I’ll get my mind out of the gutter and onto the green, where it belongs, and tell you about my latest obsession – plants in pockets.

I’d heard of hanging plants and plants that are potted, but the idea of putting a plant in a cloth-like pocket wasn’t in my repertoire. That is, until I came across the Woolly Pocket Garden Company.

It’s genius, really – a breathable container that can be hung vertically to cover an unsightly wall or spruce up a small space. Create yourself a lush little garden just about anywhere.

Woolly Pockets are made from recycled plastic bottles and are safe for indoors and out. They come in vertical or horizontal versions; small and large sizes. Try the Wally One, Three or Five; the Knoll, Wee Woolly or Meadow. Combine them to create an atmosphere like no other (see top image).

Best of all, you can leave your green (or brown) thumb in your pocket because you won’t need it with a Woolly. These pockets were made for planting.

Learn how easy it is to pot a pocket on the website at Pockets 101. And check out the blog (aptly named What’s growing in your Pocket?) for ideas and inspiration. As seen at Apartment Therapy.

We have long sung the praises of Midwestern textile designer, Amy Butler, who introduced an exotic, Indian-inspired organic bedding collection of five designs this year. She even rolled out rugs to match!

The lovely and much needed bedding (still can’t find organic in many of my favorite haunts) includes 400-thread count sheeting, elegant embroidery and paisley flourishes woven without harmful dyes.

Among my faves is the Bucharest motif (above) with patterns found in Romanian embroidery and the flourishes of formal gardens. While modern and bold, the charcoal gray and ivory palette imbues the collection with understated warmth. The duvet would be at home in many environments – perhaps even yours.

Leave a comment here and you could be sleeping in the bedding soon as part of our decor give-away.

I would even repaint my master boudoir gray to complement this lovely duvet. Hey, that rhymes! Lemon yellow would work well as a backdrop, too, don’t you think?

Image: Amy Butler Design

At first, it seems extremely eco-friendly, the biannual Compost Giveaway Events every fall and spring in San Francisco hosted by the city’s Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC).

Residents are offered free compost to produce soil for community and school gardens and local backyards. It’s the green and organic thing to do.

The problem is the mulch isn’t made of food scraps and manure but a combination of toxic sewage sludge from waste water treatment, green waste, yard waste and wood chips.

What’s in sewage sludge? Stuff that’s foul and harmful to people and other living things.

The True Food Network, which is leading a petition drive against the latest giveaway argues sewage sludge is shown by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to contain heavy metals, pathogens, pharmaceuticals, PCB’s, flame retardants and endocrine disruptors. In addition, organic pollutants are present in sludge samples, such as polybrominated diphenal ethers (PMDEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, DDT degradation products, chlordadanes, synthetic musk products, triclosan and tributytin.

“Residents may be led to believe that the city’s sludge compost is organic,” says the network. “The USDA’s National Organic Program’s (NOP) regulations, however, strictly forbid the use of sewage sludge as a fertilizer or soil amendment, no matter if it is composted or otherwise treated. This compost is by no means organic.”

The Center for Food Safety and the Resource Institute for Low Entropy Systems filed a petition with Gavin Newsom, San Francisco’s Mayor and Ed Harrington, General Manager of SFPUC, asking them to immediately and permanently suspend the sewage sludge compost giveaways for the fall. Residents are asked to join the letter writing campaign to protect the health of its gardeners.

Image: SfLatchkey

They’re already talking about their costumes, those candy-crazy girls of mine. That’s how I know fall is here, just a wink and a nod after packing them up for summer camp.

Design-wise, it’s one of the easiest seasons for stylists since it involves scavenging for leaves and twigs to tweak our vignettes for free. Ah, there’s that “F” word, again, a favorite at EcoSalon.

Want to spruce up your rooms for autumn without much of a budget? Take one of the following paths most traveled by the frugal M. Stewarts among us:

The Centerpiece: Leaf it Alone

The Toast and Tables blog gathers no moss but plenty of leaves for centerpieces (images below). The simplicity is enticing. You can also make your own wreath with bundles, or layer them along the mantle to be set aglow by beeswax candles.

The DIY Twiggy Cabinet Door from Apartment Therapy

Bring the outdoors in by assembling twigs to embellish the typical cupboard cabinet (image below).

