Succulent Celebration 2013

To say that the Succulent Celebration, held at Waterwise Botanicals on June 7-8th was a success would be an understatement.  I am not sure about this but I heard that approximately 2500 people attended each day!  That is a lot of garden enthusiasts and it was a blast.  So I won't waste much time and get down to telling you all about it!

I went on a most Excellent Adventure by driving down to Southern California all by myself in my van.  First time in my 55 years that I have driven that far by myself.  I was so proud of myself.  I left on the 5th and drove from Roseville, CA to South Pasadena, CA.  I stayed the night with my Mother in law then left the next morning for Escondido.  I met up with Debra Lee Baldwin and the fun started right away!  When I got to her house she was headed to Waterwise Botanicals to see how things were getting all set up for the next days event.



Agave americana var. medio-picta alba (Striped Century plant) and Pachycereus pringlei (False Saguaro)

Waterwise Botanicals is a beautiful nursery and I stood around with my mouth open for a couple of seconds, taking it all in.  Then I started taking some photos and followed Debra around while we checked everything out.



Everything was set.  Time to go meet some Succulent Fanatic friends who were also staying with Debra and get some grub.   I whipped up some yummy quacamole and we headed outside to go over the next days events.  We had all offered to help Debra with whatever she needed.  Besides the Celebration this was also the launch of her new book Succulents Simplified.  And she was going to be presenting both days as well as selling and signing her books.  She also had a potting workshop planned for Saturday the 8th.  But we will talk about that later.



So we all headed to her beautiful backyard to munch and discuss.  What a perfect setting.  And Lily her dog came down to join us!



Here is the lineup of great speakers for the two day event.  Debra spoke both days.  On Friday she presented at 9:30 to 10:30.  Her topic was Plants that Drink Responsibly ~Debra's Top Ten Favorites.  Next up was Kelly Griffin from Altman plants, lunch, Michael Buckner owner of The Plant Man nursery and last but not not least Tom Jesch, founder of Waterwise Botanicals.  What a great personality Tom has.  He is a great speaker and very engaging!

So Debra says that during an event like this something is bound to go wrong.  And for me it was when I attempted to video Debra during her presentation.   Since I don't use the video camera too much and have dyslexia I thought that red light meant that the video was off and green was go or on.  Sounds logical doesn't it?  But ooops!  So I didn't video any of Debra's first presentation for her.  I was sick!  And since I was so concerned about my camera turning off all the time I never took any photos!  Geez!




The growing grounds at Waterwise with the speakers tent in the background!  I took this photo in between speakers so no one is sitting.  But every speaker had the seats filled and they brought in extra chairs to set outside the tent.  The sound was great.  People even stood to listen if there were no chairs!



After her presentation Debra headed to her book signing table.  Check out the long lines to buy books and have her sign each one.  She is one very special lady!



Another lucky Succulent lover leaves with her signed book!



Across from Debra's signing booth was The Madd Potter.  What a wonderful selection of pots they had for sale at fantastic prices.  I went home with an incredible Talavera pot.  This shot does not really do it justice as they had quite a terrific assortment.  I want to visit their shop in Fallbrook next time I am in town.



These head planters went like hotcakes!  I will show you a photo of the one on the right planted at the potting workshop later in this post.  These are from The Madd Potter.  And imagine what we could do with one of these lanterns with the holes in the side.  Should have gotten one!



Quite a few Succulent Fanatics made it to the Succulent Celebration.  This is Cassidy Tuttle who has a Facebook page and writes a great blog under Succulents and Sunshine!



Another incredible booth was Cindy Davison's The Succulent Perch.  She created a fairy garden complete with a copy of Debra's new book Succulent Simplified.  The following photo shows you the detail that went into this beautiful piece of work!



Isn't this breathtaking?!  I will post more photos on my Facebook page!




More pots of joy from The Succulent Perch.  Cindy has a great sense of elegant and sophisticated style to her work.



Meet Roberto the Succulent Alligator designed by Laura Eubanks from Design for Serenity.  She is an incredible succulent artist!



