Category Archives: Store

Winter Rejuvenation

Gardening, Gifts, Store, Weekend DIY

Every year around this time is the time to start putting away all of those Christmas decorations you put up. So since it’s January and the month of new beginnings, we thought it would be fitting to share some tips to rejuvenate your house this winter:

  • CLEAN & ORGANIZE! After you take down your Christmas tree and pack away all of your Christmas decor, clean and let those windows sparkle! With a clean house it makes rejuvenating your home a breeze. Cleaning gives you a fresh slate to work with. While cleaning, get rid of anything you haven’t used in a year. If you haven’t used it in the last year, it’s very likely that you still won’t use it this year –  make some more space for things you actually use!
  • Consider a new layout! Changing a room’s layout can make a huge difference + it’s free and simple. The new layout can also create a better traffic flow than before. Is everything that’s organized in the most beneficial location? If not, it’s time to make the move!
  • Instead of putting your usual decor back in its original spot, find a new place for it. Change it up — that’s what January is all about!
  • Make some updates! Now is the time to update an old piece of furniture whether it’s painting or reupholstering a chair. These little things can make a huge difference!
  • Mix it up. Take things from your bedroom and swap them with decor in the living room! Make things interesting and see your decor in a whole new light!
  • Tray Chic: Use trays to corral smaller items together. They are perfect in the living room, for instance,  to group candles with a floral accent. Or perhaps you could place one in the bedroom to display your perfume. You can find trays at Willard & May that are perfect for any of these examples and more!
  • With winter reaching most states, it’s gloomy, snowy, and nothing really grows. Which makes Willard & May’s Faux Forever Terrariums great for rejuvenating your house and bringing in some greenery. Willard & May has a variety of different terrariums to choose from and you can even customize them yourself!

wm-refresh-colorYou can find these refreshing items and many others at willardandmay.com [Clockwise from top to left: Forever Terrarium-Grass | Forever Terrarium-Square | Forever Terrarium-Cylinder | Forever Terrarium-Bubble | Forever Terrarium-Large Bubble | 3 Elm Pots on Tray | Colorful Sleek Lanterns ]

With these tips, your house is sure to have a fresh and rejuvenated feel. Help get yourself out of that winter funk and ready for the spring! We’d love to hear what you think or what you’ve done to rejuvenate your living space — let us know your ideas to help with winter home rejuvenation in the comments below!

team-signature1

Winter’s Latest Holiday Trends!

Before & After, Gifts, Pin Inspiration, Store, Weekend DIY

This Holiday season make sure you’re up to date on the latest trends! You won’t want to miss these great ideas for your Holiday parties and celebrations! Spoiler Alert: You will definitely be seeing a lot of winter terrariums this season!

wm-holiday_trends2013{Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 }

So if you want to be trendy during this Holiday season, follow our tips, decide which ones you like the most and incorporate them into your home! You’ll be sure to have the trendiest decor, that people will be talking about! Find some of these items at Willard & May!

We’d love to hear what you think, let us know your favorite trend this season and how you’re incorporating them into your Holiday festivities this season!

team-signature1

Fall to Winter Birding

Beautiful Outdoors, Birds, Store, Weekend DIY

Fall is a great time to start getting into birding and is very easy to attract autumn birds with our simple tips! A lot of people don’t realize how early fall migration actually starts. August through October are the peak months, although migration does continue into December for some species, especially the shorter-distance birds. There is a common misconception that feeding or attracting birds during the migratory season will interrupt their migration, which in fact will not. So don’t be concerned!

Use these great tips for the perfect fall birding season:

  • Offer nutritious fall foods such as: sunflower seeds, nuts, peanut butter and suet
  • Start winterizing your bird houses (see winter tips below)
  • Ignore your leaves and build a brush pile for an instant shelter

IMG_5568 (Source: Willard & May, Photo Credit: Stephanie Osiecki)

Winter is just right around the corner and while you’re doing your fall clean up outside, keep those bird houses out there! Birds suffer when the temperatures turn colder, but with the help of your bird houses, they can survive even the coldest nights and storms!