Basket Cases for Giving Thanks to the Autumn Bounty

Most of us have a caterer’s supply of baskets stored in the house. Fill a few with aromatic apples, Indian corn, leaves, pumpkins and other colorful objects for a cornucopia of delights. Don’t forget to toast your pumpkin seeds and put them in a bowl on the coffee table for another tasty treat of fall.

Scatter Bowls of Fall Potpourri with Old Fashioned Living’s Blend of Earthy Balsam Scents

Collect dried leaves and flowers from the ground, blend with fragrant oils and make your own yummy potpourri. Follow the DIY recipe and bring the woods and celebration of the equinox into your nest.

Image: J. Charpentier

Felt Leaf Napkin Rings and Placecards for Your Fall Dinner Party

Design Sponge has the skinny on these orange and brown napkin rings and cards (images below), easy to make with felt, scissors, glue, buttons, thread and your imagination. I love the chic, homemade texture of these festive gems.

Main Image: Design Sponge

Sure, you could spray your front yard with a generous bath of toxic chemicals. Tasty! Or, you could simply enhance your collection of greenery with plants that serve that exact purpose, naturally. In fact, some even lure beneficial insects to make a meal out of the pests that feed on your foliage. All you need is your green thumb, and Mother Nature will take care of the rest.

Catnip

Keep flea beetles, aphids, weevils and ants at bay with catnip. There are hundreds of species to choose from that grow in shades of pink, white, blue or lilac. Plus, these flowering plants are known to trigger a euphoric state in both felines and humans.

Basil

Basil contains oil that is naturally effective in warding off mosquitoes and thrips.

Garlic

To deter aphids from destroying your bed of roses, plant some garlic nearby, and aphids won’t be the only insects running for the hills. This living pesticide repels snails, codling moths and root maggots as well. Also, flavoring your meals with these homegrown bulbs can help lower your cholesterol and prevent blood clots.

Artemisia

Artemisia vulgaris releases a pungent odor. While this antiseptic smell is capable of keeping away insects and small animals, it won’t bother you or your neighbors. Be aware that this shrub exudes botanical poison, so don’t plant it in your vegetable garden. It’s safest when confined to your flower beds.

Borage

Unlike artemisia, borage works best as an insecticide in your vegetable garden because it’s known to deter cabbage worms and tomato hornworms. But, it can benefit your flower beds as well by enriching your soil with trace elements and luring beneficial insects like wasps and bees.

Dahlia

These beautiful perennial plants ward off nematodes and infuse your garden with cheery shades of yellow, pink and red.

Marigolds

Various species of these warm-hued annual plants serve different purposes in your garden. To eliminate nematodes and fend off whiteflies, French marigolds will do the trick. If you can’t keep pesky rabbits away, Mexican marigolds are a better choice.

Hyssop

Honeybee populations are vanishing right before our eyes, so take part in pollination stimulation by planting hyssop in your garden. This herbaceous plant will draw honeybees and rouse your senses of smell with its sweet aroma.

Petunia

In addition to enhancing your garden with brilliant hues of yellow, red, pink and purple, this popular flowering plant deters a variety of pests that damage your flowers and vegetables, including tomato worms, asparagus beetles, aphids and leafhoppers.

Lavender

Lavenders are known to naturally repel harmful insects like moths and fleas. Plus, this flowering plant’s fragrant scent will help transform your garden into an aromatherapeutic wonderland.

Chrysanthemum

It’s no wonder that the dried flower heads of chrysanthemums are used to create an all-natural pesticide called pyrethrum. These perennial flowering plants repel a multitude of insects like fleas, ticks, roaches, Japanese beetles, silverfish, ants and lice.

Nasturtium

Don’t let cucumber beetles, whiteflies, wooly aphids and squash bugs destroy your vegetable garden. Just plant some nasturtiums and watch them bloom in vivid shades of orange, yellow, pink and red as they repel these pesky insects.

Click here for more information. Not able to plant new shrubs? Try out some safe, nontoxic pesticides with these natural solutions to rid your garden of pests.

Images: decafinata, The County Clerk, laura padgett, clayirving, daryl_mitchell, dominic, BMully, Swame Stream, The County Clerk, daryl_mitchell, avlxyz, jam343, CarbonNYC

Call it a succulent message in a bottle: terrariums that capsulize nature’s beauty and grace without requiring high maintenance and daily watering to thrive. You probably have the ideal vessel stashed some place with your vases. Get inspired and grow!

