feet long—sit side by side in the yard behind a San Francisco row house in a garden created by designer Katey Mulligan. At a height of 24 inches, each trough provides a luxurious depth of soil to promote root growth of vegetables and herbs.

Above: The homeowner purchased the water troughs from a farm supply store in Santa Rosa, California. A similar 123-Gallon Galvanized Round End Tank is available from Amazon for $216.23.

Above: The homeowner painted the galvanized tanks with a metallic exterior paint. For UK gardeners, Polyvine Metallic Acrylic Paint is available in six colors from Wrights of Lymm for £21.95 a liter. For US gardeners, Studio Finishes Molten Metallics paint, also in six colors, is available from Benjamin Moore for $22.95 a quart.

Above: The homeowner drilled drainage holes in the bottom before setting the troughs in gravel. The plug was removed from each trough's side drain hole so the irrigation system's hose could be attached.

Above: Washed Gravel (L) is available in a variety of colors and sizes; one ton will cover approximately 100 square feet at a depth of two inches. For more information, see NJ Gravel & Sand. For information about irrigation kits and supplies (R), see Irrigation Direct.

Above: For pre-made fence panels, see 10 Easy Pieces: Instant Fencing.

Above: At the bottom of each trough is a layer of gravel for drainage, topped by soil cloth to prevent soil from washing away. The soil is a comfortable 22 inches deep, allowing the homeowner to "crowd" plants at the surface because their roots have plenty of space to grow vertically. The beds are planted with a mix of arugula, sage, rosemary, oregano, and other herbs. For seeds, see Johnny's Seeds.

Above: Chives thrive in a raised bed; a packet of Fine Leaf Chive seeds is $3.65 from Johnny's Seeds.

Above: Side by side, the troughs have a slim profile.

For another way to make beds with galvanized steel, see Garden Visit: A Galvanizing Garden in Sag Harbor, NY. For more advice on small-scale gardening, read Subdividing a Small City Backyard to Make it Bigger.

N.B.: This is an update of a post originally published September 26, 2012.

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Enrique had only been with us a few days when we blithely left him home alone for a couple of hours. The shredded curtain and broken windowpane that we returned to clued us in that our rescued 15-pound mutt hadn't yet adjusted to his new environment. Dogs need to feel at home, too, we realized.

I'm happy to report that four years later, Enrique is leading a good life and hasn't done any further damage—and we feel as if we ended up with the world's sweetest pet. But like a toddler-proofed house, our rooms show signs that someone with four legs has the run of the place.

Hard to believe that not so long ago, dogs lived in doghouses. Now that they've been fully welcomed indoors, it's smart to incorporate our pets' needs into the design plans. As Ben Bischoff of Made Architects LLC wisely points out, "You don't want to have to shoehorn a big dog bed or metal crate into a finished room. If you're constructing or remodeling, it makes sense to design and build places for your pet's things to go."

Towards that end, here are eight key things to consider when setting up your quarters for man and beast:

1. A Convenient Way In and Out

The practicality of a dog door depends, of course, on where you live and the size of your dog. But having a built-in dog door is a great boon for both dog and owner. Take a look at Amanda Pays and Corbin Bernsen's dog door tucked into a corner of their laundry room.

Above: A charming dog door by KUU, an architectural design firm based in Singapore and Tokyo.

2. A Place to Keep Leashes and Towels at the Ready

A mud room is a luxury high on dog owners' wish lists, but any entry equipped with hooks and storage will work—as long as it can be tread upon by dirty paws and doused with wet fur. Think twice before adding hand-blocked wallpaper, as we did in our entry. What you need is a resilient staging area where your dog can be cleaned and dried before being unleashed into the rest of the house.

