Spotted and admired in Ikea's new spring collection, a glass greenhouse cabinet to house your plants outdoors or in:

Above: Made of powder coated galvanized steel with glass doors, a gray Hindö Greenhouse Cabinet measures 56 3/4 inches high and 24 3/4 inches wide; $99 (currently available in US stores but not online).

Above: The greenhouse cabinet has five shelves, three with adjustable heights. Each shelf will hold up to 50 pounds. The cabinet's feet also adjust to enable the greenhouse to stand level on an uneven surface.

For more of Ikea's new collection for 2015, see:

• New from Ikea: 11 Essentials for Small Space Gardens
• Sneak Peek: Best of Ikea's New Kitchen tools for Gardeners Who Cook
• 10 Favorites: Best of Ikea 2015

More Stories from Gardenista

• Before and After: A Renovated Barn by Berlin Star Thomas Kröger
• Danish Twist: A Big House Looks Small in the Forest
• Hardscaping 101: Backyard Ice Skating Rinks

They say you are what you wear. This is also true of your house. Your front yard makes a strong first impression. Here are seven of our favorite landscaping ideas to dress up the place:

Fairy Tale Flowers

Above: For more of this garden, see Garden Visit: The Hobbit Land Next Door. Photograph by Tom Kubik for Gardenista.

My next-door neighbor in Mill Valley, California tore up the grass first thing when she moved into her house. The property is fenced, so it feels like a private world. The walk from the front gate to the stoop is only about 30 feet, but on the way you pass so much—a hydrangea grove, lemon trees, fragrant roses, Japanese maples, columbine, wisteria, herbs—that it can take days to get there if you stop to smell everything.

Above: On the front porch, a potted orange begonia is all it takes to remind visitors of the flowers they've just walked past.

Above: A riot of color in a window box reinforces the theme.

Gracious Living

Above: For more of this garden, see Before & After: A Grande Dame in LA's Hancock Park.

The first time LA-based landscape designer Naomi Sanders saw the grand 1920s house in Hancock Park, it felt hemmed in despite its generous front yard. A maze of formal parterres and fussy plantings ("a million different plants") were to blame.

She designed new hardscape elements (including a concrete front path to match the material of the stoop) and reduced the plant palette to three colors (green, white, and red). "I was really interested in looking at the work of Mark Rothko for inspiration, for that limited use of color for effect," Sanders said.

Above: By simplifying the plantings, Sanders made the boxwood parterres feel tailored instead of cluttered.

Above: A front path of flagstone was replaced by concrete pavers. "It makes the hardscape feel more connected to the house," says Sanders.

The Secret Garden

Above: A mysterious front path invites visitors into Jean and Ken Linsteadt's Mill Valley, CA front yard. Two pencil thin cypress trees flank—and define—the walkway. For more, see A Modern Garden Inspired by the Classics.

What makes it welcoming? No fence. No gate. And the high boxwood hedges look fluffy rather than fierce (thanks to gentle pruning).

Above: Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

A the end of the path, wide stone steps (and Louis the springer spaniel) lead to a covered front stoop.

Above: Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

Alongside the Linsteadts' path, cheerful pink and white clumps of Santa Barbara daisies signal that visitors are welcome.

Elevated Thinking

Above: In Philadephia, a steep grade change required retaining walls at a property's edge. To make the house feel accessible and welcoming to visitors, designers at Fieldesk planted a colorful, drought-resistant front yard garden on either side of the stairs.

Above: Hardy perennials including coreopsis (R) and thyme edge the walkway.

Painterly Prairie

Above: Photograph via Adam Woodruff & Associates.

In central Illinois, garden designer Adam Woodruff created a painterly mini prairie when he tore out the turf in his own front yard and planted a low-maintenance mix of perennials, ornamental grasses, and shrubs.  

Above: Woodruff planted hardy blooming plants that will perform year after year. He created a crazy quilt of color (L) with Astilbe chinensis ‘Purpurkerze’; Helenium ‘Mardis Gras’; Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’; Eryngium yuccifolium; Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’, and Perovskia atriplicifolia.

At (R), plants include Perovskia atriplicifolia, Amsonia hubrichtii, and Salvia ‘May Night'.

Victory Garden

Above: For more of this edible garden in London, see Garden Visit: The Little House at 24a Dorset Road.

When London architect Sam Tisdall designed a replacement house to match the rest of a block's Victorian era homes (which had been built for railway workers), he sited the clients' vegetable garden in the small front yard to take advantage of available sunlight.

Above: Raised beds add another architectural element to the facade.

Steal the Views

Above: From a Napa Valley farmhouse, you can see vineyards from the house—if nothing blocks the view. For more of this garden, see Vineyard Retreat: A Garden That Belongs to the Land. 

"Our goal was to make this garden evocative of the surrounding landscape, which is just stunning," said SF-based landscape architect Scott Lewis, who came up with a garden design for the one-acre property. "What we did was clear the clutter away to take advantage of those views."

Above: On both sides of the front path are sweeps of perennial grass Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition'. In the fall, the grass turns gold, like the distant hillsides. 

For more of front yard landscaping ideas, see:

• 11 Ideas to Steal to Add a Touch of Red to a Garden.
• Leaves of Grass: 9 Ways to Create Curb Appeal with Perennial Grasses.
• 13 Landscape Ideas to Steal in 2015.

More Stories from Gardenista

• A Modern Garden: At Home with Charles and Ray Eames in California
• Garden Visit: A White Christmas in Sweden
• Before and After: A Charred Wood Cottage, on a $45K Budget

Are you sick of hearing that succulents are "easy" when the only thing yours do reliably is die? The solution is to get the right succulent for the job. 

For instance. If you are trying to grow succulents indoors, buy plants with bright green leaves (instead of gray, blue, or purple leaves). When you pot succulents, remember they need better drainage and soil aeration than thirstier plants; use a cactus soil mix and add a layer of gravel to the bottom of the pot. If you put succulents in the garden, dig in some sand to improve the soil's drainage before planting.

Here are ten of our favorite succulents (and the secrets to keeping them alive):

Black Rose 

Above: Photograph by Gwen's Garden via Flickr.

Native to the Canary Islands, aeoniums thrive outdoors in similar Mediterranean climates—with hot, dry summers and rainy winters. Aeoniums come many colors—including green, striped, and gray—but we particularly love the black varieties such as Black Rose (above). They create a dramatic counterpoint to blue- and gray-leafed plants in the garden.

 Aeonium 'Zwartkop' has long, delicate leaves that taper to a point; a plant in a 1-gallon pot is $12 from Cycadpalm.

Burro's Tail

Above: Photograph via Cereal Magazine.

Extremely delicate leaves will fall off at the slightest touch, so place Burro's Tail in a spot where it won't be disturbed. A Sedum morganianum has bluish green leaves and, when it blooms, tiny red flowers. A bare-root Burro's Tail in a 4-inch pot is $7.99 from Succulent Babies via Etsy.

Aloe Vera

Above: Photograph by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

Hardy indoors or out, aloe is your friend. Of more than 250 species of aloe, the one known as "true aloe" is aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis). Probably because of its amazing ability to cure sunburns. Aloe vera's leaves ooze a soothing substance that makes a fine hand lotion. An Aloe Vera Medicine Succulent Plant is $14.95 from Cactus Limon via Etsy.

If you, like Justine, keep a potted aloe indoors and snip off the tips of leaves to use for medicinal purposes, you can make your supply go further by propagating the plant's offsets. Follow Justine's lead in DIY: Propagate the Plant of Immortality.

Pencil Cactus

Above: We have good reasons for calling the pencil cactus The New 'It' Houseplant. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

Happy to be a houseplant, Euphorbia tirucalli hails from Africa and earned its Pencil Cactus nickname for the shape of its branches. Give it a sunny spot and don't over-water it, and this hardy plant could grow as tall as 6 feet. A Euphorbia Tirucalli in a 4-inch pot is $12 from Pernell Gerver.

String of Pearls

Above: Photograph via A Home Full of Color.

A good choice for indoors where you can control its climate, slow-growing String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) likes bright, indirect light—and to be left alone. Let the soil dry thoroughly before watering. Its trailing stems can reach lengths of up to 3 feet. A 6-inch hanging pot of String of Pearls is $12.99 from Hirt's.

Paddle Plant

Above: A pink-tinged paddle plant. For more, see Steal This Look: An Indoor Succulent Garden.

An exception to the "bright green leaves only" rule, kalanchoe will thrive indoors in indirect, bright light. One of my favorite succulents, a Kalanchoe Luciae looks like it's wearing lipstick on the edge of its leaves. The rosy edge makes it a good candidate to combine with other red or purple-leaved succulents. A rooted cutting of Kalanchoe Luciae is $7.95 from Bkyard Paradise via Etsy.

Hens and Chicks

Above: A variety of Sempervivum. For more, see Steal This Look: An Indoor Succulent Garden. 

Growing in tight clusters that look like rosettes, Hens and Chicks spreads quickly to fill a container or a bare, sunny spot in a dry garden. There are thousands of varieties of sempervivum with leaf colors ranging from deep green to pale blue to purple-tinged; an assortment of 11 Sempervivum Succulents is $22.40 from Rainforest Rose via Etsy.

String of Bananas, Lady Aquarius, and Perle Von Nurnberg

Above: Three hardy succulents for a container garden. For more, see DIY Container Garden: 3 Tough Beauties That Won't Die.  Photograph by Meredith Swinehart

For a container garden that won't wilt in the heat, we consulted our favorite succulent expert, Robin Stockwell, who owns Succulent Gardens nursery in Castroville, California. The recommendation: combine trailing blue-green String of Bananas (Senecio radicans); the ruffled rosettes of 'Lady Aquarius' echeveria (Crassulaceae echeveria cv. 'Lady Aquarius') that are blue edged in pink, and smooth rosettes of pale lavender 'Perle Von Nurnberg' echeveria (Crassulaceae echeveria cv. Perle von Nurnberg).

A String of Bananas plant is $10.99 from Succulent Beauties via Etsy. An Echeveria 'Lady Aquarius' in a 4-inch pot is $8.95 from Annie's Annuals. A collection of three Perle Von Nurnberg Echeveria plants is $22.45 from Succulent Babies via Etsy.

For more, see:

• Steal This Look: An Indoor Succulents Garden
• Garden Designer Visit: A Drought Tolerant Garden in Bel Air
• DIY: How to Propagate Aloe Vera
• Needs No Water, Lasts a Month

More Stories from Gardenista

• A White Christmas, with Potted Cyclamen
• 8 Winter Garden Greens to Grow Now
• 10 Easy Pieces: Garlands and Boughs to Deck Halls

When we moved our family of four from Bath, England to Portland, Oregon in 2012 little did we know that we would spend the next three years transforming a disused rose garden into an English kitchen garden, complete with vintage-style greenhouse.

It was a big move for me, not least in family terms but in gardening terms too. I was leaving behind a walled kitchen garden where I had carefully trained espaliered apples and fan-trained peach trees. I was looking for a place where I could re-invent my old garden and add more besides.

We found a house in Portland that stood on 0.6 acres. It was quite unusual to find a house with so much outdoor space close to the city, we were told! The problem was that the garden, though once beautiful, hadn’t been tended for roughly six years. The old rose garden was knee-deep in blackberries, the fountain was full of dirt and weeds, a crabapple sat sadly enveloped in Old Man’s Beard, and we found three ponds that we didn’t know were there. There was a lot of work to do.

Photography by Gillian Carson.

Above: The old rose garden became my new kitchen garden. We felled a dying tree and asked a local greenhouse maker (SturdiBuilt) to build a bespoke wooden frame (measuring 10 by 16 feet) to sit on a red brick base. I wanted it to look as much like an English greenhouse as possible to remind me of home.

Above: I brought this Haws watering can with me from England. It's quite simply the best watering can I've ever had. The design is called 'Peter Rabbit'. (N.B. A red Peter Rabbit Watering Can is $89.99 on Amazon.)

Before

Above: When we arrived, the fountain was in disrepair and full of dead plants. Weeds choked the old roses and blocked the pathways.

After

Above: Brick paths edged with box give the vegetable beds structure and provide evergreen interest during the winter months.

Above: I raise all of the vegetables and herbs in the kitchen garden from seed in the greenhouse.

I planted some apple trees (Ashmead’s Kernel and Liberty) along an east-facing wall and trained them as espaliers. I also added a fan-trained Peach (Q18) which is resistant to peach leaf curl and does very well, even in our wet climate.

Above: I like to shell peas outside my greenhouse next to a grapevine trained along the fence.

Above: Luckily, I had decided to ship all my tools from the UK, even though I had to scrub each one with disinfectant to comply with US import laws. It was worth it because I felt like I could get started on the garden immediately. 

Above: The first thing I added to my greenhouse was a length of Union Jack bunting. Since then I've added mirrors, antique boxes, and vintage terra cotta pots.

Above: One of the pieces I brought with me from England was this rhubarb forcing pot. It's fantastic for making long, sweet, pink rhubarb stems. I've also used it to force sea kale in the past.

Above: I love old terra cotta pots and galvanized tubs and try to use them whenever I can.

Above: The design of the old rose garden lends itself well to growing vegetables. Each year I plant vegetables and herbs in a different pattern radiating out from the central fountain, which we cleared out and repaired. 

Above: I mix vegetables with flowers. Here a delphinium mingles with the grapevine.

Above: The benefit of having a fully stocked kitchen garden is that you can use the produce to give as thank-you gifts. This is a vegetable box that I made for one of our neighbors who gave us a bike.

Above: I love to grow the un-buyables: unusual or interesting varieties of artichoke, heirloom tomatoes, and peppers saved from seed.

Above: Picking is a huge part of what I grow. Whatever we don't eat gets preserved for another day.

Above: Each year I let at least one vegetable go to seed. I'm always surprised at how many beneficial insects the flowers attract. It's great for the garden and fascinating to my children.

Above: In the evening there's nothing better than taking a last look around the garden, closing the gates, and putting the tools away, until tomorrow.

Visit more of our favorite "gardeners' gardens" at:

• Garden Visit: At Home with Katrin Scharl in Brandenburg, Germany.
• At Home in Rhode Island with Artist Georgia Marsh.
• Garden Visit: At Home with Canada's Favorite Garden Writer.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Lawn Begone: 7 New Ideas for Front Yard Landscaping
• A Modern Garden: At Home with Charles and Ray Eames in California
• Garden Visit: A White Christmas in Sweden

At one of our recent editorial meetings, a discussion about plants in the bedroom revealed that Gardenista and Remodelista's editors are in two diametrically opposed camps: Love them or hate them.

Why the debate? Photosynthesis adds oxygen and purifies the air (which is why Michelle has plants in every room... well, also she's just a plant nut). But because plants require light to photosynthesize, at night the process apparently reverses and plants may respire as humans do, emitting carbon dioxide (this is the part that Sarah finds creepy).

How to get to the bottom of this? I asked an expert: my 15-year old son who happens to be a bit of a plant biology aficionado (go figure).

Me: Is it true that plants emit oxygen in the day and carbon dioxide at night?

Son: You know about photosynthesis and respiration, right? Well, plants respire at a slower rate than they photosynthesize, so there is actually a net gain of a few molecules of oxygen per cycle.

Me: So you think it’s healthy to sleep with plants at night?

Son (suspicions aroused): Why are you asking me these questions? Is this your way of testing me for my biology exam? I thought you were working.

So, for readers avoiding a family domestic, I have decided that it comes down to personal preference. What’s yours? Let us know in the comments below.

Above: I can't see the harm in having a few slow-growing succulents, given their Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), which allows them to take in carbon dioxide during the night and store it to use for photosynthesis the next day. Photograph via Old Brand New Blog.

How about an indoor lemon tree in the bedroom? See DIY: Potted Indoor Citrus Trees.

Above: Alexa likes the way these plants on the windowsill add cheer to a children's bedroom in a summer house in Söderfors, Sweden. For more windowsill plants, see DIY: Grow Lily of the Valley on a Windowsill.

What plants look good in a bedroom? See Indoor Lemon Tree (I'll Take Two).

Above: For some, one plant in the bedroom is enough; they draw the line at more. What do you think—can you have too many? Photograph via Fresh Home. 

Whatever side of the debate you favor, we all agree that plants in the rest of the house can only be a good thing. See 239 images of Plants as Decor in our Photo Gallery.

