I like when...

at work I get to help someone who is really enthusiastic about plants and lets me nerd out a bit. How can that not automatically brighten your day? I also like when I get to do a custom planter with someone, walking through, picking out plants and putting them together and having them enjoy the product. That is a good day.

This is a super easy, sun-loving pot that doesn't need much water, maybe a deep drink every few days. It can also take wind, though you will need to be careful with the taller of the two succulents.

Plants, from left

a. succulent 

b. ornamental grass (Carex 'Amazon Mist')

c. trailing flower (Erodium x variabile 'Bishop's Form')

d. succulent 

Candle Pot Improved

So I did another candle pot for a friends birthday and it turned out a bit better. Still needs a little tweaking but it's a work in progress.

"Working"

It's been a long week but work yesterday paid me to build my Succulent Center Piece...so cool! I definitely think it could have used a few more plants but it was already getting a little up there in price so alas, the lucky adopter will have to wait a bit for it to mature and fill out.  Just imagine this little guy with some candles in it, I may be forced to make another one all for myself.

Have a great weekend! 

Another Container Planting

So with my friends wedding a little over two weeks away, I have been doing a little brainstorming for cool ideas of bouquets and center pieces. I am not actually doing the center pieces but I have been having fun with the doodles. This was my favorite idea and I am very tempted to actually construct it just for myself.

The idea would be to make a hurricane lamp and succulent arrangement in a low terra cotta (or glazed if you're feeling fancy) pot.

Construction:
1. Taking empty pot, place screen over drainage hole and cover with thin layer of rocks or pebbles.
2. Situate hurricane lamp glass cover in center.
3. Pour layer of potting soil in pot, not necessarily in glass but it is not the end of the world. If using non-succulents, fill pot with potting soil and skip step 4.
4. Pour final soil layer using a 'Cactus Mix' that will allow for good drainage (we don't want to drown our baby succulents do we?). I would also fill the glass with this to a desirable height for the candle. I had thought it would be cool to have it slightly below the rest of the soil line in the pot.
5. Plant around the glass and place candle inside the glass.
6. Light candle and voila!

I imagined this to be a good as a centerpiece or used in a series to illuminate a pathway. If someone tries this, I would love to see pictures. I will hopefully be trying this soon.

By Request: White Plants in White Blocks

My White Sage in the cinder block planter. I hadn't realized how pink the cinder blocks were until I planted the more yellowish sage. I had fun building my little planter and I think it would be super cool to do this on a larger scale at some point, I just need to find a place to do it.

There will be no pictures of this past trip to LA, not that they are not internet appropriate (of course not), it's just there were no outside shots taken.

Making Do

I guess if you don't have too much space, bonzai is always an option. Walking by this house I was so intrigued by their complete mini yard. The moss looked like a lawn and the standard shrub was almost like a grand old tree....that is until you look at the scale of it to the house. Yay for mini yards!

Housewarming

What better way to start a blog than with a lovely housewarming gift? I had been eyeing this particular pot for awhile and an opportunity to justify the purchase presented itself. I planted it with succulents and a Euphorbia, a new favorite plant if solely because it looks like something Dr. Seuss would have had in his illustrations. This pot is now living a very happy life in Sonoma County and the Euphorbia and succulents will be joining many plant friends in the garden.