A scoopful of spring

An old soup ladle can make an unexpected decoration, bringing subtle signs of spring to eye-level. For the simplest effect, the ladle is padded with moss, and quails’ eggs are arranged delicately inside to form a small nest. The ladle can also be transformed into a portable planter. First, a drainage hole is made in the bowl of the ladle, using a hammer and nail, with care taken to avoid injury. A handful of potting soil is pressed inside and a small cluster of spring flowers, such as horned pansies, planted in. A little more potting soil is added to secure the flowers and the top overlaid with moss. The planter can be moved around the garden, hung on outside-facing doors or the beams of a shed, allowing a close-up view of the delicate blooms.