N.B.: This is an update of a post published January 7, 2013.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Icy Pink Vases from Ceramist Bjarni Sigurdsson

Forget minimalism. Portland, Oregon-based macramé artist Emily Katz takes a maximalist's approach to living with houseplants.

Two years ago Katz learned how to make her first 1970s-style plant hangers during a visit to see her mother. "I knew she had made plant hangers in the 1970s to sell so she could buy a guitar (a Martin 1976 acoustic beauty that she still has)," says Katz, who recently was profiled in Urban Outfitters' About a Girl series. "She taught me in the kitchen how to make plant hangers, while my sisters baked cookies and my boyfriend sat on the floor playing that same guitar."

Photographs by Michael J. Spear via Urban Outfitters except where noted.

Above: Today Katz's home is filled with hanging houseplants (as well as houseplants that climb walls, perch on shelves, and cover windows like filmy green curtains.

Above: Vines and climbers share kitchen shelf space with plates and glassware.

Above: Photograph via Emily Katz.

In the living room are succulents and potted vines and climbers. For a similar houseplant collection, start with a selection of hardy indoor plants such as The Succulent Collection, a selection of six small succulents in pots; $40 from The Sill.

Above: Photograph via Emily Katz.

Next to the piano is a potted Monstera Deliciosa, a splitleaf philodendron with glossy green leaves. For more about living with large tropical plants, see Temporary Houseplants for the Commitment-Phobe. 

Above: The large spiny euphorbia in the corner of the dining room is a succulent masquerading as a cactus. Start your own from a cutting; a Euphorbia Trigonia Starter Plant is $7.99 from The Maple Tree Lady on Etsy.

Above: Katz creates a jungle effect in her dining room by massing more than a dozen potted plants together.

Above: A similar macramé Double Plant Hanger made of cotton rope is available from Emily Katz's online shop for $108.

Above: In her bedroom, Katz has a fiddle leaf fig tree (L) and another splitleaf philodendron. If you are trying to keep a fiddle leaf fig tree happy indoors, see The Fig and I: 10 Tips for Caring for a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree.

Above: Photograph by Leela Cyd via Tea Cup Tea.

At work in her studio in Portland, Emily Katz uses cotton rope to make one-of-a-kind macramé Wall Hangings; prices for the current collection at her online store range from $220 to $298.

Above: Emily Katz's work studio in Portland. Photograph by Leela Cyd via Tea Cup Tea.

A Single Plant Hanger approximately 41 inches long is made from cotton rope and will accommodate pots in a range of sizes; $88 from Emily Katz.

For more artists and floral designers at work in their studios, see:

• Shopper's Diary: Sarah Winward's Floral Design Studio in Salt Lake City.
• Marble & Milkweed's New York City Studio.
• Studio Visit: At Home with Berlin's Star Florist, Annett Kuhlmann.

More Stories from Gardenista

• The Big Debate: Plants in the Bedroom?
• Icy Pink Vases from Ceramist Bjarni Sigurdsson

At the end of a lane of Victorian cottages in North London is No. 24a Dorset Road, a tiny 800-square-foot brick house with an enormous vegetable garden in the front yard. The proportions look perfect to us.

The owners, who had lived next door for 20 years before asking architect Sam Tisdall to design a smaller house, sold their previous home but kept an attached garage. On its site, Tisdall designed the new house to take advantage of available sunlight and growing space, giving it a brick facade to match the rest of the block's Victorian era homes (which were built for railway workers).

Photography via Sam Tisdall.

Above: Recycled brick covers the facade and was used to pave the front path.

Above: Raised beds built of oak railway ties reference the block's 19th century history as a housing for railway workers.

Above: Surrounding the vegetable garden is a bed of Breedon gravel, a finely graded natural limestone quarried in Derbyshire.

Above: From the front threshold, it is possible to see through the entire house to the small, fenced backyard. To the left of the walkway is a freestanding kitchen.

Above: The U-shaped kitchen is flooded with sunlight from French doors that open on to the back garden as well as a side door and window.

Above: The kitchen and dining area open onto the back garden and a patio with brick pavers laid in the same tapestry pattern as the front path.

Above: Says architect Tisdall, "The terrace was locally listed so we knew that we would be up against reasonably strict planning restrictions, but it soon became apparent that the conservation officer would not accept anything other than an exact replica cottage."

For more of our favorite small-space edible gardens, see:

• A Visit to Belgium's Most Beautiful Vegetable Garden.
• Designer Visit: Arne Maynard at Home in Wales.
• A California Garden Inspired by the Classics.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Before and After: Expat Gillian Carson's English Garden in Portland, Oregon
• Lawn Begone: 7 New Ideas for Front Yard Landscaping
• A Modern Garden: At Home with Charles and Ray Eames in California

Last week Michelle inspired us with 11 Facades with Factory Windows. The aesthetic harkens back to the greenhouses, factories, and warehouses of the 19th century. And their elegant, narrow sightlines offer unobstructed views, blurring the lines between indoors and out. What's not to like? They're expensive, for starters.

Read on for everything you need to know about steel factory windows:

Above: A steel-framed window wall and folding doors blur the boundary between indoors and out, effectively doubling the living space. A project by Design of Wonder of Melbourne, it is featured in Steal This Look: Black and White Indoor/Outdoor Terrace. Photograph via Design of Wonder. 

What are the benefits of steel frame windows?

• Due to the material's strength, steel windows have very slender sightlines. A minimal amount of framing material is needed for structural integrity, offering clean and clear views. 
• Steel frame windows span architectural styles, working well in both traditional and modern houses. 
• All corners and joints of steel windows are welded, galvanized, and powder coated, forming an unbroken surface around the frame.
• Extremely durable, steel frames are resistant to decay, weather, and fire. They are galvanized (coated with a layer of zinc at very high temperatures) to prevent corrosion. 
• Unlike wood, steel window frames do not contract and expand in response to weather conditions.
• Require minimal upkeep compared with wood windows and doors.

Above: The framing around industrial style steel doors can be pencil thin (unlike wood, which requires a large beam to support a door). London portrait photographer Abi Campbell's kitchen renovation included new steel frame doors and windows with large openings to bring in as much light as possible to the north-facing room. Photograph by Matt Clayton. 

To learn more about the project, see Reader Rehab: A Photographer's Kitchen in London. 

Above:  Requiring minimal framework, steel windows are a great solution for open corner windows, such as this steel entry door and surround. Photograph via Portella Iron Doors.  

Above: In a Brooklyn renovation, Elizabeth Roberts Design/Ensemble Architecture opened up the back of the house with a double-height wall of windows that includes an indoor/outdoor dining room with the open feel of a greenhouse. The entire window slides open to create a double-wide opening to the garden. The windows are custom powder-coated steel from Optimum Window in Ellenville, NY. Photograph by Dustin Aksland. 

For a full tour, see Indoor/Outdoor Living, Brooklyn Style.

Are steel frame windows energy efficient? 

Bottom line is that metal is a poor insulator, and the thin steel and single sheet steel factory windows of the past did little to keep out the cold. The good news is that 21st century technology has caught up, and you can get the same historic looks with better materials and thermal efficiency.  

Steel windows are available with insulated glazing panels; two or more pieces of glass are spaced apart and sealed, leaving an insulating air space. Another new technology called thermal breaks (whereby a material is placed between the inside and outside window frames to prevent thermal energy loss), common in aluminum windows, is available in steel windows. Steel fabricators will point out that steel itself has good insulating properties as compared to aluminum and thermal breaks may not be necessary. In fact, there are steel frame windows that meet LEED standards. Refer to fabricators' websites for details.

Another consideration is that many fabricators roll their steel windows from 100 percent recycled steel. And, the new product can also be recycled at the end of its long life.

Above: Like any window, the glass in steel framed windows can be UV-coated to protect indoor furnishings and art from sun exposure. Steel framed windows and doors lead to an outdoor dining pavilion in a Shelter Island project by Schappacher White.

Are there different styles of steel windows?

Steel windows are available in a range of looks from factory-style with a floor to ceiling collection of panes, to Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired style (his Falling Water House famously used steel windows), to a modern minimalist look with large panes of glass supported by pencil-thin sleek steel frames.

Steel windows are available in a multitude of operable variations including: casement, in-swing, out-swing, awning, horizontal pivoting, vertical pivoting, folding, and hopper.