Above: Oliver Freundlich designed a tiled open coat closet for a Brooklyn couple with a dog named Cash. A leash is at the ready on the cast-iron hooks, and dog towels, toys, and treats can be stowed in the yellow cabinet by Cappellini. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

3. Resilient Flooring

"In a pet residence, the floor is the first and most important consideration. Pets spend a lot of time on the floor; it's our pets' eminent domain," writes dog design authority Julia Szabo in her book Pretty Pet-Friendly: Easy Ways to Keep Spot's Digs Stylish and Spotless. Easy to clean, non-porous surfaces are ideal, she advises. Concrete and tiles work well, as do hardwood and bamboo floors (but be warned that dogs with scratchy paws are likely to leave their mark on soft woods). Radiant heat flooring is a boon all around—energy-efficient and a dog favorite. Carpeting is not recommended: It's too hard to keep clean. If you insist, however, Szabo recommends Flor carpet tiles—they're removable and washable. Also consider Bolon, woven vinyl matting from Sweden that's easy to clean and indestructible. I use it in my front hall to save our hardwood floors from all the snow and rain that gets tracked in.

Above: A polished concrete floor with radiant heat works extremely well for a couple living in a converted Upstate New York barn with two giant Rottweilers. See more of the barn here as well as on pages 198 to 203 of the Remodelista Book. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

4. A Feeding Area

Too often dog bowls are left out in the open, just waiting to be knocked over. When designing a kitchen (or mud room or laundry room), build in a convenient place for the food and water bowls to live. It will become one of your greatest daily satisfactions.

Above: To be filed under genius idea: a dog-feeding station on a platform with inset stainless steel bowls and built-in water faucet, designed by Chicago architect Mike Shively of Morgante Wilson Architects.

Above: Similarly, Oliver Freundlich created a dog bowl nook in a kitchen island, and painted it Christian Louboutin red. It's in the same Brooklyn duplex pictured above—tour the whole apartment on Remodelista at Architecture as Alchemy.

Above: A drawer under a window seat holds a feeding station in a design by TerraCotta Properties of Atlanta.

5. A Place to Stow the Kibble

Bags of dog food are unwieldy, not to mention unattractive and prone to attracting vermin. Having a built-in, air-tight bin is ideal. An old-fashioned metal garbage can also works (see Amanda Pays' laundry room).  

Above: A beadboard pull-out conveniently holds a covered container for storing dry dog food. Photo via Decor Pad.

6. A Place to Wash Up

A laundry sink works well for bathing small- and medium-sized dogs—and means you don't have to bend over a low bathtub. Bonus: A sink is easier to clean than a tub. Alternatively, consider installing a dog shower with a handheld nozzle—a good addition to a tiled niche in a mud room or laundry room. 

Above: Bethany Obrecht, a rescue dog advocate and co-owner of the dog accessories company Found My Animal, equipped her Brooklyn brownstone kitchen with an antique farmhouse double sink, purchased on eBay. It's sized just right for Claude, her mutt, and Henri, her Chihuahua. Photograph from Found My Animal.

Above: Another luxury—the outdoor shower. This one is conveniently positioned alongside a dog door in a project by Phil Kean Design Group of Winter Park, Florida.

7. Pet-Proofed Furniture

Dogs don't need to be allowed up on the furniture, of course, but who can resist lounging on the sofa with a furry companion? It's wise to protect the comfiest seats in the house by slipcovering them in washable fabrics. Alternatively, cotton painter's drop cloths are a fast, affordable strategy—see Remodelista's post Canvas Drop Cloths as Instant Decor.

Remodelista's London editor, Christine, tucks a washable duvet onto her couch to dog-proof it, and LA interior designer Michaela Scherrer drapes her living-room furniture in claw-proof, spongeable white leather. If you're thinking of reupholstering, Julia Szabo recommends Crypton, a stain-resistant (low VOC and no formaldehyde) fabric sold by the yard (some patterns are designed by William Wegman). And for an especially dog-friendly house, consider building a spot just for your pets, such as a window seat or top-of-the-stairs lookout.

