DIY 'Hi' Garden Stakes

What better way to welcome your guests to your garden then with some friendly "HI" garden stakes. These were so much fun to make and require just a few simple supplies from the craft store.  Really these could be painted any color under the rainbow, I just chose to keep them simple with black and white and let the plants and flowers be the color.  

Here's what you'll need:

• letters H and I wooded 6" letter for your local craft store (I found these are Hobby Lobby, but these would also work)
• 2 3ft square dowels
• 4 1" wood screws
• power drill and a small bit
• craft paint
• small paint brush

Start by drilling through both the dowel and the back of the letter.  This will prevent the wood from splitting when you screw the two pieces together.

Secure the wood dowel to the back of the letters with two screws.  One screw near the bottom of the letter and one near the top.

With a small paint brush, paint and sides of the letters with black paint.  Also paint the wooden dowel black.  You may also want to seal the dowel with a clear coat since it will be in the soil and exposed to moisture and water.

Then paint the top of the letters white.  Brush towards the sides of the letters, so that the paint does not get on the sides of the letter where you have painted them black.

Now, how easy was that?  Place them in a large potted plant on your porch or in a flower bed.

Thank you to the gorgeous Cricklewood Secret Garden here in my neighborhood for allowing me to photograph my stakes in their shop.  If you a local, this place is magical!  It's a little hidden gem in Bakersfield. Follow them on Facebook for store hours and for what's new.