Wheel Barrow Planter

To continue the theme of "Stuff We Found on the Side of the Road"....

A year and a half ago Ryan found a wheel barrow on the side of our road waiting to be picked. From what I remember, it's wheel wasn't in great condition and the insides were all rusted, but-hey! We were new(ish) homeowners and free anything was (IS!) awesome! So he dragged it home and used it until he was ready to pick out a brand new wheel barrow of his own.

What to do with this extra, worn-out wheel barrow? Turn it into a flower planter! We had a spot near the patio in mind and decided it would be the perfect piece to fill that space.

So:

1.) Ryan removed the wheel

2.) I cleaned it up with soap and water

3.) I covered the arms and supports with baggies and aluminum foil

4.) I sprayed one coat of primer

5.) I sprayed two coats (or more in some spots) of key lime spray paint

Totally cool!! We used Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover Gloss in Key Lime (buy it here at Home Depot). We also used Rust-Oleum metal spray primer.

Since then here's what she's looked like:

Spring/Summer 2013:

Purple Fountain Grass, King Coleus, Petunias, Calibrachoa

Fall 2013:

Purple Fountain Grass, Mums

Spring/Summer 2014:

Petunias, Geraniums, Dusty Miller, Purple Fountain Grass, Calibrachoa, Pentas

I know this is a planter we will enjoy using year after year....and while the sun has faded the green spray paint a bit, I can always look forward to choosing a new color of spray paint in the future! Maybe a robin's egg....... OoOoO....

Ryan also found this guy at a estate/barn sale: