Carol’s Cuttings and Craigslist Garden Amazing tips

Scroll down to see a gallery of Carol's best-performing succulents, all ID'd.

What Carol Kent has achieved on her quarter-acre lot shows what a homeowner can accomplish with a can-do attitude, a love of gardening, and minimal cost.

A former boat captain, Carol created two distinctive succulent gardens: a sea-themed backyard with gorgeous plants and great stories; and a high-style, front-yard tapestry complete with a dry creek bed.

Free items from Craigslist

"While I was doing this, I'd check Craigslist several times a day," Carol says. "I love saving money." Freebies include boulders, crushed rock and pebble topdressings, and decorative accessories. Husband Patrick helped with irrigation and electrical installation, and hauling heavy items.

Laura Eubanks' influence

To get ideas, learn techniques, and better understand succulents and their care, Carol consulted my book Designing with Succulents and watched YouTube videos by landscape designer Laura Eubanks of Design for Serenity. Laura's known for using mounded soil, boulders, swaths of rocks, colorful succulents, and dramatic statement plants. She suggested I visit Carol and see her "DIY dream come true."

When I visited, Carol had finished her front yard, a two-month project. She had grown nearly all the succulents herself from cuttings.

How much she saved

Based on bids from landscapers, Carol saved over $200K by doing both gardens herself. Plus she enjoyed tracking down bargains and the creativity of designing and planting the areas.

Carol on the garden's treasure chest

"I had been thinking of adding a treasure chest for a year or two and almost added a large one since there are many free chests on Craigslist. Then I found this small one on Etsy and thought I’d try it, but I wasn’t sure what to put in it.

Treasure chest of keepsake jewelry

"I was going through my Mom’s jewelry and a lightbulb went off. I could fill it with costume jewelry that I have from people that have passed away (my Mom, Patrick’s Mom, and a few friends).

So every day when I’m out in the garden, I pass by this chest and think about people who added so much joy to my life."

Carol on discouraging critters

"I have two barking dog sensors from Ranxinyuan on Amazon. One is about 3 years old; the other is 1-1/2 years old, and both are still working.

"I used them in the front yard to keep the sweet neighborhood cats out while the fresh dirt was exposed. Now I just use them in the back.

Havahart Trap 

The humane trap is by Havahart that I got on Amazon three years ago. Works great."

Carol on her garden lighting

"I would not have even thought about lighting if it hadn’t been for Laura Eubanks' videos, where she says it’s like having a second garden.

"Patrick and I still can’t believe how much joy the lighting brings us.

Low voltage landscape lights

"We used 5W low voltage LED Landscape lights from Eleglo. We had talked to people who bought expensive ones that started breaking in 1-2 years. So we went with the moderately inexpensive ones (which was counterintuitive).

"We’ve used 22 lights so far. The ones in the back are 4 years old and we haven’t had a single problem.

(Above links are affiliate.)

Carol on irrigation

"I got irrigation lines from Home Depot or Site One. I bury both types of line, half-inch and quarter-inch. I use the quarter-inch with emitters every 6 inches. I'm amazed that only one emitter has failed in more than 4 years.

Drip tubing, 1/2-inch

"Of course I've cut them with a trowel or shovel, and twice ponytail palms have grown so big and put so much pressure on the lines that they have popped out. Even so, I'm very pleased."

More helpful links 

Landscape designer Laura Eubanks of Design for Serenity on YouTube.

Short video several years earlier by Laura Eubanks of Carol's undersea garden (before Carol did the front yard) to help promote Clairemont Garden Tour.

Laura Eubanks' team shows irrigation installation tips, YouTube video.

Laura Eubanks' Day One of a succulent front yard installation, YouTube video.

Vista Succulent Nursery

Waterwise Botanicals Nursery

Oasis Water Efficient Gardens

Great Soil 

Gallery of Carol's top performers

Aeonium 'Kiwi' and tradescantia

Aeonium 'Velour'

Agave desmettiana variegata

Aloe 'Blue Elf' in bloom

Aloe cameronii

Aloe cameronii

Aloe vera and tradescantia

Austrocylindropuntia subulata, crested Eve's needle

Beaucarnea recurvata

Bulbine frutescens

Echeveria 'Azulita'?