Above: A homemade window seat built over a radiator serves as the perfect toasty hangout and mailman watch at the London home of the owners of pet accessories company Bone & Rag. The window seat is made of painted fiberboard with turned legs and air holes, and has a dark blue velvet cushion that's hardwearing and, yes, washable. Photograph from Bone & Rag.

8. A Comfy Spot to Nap

Dogs need a place to retreat to where they can sleep soundly—"somewhere quiet and comfy, but close to the action and free from draughts," specifies Jeremy Cooper of Bone & Rag (makers of nice-looking denim dog beds). The hitch is that dog beds and crates hog a lot of space. Instead of allowing them to clutter your rooms, consider creating cozy built-in niches under shelves, islands, and stairs. 

Above: Jean-Pierre, the resident French bulldog at Vancouver's Old Faithful Shop, has a bed built into a custom-made wooden counter. Photograph from Old Faithful Shop.

Looking for pet accessories and toys? Check out Remodelista's gift guides for the Dog Lover and Feline Fanatic. And for the ultimate dog-friendly house, see Only in Japan: An Architect-Designed House That Doubles as a Dog Salon. Worried about pets eating houseplants? Read our report on Gardenista: Will a "Poisonous" Plant Really Kill Your Pet?

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We've all been there. Enticed by the natural beauty of pebbles, shells, and other treasures tumbled by the sea, we spend our beach vacations collecting to our hearts' content. Then we get home. Now what do with all that flotsam and jetsam?

Artist and photographer Jennifer Steen Booher of Quercus Design has a bright idea. An avid beachcomber herself, the year-round Bar Harbor resident has spent years turning her foraging finds into timeless images. One misty morning in Maine, my family and I were fortunate enough to meet up with Jenn at Hulls Cove, a favorite beachcombing spot, to learn how to make our own vacation portraits.

Above: Score! Oliver makes the find of the day, a chunk of beautifully worn cobalt glass the size of the half dollar.

Above: Solvi displays some of her treasures.

Above: Artist Jennifer Steen Booher admires Solvi's discoveries.

Above: Old pennies tell a story of their own.

Above: A congress of beachcombers on a misty morning at Hulls Cove on Mount Desert Island.

Above: Back home, we get to relive our vacation as we survey our finds.

Above: A composition in brown, and another in green. We arranged our finds on a light background, and I photographed them using a tripod. Jenn uses a professional light board for her vivid images. I overexposed mine a bit to create the dramatic, stark background. A little color boost in the edit brings out the brilliance of the glass.

Above: A composition in blue is a year-round reminder of our vacation. The photos can be simply taped to the refrigerator or inspiration wall, or professionally printed and arranged in a grouping. They can even be made into notecards to send to others.

Above: A rich combination of natural and human history: Our finds ran the gamut from glass to coins, shells to stones. 

Above: Experimenting with different angles and apertures.

Above: Because it was the brightest spot in my house, I shot my images on a painted kitchen windowsill. But you could experiment with different textures and backgrounds. A flat piece of driftwood would be nice.

Above: A minimalist portrait in yellow and green.

Above: Jenn is a consummate beachcomber, and her professional images feature a rich variety of Maine finds. A 12-by-12-inch image of her Beachcombing Series No. 47 is available via her Etsy site; $40.

Above: Beachcombing Series, No. 35 by Jennifer Steen Booher. Jenn is also happy to make a custom portrait for you. Just send her your finds and she'll create a professionally photographed composition. For more information on available sizes and pricing, contact Jenn via her website.

Above: Beachcombing Series, No. 17.

Updated from a post originally published August 2, 2013.

N.B.: Join Jenn at another inspiring Bar Harbor spot at Winter Wonderland Hike. And for more from Justine on what to do with your beach treasures, see DIY: Pressed Seaweed Prints and DIY: Razor Clam Pendant Light.

