Comments on: In which my chimnea gets recycled as a planter

By: Kathy J, Washington Gardener Mag

Kathy J, Washington Gardener Mag — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:50:02 +0000

I have trumpet creeper and love the way it looks but NOT how it sends out the runners — it is a beast — esp, in full sun. It should definitely be given out with a warning.

On the chimenea, good recycling use. I never had the urge to buy one and am glad I didn’t. I see many sitting unused in backyards all over DC.

Those dish-style fire pits I see at Target and Home Depot will soon join them in the junk piles. Hope folks starting using them as big salad green planters instead!

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:46:17 +0000

I agree that the chimnea looks much better laying on its side. Much more natural. Like it fell there a long time ago and the vine just started growing out of it. Nice.

By: Aresw

Aresw — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:55:53 +0000

This is a perfect form of art that is being itself. Your chiminea looks like it belongs there. Great job of letting the beauty of it shine through traditional vision. I love it!

By: Leslee

Leslee — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:08:35 +0000

I do not get why so many people do not like trumpet vine.. I love how invasive it is . But then I have a haphazard and wild garden that I love that way.. Of the houses on either side of me have sculptured gardens with dyed mulch.haha

Love the way you used your chiminea.. I love that type of creativity in a garden.

However you should try a fire pits

for bringing warmth to your backyard. The are so many cool styles ..wood or gas..worth another try

By: linda

linda — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:08:00 +0000

Susan, after seeing how you planted your chimnea last year I wished I hadn’t left my beautiful cast iron chimnea for the new owners of my old house, and now I wish it even more! Yours makes a very nice planter.

I hope it keeps that trumpet vine under control. One of my clients has three of them about 30 years old planted along her fence, and it comes up from the runners against the foundation of her house (cracked in multiple places from the thick runners,) has cracked her driveway, and comes up along the cracks, and it comes up between the paving stones on her patio and courtyard and throughout her garden. If she had a lawn it would come up there too. It also comes up in the front and back yards of her neighbors at least three houses away on both sides and in the yard behind hers too. They’re beautifully tempting, but I’ll just say no to trumpet vine and hang fuchsias for the hummingbirds.