Above: A wall of old-style factory windows in a Seattle studio called "The Brain" by Olson Kundig Architects.

Above: Steel doors are not commonly offered as sliders (Euroline does offer sliding pocket steel doors). Those seeking a full open outdoor wall experience, as in this project by Sydney-based Hess Hoen Architects, often go with folding steel doors.

Above: Not always black, gray factory-style doors complement their adjacent gardens at Patina Farms in Ojai (L), and in a Brooklyn townhouse garden (R) by architect Steven Harris. 

How much do steel frame windows cost?

Steel frame windows are expensive. Like many aspects of a home remodeling, steel window pricing is very site specific. Is it a single window replacement? A full remodel? Custom or standard sizing? The best way to estimate cost is to get a quote from your contractor or window supplier. In general, expect prices to be at least double that of wood, more than aluminum, but less than bronze. Remember to balance the cost with the longevity (we just had to replace a full wall of 15-year-old weather-worn wood windows) and other attributes.

Above: In this Mill Valley kitchen remodel, architect Brett Terpeluk, of Studio Terpeluk, added floor-to-ceiling casement windows, which flood the kitchen with natural light. Originally, the idea was to have custom window frames made of blackened steel with a wax finish, but the clients opted for a low-maintenance—and less expensive—alternative: Bonelli Series 700 frames of anodized aluminum with a bronze finish. Photograph by Joe Fletcher.

Where can I buy steel factory-style windows?

Beware of cheap imitators. Suppliers of fabricated windows and doors that come highly recommended by several architects and builders include: 

• Crittall. This venerable company founded in 1889 in the UK has provided windows and doors to Yale University, Walter Gropius, and the New York Botanical Gardens. 
• Dynamic Architectural Windows and Doors. 
• Hope's. Located in Jamestown, NY, Hope's makes top-of-the-line steel and bronze windows and doors.
• Bliss Nor-Am. This Rochester, NY/Canada-based company makes high-quality, beautifully detailed powder-coated metal doors and windows. 

• Above: Torrance Steel Window Co. Based, yes, in Torrance, this company's steel windows can be spotted around the US, from the Guggenheim Museum in New York to residential projects (as shown) by Olson Kundig Architects on the West Coast.
• Bonelli. A Northern California favorite with architects (recommended by Gustave Carlson, who used them in Architect Visit: Gustave Carlson in Inverness). 
• A&S Window Associates in New York fabricated the windows in An Artist's NYC Kitchen Renovation.

Above: Shown here are custom steel frame doors from the Atelier Domingue Architectural Metalcrafts line.

Can I use reclaimed steel factory windows?

Yes! Reclaimed steel factory windows can be found at architectural and design salvage yards. Keep in mind that the price of fabulous vintage looks may include needed repairs and re-coating.  

Above: Reclaimed steel factory windows found architectural supply yards, such as Recycling the Past, cannot, obviously, be customized to your setting; rather, your setting may need to be customized to fit them. 

Steel Frame Windows Recap

Pros:

• Strong
• Slim sightlines
• Work with a range of architectural styles
• Durable and long lasting
• Low maintenance

Cons:

• Expensive
• Heavy
• Not the best choice in climates near salt water. More protection and proper finishing is required to prevent airborne salt corrosion 

Above: A renovated San Francisco garden by Scott Lewis Landscape Architecture viewed through ceiling-height steel sash windows. "We wanted a garden form that would be harmonious with the contemporary style of the windows," says Lewis. For a better look at the garden, see Scott Lewis Turns a Small SF Backyard into an Urban Oasis.

For more window and door inspiration, see:

• The Ins and Outs of French Doors
• 10 Glamorous Baths: Factory Window Edition
• The Ins and Outs of Dutch Doors
• Walls, Windows, and Floors: Steel Window and Door Fabricators 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Best of Ikea 2015: A Glass Greenhouse Cabinet
• Before and After: A Renovated Barn by Berlin Star Thomas Kröger
• Danish Twist: A Big House Looks Small in the Forest

A never-ending real estate dilemma is whether it is better to rent or to buy. For one lucky Brooklyn tenant, renting is clearly the way to go.  Her apartment is on the top floor of an elegant, newly renovated Fort Greene brownstone. Just beyond her front door, her "backyard" is a lush roof garden, designed by Marni Majorelle of Alive Structures, a specialist in bringing natural beauty and native plants to the urban landscape.

Although the roof garden is a natural place for relaxation, the brownstone's owners (who live below the rental apartment) installed it mainly for its value as insulation. They are not fans of air conditioning and say the garden on the roof helps cool the building in summer.  And, being a couple consisting of a cook and a gardener, they enjoy other benefits as well. The roof basks in bright sunlight so they are able to raise an abundant supply of herbs, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, habanero peppers, and other vegetables in a custom raised bed.  The owners share the crops with their tenant and produce such generous quantities of mint, basil, coriander, oregano, and dill that they frequently urge her to do more cooking to take advantage of the bounty.

Photography by Marni Majorelle except where noted.

Above: Photograph courtesy of Ari Burling.

The clients requested a wild, natural look, which precluded the use of pre-fabricated tiles of low-growing sedums commonly found on green roofs. Instead Majorelle used grasses and native plants liberally to give the project the feel of an unruly, indigenous space.

Before

Above: During installation, lightweight growing medium was laid down to reach a uniform height even though the roof itself is sloped. This allowed for a deeper bed of soil at the far end of the roof where larger plants such as the towering Joe Pye Weed could thrive.

After

Above: Inside a tall periphery border, shorter species including creeping phlox, succulents, low-growing grasses such as Seslaria autumnalis and thyme varieties ‘Minimus Russetings’ and ‘Purple Carpet’ provide a rich tapestry of textures.  They are mixed with some medium-height growers such as Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima) lavender, dianthus, and Amsonia hubrichtii.

Above: Photograph by Jeanne Rostaing for Gardenista.

Lolling on the chaises or sipping coffee at the mosaic table while listening to bird song is guaranteed to be a quiet, calming experience.  In summer when the surrounding trees have leafed out, the nearby buildings almost completely disappear.

Above: The green roof is small, just under 500 square feet. However, it feels much larger, easily accommodating the raised bed as well as a path, and both dining and seating areas. Majorelle designed the roof with a periphery border of tall plants to provide privacy and give the space "a feeling of enclosure." The roof is on a densely populated city block, but Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum ‘ Little Red’), New York Ironweed, Liatris scariosa, Ascepias incarnata, and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grow high enough to soften the intrusions of city life, both visual and audible.

Above: Photograph by Jeanne Rostaing for Gardenista.

Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’ provides spring color along with early blooming phlox, dianthus, alliums, and amsonia.

Above: Although Majorelle checks in from time to time, the owners of the house manage the routine maintenance themselves. In early spring they cut down the grasses. Over-enthusiastic spreaders, such as the creeping phlox, frequently have to be trimmed back to prevent them from crowding out other plants. In keeping with the owners' concern for sustainability, rainwater collected in a row of high-tech containers is used for irrigation. 

For more on green roofs, see:

• Architect Visit: Green Roof Design by Goode Green in New York.
• Hardscaping 101: Green Roofs.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Front Door Fashion: 9 Ways to Create Curb Appeal with Boxwood
• Garden Visit: At Home with Katrin Scharl in Brandenburg, Germany
• Garden Visit: The Little House at No. 24a Dorset Road

Katrin Scharl was not a born gardener. In fact she really had little interest until she and her husband, Moritz Bayer, began dabbling in the small plot outside their rented Vienna home. When it came time for the German couple to buy their own home, they turned from city to country in search of the perfect garden home. Well, at least one with potential.

In 2011, their search led them to the quaint village of Brandenburg outside of Berlin. There, on the town square, Katrin and Moritz found an historic brick farmhouse with 2,500 square meters of land. Though the plot had not been touched in 50 years, it did have a walled garden area, a barn, some self-seeded fruit and nut trees, as well as a few elderberry bushes. The couple's dream of a garden that would sustain them through the winter began to take shape.

Since then, many have enjoyed witnessing Katrin's ongoing evolution from amateur to expert, which she chronicles on her blog, Taking Notes. Despite what Katrin describes as a trial-and-error approach, she and Moritz have utterly transformed their once weedy wasteland into a bountiful landscape, complete with orchard, walled flower garden, berry patch, vegetable beds, and chickens.