Pictured above: A Carnivorous Plant Terrarium from Apartment Therapy is showcasing a Pitcher Plant, which is rumored to feast on flies.

This Etsy Moss Terrarium, described as the “instant boyfriend” is simple to care for, involving  a glass container that measures approximately 2″ x 3.5″ and includes moss, soil, charcoal and river rocks. And keep in indirect sunlight and lightly water every 2-3 weeks to keep it alive. The figures have tiny stakes which allow them to be repositioned.

This lovely jug Air Plant Terrarium found at Apartment Therapy was made using a  favorite pitcher filled with sand and an airplant.

Another orb with object, this fish bowl terrarium from Inhabitat is lovingly layered with pebbles, charcoal, fern, sphagmum moss and other plants. So deer!

Busy? Zip through the DIY process and order this Recycled Glass Pear Terrarium from our friends at VivaTerra. It  arrives with sand and four delicately hued air plants requiring minimal maintenance to thrive. You can easily design your own exquisite miniature desert landscape or order the pear on its own and brainstorm your own composition.

A for Apple, B is for Beluga, C is for Chullo.

Parents on planet Hollywood and elsewhere are headed in that fruity, foamy and woolly direction in declaring devotion to Mama Earth via naming their young.

In the roaring Nineties, when real estate and dot comers were soaring, we saw a return to the Old Testament with the names  Sarah, Jacob, Rachel and Eli in vogue.

“Eve and Adam, please leave the great room until Mommy is finished closing her Genentech deal.”

Now that resources are scarcer than ever, green is the rule for everything cool. Nature-bound moms and dads can reference all good things from fiber foods and soothing teas to fair trade crafts and endangered species in getting that family branding just right.

Here is an A-to-Z reference guide on the eco-friendliest labels for your bouncing baby Gore:

Acai (boy) Agate (girl)

Boho (boy) Bark (girl)

Corky (boy) Coral (girl)

Deepak (boy) Dibbler (girl)

Energy (boy) Etsy (girl)

Free (boy) Flax (girl)

Gore (boy) Glacier (girl)

Hemp (boy) Henna (girl)

Indri (boy) Ivory (girl)

Jungle (boy) Jute (girl)

Kale (boy) Kharma (girl)

Leonardo (boy) Laurie David (girl)

Marsh (boy) Mauritius (girl)

Nash (boy) Nectar (girl)

Otter (boy) Oolong (girl)

Prius (boy) Polar (girl)

Quince (boy) Quantum (girl)

Rooibos (boy) Rummage (girl)

Stevia (boy) Sprig (girl)

Tiger (boy) Teak (girl)

Urban (boy) Urial (girl)

Vegan (boy)  VivaTerra (girl)

Wolf (boy) Watson (girl)

Xeri (boy, girl)

Yosemite (boy) Yurt (girl)

Zen (boy) Zona (girl)

*For catchy middle names with eco associations, we at EcoSalon suggest: Bradley, Sara, Amy, Tina, Irani, Vanessa, Barrington, Derby, Fitzsimmons, Chaityn or Lewis.

Share with us what you have namestormed!

Image: Will Foster

Must be those years as a kid in Palm Springs that instilled my passion for succulent gardens that glow at dusk.

Whether opting for sun powered pathway lanterns or natural candles, you are cutting down on electricity while letting your prized garden bask in the limelight.

Combine them all for a low energy, highly-illuminated spot, where you and the mosquitoes can bite on juicy snacks and drink up the evening breeze.

Here are 10 that make a mark:

The color-changing Chalice solar path lights are said to last up to 30,000 hours (about 15 years) and automatically turn off and on to provide up to 8 hours of light at a time. $38.95 for a set at Target.

(shown at top)

Ideal for my friend Suzanne’s pad at the Four Seasons in Kona, these Solar pineapple lights up a garden path or patio with a warm welcome. They even make a fruity statement indoors! High-performance LED bulbs start to glow at dusk. They are a handpainted stone-resin composite. $27.95  each at Potpourri.

MIO solar path lights, also new to Target. They are green, retro and cheap at $40 per set.

Portfolio solar path lights from Lowes are a brass act with fluted glass lenses and a pretty copper finish. They come in a 12-pack and turn off and on automatically. $98.

