Virtual book tour for Indoor Plant Decor, plus a Bonsai Tool Set Giveaway

May 06, 2013


My friends Kylee Baumle (Our Little Acre) and Jenny Peterson (J Peterson Garden Design) have co-authored a brand-new book called Indoor Plant Decor: The Design Stylebook for Houseplants. To celebrate and help publicize its release, I’m participating in their cyber book party. And you know what a party means: prizes! But before you jump to the giveaway listing at the end of this post, I hope you’ll stick around for my review of their book.


First a confession. I have to admit that while I was happy for my friends for writing a book, I wasn’t initially all that interested in the topic. Regular readers know I’m not a houseplant gardener. I have one spindly dracena in the living room and a small aloe on the kitchen windowsill, and that’s it. In general I feel that plants, like animals, belong outdoors. (And yet I have an indoor dog too. What gives?)

But while reading Indoor Plant Decor, I began to have a change of heart. Jenny and Kylee show a variety of ways to showcase commonplace houseplants. With chapters organized by decorating style — Cheap Chic, Peaceful Zen, World Beat, and Vintage Vibe, to name a few — the book shows how to complement your interiors by choosing appropriate plants and containers or other methods of display. Simply changing out a ho-hum pot for something different, like the wood planter pictured above, groomed with moss and raked sand on top, can make an ordinary plant into a standout accessory for your home.


Based on their chapter descriptions, I’d say my style is modern eclectic. But I was particularly drawn to the plant displays shown in their Haberdashery chapter — houseplant style especially for men. I imagine it’s partly because they show bold-foliage plants here, but I also admire the earthy and striking, no-fuss display methods, like this clear glass bowl filled with pebbles and topped with succulents. I love this!


The book is small, gift-book sized, and packed with appealing photos, and would make a nice housewarming or college graduate gift. You won’t find a lot of how-to info on growing houseplants — there are other books on the market that fill that niche — but if you’re looking for a book of ideas and images to get you thinking about new ways to display your plants and update your decor, this book is for you.


And now for the giveaway! My prize offering is a handsome Bonsai Tool Set from DeWit Tools. Here’s the description from the company website:

This Bonsai tool set (really more of a small garden tool set) is just the right size for maintenance of your Bonsais or other small plantings. Don’t let the size fool you, these tools are made with the same quality materials as the larger DeWit tools. All four tools have blade made of Swedish boron steel and fitted with an Ash hardwood handles from FSC Certified forests. Comes with wood storage case and Guaranteed a Lifetime! All tools are 6-7 inches long. Total value: $75.00


How to enter:
Leave a comment on this post to enter my giveaway of the bonsai tool set (FYI, another blogger is giving away a 2nd set). The giveaway runs through Sunday, May 12, at 11:59 pm. I’ll announce the winner on Monday the 13th. Please note that this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Update 5/13/13: The winner, selected by a random number generator, is Danny! Congratulations, Danny, and my thanks to everyone who took the time to comment.

Ten Eleven bloggers are participating in this fun virtual book tour, each offering a prize related to houseplant gardening. Visit each blog and leave a comment on the giveaway post for a chance to win that specific prize. The more blogs you visit, the more chances to win! Good luck!

Carolyn Binder – Cowlick Cottage Farm
Shawna Coronado – Shawna Coronado
Charlotte Germane – Dirt Du Jour
Stacy Risenmay – Not Just a Housewife
Erin Schanen – The Impatient Gardener
Rebecca Sweet – Gossip in the Garden
Christina Salwitz – Personal Garden Coach
Steve Asbell – The Rainforest Garden
Debra Lee Baldwin – Gardening Gone Wild
Robin Horton – Urban Gardens
Pam Penick – Digging

Disclosure: St. Lynn’s Press sent me a copy of Indoor Plant Decor for review. I reviewed it at my own discretion and without any compensation. This post, as with everything at Digging, is my own personal opinion. The giveaway prize has been donated by DeWit Tools.

All material © 2006-2013 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

55 responses to “Virtual book tour for Indoor Plant Decor, plus a Bonsai Tool Set Giveaway”

  1. Anna says:

    I can always use new ideas for making house plants more than foliage in a boring pot. Plus, I do love my bonsai!

  2. Chris F says:

    I’m not an indoor plant person either, but succulents I think I could manage.