Photography by Katrin Scharl, unless otherwise noted.

Above: Katrin Scharl among the raised beds of her vegetable garden. Photograph by Nicola Holtkamp (who featured more of Katrin and Moritz's garden and home on her site, Im Augenblick).

Katrin and Moritz's first fall in the home was taken up by clearing 50 years' worth of untouched wilderness. "The garden was a literal wasteland," Katrin said. "There wasn't a single flower, but huge piles of rubble and rubbish." Fortunately, there were a few self-seeded fruit and nut trees as well as some berry bushes, so the couple was able to begin harvesting right away.

Above: A view of Katrin and Moritz's garden three years after they moved in includes a walled flower garden with chicken run, an orchard, and a vegetable garden. Photograph by Nicola Holtkamp.

With ambitious plans, the couple dug right in during their first full growing season in the home, planting the walled garden, completing a deck, clearing the vegetable patch and establishing a potato field. In addition, they expanded their orchard, adding pear, quince, and more apple trees to the existing plum, cherry, and nut trees.

Above: In the walled garden, cheerful Rudbeckia is complemented by the cool color of purple phlox.

Above: Nestled between the barn and house, the couple's walled flower garden (shown here, year three) is divided into four perennial plots with walking paths in between.

Above: Katrin traveled around the region photographing historic brick structures with painted doors, before settling on the perfect shade of blue for the barn door. Turns out it was "just a cheap shade form the local hardware store." The bike just happens to match.

Above: Completely enclosed by the house, barn, and a brick wall, this cozy garden has a rather Secret Garden romance to it. Here a wooden gate next to the barn leads to the chicken run, vegetables and orchard beyond.

Above: Katrin picks lettuce from her vegetable patch. Photograph by Nicola Holtkamp.

For Katrin and Moritz, the vegetable garden in particular was a learning process. A solid week of rain in June 2013 flooded the newly planted garden during its first year. After that the couple constructed raised beds.

Above: A harvest of vegetables. Photograph by Nicola Holtkamp.

Above: Katrin and Moritz's chickens provide fresh eggs 11 months of the year. (For some reason they seem to take the Christmas season off.) They also have the most stylish coop—a converted tool shed, painted "Labrador blue."

Above: Ripening black berries. Photograph by Nicola Holtkamp.

Above: Katrin's apple tree bloom in spring...

Above: ... and give her apples in the autumn, when the asters are in bloom.

Above: Ever helpful, the couple's dog, Ludwig, assists with the potato harvest.

Above: A larger gate leads from the walled garden to the chickens, orchard, and vegetable patch.

Above: Butterflies love Katrin's flowers.

Above: A border garden with soft pinks.

Above: Provisioning themselves for the winter means a lot of canning. Here Katrin makes dill pickles. Elderberry syrup and plum butter are also among her specialties. Potatoes, apples, and squash are stored in the root cellar.

Above: A harvest of plums. Often Katrin, who works from home as a PR writer, indulges in what she calls a "hippie lunch," fresh pickings from the garden.

Above: The walled garden is particularly romantic when the roses bloom in the early summer.

Above: Hollyhocks climb the brick facade in the walled garden.

Above: Pink poppies in the late spring.

Above: Lupine and blooming garlic.

Above: Katrin's hand-drawn plan shows the layout of the garden. In the future, they hope to push their garden's production even further into winter with the addition of a greenhouse.

N.B. Continue your bucolic tour of Germany:

• Rent-a-Garden in Germany.
• Moveable Feast: Berlin's Portable Garden.
• .War of the Roses: Preserving Germany's Ancient Blooms.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Front Door Fashion: 9 Ways to Create Curb Appeal with Boxwood
• Brooklyn Oasis: A City Roof Garden, Before and After
• Garden Visit: The Little House at No. 24a Dorset Road

Some container plants are too much trouble. Not boxwood. It's easy to create curb appeal with this evergreen shrub because well-behaved box won't lose its leaves, outgrow its pot, or clash with other colors. Here are nine of our favorite ways to use boxwood as a container plant:

1+1 Equation

Above: Keep the look simple. One pot plus one boxwood ball: what equation could be easier? Containers of different heights with boxwood balls of varying diameters make a pleasing composition.

Concerned about boxwood blight? Kendra has some suggestions about How to Eliminate Boxwood Blight.

Symmetry

Above: Sliding barn doors at Napa-based designer Barbara Colvin's Oakville home. Photograph via Heirloom Philosophy.

Identical planters flank an entrance, a classic way to create a pleasing symmetry. As in a Renaissance painting, symmetry draws you in, instills balance, and creates depth and perspective. 

For more garden design ideas using boxwood, see Gardenista Roundup: For the Love of Boxwood.

Asymmetry

Above: Photograph via Woonstijl.

Asymmetrical groupings of planters work well because they all repeat a single theme: boxwood. For more tips, see 11 Landscape Design Mistakes to Avoid in 2015.  

Scatter Pattern

Above: Clipped boxwood adds formality to a garden. If you arrange planters haphazardly, you can avoid stuffiness and add an element of visual surprise.

For more of this boxwood courtyard, see Shopper's Diary: Oliver Gustav in Copenhagen.

Choose Wisely

Above: Boxwood 'Green Velvet' is a hardy hybrid that holds a clipped shape easily; $14.95 for a 1-quart size from Wayside Gardens.

There are more than 70 species of boxwood, of which the most common in Europe and the US is Buxus sempervirens.

Varieties of Buxus sempervirens have widely different characteristics. For instance, 'Green Gem' is a slow grower and tolerates cold well. 'Green Mountain', which grows quickly and in a rounded cone shape, is a good choice for a hedge. 'Fastigiata' is tall and skinny with blue-tinged leaves. 'Suffruticosa' is the classic English box with soft, rounded leaves.

In containers, consider planting miniature box. Varieties of Buxus microphylla include 'John Baldwin', which grows in a conical shape; 'Green Beauty', a good substitute for English box if you have full sun; and 'Green Pillow', with a dense and low growth pattern.

A Shag Haircut

Above: In LA, Gwyneth Paltrow bought a Brentwood house where planters of unclipped boxwood soften the straight lines of the entryway. Photograph via Windsor Smith. 

For our boxwood growing guide, see Field Guide: Boxwood.

Clipping Service

Above: Photograph via Wesseling.

Boxwood is extremely easy going; you can clip it into balls—or into spheres, cones, or more fanciful shapes—and it will hold its shape for months.

Feeling whimsical? To see how to shape a shrub into a boxwood bear or boxwood bird, visit a reader's Secret Garden: Fanciful Topiary in the Berkshires.

Squares and Circles

Above: Photograph via Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design.

Emphasize the geometry of a round boxwood ball by planting it in a square pot. If you're looking for simple wooden planters to complement the round shape of boxwood balls, see 10 Easy Pieces: Wooden Planters.

Cloud Pruning

Above: Photograph via Ivy Clad.

For visual interest, place a planter  with a tightly clipped boxwood ball in the foreground against a backdrop of cloud pruned shrubs. For more on cloud pruning techniques, see 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Japan.

For more instant curb appeal, read 11 Ways to Add Curb Appeal for Under $100.

And, for more on container gardening, see:

• DIY Patio Planter: Dark and Stormy Shades
• 10 Tips to Transform a Tiny Balcony into an Instant Garden
• Gardening 101: How to Prevent Cracks in Terra Cotta

More Stories from Gardenista

• Garden Visit: At Home with Katrin Scharl in Brandenburg, Germany
• Brooklyn Oasis: A City Roof Garden, Before and After
• Garden Visit: The Little House at No. 24a Dorset Road

One of the first landscape projects that designers Anishka Clarke and Niya Bascom took on five years ago when they were launching their business was a backyard garden in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood that had suffered a typical city fate. A single big tree cast dense shade over a scruffy patch of grass, hemmed in by a poured-concrete walkway. The 484-square-foot space looked like a small, sad rectangle of land that no one loved very much.

But Clarke and Bascom, partners in Brooklyn-based Ishka Designs, saw possibilities. "This client had a young child and also entertained a lot in the backyard," says Clarke. "So we decided to keep it very minimal as well as give the space the flexibility to transform."

Less than a month later, the change was remarkable:

Photography by Niya Bascom Photography.

Above: The designers decided to work with instead of against the big Japanese maple tree. "We liked the idea of creating contrast, with the very organic shape of this off-center tree and a uniform paver and stone patio," says Clarke.

After coming up with a design, Clarke and Bascom also "did the installation," as they say in the business. In other words, over the course of a couple of weeks, "we did all the laborious tasks ourselves including bag sand, lift sand, dig trenches, break bricks, displace dirt, haul pavers, lay pavers, dodge mosquitos, kill mosquitos," Clarke says.

Before

Above: "The shell of the hardscaping was there—the concrete walkway—but the garden was very overrun and it was just a hodgepodge of things," says Clarke.

Above: The plan was to use the poured-concrete path, which ran in a U-shape around the perimeter of the garden, as a frame for a new patio. To create the patio, Clarke and Bascom tore out the turf and leveled the dirt to make a flat surface for the new pavers.

Above: The designers covered the leveled dirt with a layer of landscape fabric to create a weed barrier.

Above: For the new patio, Clarke (L) and Bascom set concrete pavers in sand. They varied the width of the grout lines to create blocks of pavers for a checkerboard effect.

Above: "We used white stones between the pavers because the color created a nice pop," says Clarke. In the dappled shade beneath the Japanese maple tree, "black or a natural color stone wouldn't have the same effect."

After

Above: Vintage metal garden furniture painted white visually reinforces the brightness of the white stones in the patio. "The furniture is super lightweight and easily moved," says Clarke. "It also looks airy because it's wire."

The designers installed a rolled bamboo fence. "Bamboo is a very affordable option and very organic. It allows air and light to travel through, so it keeps the garden light and cool," says Clarke.

Above: When Clarke and Bascom first saw the garden, clumps of hostas were thriving beneath the tree. They added more hostas with different shapes and colors of leaves along the fence line. "We liked the idea of using more hostas to make the space more minimal and uniform," says Clarke.

Above: In the foreground is a smoke tree shrub that Bascom and Clarke planted in an old pickle barrel.

Above: "The barrel will limit the smoke tree's growth, but it's been doing really well," says Clarke. "We put the smoke tree there because we wanted something full in the corner and we didn't want to add more trees to the small space."

Above: The old poured-concrete path frames the new patio.

Above: An aerial view of the garden, from the fire escape.

• Brooklyn Oasis: A City Roof Garden, Before and After.
• Designer Visit: A Low Maintenance Brooklyn Backyard by New Eco Landscapes.
• Brooklyn on a Budget: A Modern Townhouse Garden.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Front Door Fashion: 9 Ways to Create Curb Appeal with Boxwood
• Garden Visit: At Home with Katrin Scharl in Brandenburg, Germany
• Brooklyn Oasis: A City Roof Garden, Before and After

Here's a look at what's been inspiring us lately. 

• Above: A look back at a genius DIY leaf project from earlier this year. Photo by Lili Glass. 
• A Japanese Maple that stands the test of time. 
• Helping urban millennials grow gardens at home. 

• Above: Artist Simon Beck elevates the beauty of snow to new levels. Photo by Simon Beck.  
• Baby, it's cold outside: Here's how to protect your plants from frost. 
• How to grow Space Age veg. 

• Above: On our wish list: a hand-painted planter made in Kansas City. 
• To make: DIY sea salt soak. 
• 10 surprising tips for dealing with ice and snow. 

• Above: Winter salad love via the Swanson kitchen. Photo by Heidi Swanson.
• Over on Remodelista: 11 tips for making a room look bigger.
• In case you missed it: the 10 best succulents.  

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

• Above: We love the Urban Gardeners Republic feed for its communal vibe (@urbangardenersrep).

• Above: The Creative Greenery board compiled by Sow ’n Sow taps into our imaginative side. 

For more Gardenista, take a look back at some of our favorite moments via our Best of 2015 issue. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Current Obsessions: Splendor in the Grass
• Christmas in Detroit: A Pilgrimage to Gardeners' Midwest Mecca
• 10 Easy Pieces: Firewood Log Carriers

Welcome to the Year of the Garden. For the next 362 days we're going to spend every possible moment outdoors—and we've rounded up the best new trends in landscapes and garden design to lure you to join us. Don't forget your sun hat:

Above: See more in Gardening 101: How to Sprout a Seed.

Monday

Above: See Michelle's predictions for the year's top garden design trends in this week's Garden Design post. (And in case you're keeping score, see how well she did last year when she predicted the Top 10 Garden Design Trends of 2015.)

Above: Gillian travels to Brooklyn to discover a new breed of urban terrarium in this week's Shopper's Diary.

Tuesday

Above: Photograph by Vincent Mounier.

Headed to South Africa? "When I asked my local traveling friends where to stay during the spring flower season in Namaqualand’s Hantam region, Papkuilsfontein came out tops," says Marie. We tag along to an elegant guesthouse that attracts flower hunters from around that world in this week's Garden Travel post. 

Wednesday

Above: Photograph by Pauline Egge.

Meredith learns some new ideas for arranging houseplants from an unlikely source. Join her on a tour of green restaurants in this week's Roundup post.

Thursday

Above: Afterthought no more. Drainage is coming out of the background in hardscape design. Join us as we explore the new decorative drainage in this week's Hardscaping 101 post.

Friday

Above: In today's Shopper's Diary, Izabella visits LA's coolest new cactus store.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Table of Contents: Best of 2015
• Table of Contents: Homesteaders
• Trending on Remodelista: Holiday Travels

New year, new ideas. Here are the top garden design trends for 2016:

1. Monochrome Palettes

Above: Photograph via Vertus.

A one-color palette creates a serene backdrop for outdoor living—and plays up textures in the garden. A dash of black may be all you need to call attention to the green contours of a landscape.

2. Raked Gardens

Above: Environmentally friendly Gravel Gardens (one of last year's best garden design trends) are looking more manicured this year. Raking is a kind of meditation.

3. See-Through Fences

Above: Photograph via Accents of France.

Increase air flow if you live in a mosquito-prone zone such as Brooklyn with spaced fence slats (the Venetian blind look also lets in light and makes a small backyard feel less like a box).

4. Pallet-Style Furniture

Above: Photograph via Vertus.

Recycle, reclaim, and reuse are the tenets of envionmentally friendly garden (and outdoor furniture) design. Upcycled pallets (or slatted furniture built to evoke the look) provide a geometric focal point in teh garden.

5. Portable Gardens

Above: Photograph via Spitalfields City Farm.

Planters on wheels, portable pots in vacant lots, and Community Gardens That Move Indoors during cold weather are turning temporary gardens into permanent friends. (For another of our favorite traveling gardens, see 66 Square Feet Plus on a Harlem Terrace).

6. Rollaway Walls

Above: In Spain, an open-air weekend retreat by architects Churtichaga + Quadra-Salcedo was built on a budget of 50,000€. Photograph via CHQS.

The ultimate luxury is a house that completely erases the barriers between outdoors and in. In the spirit of their predecessor the rollaway bed, rollaway walls disappear into the background when they're not needed.

7. Mown Grass Paths

Above: A mown path cuts through an orchard in England. For more, see Garden Visit: The Unique  Charms of Glyndbourne in Sussex. Photograph by Howard Sooley. 

Call it the ultimate low-impact hardscaping element. A mown grass path puts travelers in the midst of a meadow—temporarily. If you don't like the layout, let it grow back and start over.

8. Blue Hydrangeas

Above: Photograph by Matthew Williams. 

Nothing is more old-fashioned—or more modern—than electric blue hydrangeas. The hue is polarizing—and mesmerizing, when paired with the turquoise blue surface of a swimming pool as at the Hamptons home of Finnish stylist Tiina Laakonen. See more at Rhapsody in Blue: At Home in the Hamptons.

9. Decorative Drains

Above: Photograph via Studio Toop.

The French drain comes out of the basement to claim its rightful place in the garden. As beautiful as it is useful, the decorative French drain adds an element of texture to your hardscape design. See more on Thursday in this week's new Hardscaping 101 post. 

10. Instant Gardens

Above: Photograph via Seedsheets.

Roll out pre-planted sheets impregnated with seeds to sprout an instant crop in a garden bed. Just add water to prompt pre-measured herb and vegetable seeds to grow. The trend is a natural outgrowth (pardon the pun) of last year's practice of Sprouting Microgreens with Growing Paper. (Come back next week when we take a closer look at one company that makes seed sheets.)