Check out our tips for winter birding:

  • Position the bird houses and shelters towards the most sunlight to take in more heat
  • Provide insulating materials in houses and shelters, add more perches to accommodate more birds
  • Prune in the spring rather than the fall so that the birds can take advantage of extra insulating spaces that cover throughout the winter

By providing shelter for backyard birds you will attract a wide range of species that will visit year-round. We have some great options at Willard & May to choose from, to protect the birds in your neighborhood!

bird_houses You can find these styles of bird houses and many others at willardandmay.com [1.Bird Villas, 2. Nesting Box A Frame, 3. Copper Roof Bird House, 4. Sea Grass Nesting Pocket, 5. Sparrow Apartment Building]

Also, be sure to check out this great weekend DIY project for the birds! tree+5 (Source: Robin Beck)

We would love to hear from you, let us know what you use to help protect the birds in your neighborhood!

team-signature1

Amaryllis Autumn Decor

Gardening, Gifts, Pin Inspiration, Store, Weekend DIY

wm_fall_amaryllis

Amaryllis are truly a one of a kind flower. They are one of the easiest bulbs to bring bloom and can be grown indoors or outdoors for an extended period of time. Its botanical name is Hippeastrum, so don’t be fooled if you come across that name. Amaryllis come in a variety of shades of red, pink, salmon, orange and white. Some can be striped or multicolored. Amaryllis are the perfect way to brighten up any cold day.

Here at Willard & May we treat each pot as if it were a small garden or tiny yard. One amaryllis in a single pot can look a bit lonely, but when staged in groupings or massed in one pot, they are dramatic. To ensure flowering we like to stagger the plantings.

Here are a few quick tips on amaryllis:

  • Planting Period: October – end of April
  • Flowering Period: Late November – end of June
  • Flowering Time: 6-10 weeks
  • Larger bulbs produce more flowers
  • Always store un-planted bulbs in a cool place between 40-50 degrees F and out of sunlight to prevent them from pre-mature growth
  • Plant bulb up to its neck
  • Use a nutritious compost when planting

During the holidays amaryllis are a great accent in your home decor. Use some of our ideas for showcasing your amaryllis. Take a look at how we like to showcase the beautiful amaryllis in the fall!

  • Set a potted amaryllis inside a holiday wreath with accents of berries, beads, pumpkins or pine cones for an instant and easy centerpiece
  • Showcase your amaryllis in an entryway to create a warm holiday welcome to your guests as they enter your home
  • Add cut amaryllis blooms to a tall, clear vase filled with cranberries, pine cones, acorns, etc., in the base for a colorful bouquet, perfect for a centerpiece or a great accent to a mantle
  • Add greenery and candles around your vase or pot of amaryllis for a simple and easy centerpiece

IMG_5073-1 IMG_5017-2 (Source: Willard & May, Photo Credit: Stephanie Osiecki)

a7ad4346de3bbe4c9fcd921f91e59310 (Source: Hannas Sjarmerende Jul)

9HOLIDAY04-amaryllis-centerpieces (Source: Party Resources)

The possibilities are endless, this colorful flower is sure to be a great part of your celebration. You can find these amaryllis bulbs at Willard & May + receive FREE shipping on amaryllis!

wm_freeshipamaryllis

team-signature1

Fall Gardening/Cleanup Checklist!

Beautiful Outdoors, Gardening, Store

Find out what you need to be doing in your garden once the harvest has ended! Use these tips to help your fall gardening and cleanup a breeze! Also, check out our garden tools to assist you!