  3. Missy says:

    First,thanks for the blog and for the giveaway! I love small intimate plants for house– mostly succulents. This tool set would be great!!
    Missy from the bayou

  4. Salma says:

    Hi Pam, adore the aloe-topped pebbles. Do they really need no soil, or is the pic deceptive… ? that tool set is super cute. They can double as my daughter’s American girl garden tools! Happy Monday-

  5. I, too, love the succulents. Everything else I’ll forget to water. I’ll look forward to checking out the book.

  6. I have a successful corner of a few houseplants that seem to be growing! I could use a new set of tools.

  7. Believe it or not, my son just turned 13 this week and he didn’t ask for a cell phone, video game, or any kind of electric gizmo that teenagers are into these days. Nope. He wanted a bonsai. Yep, it’s true. I dug up a little fig tree for him out of the yard and bought him one of those enamel bonsai pot/plates in blue. The little tool set would really be a wonderful addition! – Karen

    Hi, Karen. That’s definitely something you want to encourage! I notice that you live in Spain. Unfortunately, this giveaway is for U.S. residents only, probably due to shipping costs. If you have a U.S. shipping address please let me know. Otherwise I’m sorry, but you won’t be eligible for the drawing.

  8. Corne says:

    I love their black plant frames. It makes me reconsider what color I want to paint mine. I better get at it soon because my flat of succulent cuttings that have been sitting in a plastic box for weeks now are giving me the stink eye. So much to do!

  9. I, like you, have not been an indoor plant person. I try…but everything looks boring. These pictures are very inspiring. Thank you!

  10. Abbey says:

    I’m not into bonsai, but those look like perfect tools for container gardening.

  11. Jenny says:

    When I saw that A. desmettiana in the little pot I heard shouts of ‘why can’t we spend the winter in a pot like that’ Sometimes they are just dumped in a wheelbarrow until frost is over. Maybe they would like to spend the whole year in a nice ceramic pot, inside! Lovely ideas and yes, a set of tools would be a treat. I need to move to more indoor gardening.

  12. Katina says:

    What a cute little hobbit-sized garden set!

  13. Laura McG. says:

    As usual, Pam hooked me in and piqued my interest in a book I might otherwise have overlooked. Thanks for the clever words and great photos!

  14. Sharlene Stipp says:

    looks interesting

  15. Shirley says:

    Houseplants were the extent of my gardening experience for many years. While most have moved outside in our milder climate, I still have quite a few of them and would enjoy ideas for updates.

  16. Ally says:

    I had to chuckle at your comment about plants belonging outside. I love house plants, but the leaf drop, water leakage, and pest problems get old. As soon as it’s warm enough, I send them off to a cozy spot in the garden. We’re all much happier.

  17. Brenda says:

    i so enjoy your blog and the fact that you are in Texas. There are so many plants that don’t grow the same in Texas as in other parts of the country. I like most all plants, indoor and outdoor. I move everyone out that can tolerate our heat in the summer and bring them in for the winter.

  18. Thank you for your fabulous review and support of our book, Pam! I have a set of the DeWit bonsai tools, and they are beautifully made and perfect for planting cacti and small terrarium plants.

  19. Dianne says:

    This book looks amazing and a bonsai tool kit sounds perfect.

    Thanks so much for the opportunity,

  20. Liz H says:

    I kept succulents inside (and alive!) for the first time this past winter. LOVE the picutre with the rocks! It looks so clean.

  21. Sue in Wisconsin says:

    How handy these smaller tools might be to get into small spaces.

    Indoor plants provide some winter gardening fun for those of us not fortunate enough to live in warm, sunny locations like Austin. Someday….

  22. RBell says:

    Oooo…bonsai tools! Sign me up!

  23. MR says:

    I generally have about 150 containers going but no houseplants – maybe its time to rectify that!

  24. It looks like a great book, and that’s wonderful of you to promote it and include a giveaway. I’m not a big houseplant person either, but if I did have more indoor plants, this would be a great book for reference. The pots are incredible! I can see using some of those outside, too.

  25. Patty Soriano says:

    ooh, Pam ! These are great little tools ! thanks so much for hosting this sweet giveaway!

  26. Pam, we really appreciate your support and enthusiasm for our book and we’re so happy that you’re on our Virtual Book Tour. What a nice review! It’s been fun to read the comments here, too.

  27. Iris says:

    lovely little tool set… oh what a delight to use them to gently place such delicate succulents around here and there… thanks for the chance to revive my interest in Indoor Plant Decor…!!

  28. Prickly Pinecone says:

    I would love to win this for my cousin, his gf gave him a bonsai for Christmas and its flourishing but he has no tools. Never knewmknew mini tools existed!

  29. Candy Suter says:

    Oh my goodness Pam. Looks like another book I need to get! More succulents in the house are what I need because I am running out of room. LOL

  30. bev says:

    As a recent renter during a divorce, I had to become more of an indoor gardener; this sounds like a great book!

  31. Sandy P says:

    My husband gave me a bonsai for our wedding anniversary last month (gulp.) Maybe the tools could help me keep it alive?!