Lots of succulent lovers came with their hats decorated!  Isn't this beautiful!



People went over the top with their imaginations.  Laura Balaoro who is the founder of the Succulent Fanatics on Facebook, made some amazing succulent jewelry like this pendant and the earrings in the following photo.  By the way, if you are not a member and love succulents you should join this great group!




This is Laura wearing her succulent earrings.  A little glue and delicate fingers is all it takes!



Echeveria Perle Von Nurnberg compliments this hat beautifully!



This cool planting was from a great booth that I wish I would have gone back to visit.  I think this vendor was called the Green Cat.  I would have liked to buy some of these frogs for potting decoration.

After the day was over we went back to Debra's and got ready to go the home of Jeannie Meadows.  Debra hosted a VIP party and the guests were treated to a signed book, great food, fabulous company in a incredible setting!




Debra is wearing a tiara covered with succulents!  Doesn't she look beautiful! This awesome work of art was made by Succulent Fanatic Laura Eubanks of Design for Serenity.



Katie Christensen came from Washington for this event.  What a sweetie she is.  On Sunday we checked out the Succulent Cafe in Oceanside together.  Blog post to follow soon.



I love this photo of Debra and Katie Young.  She is the author of the very popular blog called Gardening Succs!  Great name don't you think.  And what a super girl she is!



Michael and Danielle Romero with Debra.  Michael is owner/landscape designer at Succulent Designs!



Debra and I at the VIP party!  What a wonderful time we had!

After the party we left and went back to Debra's.  We all collapsed and got a good night sleep to get ready for another day of Celebration!

Here was the lineup for Saturday the 8th.  At 8:00 a.m. the gates opened and coffee and donuts were served to the early birds.  8:15 to 9:00 was a guided tour of the display gardens.  9:15 to 9:30 Tom Jesch welcomed everyone and made announcements about the day.  At 9:30 the speakers started.  Tom's topic was Succulents: Care, culture and Consternation, followed by Jeff Moore owner of Solana Succulents then lunch.  From 1:00 to 4:30 you could take Garden tours of Jeanne Meadow's (where the VIP party was held) and Oasis Plants.  At 2:00 Tiger Palafox owner of Mission Hills Nursery gave his presentation.  Then at 3:30 it was time for Debra.  This time she had a wonderful Succulents Simplified Potting demo.  And yes I took a video and it turned out great!  Woohoo!  I learned my lesson.  I also got in some photos!




Here is Jeff Moore showing how to wrangle a golden barrel cactus.  He uses cut up jeans to help him hold prickly plants.  What a great idea!



At the VIP party the Succulent Fanatics decided that we would meet at 1:00 p.m for a group shot.  This was a tough shot in the gazebo but looks pretty cool.  We did take some others where nobody got cut off.  As you can see this is Debra's photo.  Her husband did a great job as photographer.



Here is Debra making some magic in her potting demonstration.  This pot was sold immediately after the presentation.  Some lucky gal has a wonderful potting.



Potting number two was just as beautiful and Debra gave us some great tips and super potting information.




Debra took many questions and explained how she made her beautiful succulent bouquet.  Everyone went home with detailed information on how to do this themselves.  Hold on it's not over, Debra now how has a potting workshop!

Now this was really fun!  You got to bring in your own pot or container then pick from the many assortment of succulents.  With the guidance of artists like, Tom Jesch, Debra, myself and many others you could create your own succulent magic to take home.



Wow isn't this a winner!



This young lady brought in this old milk can.  With the top on the hole was really small.  With it off you couldn't tell it was a milk can.  So I said let's tip it sideways then you have lots of area to pot.  This is by far my favorite.  She did a great job!



Here is that wonderful head pot purchased from the Madd Potter.  Wow what a great job.  I believe the owners of this is Nancy and David Pedersen of David Pedersen, Landscape Architecture, Newport Beach, CA.  Wow, I love it!



Tom Jesch and his employee helped this beautiful woman with her terrific pot.  She looks very satisfied as she should be!



