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!

Sacramento Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale

The SCSS show and sale took place on May 4th and 5th.  What a wonderful show it was.  Full of wonderful succulent specimens of every shape and size.  Gerhard Bock has already done a really great blog post on the show.  You can see it at Bamboo, Succulents and More!  Make sure you take a look at his post because I am going to show you some of the other things at the show that caught my eye!




Aren't these handmade pots incredible.  I got there on Friday in time to take these shots but by Saturday morning when I rushed over the best pots were gone.  I did grab a couple a of really nice ones and the darker wall planter on the third shelf.  Plan to go to her place and get more.




I really wanted that mermaid pot but alas it was gone.  I'm going to order one from her!  When I get the name of her company and all I will let you know.




These great cut and melted bottles are made by Donna David Taylor, wife of Keith Taylor that makes the fantastic pots.  I will be doing a seperate blog post on these because they are very unique and very hard to make.  You would think, "Oh I can just melt a bottle and smoosh it."  But you would be so wrong and break every one.  She will explain this difficult process.




And how adorable is this hen planter.  Very well planted.  I didn't see who planted it but isn't it cute!




This planting was called Heavy Load.  Really great in this Talavera burro.




I really liked this idea!  It was an homage to Monet.  A photo of his painting Water Lilies is to the right.




Isn't she beautiful!  Planted with a fabulous aloe!




The most amazing Ariocarpus retusus I have ever seen!




Digitostima Caput Madusae




My lily pond with water fall won second place!




E=MC 2 a super idea that won first price by Mara Aditajs.




I love this sea creature that took second place by Michelle Egan




I have one of these turtles.  Really cool what someone did with it.




Best of show in the dish garden section goes to Get your Kicks from Route 66 by Mara Aditajs




Well done planted pumice by Alex Rigg won First place




First place Ophthalmophyllum Group by Penny Newell



Second place Adromischus group by Penny Newell



Honorable mention landscape Jim Yokum



First place winner Michelle Egan



Honorable mention Sue Ballenger



Second place Claire Bone



Manfreda undulata 'chocolate chips' by Marilyn Vilas



First place but can't read the name of owner.



Euphorbia Loricata by Penny Newell



Schizobasis intracata that made second place. It really stood out to me!



This is a whole bunch of the Best of Show winners. They each got a special ribbon along with a hand made pot by Keith Taylor.



Just one of the many rows of beautiful succulent plants on display!



This beautiful flower was from Echinopsis wersumanii.



This is a really awesome Mammillaria giselae crested that won second place in it's catagory.  Wow!  Couldn't read the name of owner.




And what about this awesome variegated agave.  Again no name.

Ok, what a great show and super turnout!  Next post is Adventures in potting.  Hmmmm!

Until next time remember:

It's Another Beautiful Day

Happy Mother's Day Mom

This 'Christmas cactus' was my Mother's. I have fond memories of her living room full of giant pots of these beauties. All lovingly cared for and they grew huge and bloomed.  She had a couple different colors and they were her pride and joy! 

As her Alzheimer's and heart disease took over through the years these plants got pushed to the side, taken outside and finally ignored. My sister took a couple (I wasn't into succulents at that time). She lived here in town at the time and they lived on her back patio.  They did pretty well out there but then she moved to Phoenix, AZ.  I don't think they have survived the hot weather.



  When her son moved out he took a clipping and put it in a pot. As a young man living in an apartment he put it on his patio and year round it was exposed to the elements. It became quite scarred as you can see but still stayed alive.  He gave this plant to me a couple of years ago and I coaxed it back to life. My Mom has been gone about 9 years now. This year the plant has new growth and with Mother's Day near is in full bloom.



So Happy Mother's Day Mom!  I love you so much and think about you every day!  Happy Mother's Day every day!



It's Another Beautiful Day

Succulent Celebration at Waterwise Botanicals

If you live in California or anywhere nearby do I have a treat for you!  Waterwise Botanicals is hosting a Succulent Celebration on June 7th and 8th and it is loaded with fabulous succulent Sweetness!  Please click here to go to the web site for the event.  It will give you the schedule for each day.  Don't forget to RSVP to let them know you are coming!

SUCCULENT CELEBRATION AT WATERWISE BOTANICALS,

JUNE 7-8

North San Diego County's Waterwise Botanicals nursery will host a two-day Succulent Celebration on Friday and Saturday, June 7-8, 2013.

