Confessions of a Garden-Challenged Decorista

Searching for indoor plant stands hasn’t been easy.

Bringing potted plants in for the winter poses a classic decorista problem: where do you put them if you don’t have a proper indoor plant stand? What I mean by “proper” plant stand is fabulously illustrated in the top photo of the Green Room (a.k.a. the Garden Room) in Winfield House.  The American Ambassador’s residence in London’s Regent’s Park was donated to the American government in 1945 by Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton. Considering that the room was decorated by the Hollywood legend Billy Haimes in 1969 for then Ambassador and Mrs. Annenberg, this is one very simple plant ladder (which could easily be copied), and perfection with that begonia display.

But here’s my confession: Gardens and plants always look brilliant to me, especially views from my 12th Floor apartment window of beautifully landscaped terraces or photos of amazing gardenscapes online. For many years, I lived on 20, with south and eastern exposures, and managed to keep an orchid plant alive and blooming plus a pot of basil going. Although that got a bit anemic during the winter. When we moved into our house in the country, I felt lost and helpless outdoors. Unknowing. Ignorant. Growing up in L.A. with a gardener to mow the lawn and tend the roses had not exactly been preparatory. Thereafter, New York apartments left me zero frame of reference in the garden. Then, finding two legs of a tick sticking out of my navel after transplanting my only two pots of flowers — white geraniums — last spring ramped up the fear. After spending a week in bed with a high fever (but fortunately, no Lyme disease) it became just plain scary “out there.” Said geraniums flourished over the summer.

I’ve been keeping my eye on antique plant stands for a couple of years. They pop up in auction catalogs like Punxsutawney Phil, beginning now and disappearing by May. With only two pots of flowers and somewhat limited space, most have been too large for me, or too expensive when prices went a crazy high last year. Perhaps now they will come back down to earth and a nice, small one will come my way.

I found two prospects this week in the Wisteria catalog but my green gene makes me prefer a recycled piece.

Meanwhile, my geraniums are sunning themselves on the rustic bench I picked up at the Brimfield Antiques fair two years ago for $35. They aren’t on a “proper” plant stand but, so far, they are wintering over just fine.

(Sources: WOI, Wisteria)

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