Cactus Garden Update

       I uncovered my Cacti garden yesterday and I had some casualties from the polar vortex. I lost both my Agave parryi var parryi, Several Optunias including Optunia Canapa 'Ellisiana', My Cane Cholla Cylindropuntia imbricata also bit the dust, and I lost my Horse Crippler Echinocactus texensis and a few others. The Ghost Plant Graptopetalum paraguayense also fried though I did notice a few leaves and stems made it and were starting to grow back. My Agave Harvardia looks kind of rough but it survived another winter. 

Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 'Variegata'

        Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 'Variegata' is blooming indoors while there is snow on the ground outside. I was not expecting this plant to bloom. I got it over the summer and it didn't start blooming until I moved it inside. The flowers are small but are a nice orange color. What a nice surprise!

Hardy Cacti Garden

I uncovered the Hardy Cacti garden a few weeks ago. It had some plastic and glass over it for winter protection. Took some pics over the weekend. The Ice Plant "Fire Spinner" bloomed for the first time. I really like these they are very nice.

Talavera Planters

I bought these two amazing Talavera planters on ebay a few weeks ago, a fish and a sea turtle. They arrived a few days ago and they are very pretty. I love the designs of this style of pottery, the detail is amazing. For those of you that don't know, Talavera pottery is a type of pottery that is popular in Mexico and only is made in the Mexican state of Puebla(yes also the site of Cinco de Mayo). It is an old art-form tracing it's roots back to Majorca in Spain, with Italian and Islamic Moorish influences. Also has Native American influence which became part of the art after arriving in Mexico. I think these planters will look great filled with succulents near my hardy cacti garden, thats where I plan on putting them anyway.

Creative Container Gardening

You don't have to spend a lot of money on a container. There are many unique and creative options when gardening in containers. You can use many common household items you may have that would otherwise be discarded, or maybe someone else's trash can be your treasure. Many of these items can also be purchased at yard sales and junk stores, just keep your eyes pealed. The amount of options are endless, just use your imagination and be creative. These are some creative container ideas I found on the internet that I thought were pretty cool.

Muffin Pan planted with baby tears. http://www.countryliving.com/outdoor/decorating/Floral-Displays-0606#slide-1

Old Tool boxes, wooden crates, coffee cans http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/upcycled-succulent-planter-ins-79720

Shoe Planters http://www.shelterness.com/35-indoor-and-outdoor-succulent-garden-ideas/pictures/9433/

Old Wagon Planter http://www.faroutflora.com/2010/03/13/cool-and-creative-containers/

Sempervivum & Sedum in a Colander

I went to Goodwill the other day and picked up this colander for $3. I decided I would plant some Sempervivum and Sedum inside of it. It turned out pretty nice if I do say so myself, lol.

New Book

I got a new gardening book today, I ordered off Amazon.com. It is called Succulent Container Gardening by Debra Lee Baldwin. It has lots of great ideas for neat containers and plant combinations using succulents. I am starting to have a passion for succulents and cacti. Hopefully I can use some of the ideas from this book come spring. I highly recommend this book.

Hardy Cacti & Succulent Garden

Took some pics today of my Hardy Cacti & Succulent Garden.