Posts Tagged ‘Debra Lee Baldwin’
Use Colored Sand to Hold Succulent Bouquets
I like to display bouquets of succulent rosettes in clear glass containers filled with layers of sand. Practical as well as pretty, the sand lends color and interest, and serves as to anchor the stems so top-heavy rosettes don’t tumble out. A jay appears interested in the spring succulent bouquet I made for the 2018 Super…
Read MoreSpring in My Succulent Garden
See numerous low-water flowering plants that thrive with minimal care in my Zone 9b Southern CA garden. My spring garden’s most vivid blooms are those of succulent ice plants. Aloes, bulbine and numerous arid-climate companions are bright and beautiful from March through mid-May. Increasing temps tend to put the kibosh on delicate spring flowers. If…
Read MoreHow to Make Succulents Bloom
Above: The problem could be not enough sunlight. Is there a way to make succulents bloom? Yes and no. It partly depends on a plant’s age. It may not be large or mature enough to gear up for reproduction (which is the point of flowers). But there IS something you can do to make a…
Read MoreEnsure Perfect Pairings With These Design Basics
Simple design principles can take your potted succulents from ho-hum to WOW. My 3-min video is a must-see if you’ve ever wondered which succulents to choose for a container—especially if it’s a collectible piece of art pottery. Apply these guidelines and you’ll be amazed at how polished your important plant-pot pairings look! Surprisingly effective Knowing…
Read MoreWays to Make Money with Succulents
I originally published this in Dec., 2017. Since then, how many of these have come to pass? Hm…seems there’s still time to grab a slice of the market! Whenever I’m asked how to find certain succulents or services that are in short supply, I wonder why so few offer them. After all, there’s clearly money to be made! If you or others who…
Read MoreWhat Reviewers Are Saying About “Designing with Succulents”
Above: I introduced the new edition at Succulent Gardens nursery in Northern CA. Below are reviews of “Designing with Succulents” completely revised and updated 2nd edition. Book reviewers are important. It’s not the author or a publicist telling you how good a book is, it’s editors, radio show hosts, columnists, industry pros and peers whose…
Read MoreMake 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
Read MoreDIY Floral-Style Succulent Centerpiece
Check Out My Online Class! Make a lush, colorful succulent combo It looks difficult, but it’s simple once you know how. With the help of the step-by-step instructions and photos that follow, you’ll soon be making your own lovely DIY floral-style succulent centerpieces, gift arrangements, and more. Design by Fresh Chic, a division of CW…
Read MoreWhy Cactus is Popular
Long a pariah plant, cactus is gaining popularity. You could even say that in the gardening world, “cactus is the new black.” Here’s why spiny succulents are catching up with smooth ones, notably in art, home decor, clothing and gift items. A little perspective: The first edition of my book, Designing with Succulents (Timber Press,…
Read MoreMy Sea-Themed Potting Demo at Roger’s Gardens
For my sea-themed potting demo at Roger’s Gardens, I combined rosy-pink barnacles with cuttings of a pink-tipped, cream-striped crassula, and did a multiplant arrangement in a seashell pot. These were something I decided to do on the spur of the moment. Roger’s Gardens (the largest independently owned garden center on the West Coast) is all about…
Read MorePlants and Pots at the Cactus & Succulent Show
Above: I take you behind the scenes at a C&SS show. The excitement is palpable! To see amazing succulents in elegant art pots, attend a Cactus & Succulent Society Show. The largest in the US is the annual Inter-City Show at the Los Angeles Arboretum mid-August. Judges award ribbons and trophies based on how well a…
Read MoreMake a Bouquet of Succulents
When I need a hostess gift, thank-you present, or an arrangement for a special friend, I make a bouquet of succulents. I start by selecting a coffee mug or glass container (usually a jar, thrift-store vase, or clear bottle), the size of which determines the size of the arrangement. Then I head into the garden with clippers.…
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