Friday, January 4, 2013

My Developing Relationship with Succulents

I had just a handful of succulents at our old house.  The narrow border lining the driveway, the sunniest planting bed the property had to offer, had an edging of Aeonium 'Kiwi', which I used to keep the soil from eroding.  I also had a small mass of magenta flowered Calandrinia grandiflora, which was spectacular in bloom.  I added a couple of low bowls with a few more succulents when a plumbing problem forced us to pave over a bed near our front door.  That was it.  However, since moving to our new house, I've acquired something of a succulent habit.  Like most habits, it developed almost without my realizing it.  I filled a large pot in one sparsely planted area of the garden.  It did well.

I decided to replace the plants in one of the pots by our front door with succulents.  They thrived.

So, I planted the pot on the other side of the front door with succulents.  It's looking good.

The ivy geranium in the hanging basket near the front door was struggling.  I refilled the basket with succulents.

 I found I wasn't watering the pots in the side yard frequently enough to keep the plants looking good.  The solution?  Replace the plants with succulents.

One pot looked lonely there by itself so I added two more pots.


At some point - I don't even remember when - I added a pot containing more succulents to the dry garden to create some additional interest.

There are scads more containers of succulents on the back patio.



And still more on the side patio.

And there are more yet in the front side yard.

Believe it or not, there are more pots I haven't shown.  In addition, I've dispensed with pots altogether and planted succulents directly in the ground along the slope, in the dry garden, in the front side garden...I think you can visualize what's happening without more pictures.  I've also begun to super-size my succulent selections.

The Agave ovatifolia (Whale's Tongue) shown above is still relatively small but eventually should get 2-5 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide.

So, do you think I have a bona-fide addiction?  The fact that more nurseries are beginning to sell succulents in reasonably-priced 6-packs is only fueling my problem.  I wish more vendors would properly label their selections as well - too many nurseries skip labels altogether or let a reference to "assorted succulents" suffice as identification.  I can usually distinguish genus but I'm too new to the succulent game to identify species and cultivars in most situations.

9 comments:

  1. I've heard that readers are having trouble entering comments. I've checked my settings but haven't been able to identify the problem so more research is required. Please check back for further developments.

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  2. The weather is so very mild. That some would call it warm. Good gracious, aren't we lucky, child? Here comes a thunderstorm...

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    1. Thanks for the test message, Eric. I can't believe you quoted Ogden Nash! That's the poem I memorized for a 5th grade presentation.

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  3. I use succulents cautiously here because my climate is much more humid and I have clay soil. I do have a container of hens and chicks that's doing quite well. As for pots, it's not possible to have too many. :o) I love your container gardens! Very cool.

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    1. Thanks for checking out my blog. I love yours! I'm only sorry I can't make it to those garden club meetings you have planned...

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  4. Kris, Your garden and your blog are inspiring. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us. We just returned from Palm Springs where we toured "Moorten's Cactus Garden" (made "famous" by a Huell Howser PBS episode). If you're out that way you might want to visit his succulent paradise. Let us know when you open it for "tours" and Happy New Year. MS

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    1. MS, with all the trips I made to Palm Springs in past years, I'm surprised I've never visited Moorten's. I'll have to check it out the next time I find myself out that way. You're welcome to a tour of our garden any time. I'll be in touch to arrange a lunch with you and SG soon.

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  5. How fun to look at all you photos, Kristi. I don't think I have anything to teach you, photography-wise. I'm strictly a point and shoot gal myself. We'll see how this time lapse experiment turns out. The garden was lovely when Leslie and I visited a year ago and has obviously improved with your hard work. I temporarily messed up my knee for a while when I installed pavers and drip irrigation in my minuscule back yard ten years so hopefully you've done nothing permanent. Best wishes for the New Year and hello to he who shall not be named. Jan in Upland

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    1. Sorry to hear about your knee, Jan. I hope it's on the mend! My knee problem is degenerative. Eventually - hopefully when I'm much older - it'll need to be replaced but joint fluid treatments have helped in the meantime.

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