Debra went from person to person helping with their designs.  Don't you love this succulent filled basket!



Now it was time for me to take some photos and do some shopping!



They had so many succulents!  And check out the beautiful selection of bromeliads available for purchase.



So much to choose from, my pile kept getting bigger and bigger!



This really cracked me up but I loved it!



So this is only a small part of my hoard of succulents!  When I left Southern California on Monday the 10th my van was fully loaded!  The day before Debra and I had a wonderful time visiting a couple of incredible succulent locations and enjoying each others company



So all in all it was a super succulent weekend and a very Excellent Adventure!  So if you missed it this year I am pretty sure there will be another next year.  So many people had a great time and told me how much fun they were having.  So if you can make it I would encourage you to do so.

For more photos of the incredible weekend please check out my Facebook page!

So until next time remember:

It's Another Beautiful Day!

Video on How to Make a Succulent Strawberry Pot

I showed you a while ago how to make a succulent strawberry pot but I thought I would make a video!  They are so fun to do and it gives you a different perspective!  If you would like to view the previous post you can click on it here.  Otherwise, here you go!

Thanks for watching!

Remember:

It's Another Beautiful Day!

Debra Lee Baldwins Super Succulents Simplified Giveaway

Hold on to your sun hats, kiddos because I have a terrific, stupendous, unprecedented giveaway for you!  Debra Lee Baldwin, author of  Designing with Succulents and Succulent Container Gardens is hosting a fantastic giveaway on Gardening Gone Wild.  This is in celebration of her new book Succulents Simplified, Growing, Designing, and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties!  It is now available if you click on the name.  But before you do that you need to go to Gardening Gone Wild and enter the for all the goodies.

Now ya'll pay attention please as the following is really important if you want to be a winner!   To enter, all you need to do is go to Gardening Gone Wild and leave a comment stating where you heard about the giveaway (Sweetstuff's Sassy Succulents) which prize you'd  like, and why.  Very important you follow these instructions!  You wouldn't want to miss out because you forgot something....right?

So what can you win?  The prizes are as follows!

An original watercolor by Debra of an agave, 9-by-12, unframed.




The winner also will receive a signed and personalized copy of Succulents Simplified.  Not the plants of course.  Those are mine, just for the photo!




Now this is my absolute favorite prize!  It's a two-hour private container workshop with Debra Lee Baldwin at Oasis Water Efficient Gardens nursery in Escondido, CA near San Diego, for one to four people. The winner also will receive a signed and personalized copy of Succulents Simplified.  OMG how fun!




A bouquet of a dozen succulent rosettes made by Debra herself, based on one of the book’s how-to projects. People often are amazed how rootless, wired succulents do fine without water for weeks. It's because the leaves contain all the moisture and nutrients the plants need. The bouquet easily can be deconstructed and planted as cuttings. The winner also will receive a signed and personalized copy of Succulents Simplified.

A mug illustrated with her watercolor of a graptopetalum, from Debra's online store. The winner also will receive a signed and personalized copy of Succulents Simplified.

Six succulent greeting cards from Debra's online store, featuring photos from her Succulents 2013 and Echeverias 2013 calendars. The winner also will receive a signed and personalized copy of Succulents Simplified.

In addition, she is presenting all five winners, as well as TEN runners-up, the link to her Succulents in Containers online photo library of design ideas.

You will get plenty of inspiration with these libraries let me tell ya!  Ok so now it's time to hit the computer!  And don't forget the rules!

1.  Go to Gardening Gone Wild for Debra's blog post!
2.  Make a comment on Debra's  blog that you heard about this from Sweetstuff!
3.  Tell her which prize you would like!
4.  Why you would like that prize!

Ok my Sweetstuff friends!  Start clicking and let the Sweet Succulent Force be with you!

And always remember!

It's Another Beautiful Day!