The first of its kind in southern CA, the event celebrates the beauty of succulent plants in low-water, easy-care landscapes, garden vignettes and container compositions. The event also celebrates and launches Debra Lee Baldwin’s new book, Succulents Simplified: Growing, Designing and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties (Timber Press).

The stellar lineup of speakers includes garden photojournalist and bestselling author Debra Lee Baldwin; plant explorer and hybridizer Kelly Griffin of Altman Plants; and nurserymen/garden designers Tiger Palafox of Mission Hills Nursery, Jeff Moore of Solana Succulents, Michael Buckner of The Plant Man Nursery, and Tom Jesch of Waterwise Botanicals.

Additional highlights include tours of beautiful, low-water gardens; potting demonstrations and workshops; a huge assortment of succulents and low-water plants for sale; experts on hand to answer landscape design and plant-care questions; 20 acres of nursery and display gardens to explore; and vendors offering succulent-themed gifts, container gardens and more.

Hours: 8:00am to 6:00pm both days. Free parking and admission.  RSVP required to  events@waterwisebotanicals.com or call (760) 728-2641.

Location: Waterwise Botanicals nursery (formerly Daylily Hill), just off Interstate 15 northwest of the Highway 395 exit (midway between Escondido and Temecula), at 32183 Old Highway 395, Escondido, CA

Photos: Access our online library of captioned, downloadable high-res images.

Tom Jesch founder of Waterwise Botanicals will be there to greet you!




Here is the lineup of incredible speakers you will hear over the two days!




Now this is something you don't want to miss.  A potting workshop with my dear friend Debra Lee Baldwin.  It ought to be a blast.  I will be there either making my own or helping.  Please note that the potting workshop is from 4:30 to 5:30.  The web site is incorrect at the moment.




You might be able to create something as beautiful as these succulent pots I shot while on a visit to Waterwise last year.




And just look at the eye candy you get to choose from.  Waterwise Botanicals has an incredible selection of succulents for you to choose from.  And the growing grounds are really beautiful.

Please make sure to click on the link to the Succulent Celebration web site to get the scoop on everything that is happening.  Both days will be full of  fun, beauty and information.  I really hope to see you there!

Until then remember:

It's Another Beautiful Day!

San Francisco Flower & Garden Show 2013

On Friday March 22nd I went to the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show in San Mateo, CA.  There was so much to see I wish I had more days to spend there.  But I could only go one day so I had to cram as much in as possible.  So get ready and hang on to your hats.  This will be a whirlwind visit.

I met up with my Succulent Fanatics buddy Noreen Fenton early in the day and the very first thing I headed for was the beautiful Succulent Globe from my previous post.  I couldn't wait to see it put together and spinning.  It was definitely the hit of the show.  I can't tell you how many times I heard people gasp when they first saw it!

Assembly of this beautiful globe took three fork lifts and about 6 people two 6 hour days to assemble.  Wow that is a lot of hard work!  As a reminder in case you didn't see the previous post, this fantastic vertical marvel was created by Robin Stockwell, owner of Succulent Gardens and Weston Cook.

It was displayed right in the middle of the Expo Hall garden displays.  A table was set up in front of the globe and there was always someone there (mostly Robin Stockwell) ready to answer the many questions from the crowd.

Before I knew it I had to run off because I wanted to hear the seminar at 11:00 by Robin Stockwell on the DIY Stage -Redwood Hall entitled Succulent Maintenance.  I had to run through the Expo Hall, through the outside exhibits and the next building which housed the Flower & Plant Market.  I came to a skidding halt a couple of times because there were Succulents EVERYWHERE!  I finally made it to hear 3/4 of his talk.




His talk was colorful and informative.  Just when I thought I knew just about everything about succulent care Robin's speech taught me so much more.  I learned more about mealy bugs, propagation  fertilizer tips and did you know that you are suppose to clean your tools with Lysol.  Wow I had no idea!   And keep them sharp.  Well I knew that thank goodness.  You should have heard the people in the audience have a small freak out when he snipped off the tops of aeoniums.




Heading back after Robin's seminar we ran into a cool outdoor exhibit with metal outdoor sculptures.  I really wanted this metal Agave but alas it was too expensive.




We headed back to the Expo Hall and checked out the exhibits.  This is by UC Berkeley and I think they called it The Green Walls of China.  Since the theme of the show was Gardens Make the World Go Round each exhibit was designed with a certain country in mind.




