“Eureka!” on the Lighting Aisle

I went to Lowe’s the other day with my sister, who is remodeling her bathroom. We picked out some switch plates and towel bars then headed over to the lighting department. My mind started to wander to the houseplants I had planned on watering that day but had abandoned for this home-improvement excursion. Then I had a plant-related “Eureka!”

We were looking at over-the-sink sconces. The display shows a great many different, yet nearly identical, wall-mounted bare-bulb fixtures. Underneath these are rows of glass lampshades in different colors, shapes, and textures. You choose your basic fixture, then whichever shade you want to go over the light bulbs.

I realized that one of these shades would make a perfect cover for a small humidity-loving houseplant. Placed over the plant, it acts as a mini greenhouse, letting in light but trapping moist air. Because it is open at the top as well as the bottom (the narrow end would screw into the light fixture, if I had bought one of them, too), it allows some air to escape, so the environment won’t get too damp or stale.

It also looks pretty cool. I chose a clear shade with bubbles embedded in the glass. It cost about $5. Here it is over one of my young (six months) African violets, Saintpaulia ‘Stormy Rage’.

3/14/2007 10:13:39 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2]