I love the retro shell of these fun candle lanterns from Crate and Barrel. In yellow and orange, they burn 60 hours each for $6.95 (sale price). I love placing these on steps leading to a special sitting area in the yard.

Get groovy with these blown glass balls of light from Earth Tech.The gorgeous Firefly Solar Garden Art globes use solar energy to flow all night long, casting an art nouveau effect on these calla lilies. Enjoy the mystical ambience of  shadows and light over your prized garden blooms. $38.

Set the tone the minute the hybrids pull up to the party with these retro-colored driveway markers, powered by the sun and quite Mid-Century sensational. Se of 4 markers are $60 at Solar Goods.

I’m a sucker for anything shaped like a pagoda, including this lantern, also from Solar Goods. You can hang a few strategically in the garden or place on a few tables. They have a gorgeous weather-resistant finish and mix well with other exotic touches. $50 at Solar Goods (save on a pair).

Simple solar-charged spotlights, $50 for a pair at Green and More, are ideal for illuminating trees and bushes and creating that dramatic nighttime glow. Uses renewable solar panels with rechargeable friendly batteries included to stay lit for up to 10 hours at night.

Rock the garden – or the Casbah – with the Terra Spotlight, $113 at Eco Lights. Powered by two AA-size rechargeable NiCad batteries, the stones will provide 10 hours of light when fully charged. Available in two finishes, I think these are the most natural decor element I’ve seen for lighting the garden.

If you’re like me, spring cleaning extends to the great outdoors and through the garden gates. My yard, when tidied up from winter’s wrath and shameful neglect, holds endless potential for summer meals and glider chit-chat.

First, the fence is getting mended from radical storm damage and painted a fresh coat of low-VOC white; the veggie garden is being cleared of nondescript duds that resemble artichokes and will soon be replanted with good intent; the surfeit of sports paraphernalia is being rounded up and tossed in a bin while scattered shoes and flip-flops on the lawn get picked up and returned to their barefoot owners. “Do these belong in the garden, ladies?” I tell you what, spring cleaning is exhausting.

Still, it’s worth the effort. I’m hoping to create an ambiance that attracts more than the  horde of local mosquitoes. One simple way to achieve a backyard paradise is by hanging pretty, happy lanterns throughout the garden. I love the effect of the romantic glow during an Al Frisco dinner in my Bay Area retreat.

Here are a few designs that are so enchanting, you might let them hang around all year:

Above: love the grotto feel of these new Bamboo Fish Trap lanterns of natural woven rattan and LED lights to hang or sit on an outdoor table, $99 to $129 at Pottery Barn.

Misprint Metal Lanterns, $69, VivaTerra and modern Blossom Shoji Solar Lanerns, $39.99 at Green and More.

Kitris Blown Glass Garden Lanterns, $75, from Olive Barn, bring the sophistication of modern indoor lighting out to the yard for an artful statement.

For a simple statement along tree branches hang clean white Shoji Solar powered Japanese-style lanterns, with LED lights encased for delicate illumination from Gaiam, $79 for a set of three. Or for more festive oblong lighting (viva la fiesta!) string these citrus guys from Earth Tech Products.

I’d like to say that Michelle Obama is one smart lady. She’s doing something that many of us garden-loving idealists have been wanting for a long time: planting a White House veggie garden. Not since Eleanor Roosevelt’s WWII Victory Garden has there been such extensive planting at the White House.

Visible from E Street, an 1,100 square foot piece of south-facing lawn is being filled with raised beds and will be planted with 55 varieties of vegetables, berries and herbs, with surplus to be donated to a nearby soup kitchen. Michelle Obama said that feeding her own children was what inspired her to start a garden, as they have been more curious about trying new fruits and veggies if they’ve seen where they’ve been grown or met the actual farmers.

Of course the fresh, local produce will be greatly enjoyed by the First Family and the White House staff, but this garden will have eco-educational value as well; the highly visible White House garden’s soil will be amended with kitchen compost, crab meal and other natural fertilizers, and will use beneficial insects for pest control. Obviously our First Lady doesn’t want her kids eating petroleum-based fertilizers or chemical pesticides any more than you do!

This action shows the Obamas literally putting their walk where their talk is, and, dare I say it, it’s (eco) change we can believe in.

Source: NYTimes

Image: Treehugger