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The sheer scale of the place is difficult to grapple with. The kitchen garden alone at Scampston Hall, in Yorkshire, in the north of England, contains four acres within its brick walls. But in the end, the impossible size has been the making of this garden and its staggering renewal.

Often, because of the owners' desperate financial straits, large enclosed spaces at the center of old country estates were turned over to grazing or monoculture crops like Christmas trees. The greater the space, the worse the situation. But when Sir Charles and Lady Legard inherited Scampston Hall in 1994, they undertook an ambitious restoration of the house, followed by the garden. A big vision was needed for this massive space, and they found it in a chance meeting with Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf. This was pre-Chelsea-Best-in-Show Oudolf. His work at Scampston crystallizes his ideas from the years before international acclaim, and it remains his largest private commission in the UK to date.

Above: The Perennial Meadow is in the center of the garden. Low seats were chosen to aid the enjoyment of the full impact of the plants, from stem to flower head. Photograph by Alexandre Bailhache.

Above: The house shimmers behind meadows and young trees in summer. In the foreground: salvia and allium sphaerocephalon. Photograph by Alexandre Bailhache. (N.B.: To recreate the Oudolf look in your own garden, see Steal This Look: Piet Oudolf's Private Garden.)

Above: Autumn in the Silent Garden. The "new" Walled Garden is still quite young; these yew columns will be allowed to reach 3 meters before leveling off, so that they will be reflected in the pool. Photograph by Alexandre Bailhache.

Above: The Walled Garden was built in the mid-18th century. Soon after, Capability Brown was engaged to overhaul the rest of the park with the naturalistic style considered chic at the time. A slightly different approach to "naturalistic" now thrives within the Walled Garden's right angles. Photograph by Phil Tatler.

Above: Seats in the Drifts of Grass area, shown at the beginning of the season when everything is more green and less tall. All the seats were designed especially for this space by Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek. Photograph by Phil Tatler.

Above: The vast scale. The Walled Garden dominates everything, including the house, originally built in 1690. Photograph via Scampston Hall.

Above: Drifts of perennials, including grasses, sedum, helenium, and salvia. Photograph by Phil Tatler.

Above: The Perennial Meadow, contrasting with the rigid parallels of yew hedges. Photograph by Phil Tatler.

Above: The Silent Garden, with pleached limes, beech hedging, and yew topiary, which is approaching its final height in this more recent view. Photograph by Anne Ainsley.

Above: An overview from The Mount in autumn, with the Katsura Grove (cercidiphyllum Japonicum) in the foreground. Katsura has a scent reminiscent of sugar being cooked. On warm, still days, the smell is powerful enough wafting from just one tree, let alone 32. The leaves are a lovely orange as well. Photograph by Alexandre Bailhache.

Above: Piet Oudolf's plan was to add more structure within the walls, and to emphasize contrasts. Here, the autumn color in the drifts of Molinia grass contrasts with the mown grass, but also with the evergreen topiary next door in the Silent Garden. Photograph by Alexandre Bailhache.

For more, see Piet Oudolf: The Genius Behind the High Line and Required Reading: How to Recreate Piet Oudolf's Painterly Landscapes.

N.B.: This is an update of a post published September 19, 2012.

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Designed by Australia's ArchiBlox, these instant Backyard Rooms—well, practically instant—create extra living or studio space; no building permit required. All you do is pick a size, configure, and place the order. Six weeks later: Your studio has arrived.

Photographs via Backyard Room.

Above: Available in several sizes and configurations (including a two-story studio layout), the Backyard Room can be customized with various windows and doors. Prices range from $15,840 AU to more than $150,000 AU. 

Above: ArchiBlox specializes in prefabricated design. The team's modular workspaces have built-in bathrooms, kitchens, desk areas, and bookshelves.

Above: A tiny office nook with a view.

For another of our favorite prefab cottages, see A Tiny Backyard Guest Studio (Sleeps One). No room for a pop-up shed? Try repurposing your garage, as in Outbuilding of the Week: The 186-Square-Foot Guest Cottage.

