Do you turn "trash" into garden treasures? Send us your photos
- Updated
We're collecting readers' photos of cool and funky garden art — especially cast-offs or recycled items. Send your photos to eds@tucson.com and include the photographer's name and a brief description of your garden art.
Beth Holick, a member of Tucson Backyard Gardening and Tucson Cactus and Succulents on Facebook, was tired of a lackluster yard.
She writes, "My yard has gone dead over the last few years from lack of care, freezing in the winter and my not wanting to water in the summer. Anyway, I got tired of the way it was looking and decided to try plants that might take less water.
"I saw (a) picture on Pinterest and thought I could do something like it under my patio.
"I had block stashed away so all I needed was the wood. ... I had the purple paint left from when I did the window trim so I decided that since this was between the 2 windows I'd use it.
"Sooooo I finished painting, let it dry and stacked everything, got the nails set in place for the ladder and realized I needed another set of hands. Lucky my garden dude was coming by, so he helped hold things together while I hammered ... OK well maybe I held the wood and he hammered.
"I knew I was going to use some terra cotta pots I had from another project and just succulents on this shelf. There is good light and early morning sun, so planted and used the same white pumice stone as a topper."
Nice job, Beth!
- Photo courtesy of Beth Holick
Here is one example of recycled garden art by Elizabeth Rose Crocker, who writes: "I took an old window that somebody had taken out of a house and I painted my house numbers on it and drilled it into the front of my house. It sits above a green handmade flower planter that my husband made out of repurposed wood."
- Elizabeth Rose Crocker
Bob Reid of Tucson writes, "This is one half of an 8-foot cable spool we picked up at Gerson's on South Country Club Road, which we originally intended to use as a frame for the top of a backyard picnic table. Upon reflection, we thought it would serve better as 'wall art.' Backlighting helped!"
- Photo courtesy of Bob Reid
"Mounted on our backyard fence is a 22-inch railroad boxcar handbrake," writes Bob Reid of Tucson. "When asked what it is, in jest we say, 'It's our main water valve.' Keeping the brake wheel company are lots of old railroad ties."
- Courtesy of Bob Reid
Best flowers for our dry desert landscape! Old china plates, glass vases, and re-bar stem.
- Miriam Otte
Marsha Mull really put the "bed" in flower bed.
"This was my daughter's bed while she was growing up," she writes. "Didn't have to do much work, just plant the flowers."
- Photo courtesy of Marsha Mull
Janice Marley collects chairs during the city's brush and bulky pick-up program. She turns them into fun garden art, like this planter.
- Photo courtesy of Janice Marley
Painted hubcaps set a playful mood along a metal fence.
- Susan Billings / Arizona Daily Star 2014
Rusty objects such as cheese graters adorn this metal fence in Tucson.
- Susan Billings / Arizona Daily Star 2014
Decorative stars provide a focal point in this lush Tucson garden.
- Susan Billings / Arizona Daily Star 2014
Artist Bonnie Molloy made this cute snake out of bottlecaps. It now lives in Gayle Bullington's yard.
- Photo courtesy of Gayle Bullington
Beth Holick, a member of Tucson Backyard Gardening and Tucson Cactus and Succulents on Facebook, was tired of a lackluster yard.
She writes, "My yard has gone dead over the last few years from lack of care, freezing in the winter and my not wanting to water in the summer. Anyway, I got tired of the way it was looking and decided to try plants that might take less water.
"I saw (a) picture on Pinterest and thought I could do something like it under my patio.
"I had block stashed away so all I needed was the wood. ... I had the purple paint left from when I did the window trim so I decided that since this was between the 2 windows I'd use it.
"Sooooo I finished painting, let it dry and stacked everything, got the nails set in place for the ladder and realized I needed another set of hands. Lucky my garden dude was coming by, so he helped hold things together while I hammered ... OK well maybe I held the wood and he hammered.
"I knew I was going to use some terra cotta pots I had from another project and just succulents on this shelf. There is good light and early morning sun, so planted and used the same white pumice stone as a topper."
Nice job, Beth!
- Photo courtesy of Beth Holick
Marsha Mull's husband, Donald Mull, made this light fixture out of wine bottles that they had collected. "It's on our back porch," she writes. "We're always making things."
- Photo courtesy of Marsha Mull
This is an attempt to hide an old gap in the wall at an east side home. The leftover flagstone is meant to evoke the Rincon Mountains. It just needs a few plants in the pots to look finished.
- Photo courtesy of Patrick Brennan
Be careful where you sit! Got the wooden chair from a friend.