Echeveria sp.

Euphorbia flanaganii

Euphorbia leucadendron

Graptopetalum paraguayense

Graptoveria and tradescantia

Mammillaria elongata crest

Mangave 'Jaguar'

Mangave 'Kaleidoscope'

Othonna capensis

Senecio anteuphorbium

Senecio vitalis crest

Senecio 'Skyscraper'

Senecio kleiniformis

Senecio mandraliscae

Senecio rowleyanus (String of Pearls)

Senecio scaposus 'Silver Coral'

Senecio serpens

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Why You Should Hit The CSSA Succulent Sale Amazing tips

Here's who's selling what at the big biennial succulent convention (CSSA). Why you should go:

• Top vendors will wow succulent enthusiasts from all over the world with perfectly grown, collectible plants and art pottery.
• It's held in San Diego about once a decade. (Traveling? Here's what else to see in the area, succulently speaking.)
• You needn't sign up for the convention to attend the sale. However, it IS the world’s preeminent cactus and succulent event for hobbyists of all levels! 
• It's OK to go to the sale and simply have a look. No need to buy.
• The location is near downtown, the airport, and major freeways.
• There's street parking. The hotel garage charges only $10/day.
• You can ask Q's of celebrity experts and meet fellow aficionados, including yours truly. I'm going Saturday. If you're there too, you'd better say hello! 

Above: In 2011, the last time the CSSA biennial convention met in San Diego, the Marriott Mission Valley enhanced its landscaping with colorful succulents. They liked them so much, they planted more. 

Who's Selling What, When & Where

Location: Marriott Mission Valley, 8757 Rio San Diego Dr, (619) 692-3800. The sale's on the west lawn near the parking garage (there'll be signs). Volunteers are on hand to answer Qs, hold your purchases, and show where to load your car.

Sale Hours: Thurs April 24, 7:30 PM–10 PM (preview for convention attendees only); open to the public Fri-Sat April 25-26, 8 AM–6 PM; Sun April 27, 8 AM–3 PM.

Below: Renowned expert, grower, convention keynote speaker, and book author Steven Hammer likes to talk with his hands. 

Among the two dozen vendors are...

• Artisan Plants LLC (George Theodoris) -- Seed-grown haworthia hybrids.
• Botanic Wonders (Al Klein, Anthony Neubauer) -- Caudiciforms and other "weird ones." See my YouTube video and the corresponding page of my site (includes plant gallery). The nursery is among those on tour.* 
• Fairview Plants (Josh Allen) -- Rare aloes, agaves, cycads. See my YouTube video and page with gallery.

• Grow Margo (Rita Lunceford, above) -- Spiral cactus, Eulychnea castanea, Euphorbia abdelkuri, Aeonium 'Pink Witch'. SDCSS member Rita is the sales chair.
• Hidden Agave (Jeremy Spath) -- Unusual agaves, variegates, crosses. Jeremy's an author, landscaper, hybridizer, nurseryman, and convention presenter. See my YouTube video (below) and page with gallery.

• Kyle's Plants (Kyle Williams) -- Gymnos, mammillarias, copiapoa, parodia, etc.
• LA Succulents (Kal Kaminer) -- Caudiciforms, astrophytums, lithops, more.
• Pricker's (Rick Bjorklund) -- Rick is the delightful plant pro in my videos about Jodi's and Wanda's gardens (both on tour, as is Rick's*), and Palomar.
• PW Plants (Peter Walkowiak) -- Euphorbias, cacti, rarities. Celebrity grower with countless show awards. See my video. Don't miss Peter's large adenias in bloom, on display. His nursery is among those on tour.*
• Sphaeroid Institute (Steven Hammer, Oakes Austin) -- Lithops, conophytums, and other mesembs. See my YouTube video and corresponding page. 

*For tour info: CSSA Convention Field Trip Page.

Above, L-R: Art pottery by Pacific Sun Ceramics & Succulents (Maggie Wagner & Ben Trogdon); TGZ Ceramics (Doug Hobson); Susan Aach Ceramics (Susan Aach). 

Will we see you there? Let us know in the comments!

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