Contest to elevate the art of upcycling

Antiques and discarded pieces of furniture, kitchen items and much more are finding their way into the gardens of clever people who have an artistic eye and the ability to think outside the box.

Colanders are becoming hanging baskets. Bed frames are used as backdrops for climbing roses and clematis. Old teapots and work boots are being transformed into planters, and ladders are being reused as plant stands. Gardening tools are spray painted and made into charming garden art birds and animals.

The possibilities are literally endless and the result in gardens is nothing short of charming.

Lurvey's Garden Center in Des Plaines will take on the topic of recycling discarded items in gardens in its annual garden display at the "Chicago Is In Bloom" Chicago Flower & Garden Show, to be held March 18 through 26 at Navy Pier. It will be located close to the show's main entrance.

Lurvey's designers will put their thinking caps on to come up with creative garden uses for old dishware, furniture and other household items. The resulting creations will be displayed at the show to inspire others to let items they no longer need for their original purposes find their way into their gardens with entirely new purposes, said Jean Bragdon, operations and marketing/special events manager at Lurvey's.

"We have never done an upcycling theme in our annual Chicago Flower & Garden Show display, but are very excited to do it this year because recycling and upcycling is part of who we are and what we do at Lurvey's," Bragdon said. "We take environmental preservation very seriously. Our red barn landscaping building is a LEED Gold-certified building and in our new garden center we used old pallet wood to create wainscoting and recycled barn wood from an old barn in Harvard in our lobby, conference room lighting fixtures and in our door frames and across one wall. So we are thrilled to share this enthusiasm for recycling with the public."

Lurvey's also carries giftware and garden art made from recycled pieces. For instance, they sell furniture for both indoor and outdoor living spaces made from retired boat wood. In fact, some of those pieces will undoubtedly make it into one of its display vignettes at the Flower & Garden Show, Bragdon said. Lurvey's also carries planters and plant stands made from tree roots and those will anchor the other planned vignette at the show.

But it is also asking for help from Daily Herald readers. Bragdon is encouraging readers to find an interesting discarded item, transform it into a planter, wind chime or other garden bauble, and enter the Upcycle and Recycle Contest by uploading a photo of your creation at events.dailyherald.com/contest. Several of the winners' upcycled garden creations will be offered a spot within the Lurvey's display at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show where more than 40,000 people are expected to see it, Bragdon said.

In fact, Lurvey's will hold an Upcycle Idea Day from 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 4, in its Garden Center at 2550 E. Dempster St., Des Plaines. Gardeners who want to enhance their garden with repurposed items (or who hope to enter the contest) can bring in their small items or photos of larger items and ask for ideas from Lurvey's designers who can probably help them take their own ideas to the next level.

The Daily Herald contest ends Monday, March 13. The grand prize winner will receive two tickets to the Lurvey's Chicago Flower & Garden show bus trip (which includes breakfast) on March 23 and a $200 Lurvey's gift card. In addition, 20 random winners will each win a pair of tickets to the Chicago Flower & Garden Show they can use on their own.

"If you don't have anything lying around the house that inspires you, consider taking a trip to a resale shop or an antique store for inspiration," Bragdon said.

One option, for instance, is the resale shops of WINGS, one of the largest domestic violence service and housing providers in Illinois. Single women and women with children are able to receive temporary safe shelter through WINGS housing. Staff provides one-on-one, individualized assistance that allows women to set personal goals that will enable them to work, continue their education and care for themselves and their children. They operate resale shops in Schaumburg, Arlington Heights and Niles. All proceeds from the shops provide funding for WINGS programming.

"One of my favorite things to do at WINGS is to sort donations in the back room because you find exciting things," said Rebecca Darr, WINGS CEO. "I particularly love to see how people use these items in unconventional, creative ways in their homes and gardens. They are saving things from the landfills and at the same time providing critical funding for one of our most vulnerable populations, especially at a time when legislators are not coming through with state funding for domestic violence shelters like ours."

The WINGS stores are an ideal place to search for garden inspiration.

Upcycling was touched upon in a small tablescape display at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show several years ago, but the show has never before had an entire exhibit devoted to the subject, said Tony Abruscato, CEO of the Chicago show since 2011. So he is excited about Lurvey's plans.

"I, personally, like to go to antique and resale shops to find old containers that I can reuse. Last year I bought a big old salad bowl and planted it as a lettuce garden on my balcony. I see recycling and upcycling as a way to make gardening affordable for everyone. When people complain that it is expensive to buy pots for container gardening, this is generally what I suggest," Abruscato said.

The Chicago Flower & Garden Show has its roots in the Exhibit of Fruit and Flowers that was first held in Chicago in 1847. Gardening exhibits were also an integral part of the famous Columbian Exposition. Over the years it has been interrupted by the Civil War and the Great Chicago Fire, but has always found its way back because of Chicagoans' enduring love for their gardens. This year the show celebrates Chicago's neighborhoods, culture, arts and culinary scene.

The annual nine-day show, which covers 170,000 square feet at Navy Pier, is designed to entertain the eye, inspire gardeners and educate them, too. It even includes a children's activity garden where children are offered nine free activities every day. Admission is $17 for adults during the week, $19 on weekends and $5 for children. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.

"People tend to stay at the show between three and five hours. Chicago winters can be very long and the show offers an escape and brings hope for spring. We offer 120 workshops and seminars and there are industry professionals throughout the show to whom gardeners can talk," Abruscato said.

On Friday, March 17 a charity benefit called "Evening in Bloom" will be offered. Those who want a preview of the show may pay $150 (half of which goes to a local charity), wander the rooms, enjoy 18 different food stations with cuisine prepared by top Chicago and suburban chefs and then enjoy "Fleurotica," a fashion show featuring the work of 16 designers who have incorporated live plant material into their couture.

"I call it 'The Rose Parade Meets Project Runway,' " Abruscato quipped. Tickets are available at chicagoflower.com.

Upcycle & Recycle Contest

How: Transform a discarded or recycled object into a planter, wind chime or other garden bauble.

Note: Several winning creations will featured in the Lurvey's Garden Center display at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show.

Grand prize: Two tickets to the Lurvey's Chicago Flower & Garden show bus trip (which includes breakfast) on March 23 and a $200 Lurvey's gift card.

More prizes: 20 random winners will each win a pair of tickets to the Chicago Flower & Garden Show.

Upload photo entry: <a href="http://events.dailyherald.com/contest">events.dailyherald.com/contest</a> by March 13

<b>Lurvey's Upcycle Idea Day</b>Where: Lurvey's Garden Center, 2550 E. Dempster St., Des Plaines

When: 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 4.

Register: <a href="http://events.dailyherald.com">events.dailyherald.com</a>

What: Bring in small items or photos of larger items and ask for ideas from Lurvey's designers.

<b>'Chicago Is In Bloom' Chicago Flower & Garden Show</b>When: March 18-26

Where: Navy Pier

Admission: $17/adults during week; $19 weekends; $5 children

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.

Online: <a href="http://www.chicagoflower.com">www.chicagoflower.com</a>