This post is a twofer: both "Design snapshot" and "Idjit garden" post.

I spotted this inspired planter outside a shop in Salem, Massachusetts last spring. The rusted wheelbarrow container garden in dreamy Robin's egg blue parked outside the boutique's similarly blue door and next to its nearly matching-blue bench brought a smile to my heart. Such a fun idea for sidewalk décor; it's both whimsical and practical -- in that it's portable. No surprise, the miniature garden aspect of the wheelbarrow planter is particularly appealing to this idjit gardener.

Since it also happens to be yard-sale season, what better time for an idjit gardener to procure a forlorn wheelbarrow and put it to use as a garden rather than merely a garden tool. I imagine you would need to convert the wheelbarrow to container use by drilling some drainage holes in it, but no matter, this idjit gardener recently drilled holes in some galvanized tubs to convert to planters which was fairly simple. Since the wheelbarrow is portable, you could move it to a sunny or shady spot depending on what you decide to plant. Finding just the right rocks or shells or statuary to ornament your wheelbarrow landscape can only add to the entertainment.

Off to the flea market and nursery you go. Enjoy!

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Recommended upcoming New England tours

Garden Affairs Garden Tour (Concord, MA) Friday - Saturday, May 31 - June 1, 2013 9:00 am - 4:00 pm 

Newport Summer Secret Garden Tour (Newport, RI) Friday - Sunday, June 14 - 16, 2013 10:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Earth, Roots, Petals, & Paths Garden Tour (Putney, VT) Saturday, June 15, 2013 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

South End Garden Tour (Boston, MA) Saturday, June 15, 2013 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Portsmouth Pocket Garden Tour (Portsmouth, NH) Saturday, June 22, 2013 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

New Castle Village Walk & Garden Tour (New Castle, NH) Sunday, June 23, 2013 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Rockport Garden Club Garden Tour (Rockport, MA) Saturday - Sunday, June 28 - 29, 2013 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

The Maine Home + Design English Garden Party & Home Tour (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) Saturday, June 29, 2013 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Black Point House and Garden Tour (Niantic, CT) Friday, July 12, 2013 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Gardening with the [URI] Masters 2013 Statewide Garden Tour (Rhode Island) Saturday - Sunday July 13 - 14, 2013 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Provincetown Art Association and Museum Secret Garden Tour (Provincetown, MA) Sunday, July 14, 2013 10:00 am - 3:00 pm 

Pittsfield Garden Tour (Pittsfield, MA) Saturday, July 20, 2013 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and Sunday, July 21, 2013 noon – 4:00 pm  

Private Gardens of the Kennebunks Tour (Kennebunk, ME) Saturday, July 13, 2013 10:00 am - 4:00 pm  

The 66th Annual Camden House and Garden Tour (Camden, ME) Thursday, July 18, 2013 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

The 59th Annual Nantucket House and Garden Tour (Nantucket, MA) Wednesday, August 7, 2013 11:00 am - 4:30 pm  

The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days 

One of the first features we noticed in our new (to us) home is a long interior wall bordering the open living/dining area. One look and my husband said to me in passing, "Here's your gallery wall." So true. It was practically begging for a changing display of my fine-art photography.

Having discovered the simple and elegant Gallery System Art Displays at the Old Sculpin Gallery (where I exhibit my photos on Martha's Vineyard in the summer), I got in touch with the distributor to order the flexible system for our home gallery. Switching out the photo "shows" is a breeze and a fun way to freshen the look of the space. (Above is my boat-detail "show".)

Compliments from a visiting interior designer friend, Deborah Emery of Emery Design Associates LLC based in New York City, inspired me to share our gallery wall with like-minded House Enthusiasts who might want to create their own changeable gallery.

One word of caution: when installing the system, use a real level -- not the iPhone level, like this casual installer did.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Find the latest and greatest KHS fine-art photography portfolio here, and a teaser for the "housescapes" gallery below. (You can also find a link to the portfolio in the navigation bar on the right.)

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast