Today's blog comes from Janet Millett, Central Library staff:

Many of us in Calgary feel lucky to live both close to the mountains and to the prairies. However, for gardeners, this often means a double whammy of cold nights and short growing seasons along with the odd freak snowstorm, droughts and dry dusty winds. In other words, growing lush gardens bursting with colour can be a challenge.

Luckily, you don’t have to despair too much about sparse underperforming gardens. Calgary Public Library has a book called Painted Garden Art, by artist Lin Wellford, that allows you to take matters into your own hands. This book will show you how to turn stepping stones into butterfly walkways or cast stone blocks into elegant baskets of colorful blooms. Stone edgings can become a parade of pachyderms or a vibrant caterpillar.

You can also work magic with different sizes and shapes of rocks to scatter turtles, frogs, lizards and even fish ponds throughout the bare spots. And the really great thing about this book is that it’s very easy to paint these artistic creations. Many of the designs are basic and there are step-by-step illustrated directions provided.

Whether nature cooperates or not, it’s good to know that there is more than one way to create and enjoy an interesting and vibrant garden space.

- Jan

Paper Garden, by Molly Peacock, has been on my reading list for almost a year and I am very glad that I finally got to it. It’s a non-fiction story of an artist that is as engaging as a good novel - a good choice for your book club or gift list.

In 1700, Mary Granville was born into an obscure branch of an aristocratic family that was struggling to maintain and advance its position in English society. As a child, she was trained in social graces that would equip her for a position at court.

At 17 she married an oppressive, alcoholic squire aged 61 in a bid by her family to improve their fortunes. But that didn’t happen. When she was widowed at age 25, she was left with just a modest pension.

Mary spent the next two decades of her life on the fringes of court society with pals like Jonathan Swift and Handel. She was wooed by a succession of impressive suitors, but remained resolutely single until her marriage to Irish clergyman, Patrick Delany, in middle age. Together, they enjoyed a gentle country life for a very happy 23 years.

At age 72, following the death of her beloved husband, Mary developed a new art form and created an amazing 985, botanically correct, floral collages which are housed today in the British museum.

Poet Molly Peacock tells the story, based on information from a wealth of letters that Mary exchanged with family and friends. Along the way, Peacock explores the issues of women’s independence, the sustaining nature of good marriages, the trials of economic uncertainty and the unexpected blossoming of creativity in old age.

If you are inspired by Mary’s collages, have a look at New Creative Collage Techniques: How to make original art using paper, color and texture. Author Nita Leland demonstrates the collage process, including design principles, working with ready-made papers and creating your own. She also offers instruction on mixed media collage and making textured supports.

Outdoor furniture and garden crafts are great projects to hone DIY skills. Slight imperfections are at ease with a rustic aesthetic; weathering can add character. Over the years I have discovered that adapting design to suit your skill level usually improves the outcome. If you get ambitious, then you need to stretch those skills – and acquire more power tools (which makes you happy, happy, happy, if you are a tool geek).

Search the CPL catalogue with subject keywords “outdoor furniture” for a fine list. The three books below come from different areas of the collection and offer different perspectives on the topic.

Outdoor Furniture: Timeless Woodworking Projects for the Yard, Deck and Patio is a new title in our woodworking collection. Projects, including benches, tables, chaise longue and serving trolley, are built with traditional woodworking techniques specifically designed to produce furniture that will withstand the elements. They offer tips for choosing the right wood, joinery and hardware, and finish.

There is a pattern for each project and detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and illustrations.

In Garden Mosaics: 19 beautiful mosaic projects for your garden (2009) authors Biggs and Hunkin work with all types of mosaic including vitreous glass, slate, marble, pebbles and broken china. The projects range from easy-to-make house numbers to a more demanding tabletop design inspired by an Italian herbal dating from the 14^th century.

Junk Beautiful: Outdoor Edition (2009) demonstrates the repurposing of flea market finds for furnishing garden and patio. Author Sue Whitney, founder of Junkmarket, is a crusader for creative reuse.

In the book she offers some inspired contraptions: an old pipe and gauge is attached to a battered red scooter. A weathered bucket hung from the pipe holds the ice that chills the wine that makes the company mellow.

Friday: Back indoors, looking at fancy ways with walls.

Stampede is winding down. Time to pack up the cowhides and lanterns - or not. For many seasons, cowhide rugs have been popular accents for both contemporary country and modern interiors.

There are so many other lovely ways to bring summer into your home. If you enjoy making seasonal changes, here are a couple of new titles for inspiration.

Summer House, by Terry John Woods, features cottage-style, summer decorating, the way you might do it for your summer house in Maine which is exactly what Woods has. Seashells and polished beach rocks line the shelves; surfaces are weathered; accessories are nautical. Vintage collectibles, such as old alarm clocks and jadite tableware, punctuate decor. There is no edgy twist to vintage here; just full-blown nostalgia.

The book is laced with sepia-toned photos evocative of summers past: cricket games on the lawn, family gatherings, floating on inner tubes. You get the drift.

Cottage style is budget-friendly, embracing finds from flea market and Mom and Dad's basement. Old pieces are rehabbed with a lick of paint or just dusted off. Best of all, it offers relaxed comfort year round.

Get crafty and take advantage of all the good things in your garden with Everyday Eden: 100+ Fun, Green Garden Project for the Whole Family to Enjoy by Christina Symons & John Gillespie.

Herbs flavour salts and butter. Bread is baked in flower pot and bucket. Succulents are shaped into dramatic sculptures, wall art and wreaths. From old glass containers, they fashion garden cloches to protect seedlings. Mismatched glasses create “candle opera” with tea lights.

As you might expect, Symons and Gillespie, who live in Roberts Creek, B.C., have a wonderful garden. See it on their blog and get an ongoing crafty fix.

NEXT WEEK: I'm playing in the water. The topic is home-made water fountains.