Where We Hunt: Our Yard (plus free download)

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Welcome back to our junk hunting series. You know, the spot where we tell you all the best places to score trinkets and treasures for your home.

This seems really obvious. I know a lot of people who spend a great deal of time in their yard. I know more people who don’t. How many times do you walk to your mailbox or take out the trash and don’t even look at what is going on around the outside of your house? Especially this time of year when the weather isn’t always beckoning you to come outside and sit a while. The reality is – you have a department store out your door that changes inventory on a regular basis. If you want to up your tablescapes, brighten a dark spot or just give yourself a free little gift then head outdoors, no matter the weather.  If you know me personally you know we owned a landscape company for many years. This is not a reason to stop reading and think we have a fabulous yard full of treasures and there is no way you have the same. Trust me you do. Our company might be partially to blame for my love of all things available outside. Rest assured – it doesn’t take a major green thumb to harvest the things I want you to be on the lookout for. Nature is enough on it’s own! The seasons just take turns singing their glory. A new star is always shining. In fact, don’t stop at your yard…look next door, down the street, at the park, trade with friends. You will always be in style and in season with your discoveries, it’s a no brainer. Here are just a few ideas I pulled from outside this week:

1. Rosemary Garland

Layering garland is simply beautiful. I just tied up a few bunches of Rosemary with jute twine for the main garland. Next I added a homemade tassel garland that adds some punchy fun. Last I went back to the ripped up sheets (see here) and layered them on. You could do any one of these alone or add in your own twist. Over the stove, the mantel, across a window, bookshelf…anything standing still! Rosemary is a great plant to have if it grows in your area. Here it is plentiful year round and is a staple go to item for me. It smells heavenly and you can use it for cooking. Rosemary is quite the multi-tasker.

2. Berry Bunch

I didn’t even realize these were in my yard! My neighbor has some bright red berries and I had just gone over to see if I could snip a few. They were screaming to me, the berries, not my neighbor. Next thing you know I walk around the far side of my house and we have a tree covered in blood red berries. See… even I don’t always look around! I love a tidy little sprig of something, wrapped in an easy knot. I am not a whiz with bow making, so I go simple. You could hang this on a door, like I did, or it would be equally as beautiful sprawled in the middle of the table for a centerpiece. Better hurry on this while supplies last.

3. Pitcher of vines

We have a grape vine that grew berserk this year. I trimmed a few haphazard branches and put them in a basic glass pitcher. You could do this with any branch or vine from your yard. Next, I whipped up this artwork that ties it all together and speaks the truth on my heart. If you like it, you can have it too. Click here to download. I hope it brings you joy!

I could go on and on about all the projects just laying in wait in my yard. Gather acorns or pecans, put them in a vase as a flower frog. Use them in a jar around a candle. Trim the dried grasses for a beautiful arrangement (see an example in this post). Maybe you’ll luck out and find a fallen bird nest. Winter flowers in bloom are great in a simple bud vase…really I could go on, but I will spare you. Now put on a coat and go hunt in your yard! Hurry, run! Be sure to check in next week when we give you a winter to do list for a fabulous yard of your own!

Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. 1 Chronicles 16:33