Succulents Simplified, Your New Go To Book

Have you ever started reading a book and got so entranced that before you know it hours have past and you haven't cooked dinner, posted on your facebook page (oh no!) and it's time for bed.  That is what happened to me when I received Debra Lee Baldwin's newest book Succulents Simplified: Growing, Designing, and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties.  But I wasn't even done yet!  I even found myself reading the credits and browsing over the index.  I already have many pages tagged with sticky notes.  I am actually glad it is not a hard back, that means I can take it outside in my garden without worrying about the dirt



This is Debra's third book.  Her first Designing with Succulent and second Succulent Container Gardens: Design Eye-Catching Displays with 350 Easy-Care Plants.  This book is meant to be a prequel to her other best sellers but has great information for beginning succulent growers as well as seasoned succulent gardeners like myself.  Her writing is informational with bits of her sassy wit thrown in to give you a giggle.   You will enjoy this book as much as the first two if not more.  

Succulents Simplified is divided into three parts.  In part one: Enjoying, Growing, and Designing with Succulents Debra delightfully pops in sections such as Edible, herbal, and illegal succulents.  I found myself waiting anxiously for her to tell me what was illegal.  LOL  And I love the section How to refresh an overgrown container composition.  Obviously Keeping Your Succulents Fat and Sassy is a favorite section. So much great information jammed in part 1 you will be reading this information over and over.

Part Two How-To Projects That Showcase Succulents will have you making a list of items needed and running to the store asap.  Everything from Succulent-Topped Pumpkins, to make your own succulent picture frame.  One of my favorites in this section is the Succulent Topiary Sphere.  She made a video on this project and a couple other's in the book.  You can find them here.  I am so going to try this project. And how can I forget making a succulent bouquet!  Another have to!  Where's my list?

The last section is 100 Easy-Care Succulents.  Now you have to remember that these succulents grow like weeds in Southern California but here in Sacramento (Northern, CA) you may have to take some of them inside during the cold weather.  But she lists a lot of my favorites and gives you great information about each of them.  And the photos in this book (mostly taken by Debra herself) are incredible.  She has such a wonderful eye for just how to take the perfect photo.

So if you haven't ordered this great book do yourself a favor.  Set aside some time to read and then get ready to jump into the world of succulents.  Whether it be to tidy up your containers or start a new project from the book, you will be very busy.

Hope everyone is having a great week. Until next time remember:

It's Another Beautiful Day   

Adventures in Potting

Have you ever started a project and discovered that you had a battle ahead of you and were determined to not give up?  Well that is what happened a few weeks ago when I decided to repot a planting I bought last year at the Succulent Extravaganza.  As soon as I saw this shell shaped pot at Succulent Gardens I knew I had to grab it before it got taken.  It was the only one.  I didn't really much care for what was planted in it but it did have a beautiful Aloe striata and Echeveria agavoides.  So when it came time to take the plants out and put them in different pots I really had my hands full!

This is what the pot looked like before I started.  Now that my ordeal is over I figure that Aloe must have been planted in this pot years ago.  I got the Echeveria out easy enough but when it came to the Aloe.....well let's just say, "Holy cow"!  It didn't want to come out of this pot.  So I dug and dug.  And yanked and yanked!  Very afraid that I was going to damage this precious pot.  I used every tool in my arsenal.  I finally realized I wasn't going to get all the roots with the plant.




Finally I got that darn plant out.  Got most of larger roots so it will be fine!




But this is what it looked like when I got the Aloe out!  Very little dirt and mostly roots.  And the pot has a curve in it!




So I yanked and I yanked!  I stuck knives around the edge (not recommended).  But not much help.  And yes I was still afraid I would break the pot.  By the time it popped out I had dirt particles head to toe.




It's out!  Yahoo!  Wait till you see the rootball!




Isn't this interesting?  The root ball has conformed to the shape of the shell planter!




Here's a better photo where you can see the undulations in the pot.




Here is the container all repotted with all different kind of crassula.  I added sea glass for top dressing and a couple of shells.  The aloe and echeveria went in two other plantings.  It was well worth the effort but so glad that is done.

What adventures in potting would you like to share?

Until later remember:

It's Another Beautiful Day!