Maybe it’s true that Victorian is the new modern, ’cause I keep seeing terrariums everywhere.

I’m not really into Victoriana, but I am obsessed with terrariums. Not exactly with keeping or creating them; just in looking at lovely ones online. You know, the lazy kind of obsession. First there was the sleek-n-sexy Terradome (above) from ModernPast.

Then Mighty Girl showed us how she created her own (those are hers, above).

Mighty Girl also led me to Paula Hayes’ handblown glass ones (yep, that’s her gorgeous creation above). Check out Paula’s Flickr site here to see more of these ethereal beauties.

Pretty inspired, eh? It’s almost enough to make me step away from the keyboard and go shopping for bromelaids. Almost.

Visit the Terrarium Museum or check out other peoples’ creations on Flickr.

Photos, top to bottom, from ModernPast, Mighty Girl and Paula Hayes.

Up for a little conspiracy theorizing this lovely Friday morning?

Check out Project Censored‘s Top 25 Censored Stories of 2007 (“The news that doesn’t make the news”). Of particular interest to gardeners, number 13: New Evidence Establishes Dangers of Roundup:

New studies from both sides of the Atlantic reveal that Roundup, the most widely used weedkiller in the world, poses serious human health threats. More than 75 percent of genetically modified (GM) crops are engineered to tolerate the absorption of Roundup – it eliminates all plants that are not GM. Monsanto Inc., the major engineer of GM crops, is also the producer of Roundup. Thus, while Roundup was formulated as a weapon against weeds, it has become a prevalent ingredient in most of our food crops.

Three recent studies show that Roundup, which is used by farmers and home gardeners, is not the safe product we have been led to trust.

Um, I don’t know about you, but I’ve never “trusted” Roundup, or anything related to Monsanto for that matter. I do believe they are pure evil.

Read the rest of the Project Censored story after the jump.

I am thrilled to be able to introduce you all to Esther, newly-appointed SpokesEwe of Heavy Petal.

Esther is a registered Icelandic sheep. She was a Chrismukkah gift from my husband, who knows I dream of having a farm in the country with animals galore.

Before you call the SPCA on me for keeping livestock in my 200 sq/ft backyard, let me explain. Esther lives on the Schacht Fleece Farm in Indiana.

See, the Schacht Fleece Farm has an Adopt a Sheep program designed for urban-dwellers. Besides being perfect for those with acreage envy, the program has an option to receive “your” sheep’s fall fleece, which makes it ideal for knitters, spinners and weavers. As a knitter, I’ll receive Esther’s entire fall fleece that has been skirted and then sent to Stonehedge Fiber Mill to be washed, carded and spun into yarn. The package comes with a number of goodies, including quarterly updates from the lovely Mandy, whose grandfather bought the farm in the 60s.

I chose Esther for her fleece, of course, but also because of Mandy’s description of her:

“Esther is a very aware ewe. She is the first to see me coming to the barn lot and never likes to do things the easy way. Instead of grazing a perfectly good pasture she will rest on her front knees and eat right next to the fence. She is also known to wait under the Sycamore trees in the fall for the leaves to drop to have as part of her afternoon snack. Everyone who visits our farm always remembers Esther.”

That, and because I noticed her little tongue sticking out in this photo:

I found out about a new guerilla gardening troop in Vancouver through the recently-formed Vancouver Public Space Network. If you’re a local and you’re interested in issues and advocacy surrounding public space, you should check them out. Sign up for their e-newsletter while you’re there. It’s a great way to keep your finger on the pulse.

Anyhoo, this new guerilla gardening group is holding a Meetup, this coming Saturday, January 27 at The Foundation (7th and Main) at 1:00.

Register for the Meetup here. I’ll be the one eating the Upper Eastside.

Not from Vancouver? Find a gardening-related Meetup in your area.

Check out the Diablo watering can, a sleek, modern-looking watering can designed to be left outdoors to collect rainwater. Why, you ask? Besides the karmic brownie points you earn by conserving water, rainwater is purportedly better for your houseplants – it contains fewer impurities than unfiltered tap water.

I knew there had to be some way to harness the, er, abundance of rainfall in Vancouver. I don’t have room for a water barrel, and while I love the ergonomic balance of my Haws, its neck is far too narrow to collect rainwater.

You can buy the Diablo from Pure Modern.

It’s Retail Therapy week at Heavy Petal. And what could be more therapeutic than these cheery fabrics from Amy Butler?

I love her Forest line (shown above, in pillows). Her latest, however, is Lotus, samples of which are shown below (photos via Decor8).

Aren’t these gorgeous fabrics? Wouldn’t these just brighten your day – and your living space? Yes, I know. I love them too. Find out where to buy here.

Now if only I could sew…

Via Decor8.

It’s Retail Therapy week at Heavy Petal, and today we’re going on a shopping spree at Viva Terra, an online store carrying goods that “fuse exceptional quality and design with eco sensitivities.” A visit to their website is both inspiring and calming – a sure remedy for the blahs.

They certainly carry garden furniture and decor, like these recycled wine barrel stave chairs and tables, but where Viva Terra really excels is in bringing the outdoors in, with eco-inspired furniture and accessories.

I love these recycled aluminum bark vases. They’re so bold yet somehow delicate looking.

How sweet is this love nest? It’s made of recycled, hand-shaped brass wire. The eggs are a pale-blue luminous glass.

I have a serious love affair with these wood cube stool/tables, but I also love this twisty stool. I am seriously considering ordering the cubes, though. I think they’d be perfect in my living room.

All images from Viva Terra.

As long as you’re spending your hard-earned cash, you may as well spend it on something that’s good not only for your mood but for the earth, independent artists and the community. I love the symbolism and irony behind Plant the Piece, a shotgun-shaped seed bomb blasting annual and perennial wildflowers such as cornflower, Shasta daisy, Siberian wallflower, and coreopsis. Piece/peace – get it? This is definitely the best gun I’ve ever seen!

Created as part of a a traveling exhibition by Christopher Humes and Noah Scalin called Swords into Plowshares, Plant the Piece is available for sale here, along with your standard round seed bombs (shown below).

View the project gallery here.

Via NotCot.

It’s Retail Therapy week at Heavy Petal, and today we’re coveting the paper cut work of artist Peter Callesen.

With painstaking craftsmanship Callesen creates intricate, fragile beauty – out of basic A4 paper, 2D becomes 3D, ordinary becomes extraordinary.

I’m already taking liberties with my editorial – because this isn’t exactly retail. But look at the detail in this work! These are just so cool. You can’t buy online, but there is contact information on Peter’s website if you’re interested in purchasing some of his work. You’ll want to check out his site anyway to see more of this gorgeous stuff.

To combat the January Blahs, I hereby declare this Retail Therapy week at Heavy Petal. I’ll profile a mood-boosting, drool-worthy purchase each day.

Today, I’m loving dwarf citrus trees like this meyer lemon. One of the hardiest, most productive citrus trees, it can be brought indoors in winter where it’s sure to brighten your day. It’s so sunny, I think research should be done on whether it could be used as a remedy for SAD.

This would be perfect for a mediterranean-style courtyard or indoors in a sunny living room.

Available at Acorn Springs, Timeless Topiary, Four Winds Growers and Clifton’s Nursery, among others.