June 2018: Spreckels Organ

Pipe organ in Balboa Park, San Diego

In the middle of Balboa Park in San Diego is an outdoor concert pavilion and the structure that houses the pipes of the Spreckels Organ.

It was built in 1914 and hasn’t changed much since then. I posted a photo I took 15 years ago of some of the detail wok on the outside before our recent trip to San Diego. It didn’t look different.

Spreckels organ In San Diego

One of its claims to fame is that it’s the world’s largest outdoor organ. Which makes me wonder how many there are in the world.

Have you ever seen an outdoor pipe organ?


Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

Escaping the Heat

Phoenix San Diego map

Beach in La Jolla, California

Arizona highway

A 5.5-hour drive will take you from the blistering Phoenix summer to a beautiful day in San Diego.

Phoenix to San Diego map

When we made the trip the first week of July, I recorded parts of it (like I did en route to Pasadena a couple years ago).

View of the road through our windshield.

Ocotillo Trading Post

driving into the sunset

This time, I used Instagram Stories to shoot video – capturing location and temperature info at the same time.

View of sky and trees in the rearview mirror.

It was 104F (40C) when we left Phoenix and 73F (22 C), when we arrived in San Diego. Big difference!

Windansea Beach San Diego

You can watch a 1-minute version our journey from the desert to the ocean either below or on Travelcraft Journal’s YouTube.

Do you ever feel like escaping the summer heat?

 




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A Dozen DIY Planters

Coconut planter

Part of the fun of container gardening is actually the containers themselves! There are lots of ways to form, fold, build, stitch, tie, repurpose, and personalize new homes for your plants.

Here are a twelve pots and planters that you can make!

string planters

1. String Garden

Create a hanging garden in the Japanese kokedama style with low-light houseplants, moss, peat soil and bonsai soil. / via Design*Sponge

 

2. Clay Pots

These little succulent pots are fashioned out of oven-baked clay. I think the small ones are super cute, but you could probably enlarge the plans if you wanted to make them for bigger plants. Tutorial and templates are on sayyes.com.

 

3. Mason Jar Wall Planter

This would be a great way to put an herb garden in your kitchen without taking up counter space! / via Not Just a Housewife

 

5. Kitchen Garden Colander

You can also repurpose flea market finds, like kitchen items, by planting a small garden in them. This lettuce-filled colander could double as a centerpiece on an outdoor table. / via House of Hawthornes

 

Seed pot

6. Newspaper Seedling Pots

With a few folds, you can make your own biodegradable pots for starting seedlings! I first saw these at Phoenix Chile Fest and later got to make my own at CraftHack.

 

7. Paint Can Planters

Dress up any old can with some colorful fabric for a cheery place for a houseplant to live. / via Design*Sponge

 

8. Coconut Plant Pot

This is actually carved from a coconut! There’s also another coconut planter project in the same post on the Jungalow.

 

9. Square Hanging Planter

This is a project that’s simple to make with a chic result! / via Fall for DIY

 

10. IKEA Hack Planter

We actually have more of these IKEA Gorm shelf units than we are currently using, and I’d love to turn one into a planter or garden storage box. / via IKEA Hackers

 

DIY plant cozy by SOTAK handmade

11. Flower Pot Cozy

These folded fabric covers are like coffee koozies for your plants! / via Sotak Handmade

 

12. Address Number Planter

A sign with your house numbers and a little planter is such a welcoming touch for an entryway! To keep costs down, you can use succulent cuttings and scrap wood.  / via Shanty 2 Chic