The Fabulous Gardens of Laura Balaoro part 2

If you liked the little taste I gave you of Laura Balaoro's garden in my last post get ready for a big bite!  I have so many super photos and cool stuff to show you I am going to jam them all in this post.  So hang on to your seats!  Don't forget to start with part 1 if you haven't checked it out yet.  Laura has so many more planting ideas to show you.

Remember the sitting area I show'd you in the last post.  I mentioned that a path in the back was lined with echeverias.  Here it is.  As you can see Laura has a wonderful ability to incorporate companion plants perfectly with succulents.




A huge Aeonium sunburst and Echeveria 'After Glow' provide a wonderful focal point as you are heading down her garden path.  The plants just draw you in and make you squat down and take a closer look.

This plant was one of my favorites.  You can probably tell why.  This is called Kalanchoe luciae 'Fantastic'.  And pardon my pun but this one is way more Fantastic than any one I have seen!

Look what Laura does here.  She planted beautiful Agave 'Joe Hoak' with intensely red Crassula coccinea 'campfire'.  She also tucked in some Echeveria hybrids.  Behind the Agave's is a variegated Euphorbia.  The red plant at the top with the long thin leaves is Phormium 'guardsman', a great companion plant.  And if that was not good enough she painted bowling balls green, orange and red and uses them for extra Wham!  She is brilliant!

How about this Echeveria agavoides and some pretty little Portulaca!

I just love this photo!  It illustrates Laura's garden in one shot.  Her use of succulents (the Agave), companion plants (colorful geranium hybrid), and finally her use of garden accents like this dragonfly metal lantern.




I had to get a close up of an Echeveria hybrid nestled here with grape leaves and smaller succulents.




Agave 'Blue Glow' surrounded by Kalanchoe luciae and to the right a variegated Euphorbia.




Here is another great place to sit and ponder.  What should I do next, plant or read?




Isn't this a wonderful planting area.  Plenty of work area and space with containers of needed dirt etc. right below.  And the way she decorated it is so charming.  It's a great set up and the danccing watering cans are so cute.




This sink has been built into the work area on the left hand side.  An old kitchen sink is filled with dirt and is used to start some cuttings.  Check out the sign, share with friends!




I don't normally take a lot of flower shots but the light was so perfect on this Rudbeckia hirta.
a



I really loved these boots with little birds planted with echeverias against this rock wall.




  Here is another gem for you.  Laura found this old children's hang over the door shoe holder and planted sempervivums in the pockets!




I found this in her work area.  It's an old gumball machine without the top.  She added dirt, sedum's and crassula's!  Who needs gumballs!




You may not believe this but this is a cactus skeleton that a friend gave Laura.  They got it in Arizona.  Inside she planted Donkey tail sedum.  Imagine this a year from now with more sedum growth hanging over.  Wow!




This is the little stream that runs between the two koi ponds I told you about in my first post.




Perfect way to display this unusual and eye catching succulent.  Sitting atop this pedestal is Agave geminiflora 'Rasta Man'.



These spaghnum window planters are filled with succulents.  Hanging overhead are her grape vines that run along the back porch.




Another great little potting.  Jade under planted with a tiny succulent.  I don't know the name but they look like little echeveria rosettes.  See how she uses floral glass for top dressing.




She combined this Agave potatorum 'Kichiokan' with this dark almost black pot.  And the glass top dressing is perfect.




This is a beautiful little scene.  In the large wire pot is a beautiful bromeliad.  I love the spots and the pink tips. Underneath is another pot of beautiful green aeoniums surrounded by her companion plants of coleus, fern and ivy.



I wish this photo had turned out better.  But what do you do when your friend has an old shutter door to throw out?  You take it and plant succulents in it of course!  She added moss and dirt in the slats and then planted.




Here is a close up shot of the door.  Every inch is filled up!




I just loved this little scene.




Quack Quack!




Two flower photos in one post!  Holy cow!  This is a pretty white Anemone.



Don't you just love this yellow ceramic basket filled with Cryptanthus bivittatus 'red star'.  This is a type of bromeliad that stays very small.




Another Kalanchoe 'Fantastic' on the back porch.




Such happy little Rastafarian happy face planters!

I would like to personally thank Laura Balaoro for having us over to her beautiful home and garden.  And then giving me permission to blog about it.  She does not think it is a big deal but you and I know better.  She is a very talented lady indeed that we can all learn from.  Please make sure that you check out the Succulent Fanatics on Facebook and ask to join if you love succulents like we do.  And  if you would like to see more photos of her garden click on my Facebook page.  And please like if you haven't already.

Until next time!  Keep yourselves and your succulents warm and remember:

It's Another Beautiful Day!