topic Re: Paging shell garden in Community Chat

Paging shell garden

151949 — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 14:29:31 GMT

Hi. I am wondering if you do , in fact, have a shell garden? I live near the gulf in Fl. and I would like to do one but want something unique. I am in search of ideas. Several of my neighbors have done the thing where they make a corner of their flower beds a bed of shells and that is sweet but I want something else. I was thinking of getting some much larger shells and placing them around my flowers like a rock garden but with shells instead of rocks. Anyway, you name intrigued me and I am hoping you have some ideas you don't mind sharing.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 15:14:09 GMT

Hey sweetie.....I do have lots of plants and flowers in my back yard. I envy you living near the beach....I love the beach, anything water related because I love to swim.

I have in one corner a small area, where I have a solar lighted fairy house with sea shells lining a walk way type setting. Flowers and plants around this.

I also have a couple of mason jars that I put battery operated lights in along with seashells filled to the top of the jar....that makes a pretty display and just have that around a couple of flowers on my back deck.

That is all, though, but I like your ideas immensely. Oh, I do have a light/lamp that my mom and dad purchased back in the 60's.....we went to Savannah Beach, (not far from me)...and I still have it today and it still works. It is a palm tree setting with real coral made like a tree and a real conch shell on the side. I love it, mostly because it reminds me of my parents and what great times we had at the beach during my youth.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 15:33:13 GMT

Little mermaid doll sleeping in a shell.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 15:43:23 GMT

This is cute, if you have a light house. Shells around it in a planter.

Re: Paging shell garden

151949 — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 19:23:01 GMT

Many years ago I was in Key West and I bought a conch shell with a mermaid carved into the mother of pearl - it is sitting on my coffee table, it's about 6" across. I also have a large ceramic dish that looks like a scallop shell, some ceramic salt & pepper shakers that are painted bright colors that look exactly like crabs - very cute - and a dish to hold potpourri that has a pewter lid with a mermaid on it, and a mermaid sitting on a rock statue all on the coffee table. On my DR table I have a tray with 2 cylinder glass candle holder - shells in the bottom and a flameless candle on top of the shells then a scallop shell on top in one and a starfish shell one the side of the other and a few sand dollars. Everyone compliments it.

Back to outside - I think when we are up in Erie this summer I will try to find some driftwood and then do a corner of the plant beds with shells and that drift wood. To get the size shells I want for the other part of the garden I will need to probably have to go to a shell shop as they are rare to find on the beach.I hope to get a few about 10 to 12 " across.It won't take many. I won't care if they are not in perfect condition either because they will be outside. I also want to find a really pretty mermaid statue for outside. Mermaid statues are a dime a dozen where I live but PRETTY mermaid statues are much more rare. My DH says I am mermaid obsessed. I guess I am. I'm currently making a counted cross stitch mermaid picture and will make it into a throw pillow when done.

Re: Paging shell garden

151949 — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 19:25:33 GMT

I'm also crazy about seahorses and dragonflys. I was just born to live at the beach!!!

Re: Paging shell garden

Preds — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 19:29:20 GMT

Here is an idea that I've seen done with "broken" or odd shells. If the wind breaks any, replace with others. Rustic, repairable and cute.

Re: Paging shell garden

Preds — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 19:55:06 GMT

I made one of these the first time my DD went to the beach. She has it now. It was made from the shells she found and her picture was in the frame. I think we had to use some "rope" to fill parts of it in because of the size of or lack of shells. It turned out adorable.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 22:37:42 GMT

@151949 wrote:
Many years ago I was in Key West and I bought a conch shell with a mermaid carved into the mother of pearl - it is sitting on my coffee table, it's about 6" across. I also have a large ceramic dish that looks like a scallop shell, some ceramic salt & pepper shakers that are painted bright colors that look exactly like crabs - very cute - and a dish to hold potpourri that has a pewter lid with a mermaid on it, and a mermaid sitting on a rock statue all on the coffee table. On my DR table I have a tray with 2 cylinder glass candle holder - shells in the bottom and a flameless candle on top of the shells then a scallop shell on top in one and a starfish shell one the side of the other and a few sand dollars. Everyone compliments it.
Back to outside - I think when we are up in Erie this summer I will try to find some driftwood and then do a corner of the plant beds with shells and that drift wood. To get the size shells I want for the other part of the garden I will need to probably have to go to a shell shop as they are rare to find on the beach.I hope to get a few about 10 to 12 " across.It won't take many. I won't care if they are not in perfect condition either because they will be outside. I also want to find a really pretty mermaid statue for outside. Mermaid statues are a dime a dozen where I live but PRETTY mermaid statues are much more rare. My DH says I am mermaid obsessed. I guess I am. I'm currently making a counted cross stitch mermaid picture and will make it into a throw pillow when done.

