Organic Bamboo Pebbles can add a bit of nature fo indoor displays

Go organic with Bamboo Pebbles

With the look of river rock, combined with the beauty of wood grain, these Bamboo Pebbles will add a bit of nature to your indoor displays. They can be tumbled around a centerpiece, gathered in a vase or used for individual table settings. They're not just beautiful, they're Earth-friendly, made from renewable bamboo, by Bambu, a Chinese company dedicated to fair labor practices and protecting the environment. The pebbles are handmade of bamboo scraps from Bambu's cutting boards and bowls. They're sold in a set of 13 for about $18 at various retailers, including Whole Foods in Deerfield and Wheaton and Ace Hardware in Oak Brook. Also available online at several dealers including greenfeet.com.

A container recipe fit for a king

It's time to think about what you want in your containers for the fall. Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago offers this recipe, which they deemed "easy." This container is 12-by-12 inches, perfect for narrow spaces, and the plants are fit for growing in the sun. It's a royal treat with Purple majesty ornamental millet crowning in the center, and two purple-foliage plants at its feet, the Purple Knight (Alternanthera) in the mid-height range, and Purple Lady (Iresine) hugging the bottom of the container. Adding the contrasting color, and overflowing to the ground, is Susie Orange with Eye Thunbergia, also known as Black-Eyed Susan Vine. Add a trellis in the back and you'll get the Thunbergia to climb up, giving some bright color to help all that purple foliage pop even more.

Taking granite back outdoors

My mother-in-law bought a water feature from a pond shop in Lisle that she absolutely adores. It's a rock with a hole in the middle; water bubbles out of the hole and cascades down the rock. These Wabi oil lamps remind me of that soothing landscape feature. Created by Stone Forest, the lamp is made out of granite with a removable top and hollow interior for the oil. Based in New Mexico, the company makes design elements for indoors and out using natural materials. The lamps are $39 each and are available by calling (888) 682-2987.