IMG_9163

Tips:

  • Water! Give all your plants a good drink so it can last them through the winter
  • Shop for fall planted flower bulbs: Tulip World
  • If you have deer or rabbits eating your plants & flowers, try out animal repellent or deer netting; or plant things that animal pests don’t eat, such as: daffodils, siberian squill, and fritillaria
  • Remove all rotten fruit and debris from the ground – infestations last through winter
  • Leave dried flowers, ornamental grasses, & seed heads to provide food for birds in flower beds & borders. Rake the leaves as needed but keep it off the grass as it can suffocate it
  • Mulch to maintain soil quality and protect perennials from frost, using weeds (with not seeds), cocoa hulls, grass clippings, leaves, & straw.
  • Dig up and store indoors any tender bulbs, such as gladiolus, cannas, dahlias, and caladiums, that you want to store over the winter and re-plant next spring.
  • Empty all pots and store indoors for the winter, even plastic containers can crack and clay pots can shatter
  • Plant shrubs and evergreens
  • Till your soil for next year
  • Clean tool blades with vegetable oil and handles with sandpaper
  • Plant your spring blooming bulbs! October is the month to plant tulips, daffodils, crocus and more. Be sure to plant in clusters – they look the best this way and it allows you work in plenty of compost into the soil. And lastly, be sure to water well after planting.

Happy Fall!

team-signature1

Gardening without Getting Gardeners Hands! + FREE GLOVES!

Gardening, Store

Gardening can take a toll on your hands and skin but, just because you garden doesn’t mean you can’t have soft groomed hands! Use these tips to help fight getting tough grungy gardener’s hands. Read below to find out how to receive a pair of FREE gloves!

wm_labor_day_sale(Source: Willard & May, Photo Credit: Stephanie Osiecki)

TIPS

1. One of the most simple and obvious solutions would be to wear gardening gloves as much as you can. Sounds simple right? Well not necessarily. You might think oh “I’ll just do this quick little thing without gloves” and before you know it, you just weeded your entire garden without gloves. Your hands hate you at this point. Also, if you aren’t wearing the proper gloves it can affect your hands as well. Choosing the right glove for the right project is crucial to maintain your gloves and your hands. So make sure to have a pair for different types of gardening.

Thin pair: use for weeding, transplanting, and harvesting. Find gloves as close to being bare skinned as possible with your hands being protected. With these you are able to feel what you are doing.

Thick pair: use for heavy duty tasks

Make sure to take care of your gloves so they can last as long as possible. Keep them stored and out of the rain when not in use.

If you make a purchase of $15 or more at Willard & May receive a pair of FREE GLOVES & 1 PACK of TULIP BULBS!

wm_labor_day2(Colors of gloves may vary: pink, lime green, or blue)

2. Not only just wash your hand well but make sure to use a nail brush. That’s what they are there for! Use it to get out all that dirt under your nails and gently brush off any dirt on your hands so it won’t dry and crack on you. To make it easier to clean make sure you keep your nails short. Short nails are easier to clean and less likely to snag. Just a warning, wearing nail polish while gardening will most likely chip so don’t go out and get a manicure and then that same day go gardening. Get all your gardening done and then treat yourself once it’s all finished!

3. Exfoliate and moisturize! We all know that we should always keep moisturized, especially when you garden to get rid of all your dry skin and cracks. Here at Willard & May we like to use our Gardeners Bar Soap! It contains pumice to make cleaning off tough dirt after a long day in the garden a cinch! The natural vegetable oil will help keep your skin hydrated. It also acts as an antibacterial. It contains: natural coconut oil, palm kernel oil, pumice stone, glycerin, and tetrasodium.

gardeners_soap

(Source: Willard & May)

DON’T FORGET TO GET YOUR FREE PAIR OF GLOVES!

Check out more of our great items at WillardandMay.com! Do you have any other suggestions or tips?  Let us know and comment in the section below!

team-signature1

All Decked Out

Lighting, Outdoor Decor, Outdoor Party, Store

With summer in full swing and fall coming in, that means backyard BBQ’s, late night bonfires, and just relaxing out on the deck with friends and family. With all of that comes outdoor dining! We can help make sure you can easily serve your guests, keep them warm outside, brighten up your deck and much more with our stylish items! If you are thinking about decking out your backyard, check out these tips we have for your perfect deck or patio get together!

