Saguaro Feliz: septiembre 2021

lunes, 27 de septiembre de 2021

Succulent-Topped Pumpkin Design Ideas, How-To Amazing tips

Above: Laura Eubanks of Design for Serenity demonstrates her succulent-topped pumpkin method. It's also a featured project in my book, Succulents Simplified.

Follow Laura's simple DIY and your succulent pumpkin will last months. It'll rot sooner if pierced or cut, so avoid doing that. At any time, you can remove the succulents and plant them in a pot or the ground.

Laura pioneered the concept in 2011. It caught on immediately, becoming as popular for fall decor as wreaths are for the holidays. After several years of making pumpkins for sale, Laura went on to specialize in succulent landscapes.

Laura Eubanks during our photo shoot for Country Gardens magazine

Pumpkin How-To

Pumpkin how-to from Succulents Simplified

So simple! Basically, Laura coats the top of the pumpkin with spray glue, adds dry moss, then hot-glues succulent cuttings and seed pods to the moss. Incredibly, hot glue doesn't harm the succulents, which eventually root through the dried glue into the moss. Design possibilities are endless.

Spray adhesive for succulent topped pumpkins

Spray adhesive for attaching the moss Click to order from Amazon (affiliate).

Pumpkins to inspire you

Use these examples to help you create your own "pumpculents." Have fun!

The first nine are by Laura Eubanks. Which is your favorite?

This may be my favorite, despite not including succulents!

More by other talented designers:

Pumpkin by Pat Roach

Succulent pumpkin

Laura Balaoro

Succulent topped pumpkin

I'll post more pumpkin photos as I run across interesting, eye-catching and innovative ones. Be sure to check back! -- Debra

shop succulent Cuttings

More Fall-Winter projects

Make a Succulent Cornucopia

[With Video] A succulent cornucopia makes a refreshing update on the traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece, and then after the holiday, you can remove the plants and pot them. As early as midsummer, craft stores begin stocking holiday containers like this wicker cornucopia

Succulent Wreath Tips and Ideas

Do you like the succulent wreath that my friend Denise made during a wreath party at my home? To create a similar one, you’ll need about 100 cuttings, a wire wreath form, 24-gauge florist’s wire, a chopstick, and a bag of sphagnum moss. The form, moss and wire are available at any craft store. Cuttings will root right…

Succulent Christmas Tree Holiday Centerpiece

[With Video] Make a succulent Christmas tree for your holiday tabletop centerpiece. This topiary cone with cuttings inserted into the moss needs less care than a floral arrangement and lasts much longer.

Holiday Decorating with Succulents

Holiday decorating with succulents This time of year, the succulent elves bundle up, go into the garden, and transform it into a holiday wonderland. Should I reward them with cocoa, or considering their size, chocolate chips? When you’re not much bigger than a caterpillar, you take your life in your hands when you decorate a serrated succulent. But…

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miércoles, 15 de septiembre de 2021

Annie and Me at The Succulent Cafe Amazing tips

During succulent celebrity Annie Schreck's week-long visit to Southern CA, of course we went to The Succulent Cafe near San Diego. It's a charming outdoor patio-garden eatery specializing in pastries, espresso and lovely succulents in decorative containers. Location: 505 Oak Ave., Carlsbad, CA, three blocks from the beach.

Driftwood and Succulents, Annie (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Annie with a driftwood succulent arrangement at The Succulent Cafe

Meet Annie

Annie is the staff horticulturist and researcher who produces informational videos for the largest online succulent nursery: Mountain Crest Gardens.

As she and I sat amid walls of succulents and chatted over lavender mocha and chai, Annie explained she has "the coolest job in the world" despite it being "the middle of nowhere" in northern CA near the Oregon border. She also mentions some of her favorite succulents, including two she's seen while hiking the Pacific Northwest.

About the Succulent Cafe

Here's a description of The Succulent Cafe from an article I did for a Better Homes & Gardens publication two years ago:

"Owner Peter Loyola's aim is 'to create an environment that appeals to all the senses.' He achieves this with fragrant coffee, flaky pastries, a splashing fountain, soft music, and colorful plants in textural containers.

Succulents in soup ladles The Succulent Cafe (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Succulents in soup ladles at The Succulent Cafe

"Loyola enjoys the challenge of planting succulents in objects such as wood pallets, vinyl gutters, and vintage kitchen utensils. 'The more patina the better,' he says, gesturing to a verdigris copper colander holding blue and pink echeverias.

"In addition to coffee drinkers, dogs on leashes, babies in carriages, and brightly dressed cyclists, visitors include tourists taking photos. 'Locals come here to unwind,' Loyola says. 'But if you're from Minnesota, you probably don't see succulents all that often, and you're mesmerized.'

"When designing with succulents, Loyola often places the largest plant in the center, then surrounds it with smaller ones. Containers may also have a cascader, like a fine-leaved sedum, string-of-pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) or burro tail (Sedum morganianum)."

See 40+ examples in the Gallery below.

More Annie Adventures

This video---part of a series of Annie's succulent adventures in my neck of the woods---introduces you to the effervescent, engaging Annie. In a different video, she introduces yours truly to fans and followers.

Soon to come in the series are additional destinations as well as fun, creative projects. Make sure you don't miss any by subscribing to my YouTube channel and that of Mountain Crest Gardens.