Tag: estate-sale find

In a Vase on Monday: Succulents

(c) Terri Robertson, T's Southern Garden 2018I’m in between summer and spring blooming seasons, so today’s In A Vase on Monday post is a pot of succulents.

This week I wrote a story about succulents for a local digital media outlet called Bham Now. The research for that story flowed over into real life, and brought me a great deal of tiny garden joy. This stoneware planter, a $2 estate-sale find, did not make the article, but I’m sharing it with you now.

Ripple jade

The tall plant in the center is ripple jade (Crassula arborescens subsp. undulatifolia). I thought it was a steal for $3.95 at Oak Street Garden Shop in Birmingham, Alabama. Something about the shape and watery green color of the leaves is mesmerizing.

Oak Street Garden Shop maintains a community pollinator garden outside its shop in Crestline Village. (Nothing to do with succulents, of course, but I had to include it.) The owner tells me that goldfinches feast there in the morning, in addition to the bees and butterflies who visit all day.

(c) Terri Robertson, T's Southern Garden 2018
Black-eyed Susans are the stars of this pollinator garden in June. Seedlings of zinnias and cosmos are popping up among the fading larkspur and bachelor buttons, which are going to seed.
Peperomia prostrata

The plant spilling over the side to the back-right is Peperomia prostrata. I bought a tiny pot for $5.95 at the same shop, and I divided it among three different planters.

(c) Terri Robertson, T's Southern Garden 2018

Single-leaf propagations

The two tiniest plants in my pot of succulents are the result of single-leaf propagation. I don’t know the names of the specific varieties, unfortunately. These baby succulents are 8 months old, starting from the date I snapped off the parent leaves.

 

Propagated cuttings

The remaining two plants in the stoneware planter are propagated cuttings (I do not have a record of the plants’ names). Below is one of the original plants, which is in bloom at the moment.

(c) Terri Robertson, T's Southern Garden 2018

Thanks to Cathy and her blog, Rambling in the Garden, for hosting the IAVOM meme. Check out her lovely offering today of sweet peas, cosmos and grasses, and visit the comments section to see what other gardeners around the world have put in a vase on Monday.

In a Vase on Monday: Kangaroo Colorwheel

(c) Terri Robertson, T's Southern Garden, 2018

Last week, I noticed a few garden bloggers chose fun animal vases for In a Vase on Monday. This week, I follow suit.

Kangaroo Vase

This vintage Fitz & Floyd piece is actually a toothbrush holder. As a vase, the holes meant for toothbrush handles function like a flower frog, helping stems stay in place. This is not the first time this estate-sale find has appeared on my blog, but it is its first appearance since I began posting for IAVOM, hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

Colorwheel, aka Stokes’ Aster (Stokesia laevis)

The pastel, almost white bloom by the kangaroo face is the very first offering from my Stoke’s Aster this season. This perennial, full-sun plant is native to the Southeastern United States. It earns the nickname Colorwheel from the changing color of its blooms, which begin as the palest pink-purple and age to a deep mauve.

(c) Terri Robertson, T's Southern Garden, 2018
An overhead view offers a closer look at the Stoke’s Aster bloom (bottom left).

Rounding out the colorwheel: repeat bloomers

The rest of the blooms in this vase have already appeared in various posts this year, and you will probably continue to see them in my vases through the summer.

  • The spindly brown stems bearing tiny white flowers are heuchera ‘Mocha’ also known as coral bells.
  • The clusters of small purple flowers are lavender (Lavandula angustiflolia).
  • With a truly ice-like shimmer, the neon violet flowers are ice plant (Delosperma cooperi).
  • The violet, cone-shaped clusters are butterfly bush (Buddleja), and speaking of …

The butterfly bush below our kitchen window went from one single bloom last week to full-blast flowering this week. Bring on the butterflies!

(c) Terri Robertson, T's Southern Garden, 2018
Butterfly bush

More animal vases

Last week, posts from these bloggers inspired my kangaroo creation.

  • Wild Daffodil, hailing from the other side of the Atlantic on England’s south coast, featured zebra and giraffe vases.
  • In Florida, the Shrub Queen arranged native wildflowers in a cow vase and introduced us to a sweet real-life pup.
  • Bonney Lassie, of Washington state, has a fish vase that I adore.

More In a Vase on Monday

Visit Rambling in the Garden to see what Cathy and gardeners around the world have put in a vase this Monday. Thank you for stopping by!