While in Xochemilco, the ancient Aztec center of flower culture outside Mexico City, I came upon this brilliant no-cost idea. Aluminum cans, be they from beer or sodas are brightly colored, lightweight and won’t rust. They make the cutest little pots thin enough to cut easily with scissors or use a hack saw. Smooth the cut edge with a nail file or sand paper to avoid cuts. These examples below are rather beat up, but you can reuse your favorite drink containers to grow all the tiny plants you want. Small succulents and herbs are ideal. They make really fun gifts or decor items in small urban gardens. If you cut the can in half, turn the top half upside down so that the opening assures drainage. If you use the bottom half, poke some holes with a nail or ice pick to ensure it drains before adding soil. This is a nifty way to reuse aluminum rather than recycling.

I created this little shade garden years ago for TV featuring white painted cobbles in a perfect spiral. It shows another really cool idea that anyone can do for next to no cost. If you have some old “bare leg” shrubs that have lost their foliage lower down, consider painting the bark. The trick is to water down some interior latex paint so it allows oxygen to pass through just as it does white orchard paint. I used a nice yellow-green, but any other color you like works just as well. I’ve seen it done with turquoise, violet and even red. But if there is low light, stick with light value so the color isn’t lost in the dark. Use this idea to turn an ordinary renter’s backyard into a surrealistic setting!

The folks in San Francisco’s Apartment Therapy have really caught my attention lately. Their cheap and innovative starter projects are truly brilliant. Take a look before you make your New Year’s resolutions because this site shows that there’s no reason why everyone can’t grow food no matter where you live! A link to their Best Projects For 2009 is here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/gardening/easy-lowmaintenance-plant-projectsbest-of-2009-104817