IMG_1216-blog

1. Use serving trays to make things easier for you when serving your guests delicious treats!
(Source: Willard & May, Photo Credit: Stephanie Osiecki)

IMG_1245-blog

2. Serve up some yummy drinks with the ease of your serving tray!
(Source: Willard & May, Photo Credit: Stephanie Osiecki)

IMG_0665-blog

3. Your party is going to be such a hit that it will last into the night, so make sure to have the proper lighting for when the sun goes down!
(Source: Willard & May, Photo Credit: Stephanie Osiecki)

10-134-15989

4. When the sun goes down, it gets cooler, so make sure to use your chimenea to keep your guests warm and comfy!
(Source:Willard & May)

newsummeritems-blog

5. Keep away the bees and wasps from your guests using these great traps!
(Source: Willard & May, Photo Credit: Stephanie Osiecki)

Check out more of our great items at WillardandMay.com! Have you done anything new to your deck or patio?  We would love to hear what you have been up to!

team-signature1

Gift Kits for Mother’s Day

Birds, Gardening, Gifts, Store

Don’t forget, Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12th and time is running out if you were thinking of buying your mother a gift online! Send her a gift that matches her passion – what is she passionate about, other than being your mom? :)

Does your mom love to cook? Does she love to get her hands dirty in the garden? Love to watch the flying creatures in her yard, the birds and butterflies? What about if she doesn’t have a green thumb but still loves plants? If your mom falls into any of those categories, we’ve got you and her covered! Check out the gift kits we put together with your mom in mind – and don’t forget to order by Sunday, May 5th for delivery in time for Mother’s Day!

For the Mom’s that Love to Cook…. 
Herb Growing Kit
9068

For the Mom that Loves to Garden…
Garden Deluxe Collection Gift Kit
8001

For the Mom that Loves to Watch the Birds…
Bird Lover Collection Gift Kit
8007

For the Mom that loves Butterflies…
Butterfly Lover Collection Gift Kit
8003

And for the Mom with a Brown Thumb…
Forever Terrarium Collection Gift Kit
 8010

Check out all of our Mother’s Day Gift Kits on Willard & May and show Mom how much you love her!
team-signature

What’s New for Spring?

Gardening, Gifts, Store

Now that spring is making its appearance, we are sure most of you can’t wait to get your hands in the dirt or grill out for the first time. Now that daylight savings has past and we’ve all recouped from springing forward, it gives us the perfect amount of sunlight to be able to do a few things outdoors after work, before it gets too dark out.

And for us, spring also means new items for our Willard & May Outdoor Living Store! We’re excited to share with you our favorites that will inspire you to get out and garden with a potting bench, have a family fire with a chimenea, or welcome your new neighbors over with a cheerful doormat. Check out our favorites below and be sure to browse around our site for more new items!

new-spring13-items

1. Modern Bird Feeder 2. Decorative Butterfly Hook 3. Potting Table 4. Garden Chalkboard Sign 5. Spade and Pitch Fork Water Gauge 6. Vertical Planter 7. Grilling Set 8. Plant Markers 9. Rose Doormat 10. Gardening Stool & Tool Set

Plus, check out our new selection of Garden Chimeneas! This season we are featuring four different styles in which each can be taken apart and made into two pieces + each comes with a metal stand. The pieces easily fit inside each other which helps with shipping and storage. Since it can be shipped in a smaller box, we bounce our shipping costs savings back to you by discounting the price on these new varieties! Plus, if you need to store it over the winter, it will take up less space.

new-chimeneas

1. Black Ivy Chimenea 2. Copper Ribbed Chimenea 3. Green Ivy Chimenea 4. Toscano Ribbed Chimenea

team-signature