That sounds wonderful. Your ideas have endless possibilities.

I have a mermaid solar fountain in my back yard. I got it at the Q years ago. Love her and at the bottom by her tail it has seashells. I also have 2 solar fountain angels and also the St. Francis solar fountain....like I said, I love anything with water, lol.

I hope you do find some wonderful things, especially the mermaid fountain.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 22:40:13 GMT

DRIFTWOOD GARDEN with sea shells.

I would also pop one or two of Valerie's battery operated orbs in there too. I have two sets of those, one in the purple (actually got at HSN) and one of Valerie's in blue. Have those in the back too. Love them.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 22:43:05 GMT

@Preds wrote:
I made one of these the first time my DD went to the beach. She has it now. It was made from the shells she found and her picture was in the frame. I think we had to use some "rope" to fill parts of it in because of the size of or lack of shells. It turned out adorable.

PREDS, this is pretty. I bet you did a wonderful job on it for your DD. You are so talented as evident in all the things you made for your DD's upcoming wedding. You make me sick, lol...rotf...you know I lubs ya.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 22:45:39 GMT

@Preds wrote:
Here is an idea that I've seen done with "broken" or odd shells. If the wind breaks any, replace with others. Rustic, repairable and cute.

Oh yes, I have windchimes too. I like these. MaRina gave me set for Christmas a couple of years ago.....it has beaded dragonflies on it...tall, and colorful with bells at the bottom. I love it. Right outside my back door leading to patio.

Re: Paging shell garden

Preds — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 22:49:37 GMT

LOL ... you might not lubs me if you saw them @shell garden. The first fifty looked ok ... the last fifty ... not so much. She has to deal with what she gets. What do expect from "free" labor.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 22:49:58 GMT

@151949 wrote:
I'm also crazy about seahorses and dragonflys. I was just born to live at the beach!!!

Me too....sigh......maybe in my next life, I will also have a place at the beach cause I don't think I am ever going to win the lottery, lol.

Re: Paging shell garden

jlkz — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 22:54:23 GMT

@151949

Given your FL location, the best places ( other than the beach ) to find large shells without overspending: the Big Red Barn in Bradenton and Fleamasters.

Some of my shells:

The Cross above the door

Large shells around flameless candle candle and single she'll on shelf below

Whatever er you do outside, I hope your shells don't grow legs and walk away.

Re: Paging shell garden

151949 — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 22:59:29 GMT

@jlkz My best place to "find" shells is Boca Grande but to buy them there are several places close to my home.Last year my great nephews wanted sharks teeth and I did not feel like digging around for them so I got a whole sack of them at the shell shop for about $5.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 23:03:46 GMT

@Preds wrote:
@LOL ... you might not lubs me if you saw them @shell garden. The first fifty looked ok ... the last fifty ... not so much. She has to deal with what she gets. What do expect from "free" labor.

You made 100? Child please, you need a medal, lol. or take that back...a long vacation.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 23:07:27 GMT

@jlkz, that is so pretty.

Re: Paging shell garden

shell garden — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 23:08:34 GMT

Re: Paging shell garden

Preds — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 23:11:24 GMT

@shell garden wrote:
@Preds wrote:
@LOL ... you might not lubs me if you saw them @shell garden. The first fifty looked ok ... the last fifty ... not so much. She has to deal with what she gets. What do expect from "free" labor.
You made 100? Child please, you need a medal, lol. or take that back...a long vacation.

Plus the votives, and vases. I need a vacation, a drink, a medal and a kick in the a for agreeing to do it. Will not happen again. I'm to old for this. Going back to design and let DH do the work. LOL