11. Grass Gardens

Above: Swaths of perennial grasses create painterly landscapes that serve as habitats for wildlife, need little water, and look good year-round. For more of our favorites, see 9 Ways to Create Curb Appeal with Perennial Grasses.

12. The Grottage

Above: Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista. See more in The 186-Square-Foot Guest Cottage.

Garage-to-cottage conversions are on the rise. The garden grottage is the new guest room.

13. The Untamed Look

Above: Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.

Above: It's hard not to see the perfection in imperfection in the garden: flowers gone to seed, sprawled clumps of unruly perennials, volunteer wildflowers, or a jerry-rigged hardscape plan that makes the most of what you have (instead of bulldozing everything to start from scratch). The untamed look was popular at last year's Chelsea Flower Show, and we're expecting to see even more of it this year.

14. Turf to Order

Above: Photograph via Wildflower Turf.

Above: Also seen at last year's Chelsea Flower Show, large mats planted with turf or wildflowers can roll out "like Persian carpets," noted our UK editor, Kendra Wilson.

15. Eggshell Fertilizer

Above: Eggshells make an attractive garden mulch, with benefits. Justine, our East Coast editor  who started saving eggshells last year to use in the garden, says, "Though nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are most vital for healthy growth, calcium is also essential for building healthy 'bones'—the cell walls of a plant. Composed of calcium carbonate, eggshells are an excellent way to introduce this mineral into the soil."

She preps eggshells by grinding them with a mortar and pestle before tilling them into the soil. (It takes several months for eggshells to break down and be absorbed by roots, add them to soil in both fall and spring.)

See more in Gardening 101: How to Use Eggshells in the Garden.

16. Artisanal Marijuana 

Above: As more states legalize marijuana, backyard growers are trying to hybridize perfect blends and grow a bush that blends in with the rest of the garden. See more in Growing Guide: 11 Essential Tips to Grow Your Own Marijuana.

Looking back on the year that was? See Top 10 Garden Designs of 2015.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Before and After: A Modern Brooklyn Backyard on a Budget
• Front Door Fashion: 9 Ways to Create Curb Appeal with Boxwood
• Garden Visit: At Home with Katrin Scharl in Brandenburg, Germany

From his Brooklyn-based studio designer Huy Bui co-created Plant-in City, a project to pair plants with sleek wood and metal to create a new kind of 21st-century terrarium. His latest venture is a new collection of stackable Plant-in MINI terrariums that also are monuments to urban living.

Photography by Huy Bui except where noted.

Above: Bui carefully places plants into one of his mini terrariums. Photograph by Freunde von Freunden.

Each terrarium is handmade, and Bui sees his planters as both art and places to house plants. “On one hand, it is a single object or sculpture for plants,” he explains. “On the other hand, they are a single unit that fits into a large whole, which can be stacked vertically. These units are like pre-fab homes, but for plants.”

Above: Bui's latest series of MINI planters are built in such a way that they can be stacked together to make larger structures. Configured using 13 separate components, a MINI 13 City Block is $1,150 from Home Made.

Above: Made of steel, a Mini II Steel Terrarium is $275 from Home Made.

The wooden terrariums are made from cut-offs with live edges or visible bark. With an intricate, mathematical composition they interlock in the same way as Lego. Each structure has distinct architectural elements. One may feature tiny cross-bracing, another expertly cantilevered planes. 

“We source only local NY State wood that has been sustainable harvested,” says Bui.

Above: A MINI II Mobius Terrarium with Corten Steel Finish is $325.

Above: The steel terrariums come in a variety of finishes including a natural polished finish, oxidized, black patina, and an extra special copper-plated finish.

“Our steel versions, use the exact same dimensions as the wooden ones, but have different structural advantages and disadvantages and are made by a local steel fabricator,” explains Bui.   

Above: One of Bui’s most popular pieces is the Air Terrarium with a black patina ($400). It features a steel frame with a wired web that holds an air plant. He thinks that it’s the clean lines of the structure juxtaposed with the obtuse angles of the web and the organic form of the plant that make it such a sought-after piece.

“There's sophistication in simplicity,” he adds.

Above: A Plant-in City  Lowline edition, Mad Scientist with LED lights. This terrarium was a collaboration with The Lowline Underground Park:  A proposal of an urban green space in Lower Manhattan.

Bui’s interest in the micro-housing movement also inspired him to create the modular aspect of the Plant-in MINI series. “I love capsule and modular housing systems,”  says Bui.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Still Life with Houseplants: Macramé Artist Emily Katz in Portland, Oregon
• The Big Debate: Plants in the Bedroom?
• Icy Pink Vases from Ceramist Bjarni Sigurdsson

When I asked my local traveling friends where to stay during the spring flower season in Namaqualand’s Hantam region, Papkuilsfontein came out tops.

But Mariëtte van Wyk, the elegant farmer's wife who with her daughter-in-law, Alrie van Wyk, runs the Papkuilsfontein guesthouse outside the tiny town of Nieuwoudtville in South Africa, laughs: "When the talent for PR was being handed out, we weren't even last in line: we were playing outside!"

They might not be savvy marketers, but Papkuilsfontein's reputation is spread by the most trusted method of all: word of mouth. And we were lucky to be squeezed in.

Photography by Marie Viljoen except where noted.

Above: Photograph by Vincent Mounier.

Why Nieuwoudtville?

Three -and-half hours from Cape Town by car, situated high on The Bokkeveld Escarpment above the forbidding Knersvklate, this hamlet finds itself in the international crosshairs of discerning flower hunters. Self-described as “the bulb capital of the world" the countryside here is packed with geophytes, annuals, and perennials.

Above: Famously, there are more species in this South African pocketsquare than in the entire United Kingdom. This eruption of flowers, their diversity and density, is unique on the planet.

Above: In late August and early September, after favorable winter rains, the show begins right in town with a postcard display of Ixia rapunculoides growing wild in the grounds of the sandstone Dutch Reformed church.

Above: Photograph by Vincent Mounier.

In candy-striped fields beyond town flocks of blue cranes, South Arica’s national bird, gather daily to feed.

Above: The Hantam National Botanical Garden, just beyond town, is a former sheep farm whose conservation-minded owner, Neil MacGregor, maintained the land so well that it remains rich with flowers and endemic species. Several trails lead through different vegetation types.

Above: Photograph by Annalize Buhrmann.

Further along the same dirt road is the farm and guest house Papkuilsfontein, named for the section of river that winds through the property, whose pools—kuils in Afrikaans—do not dry out, even in parched Northern Cape summers. After exceptional rains this lazy water becomes a torrent that cascades into the Oorlogskloof, an imposing canyon that borders the farm.  

Above: Photograph via Papkuilsfontein.

At the Papkuilsfontein guesthouse, the Van Wyk men—Mariëtte's husband Willem, and their son Jaco (the sixth generation to farm here)—run the agricultural side of things, raising sheep (their own lamb and mutton is served at dinner), and growing rooibos tea, olives, and fodder. The women farm with guests. 

Above: Flower routes have been established on the farm allowing guests to drive themselves, or to take a guided tour through the Renosterveld  - a vegetation type of the Cape Floristic Region, where indigenous and endemic plants flourish beside cultivated fields. 

Above: Photograph by Vincent Mounier.

In wet weather there are deep puddles to ford, and when we visited we were happy to be in a sturdy Land Cruiser. Willem is on hand at reception in season to hand out farm maps and make sure that drivers stick to the right route for their vehicle. 

Above: Photograph by Obie Oberholzer.

The Van Wyks' venture into the hospitality industry began with the renovation a single stone cottage on their farm, in 1984. It is now one of three restored dwellings clustered in wide fields of spring daisies. Each is impeccably made-over to retain its original sense of simplicity—there is no electricity—while no luxurious detail has been overlooked. Mariëtte 's impeccable sense of design creates a sense of effortless calm. And the setting is idyllic.

Above: Over the decades the Papkuilsfontein accommodation portfolio expanded to house the annual flood of flower tourists. On De Lande, their farm nearer town, guest rooms have been added, along with a transformed Overseer’s Shack with corrugated walls painted oxblood red. De Lande is also where guests gather for drinks and evening meals (where the roast potatoes are legendary )and where lavish farm breakfasts are served in season.

