GARDENING SUCCS
You say "obsession" like it's a bad thing.
  • Blog
  • Instagram
  • Store and Resource Guide

We Made This, Oh Yes We Did.

6/27/2013

 
Several months ago, I bought a dirt-cheap table off of Craigslist in SF.  The top was a kind of tile/mosaic thing, and we took the top off and used it to make another table.  That left the iron base, which I washed, then messed with (using vinegar, baking soda, and WD-40) to hasten rusting.  We promptly forgot about it and left it out in the rain for most of the winter.

This past weekend, though, my girlfriend (who is a creative sort, and terrific at building stuff) decided to make a top for the table with an opening in the middle so that we could plant succulents in it.  Always one to embrace a challenge, she used 100 percent scrap wood.  Of course, this means that things can't be perfectly even, but I actually think it looks super cool this way.  I "helped" (by which I mean, I watched and occasionally procured cold beer). 

When we were was done, I planted the top with succulents, starting with a large, lovely echeveria subrigada (the big green one) and adding from there.  Here's a picture of the table:
Picture

And here's a picture of the surface of the table right after we were finished with it:
Picture

Isn't that cool??  I've wanted a succulent table since I first saw one at Flora Grubb in SF (theirs is a picnic table, if memory serves).  And now I have one!  And it's gorgeous!  Wheeeeeee!

This Grad Gift Succs

6/26/2013

 
A buddy of mine graduated from her PhD program a couple weeks ago, and I wanted to make her something special and interesting.  So after thinking a while, I decided to try my hand at making a succulent arrangement.  I chose a gorgeous purple pot from Ladera Garden Center in Portola Valley, CA, and went to town with it, focusing on purples with some light blue, pink, and green accents.  I mostly used echeverias and semps (with some aeoniums in the middle, largely for height), but there are a few surprises, too, including a graptoveria silver stars (I love those!), haworthias (cymbiformis), and a couple crassulas and senecios.

Click on each of the pictures below for a larger version.  (And no--that's not my purse.)
Picture
Picture
Most of the plants are at least partly rooted; only a few of the echeverias are straight-up rootless cuttings.  I also focused on plants that can (roughly) tolerate a similar amount of water as one another.  It was a lot of fun to put together, and best of all, it seemed to be a hit with my friend!

San Diego Botanic Garden, Part I of II

6/21/2013

 
During my visit to San Diego, several succ-ers told me not to miss the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas.  I did as instructed.  Despite the $12 entry fee, it was well worth a visit.  The place is huge--I spent two hours there and covered less than half of it (concentrating, as you might imagine, on the succ-heavy portions). 

The garden is arranged into several smaller sub-gardens, some arranged by theme (e.g. undersea; children's; landscape for fire safety) and others arranged by region (e.g., Australian; Mexican; Canary Islands).  Here are some pics I took in particular gardens.

Undersea Garden
Picture
Picture
Picture

Succulent Overlook
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Mexican Garden
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Succulent Display Garden
Picture
Picture

My only complaint was that so many of their plants weren't identified (and I detected only the scantest correlation between a plant's rarity and its likelihood of bearing a label).  So while you can come here to see a lot of plants, I think the best way to enjoy this garden is just to enjoy the beautiful displays of color, light, and shape without worrying too much about what's what.  All, in all, though--definitely worth a visit.

Succulent Celebration at Waterwise Botanicals!

6/10/2013

 
This past weekend, I was lucky to attend the Succulent Celebration at Waterwise Botanicals, a huge, gorgeous outdoor nursery in Escondido, CA that specializes in succulents.  It was a blast--I'm so glad I made it. 

One of the first succ-ers I saw there was Cindy Davidson of The Succulent Perch fame, who recognized me right away and greeted me with a big hug.  I felt so welcomed!  Cindy's table boasted a marvelous array of arrangements--birdhouses and beyond.  Below left is a partial shot of a miniature garden Cindy constructed, complete with a perfect mini replica of Debra Lee Baldwin's new book.  Below left is a close-up of an echeveria purpusorum that Cindy used in one of her arrangements.  I love it when people use the slightly lesser-known succulents.
Picture
Picture
I spent an hour or two just roaming Waterwise Botanicals's vast grounds, which offered up dozens of picturesque views, including this:
Picture
And this:
Picture
I took over 100 photos with my trusty iPhone (admittedly, I regretted leaving my Nikon at home).  Here are a few of my favorites.  And by "a few," I mean "eighteen.  Click on any of them to see a larger version.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
In all, an lovely weekend of sunshine, succ-ers, and succulents.  I also attended the Succulent VIP celebration, where I met many more succ-buddies in person at a drop-dead-gorgeous home garden.  Though I snapped plentiful pics there, too, I'm strictly forbidden from posting them until after the garden is featured in some print magazine that I can't remember the name of.  (Hmm, though I bet I can post pics of me and the other succ-ers there--I'll look into this.)

I'll post more soon about my other San Diego succulent adventures, which included the San Diego Botanical Gardens and more succulent nurseries than you can shake a stick (of fire) at!

Ah, plants in the rain...

6/2/2013

 
Just a quick post: It rained a few days ago and I went out that afternoon and snapped a few pictures of these droplet-covered beauties.  Enjoy!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

    Subscribe by email:

    Picture
    Picture
    GS on Facebook
    GS on Instagram


    Other Succ-ers

    Danger Garden
    Debra Lee Baldwin
    ​Desert Plants of Avalon

    I Can Stop Tomorrow
    Rock Rose
    Sky Succulents

    Spiky Obsession
    Succulent Sundae
    Succulents and More

    Succulents Forever
    Succulent and Cactus Lady


    Categories

    All
    Adromischus
    Aeoniums
    Agaves
    Aloes
    Blogs And Blogging
    Cacti
    Crassulae
    Echeverias
    Euphorbia
    Events
    Fun And Games
    Guest Posts
    Haworthia
    Kalanchoe
    Nurseries
    Pets
    Photos
    Plant Health
    Projects
    Propagation
    Public Gardens
    Q&A
    References
    Sempervivums
    Wish List
    Zone 5


    Archives

    February 2021
    May 2019
    January 2018
    May 2017
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

    RSS Feed