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Outdoor Sink Repurposed

comments (5) July 20th, 2009 in blogs, gallery
Ruth Ruth Dobsevage, Web producer
5 users recommend
Okay, its hideous, but neighbors havent complained (at least not yet).
Season 2: It may still be hideous to design purists, but its home to a huge crop of Thai hot peppers and one volunteer bok choy.
Hot in color and hot in taste, Thai hots are well named. Eat your heart out, Bambi.
Okay, its hideous, but neighbors havent complained (at least not yet). Click the image to enlarge.

Okay, it's hideous, but neighbors haven't complained (at least not yet).

Photo: Ruth Dobsevage
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What can I say? It's not a 50s convertible on blocks, but it's close.

This monster porcelain sink had languished behind my house for decades, a magnet for fallen leaves and other debris. But this summer the house is getting painted, and the sink simply had to be moved. So I cleared a space in a nearby garden bed and made a hasty "foundation." Two strong men moved the thing, I loaded it up with composted wood chips, and voilà, a new planter.

It's a two-sided sink with two drainholes, which I filled with small rocks so the soil wouldn't drain along with the water. In mid-July, there wasn't much of a selection of annuals at the local plant nursery, so I grabbed what I could (sweet potato vines and marigolds) and hoped for the best. In the foreground is another "found" planter, a box that was once part of a beehive.

Thankfully, the vines have started to advance and cover the white surfaces. In a little while, you might not even know it's a sink. And even if it's a total bust visually, there's always next year...

Update: 2010
Last year's planting was a deer buffet. They devoured the sweet potato vines one fine evening, leaving the marigolds alone. This year I have planted Thai hot peppers, which are every bit as decorative as traditional ornamentals and do fine unfenced. Apparently deer like their dinners on the bland side. I've posted a photo. These peppers proved to be incredibly hot.

posted in: The Gallery, containers
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Comments (5)

Ruth writes: The cinder blocks are gradually sinking into the earth. Maybe I'll try edging the sink with nasturtiums this year. Posted: 8:16 am on April 12th
theseedlady writes: it's not the sink, but those cinder blocks. any way to get them out of sight? Posted: 10:27 am on April 11th
dislocatedtennessean writes: Posted: 11:22 am on April 5th
dislocatedtennessean writes: Ilove it!! Posted: 11:22 am on April 5th
Christo30 writes: Gardening is very important to improve the beauty of our house it also one thing that attract to the people if you have plants in your home. Posted: 5:10 am on January 28th
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