Above: The most recent addition is Matjiesfontein, a Cape Dutch homestead built near a spring, where low whitewashed walls dating to the time when three farmers’ flocks drank here define the historic property. The house’s  two joined parts date to the 17th and 18th centuries. In 2002 Willem undertook the dilapidated structure's restoration, intending that he and Mariëtte live there after Jaco and Alrie married and moved into the main Papkuilsfontein homestead, as is farming tradition. And while the parents now live at Matjiesfontein year-through, in peak season visitors are accommodated in the 18th-century rooms, while the owners remove themselves to the 17th.

Above: Photograph by Vincent Mounier.

The restrained elegance of the revived building owes its new life to a painstaking and meticulous restoration. It included the sourcing of handmade nails, while a blacksmith in Cape Town made the hinges and window fittings. The tiles were handmade in Zimbabwe. "Nothing machine made looks right—too square and correct," explains Mariëtte. With Willem, their son Anton built the window frames. Steel cables were fitted to keep some of the walls from moving apart. The front door is an old regional cedarwood piece, now very rare.

Above: Photograph by Vincent Mounier.

For a weary traveler, the sense of the place is one where unfussy gentility and cultivated ease welcome you, from the decanter of sherry on a silver tray, to the good, collectable books stacked on a polished table. And if you walk barefoot across that Persian rug, you will find that it is heated from beneath.

Above: Photograph by Vincent Mounier.

Above: Photograph by Vincent Mounier.

Spring nights are cold, so hot water bottles and comfortable beds keep you in the kind of deep sleep that city dwellers dream about. And the night skies here are unpolluted by light or industry, making for spectacular star gazing, year-round.

For a rare combination of the best of Afrikaans hospitality, a restful countryside retreat, an introduction to a floral phenomenon, and side trips to spectacular natural scenery,  it is hard to imagine a place better situated or more thoughtfully planned than this working farm.

For more details and booking (book well in advance for August and September): Papkuilsfontein.

If you're planning a travel itinerary in South Africa, see more of Marie's favorite destinations:

• Oystercatchers' Haven: A Whitewashed Hideaway on South Africa's West Coast.
• A Five-Star Garden (and Hotel) in Cape Town.
• Garden Visit: Cape Town's Vergelegen Winery.

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• 16 Top Trends for Garden Design in 2016
• Before and After: A Modern Brooklyn Backyard on a Budget
• Front Door Fashion: 9 Ways to Create Curb Appeal with Boxwood

There is no such thing as bad gardening weather. If you disagree, the problem may be bad gardening gear. Prepare for the elements and you'll find winter garden chores bracing. Promise. Keep hands warm (and protected from thorns) with leather garden gloves. Here are 10 of our favorite pairs:

Above: From Italy, a pair of The Chore Gloves leather work gloves has a hemmed edge and internal elastic cuff is $18 from Best Made Co.

Above: This is the pair I wear (still going strong in year three). A pair of Women's Goatskin Work Gloves is currently on sale, marked down to $28 from $48 at Guideboat.

Above: Handmade in Washington state, a pair of black Wool-Lined Deerskin Work Gloves has an elastic wrist to keep out the cold; $89 from Kaufmann-Mercantile.

Above: One size fits all. A pair of leather Gauntlet Gloves is long enough to protect your forearms from thorns and broken branches and is £16.50 from Garden Trading.

Above: Sized specially for women's hands, a pair of straw-colored Women's Gauntlet Gardening Gloves is $44.50 from Duluth Trading.

Above: Available in both men's and women's sizes and lined with fleece for warmth, a pair of goatskin Tireman Gloves is made in the US and is $55 from Sullivan Glove Co.

Above: Made in the US, a pair of unlined Natural Deerskin Gloves is $21.95 from Bear Wallow Glove Co.

Above: An adjustable cinched leather wristband keeps hands warm in a pair of Men's Leather Work Gloves; $18.50 from Fields and Lane.

Above: Currently on sale at J. Crew, a pair of men's Leather Work Gloves is $59.50, marked down from $69.50.

Above: Available in both women's and men's sizes and manufactured by a two-century-old glove company in the UK, a pair of Rostaing Expert Premium Leather Gardening Gloves is £18.99 from Recycleworks.

Are you preparing to tackle winter garden chores? Let us help, with:

• DIY: Pruning Fruit Trees in Winter.
• Expert Advice: 7 Tips to Put Your Garden to Bed for Winter.
• Espalier in the Winter Garden.

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• DIY Pressed Flowers: No-Fuss Art Frames from Copenhagen
• Current Obsessions: Bountiful New Year
• Current Obsessions: Splendor in the Grass

Finally, instant pressed flowers. Copenhagen design team Anders Thams and Martin D. Christensen have created the Moebe frame, a simple affair consisting of two sheets of plexiglass framed by four slim strips of wood:

Photography via Moebe.

Above: The Moebe Frame comes with strips of untreated oak and is held together by a rubber band. It's  DKK 399 (about $58) from Bark Shop.

Above: The design team's inspiration? "The classic clip-on picture frame has not changed much over the last several years and we thought it might be interesting to try and interpret a little on an old favorite," the team recently told Bungalow5. "In general, we think that it is cool to take an everyday object and try to boil it down to an even simpler version of itself— it doesn’t necessarily require a new feature, but just simplify it in the design and expression."

Above: Christensen (L) is an architect and Thams is a cabinetmaker.

Above: More inspiration, from Moebe's Instagram feed.

For more DIY ideas, see:

• DIY Pressed Flower Bookmarks.
• The Ultimate Pressed Flowers.
• DIY: How to Make Transcendant Pressed Flowers.

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• 10 Easy Pieces: Leather Work Gloves
• Current Obsessions: Bountiful New Year
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Prayer Plants: Calathea or Maranta?

The last houseplant I bought for myself (and not for a client) was a prayer plant. What drew me to it? Well, I was intrigued by the striking multicolored striped leaves, its smaller habit, and yes, the common name (because who can’t use a little more prayer in any form?)

But did I buy a Maranta or a Calathea? Before we go any further, let’s clarify terms. The Marantaceae plant family includes both the Maranta and Calathea genera. Closely related and very similar in appearance, plants in both genera are often referred to as prayer plants—and both have many cultivars. What they have in common is ornamental, variegated leaves (often with deep purple or white veining) that are a striking visual component of any collection of houseplants.

Native to warm, tropical climates, prayer plants may be grown as perennials only in USDA growing zones 11 or 12. In colder regions, keep them indoors in pots. Read on to learn how to care for these positively charming plants.

Although the prayer plant’s evening routine is a charming display, it isn’t the only reason indoor gardeners adore this plant. Wide, oval leaves feature strong variegation, splashed with colors ranging from dark green patches to bright pink veins.

Cheat Sheet

• As with all houseplants, inspect a prayer plant for pests and bugs including aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs. Banish spider mites by rinsing the plant with a strong stream of water. For mealybugs, dab a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and rub away the pests.
• Grow this nonpoisonous, spreading plant in a hanging container or encourage prayer plant’s horizontal habit to creep over shelves and long tables.
• Flowers are small spikes and are white to a pale purple, but houseplants rarely bloom. This is the type of plant you grow for the foliage.

Keep It Alive

• Although tolerant of low light, it does best with bright, indirect sun. With insufficient light, the leaves do not fully open in the morning. When there is too much light, the leaf colors can fade.
• Prefers well-draining soil and high humidity. This means it should be kept moist but not soggy.  Also placing the plant among other plants can create a more humid environment. Another idea is to mist daily with warm water.
• Feed a prayer plant every couple of weeks—spring through fall—with an all-purpose fertilizer. Also use warm or at least room temperature water when giving it a drink. (If you miss a feeding or two, don’t worry. Your prayer plant will survive.)
• Because of its shallow roots, your prayer plant should be in a container that is more squat than deep.

See more about calatheas and marantas in Prayer Plants: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design. And see more of our favorite tropical plants in Tropical Plants 101 and more indoor plants with exotic foliage in Houseplants 101. For more inspiration:

• Fiddle-Leaf Fig Trees: A Field Guide
• How to Make an Orchid Bloom Again
• Philodendrons: A Field Guide
• How to Keep an Indoor Citrus Tree Happy
• Succulents & Cacti: A Field Guide
• Maui Beach Cottage with a Tropical Garden
• Orchids 101: A Field Guide