N.B.: This is an update of a post published on June 21, 2013.

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Right about now, anyone with a vegetable garden is trying to come up with new ways to eat zucchini. Fried, battered, or baked, these prolific plants are the gift that keeps on giving. Are you, too, searching for delicious ways to dispatch a surfeit of summer squash? For ingredients and step-by-step instructions for zucchini carpaccio—and other zucchini recipes—read on:

Photography by Laura Silverman for Gardenista.

Above: Early in the season, zucchini plants—from the species Cucurbita pepo—are all floppy green leaves and big golden flowers. But by August they are usually delivering more squash than one kitchen can handle. Ideal at about 7 inches long, zucchini seem to grow exponentially overnight, morphing into the enormities known to the British as “marrows.”

Above: There are numerous varieties of zucchini—the classic green; the striped and ridged Romanesco (above); and others that are white, deep orange, or brilliant yellow. They are all characterized by relatively tender skin, unobtrusive seeds, and delicately flavored flesh.

Above: Because zucchini pack a lot of water, they’re great for soup. I make one by cooking golden zucchini with onion and Indian spices, then pureeing the ingredients in the Vitamix. Garnished with fresh herbs and puffed rice, this soup is good hot or cold.

Above: To make zucchini fritters, you'll need to remove some of the moisture. Start by shredding zucchini using your food processor or a box grater, then wrap it tightly in a towel and squeeze with all your might. Mix the decidedly drier shreds into a loose batter with beaten egg, milk, and flour, then stir in crumbled feta and lots of chopped mint. 

Above: Form this batter into small cakes and shallow-fry in oil for the most wonderful fritters. Serve with a little spiced yogurt and a spoonful of chutney on the side.

Above: Zucchini blossoms are edible and delicious. Choose firm, fresh blossoms, preferably males, since those don’t have incipient squash forming beneath them. Give them a good shake to make sure there are no bees inside.

Above: I like to stuff the flowers with fresh ricotta and herbs, roll them in egg, dredge them in flour, and fry them in neutral oil until they’re crisp and golden. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt for extra crunch, and serve hot.

Above: Still staring at a pile of zucchini? Grate it up, but don’t bother to squeeze out the water. It works wonders in a moist cake studded with toasted walnuts, enriched with olive oil, and cleverly spiced with ground ginger and fresh rosemary.

Above: Too hot to cook? Beyond toasting a few pine nuts, you only need to wield a knife for this elegant raw salad, inspired by the traditional Italian carpaccio. Paper-thin slices of squash are the basis for a light and satisfying dish in which not much gets between you and your zucchini. 

 Zucchini Carpaccio

Serves 2 as a main course, 4 as a side dish or salad. 

1/3 cup pine nuts
1 large zucchini, or 2 medium
1 large handful fresh basil leaves
Juice from half a lemon
Extra-virgin olive oil
Parmesan cheese
Flaky sea salt, like Maldon

Toast the pine nuts in a skillet on top of the stove or in the oven. Set aside. 

Slice the zucchini as thinly as possible without driving yourself crazy. (Or use your mandoline.) 

Thinly slice (chiffonade) or chop the basil and spread on top. Next, scatter the pine nuts. Squeeze the lemon juice over everything; drizzle generously with olive oil. 

Using a vegetable peeler, shave curls of Parmesan on top. Sprinkle on some sea salt for crunch. 
Serve immediately.

For more recipes from the garden, visit my blog Glutton for Life. Growing your own zucchini? May we suggest The World's Best Tasting Zucchini?

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Practical and stylish, waxed canvas totes have long been popular with both outdoor types and urban sophisticates. Making one yourself is easier (and less expensive) than you might think. All it takes is a few supplies and some elbow grease.