    Loved the pictures from the book – indoor plants are a challenge for me but these look fun!

  32. Chris says:

    Beautiful ideas for indoor plantings! Your comments reminded me of another delightful book: From the Ground Up: The Story of a First Garden (2001)by Amy Stewart. She read somewhere that one should dust their indoor plants and writes in reply: “I didn’t even dust my own bookshelves. Why would I dust my plants? If they were outside where they belonged, they’d either get washed clean by the rain or they’d learn not to mind a little dirt.”

  33. Mamaholt says:

    LOVE that one in the glass bowl with peagravel too!!

    SO much.

    Not interested in the tools. Thankee anyway

  34. Gayle Colcone says:

    WOW! Those would be perfect for my houseplants and container garden!!

  35. Faith says:

    What a wonderful gift – I can think of lots of ways to use them. Thank you.

  36. Greggo says:

    Looks like a good idea book. Sign me up for the prize, btw.

  37. linda g says:

    I have my succulent arrangements on a rotation schedule. One might decorate the entry table for a week or so, living in bright light and no water. Then it goes outside for a while to be refreshed, while something else outside comes in. That way I always have my indoor plant decor! Excited for the new book!

  38. Tina in Round Rock says:

    Pam, I have been following your blog here and on facebook for some time. Thank you for all the amazing posts and pictures. This book is something I will look into. I collect succulents, outside the house on the porch and in the landscape. I gave up indoor plants many years ago due to overflowing water and the bugs they sometimes get. I never even considered trying again with succulents. I love unique arrangements so this book may be what I need for inspiration outside on the porch and possibly to try inside.

  39. Judy says:

    These tools are so cute! I would love to have them!

  40. Mike in Austin says:

    My wife would love these! She has been doing bonsai for a few years now, and has only the grass and topiary shears by DeWit. These would be perfect. If you haven’t checked them out on the website, they are excellent to use.

  41. I’m horrible at bonsais but I love my lower-maintenance houseplants! I have every surface covered with them. I need to read the book (which I have, just need time to read it!) to get more ideas of where to stash my little friends and still have surface area left for eating, writing, etc. 🙂

  42. CONGRATS to Kylee and Jenny! The more I learn about their book, the more I want it.

    The Bonsai garden tools are cool. I’d be very happy to own them and use them.

    Susanne
    From the Market to the Plate
    Putting Words Down On Paper

  43. Janet says:

    Bonsais are miniature garden miracles, in my opinion. We have a great Bonsai Society here in CT, and get to see their inspirational plants at the Hartford Flower Show every winter.
    A set of tools would be a cool way to get me started on a bonsai of my own.

  44. I could play with my orchids with these little tools. Awesomeness!! Thanks for the opportunity! Happy Gardening, Pamie G. New Braunfels, Texas

  45. Lori says:

    I got a super cheap houseplant at IKEA and haven’t killed it yet, but I suspect its days are numbered, and it’s supposed to be one of the tougher ones. Though I did have a laugh at the Master Gardener booth when we sold some “Mother In Law’s Tongue” and one of my fellow MG’s said, “It takes six months to kill it, and another six months to notice it’s dead.” Reminded me of someone oneline saying that they’ve been growing a dead octotillo for years.

  46. Arin says:

    Cute indoor ideas!

  47. Barb Roberts says:

    Wonderful gift. Reminds me of my son, who at the age of eight or so, wanted a bonsai (the Karate Kid). We went down to my favorite nursery whose owner grew fabulous (and long lived bonsais). He patiently explained all about bonsais, their care, pruning, etc. When we left with an appropriate pot in which to plant an offspring oak from our garden, my son confessed, “You know, I just wanted a summer project, not a life-time commitment.”

  48. I’m THE WORST with houseplants. But maybe I’m just missing the right miniature toolset?

  49. Cathy R. says:

    I do like houseplants, but none of mine look anything like those fabulous pictures. Looks like an inspiring book.

  50. Danny says:

    Great giveaway! Those tools look great!

  51. Carol Yemola says:

    My son-in-law just started growing Bonsai and this tool set would be a much welcome gift. Love your blog and have subscribed to your emails.

  52. Heather says:

    I love my house plants, and plan to expand my collection very soon. This post has some nice design ideas!

    Thank you for consideration for this beautiful tool set.

  53. kristin says:

    What a marvelous set of tools!

  54. Brenda says:

    My family and I recently moved from our one room apartment to a spacious home with a plenty of room for indoor plants. We feel very fortunate to finally have the opportunity to plant gorgeous plants and fill the empty spaces in our new home with life. The first indoor plant in our agenda are Bonsai’s! This tool kit would be a great start to our new home and new life. Crossing my fingers!

  55. CONGRATS to Danny!