- Miriam Otte
Every once in awhile Dirty Gertie needs to take a bath. Mannequin acquired from store closing, claw-foot bathtub from a neighbor who is a contractor.
- Miriam Otte
A lemon of a Christmas tree. Our lemon tree wrapped in frost cloth and kept warm by the lights.
- Miriam Otte
Agave stalk goes red. Stalk from a friend's garden. Nice "tree" but doesn't provide much shade.
- Miriam Otte
Even old barrels need all the support they can get. Got this walker after my knee surgery. Eventually the old barrel did fall over, so the walker is waiting for something else to support.
Bike going nowhere. Old bike purchased at BICAS.
- Miriam Otte
A memorial to a chore not missed. Recycled push lawn mower acquired on Craig's List and patch of plastic grass.
- Miriam Otte
Slow Poke needs a ride. Our broken dolly.
- Miriam Otte
Wheeling down my lighted path. Recycled wheel base which prevents garden hoses from damaging my plants. Empty colored bottles, donated by many friends, keep edge of path clear.
Here is one example of recycled garden art by Elizabeth Rose Crocker, who writes: "I took an old window that somebody had taken out of a house and I painted my house numbers on it and drilled it into the front of my house. It sits above a green handmade flower planter that my husband made out of repurposed wood."
- Elizabeth Rose Crocker
Linda Ray has a new butterfly garden and lizard habitat created in and around a defunct fountain pool, using rubble from a small demolition project. Logan Byers of Local Design Build is the landscape architect who designed the project.
- Logan Byers
Bob Reid of Tucson writes, "This is one half of an 8-foot cable spool we picked up at Gerson's on South Country Club Road, which we originally intended to use as a frame for the top of a backyard picnic table. Upon reflection, we thought it would serve better as 'wall art.' Backlighting helped!"
- Photo courtesy of Bob Reid
Ken Fite on the southwest side has two lots landscaped with historic or nostalgic relics. "Some people tell me that it is art," he writes. "Who knows?"
- Photo courtesy of Ken Fite
Ken Fite's flower pot is an old tire on its rim, turned inside out, with the edges cut into petal points. "This was popular in the '40s and '50s," he writes.
- Photo courtesy of Ken Fite
"Mounted on our backyard fence is a 22-inch railroad boxcar handbrake," writes Bob Reid of Tucson. "When asked what it is, in jest we say, 'It's our main water valve.' Keeping the brake wheel company are lots of old railroad ties."
- Courtesy of Bob Reid
Kent Barrabee's wife, Nancy, organizes found and bought objects to make fun and aesthetic creations.
- Kent Barrabee
Kent Barrabee's wife, Nancy, organizes found and bought objects to make fun and aesthetic creations.
- Kent Barrabee
Kent Barrabee's wife, Nancy, organizes found and bought objects to make fun and aesthetic creations.
- Kent Barrabee
Kent Barrabee's wife, Nancy, organizes found and bought objects to make fun and aesthetic creations.
- Kent Barrabee
Kent Barrabee's wife, Nancy, organizes found and bought objects to make fun and aesthetic creations.
- Kent Barrabee
Kent Barrabee's wife, Nancy, organizes found and bought objects to make fun and aesthetic creations.
- Kent Barrabee
Kent Barrabee's wife, Nancy, organizes found and bought objects to make fun and aesthetic creations.
- Kent Barrabee
Kent Barrabee's wife, Nancy, organizes found and bought objects to make fun and aesthetic creations.
- Kent Barrabee
As featured on
Agreement would have South Tucson residents paying a premium for residential trash collection.
View this profile on Instagram#ThisIsTucson 🌵 (@this_is_tucson) • Instagram photos and videos
Most viewed stories
-
Nearly 40 fun events this Valentine's Day weekend February 13-15! 💖
-
Surprise! Wildflower season is starting early. Here's where to find the best blooms 🌼
-
Jamie vs. Sonoran dogs: Follow me as I take on Visit Tucson's Sonoran Dog Trail 🌭
-
Over 60 fun events happening in Tucson in February 💖🐎
-
43 events you won't want to miss, February 20-22! 🤠🐎
-
Tucson Valentine's: Vegas-style weddings, tattoo parlor nuptials
-
A saber tooth tiger fossil, gemstone paintings, and more: Here's the low-down on 4 Tucson gem shows! 💎
-
Step back into the 14th century at Arizona Renaissance Fair 🫅
-
A new chapter: Crossroads Restaurant is back open after fire
-
This Tucson chef has been named a semifinalist for prestigious James Beard Award 🎉