Read on for a list of materials and step-by-step instructions:

Photography by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

Above: If you're like me, you've got a dozen L.L. Bean-style bags floating around the house. For this project I chose my favorite: a well-worn, vintage tote. It was a bit of a risk. Though I wanted to extend the life of the bag and make it waterproof, I worried that the waxing might compromise its nice patina.

Materials:

• Cotton canvas tote, or any piece of canvas you want to waterproof. Until you get the hang of waxing, I recommend starting with something small and simple (that is, not too many nooks and crannies).
• Wax. I chose all-natural (no petroleum or paraffin) Otter Wax, because it seemed easy to use and I liked the Portland company's commitment to sustainable business practices. Heat Activated Fabric Dressing is $19.95 for an 11 ounce tin from Otter Wax.
• Small paintbrushes
• Plastic scraper
• Disposable cotton rag 
• Pot for heating the wax
• Kitchen thermometer

Above: Otter Wax prints the directions on the can. (I've added my own perceptions and observations throughout this post.) Begin by removing the lid and label on the Otter Wax can.

Above: Place the can of wax in a pan of water and warm it over medium heat. After the temperature reaches 180 degrees, turn the burner down to low and continue to heat until the wax melts.

Above: After your wax is melted, dip a small brush into it and wipe off excess wax on the side of the can. 

Above: Apply a thin coat to the canvas, brushing diagonally to the grain of the fabric. 

Above: Use a clean rag to work the wax into the fabric. The wax will quickly develop a crusty coating, so I found it easier to work in small sections, alternating between using the brush and then the rag. Remove any excess wax with a plastic scraper.

Above: It takes a fair amount of elbow grease to rub the wax into the fabric until most of the waxy bits are gone. (That's why I recommend starting with a small project.) At this point your bag, the cloth, and your hands will be very sticky. 

Above: Keep working the wax in until the surface is relatively smooth and uniform. (Note that the bag now looks a good deal darker than when I started. I was beginning to worry about my patina.) 

The final step involves applying heat from a blow dryer. Set the dryer on high and direct the hot air from one side of the bag to the other. If you tilt the bag, you'll be able to see the wax residue more easily. Aim the dryer directly on these spots until the wax melts and is absorbed into the fabric. 

After all the wax is absorbed, let the bag cure for 24 hours in a warm, dry place. 

Above: After the heating process, my patina was back. The tote no longer felt sticky and stiff, but rather soft and pliable. And I was free to pack my bag and enjoy the waning days of summer.

Another note: For this project I used only half a can of wax. That, plus a few inexpensive brushes, meant that the total cost for waterproofing my bag was about 1 hour of my time and $15. Not bad.

N.B.: Looking for more totes and waxed-canvas inspirations? See 10 Easy Pieces: Springlike Canvas Totes and 10 Easy Pieces: Etsy's Best Canvas Carry-Alls. I also think these Marine Canvas Water Buckets are excellent waxing candidates.

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Our friends at Remodelista have been taking note that some of the most appealing elements of summer—from beach finds to coastal blues—are worth incorporating into rooms year-round. Best idea? Pet hideaway. (Trust us, we'd never throw in a cat photo without a good reason.)

Above: Imagine setting out these delicate ceramic pieces for dinner in the garden at dusk. Find out about the Swedish artist/interior designer who creates them in Artisanal Porcelain for the Summer Table.

Above: We love these sweet cabinet knobs with miniature painted landscapes, by a London designer—in fact, we'd like to steal this whole look.

Above: Lately, designers have started using baskets made of thin, pliable wire to introduce a rustic or industrial touch. Justine finds some stylish examples.

Above: Julie discovered the bakery at Vienna's Hotel Daniel, and it's right up our alley: a greenery-filled oasis where wooden pallets are used in creative ways. Let's hope they have schlag. 

Above: Why, hello kitty. We saved the cat picture for last, but it's actually part of this week's Remodeling 101, an invaluable list of 11 Extras Worth Considering in Your Remodel. 

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