Photo by Noreen Fenton
Here is a close up of the wall.  I don't know what the tubing is made up of but each one was stuffed with an individual succulent plant.




photo by Noreen Fenton
I believe that this exhibit is called Mexico 'Inside Out'.  As it says in the large information pamphlet I received when I entered the show, "Inside Out" is design using inspiration from urban Mexican culture and architects such as Ricardo Legorreta & Luis Barragan.  A combination of elements, differing in size and function, not only provide the user an appealing outdoor room, but are practical for nearly anyone to construct.




Agave attenuata 'Karas stripes' with Golden barrel cactus.  This agave is special and I will tell you why after the next photo.




photo by Noreen Fenton
This is Gary Gragg, owner of Golden Gate Palms and Exotics.  He is posing beside his patented Agave attenuata 'Karas Stripe'.  It took him over 10 years to have enough of these variegated agave to apply for a patent.  He discovered his first just growing as a pup on a regular green attenuata.  He multiplied them asexually.  They are really beautiful.  Since the day was so crazy I did not get to meet him personally.  But my succulent buddy Noreen did.




I couldn't keep myself away from the Globe.  And I am glad I did.  Because who did Noreen and I run into but my friend and author Debra Lee Baldwin.  She had a seminar entitled Succulent Simplified at 2:00pm.  So before she ran off we got a few photos taken.




It was like paparazzi.  So fun!
And before we knew it Debra had to head off to the Seminar stage to get ready for her presentation.  But before she left she asked if I had noticed that she had changed the name of the presentation she was giving the next day.  She changed it to "Secrets to Sassy Succulents'!  Oh my goodness I wish I could have been there and heard it!




Debra started out her program announcing that she is following up the success of her two books, Designing with Succulents and Succulent Container Gardens with a new book entitled Succulents Simplified!  What a great presentation.  All I will tell you is that the book is divided in three different parts and you are going to love it!  Ok.....let's say this, "It's a prequel"!  Hee hee!




One of her slides was showing Laura Balaro and her beautiful succulent hat.  Laura is the head of the Succulent Fanatics and she wore this at last years Succulent Extravaganza.
After this we headed back to the Expo!




Wish I had taken down the name of the artist from this booth!  Wonderful glass art for your garden and home!

I saw cactus and succulents everywhere.  Here is Dasylirion wheeleri and Fishhook Barrel cactus.  I don't know why but I didn't get to take a lot of photos in the Expo Hall.  I was really crushed for time.  I wanted to get over to the Flower and Plant Market and check it out before I went home.




Urban Farmgirls really caught my eye.  I remember them from last year and they have some pretty great stuff.




They had lots of hand made pots for sale including this one already planted in the shape of an @ sign.




I loved the repetition with this one.  The plants are Tillandsia airplants.

Looks like Urban Farmgirls inlaid some blue and white glass in this pot and then repeated it as top dressing.




The Cactus Collection (Altman plants) had some super succulent pottings.




Love this hanging pot!




Tomorrow I am off to try and find these fishes!  They are so darn cute.




Don't you love this potting in a squashed strawberry pot!  I wanted this but I was saving my dollars.




These cone shaped hanging planters were outstanding by The Cactus Collection (Altman plants).   This had a stand so you could just display it on a table or counter instead of hanging.




I don't remember where I saw this but loved the combination!




How cool is this pot!!!




Sticky Situation is a great company that provides a wonderful cactus selection.  I went home with a rat tail cactus from them!




Here is a just a smidgen of what Sticky Situation had to offer.




This pot is by Mark Muradian pottery.  Wait till you see some of the selection.




So many different shapes and sizes.  All hand made and with great exterior decorations!




Check out the detail on this hanging planter!

So now for my favorite place.  Succulent Gardens had the best booth.  It was the last place I hit and wow as usual I was not disappointed.  So many succulents.  And when one was taken for purchase another was put in it's place!




Beautiful mountain scene on this vertical planting by Succulent Gardens.




So many succulents to buy!  As you can see this is day three of the show and they had tons to sell!




Their booth was very popular as you can see!  Sometimes it was difficult to go down the aisles to get what you wanted.   But I definitely went home with quite a few.






Let's end this post with some Succulent Gardens Love!
I know that I missed a lot of other booths and exhibits but it was difficult to see everything in just one day.  Next year I will try to go at least two days.  I hope you enjoyed the photos.  To see more join me on my Facebook page.

So until next time remember:

It's Another Beautiful Day!