Succulent planter experiment!

Yes, I finally got all the pieces together to give this a try!   I have been seeing many examples of this type of a succulent planter on Facebook!

First problem was finding a small container that I  could use in the arrangement!  Then getting the succulents, potting soil, white rocks was pretty easy here in Arizona right now!  Next challenge was finding an inexpensive container to use as a canvas for the picture!   I have several containers at home I am anxious to use but wanted to keep this one inexpensive!

Actually, it didn't  take long once I had all the pieces!  About half an hour is all!

I ended up with a 14" circ. container and was looking for 10" but didn't want it very deep either!  I found lots of ideal size containers but prices started at $15 and up around $20/30!    Getting a variety of succulents to use turned out to be not so costly as I used only about half of each one, so can figure to spread the succulent cost over two creations.

I will be looking for a butterfly or something to add a touch of whimsey yet!  I want to see how it  grows and what it takes to keep it within the size to look attractive.  I suspect as the plants get taller they can be lifted out and pruned from the bottom and reset.   If this travels back home to MN in the car and survives looking attractive, I plan to donate it as a door prize at our "Gardening for the Health of It" gardening event mid April!

See you there!  Stop and register for it at the Rochester Garden & Flower Club display!

Escaping winter, dreaming of spring.......

AND REDESIGNING MY GARDENING PROJECTS, ETC....

Watching the weather pictures and news from friends at home in MN and strolling around the AZ garden centers is keeping my mind focused on spring and gardening!

My mind is drifting into visions of changes in my gardening activities.  The change in our lifestyle from a summer of sharing gardening activity between home and our lake home every few days  to 24/7 at home will bring opportunities for change!  Change usually means something new and fun in my gardening life!

This means, a return to containers with sun loving plants, hanging planters that I can tend in a timely manner, Fairy Gardens placed throughout my garden beds instead of gathered on the back porch!

And then I found this in my email this morning!

The Joy of a Secluded Garden.... CLICK HERE

Denny is dreaming of a gas fired back yard fire pit!  He already has found the needed parts and pieces available on Amazon.com!  

Our little porch can be refigured into something beyond a Fairy Garden Center!  It is a semi secluded area that I can redesign easily to bring a different experience into our lifestyle!  

Still, of course,  keeping the garden beds and plantings in the low maintenance mode!  Hanging baskets, containers, fairy gardens don't require lots of physical energy to maintain, just watering, fertilizing and a bit of pruning!  Easy stuff!  

And how many weeks now until gardening time begins?  I'll kick it off at the April 12th "Gardening for the Health of It" event at home!  But my to do list and the plants to buy list is already started!

Lilacs in Az?

Well, not exactly, but I found an beautiful plant the other day growing in the park where we are staying!  I had not previously noticed it so was curious enough to take a few pictures to see if I could identify it.

I took the picture to a nearby garden center, which quickly identified it for me!  

The common name is "Lilac Vine" and blooms only for about two weeks this time of the year!  It is popular here inspite of having such a short bloom period.  It sure attracts tiny bees, the flowers are tiny but lovely!  I saw two plants, one older, which was growing on some old wood and the other a younger plant growing up a trellis!

Botanical name: Hardenbergia violacea
Common name: Lilac vine
Origin: Native to Australia
Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zone 9; find your zone)

Gerbera Daisies

I've not had the best luck with Gerbera Daisies and I so admire them!  I'd like to give them another try this year being I will be at home 24/7 all summer to tend to my garden beds!

So, am taking the time to share a website (Garden Gate) with you which is full of information on growing and caring for this beautiful annual that has come into our lives in recent years!  By the way I do subscribe to their newsletter emails, which is where I found this information to share!

Gerbera Daisy information CLICK HERE!

Forcing bulbs....

At the November garden club meeting we had a presentation and demo on forcing spring bulbs.  This included a gift of three different spring bulbs to experiment with!   The bulbs require about three months of refrigeration before planting so I tucked them in the car pop cooler and brought them along to AZ with me.  That time period is up about right now!

I decided to make it easy and use the water and pebbles/stones method as a growing medium, instead of potting soil,  which seemed pretty ideal for my AZ environment I am in at the moment!   I found three glass containers at a thrift store and purchased the pebbles at a Dollar Store.  One of the containers was designed for growing out a hyacinth bulb, one is a lovely light green miniature coke glass and then I chose a taller one because one of the bulbs is for a taller plant, which might need some support.

Following directions the bulbs are sitting on top of the water supported by the pebbles and I have them where I can keep an eye on the water level, and are in good light.  I just need to keep the direct sun off of them.   We will see what happens.  Hopefully within 3-4 weeks I will have three spring bulbs blooming to enjoy!

Class on Climatis in Rochester

I just posted a notice on our garden club facebook page about our Feb. 21st program for our meeting!

If you are within convenient distance to Rochester and are interested in some good quality information regarding Climatis….  please feel free to join the free and open to the public program at 6:30 PM on Feb. 21st at the Rochester College and Technical School  at their Heinz Center in room HB117!

Feel free to bring a friend or two along!

Donahue's in Faribault is a widely respected Climatis hybridizer and grower, selling to garden centers throughout our country!  So, what a treat to have a member of that family business come to share  information about selecting and growing this awesome plant!  And how and when to prune the various types of varieties!  

And here I am sitting in AZ unable to be there!  I have been asking for this program for several years but it sure didn't work out too good for me!  Hopefully a friend will record the program for me?

Denny's garden another week later....

The awesome red one is in bloom now, adding to his display!  It will miss Valentine's Day tho!

But, then I plan to have a special breakfast at "Sassy's" for their fabulous Belgian Waffle piled with strawberries to enjoy!

You light up my life......

Yes, indeed!  A spot of AZ sunshine hanging right outside the window I sit by when using my computer, having breakfast, lunch and supper!

Sat. we made a quick stop at a small old fashioned independent garden center in Apache Junction, AZ.  This type of garden center is rare in this area!  And there this sat just waiting for me!     I just reached out as I walked by it and swooped it up and marched right up to the check out area!  I knew it was going home with me regardless of the price!  It's $9.99 price tag was a bargain but more important is the plants size and condition of this hanging pot of yellow petunias!   

Then I peeked at their collection of succulents and just had to pick up two of them, of course!  I have a succulent project on my agenda... more about that later!

This garden center gets a visit from me every year!  I  had nice chat with the lady checking me out, she is a transplant from Grand Rapids, MN!   This garden center is also a cactus specialist!  Their collection and inventory is awesome!  Many area garden centers purchase their cactus from here to resell!  But when you drive up to it you'd never guess what is hidden beyond their fence!