In June, I got the oputia on the right to add to my danger gardenette, an homage to Ms. Danger Garden.
Over time, the poor thing has become pretty crowded and has some new friends who need pots.
So, I went to H & L Produce, owned by the same company that operates Tacoma Boys to look for pots and found this one for the opuntia.
Anyway, I'm loving the free pots.
Of course, repotting the opuntia and a few others requires ripping the danger gardenette apart.
And throwing stuff everywhere.
And putting it all back together. Now the opuntia isn't buried but I'm not sure I like the look of this grouping. Maybe too many pots? What would you do assuming that you want to keep all the plants,they must stay in pots, and they must stay roughly in this amount of space, and a set of say three really huge pots containing mixed plantings is not an option as many of these need to be moved twice a year by my gardeners (me, myself, and I.)
I like the new grouping, I'm a "more is more" kind of gal, though. Free pots, how cool is that? I've often seen broken pots at Tacoma Boys, I wonder if they would give them to me if I asked? And, I just have to say, I love those sunglasses. What a creative use of something ordinary, that elevates it to extraordinary.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on which Tacoma Boys and who is working. The one on South Hill usually marks them down by 50% even when they're practically shards. Thanks, the grouping is sort of growing on me. Sorry, I couldn't resist the bad pun.
DeleteNice find on the free pots. I find most of mine at garage sales or markdowns and the chips are patina instead of damage.
ReplyDeleteThe plants do work best displayed one per pot as you have them. Love the sunglasses and glass accents. You can try grouping the smaller ones in sets instead of a line and rearrange the larger ones in front a bit to create pockets for the smaller pots. Sometimes I tuck the tiny pots into extra space in the top of larger pots.
I have an iron stand from Mexico made for holding these smaller pots that takes up very little space. There might be a place up there selling Mexican imports that would have something like that.
Great ideas! Sometimes it's the simplest things that trip me up like for an informal grouping, don't put things in straight lines...duh! Thank you!
DeleteYay for free! (cuz that's more money you can spend on plants). Even though I've done a few mixed plantings in bigger pots this year I still come back to a single plant per pot as my favorite look. Most of these plants are so architectural that you really want them to shine on their own.
ReplyDeleteWhat strikes me in the last picture is that the Opuntia is up there all by itself on the far right with the tall blue conifer thing (which I'm sure everyone reading your blog knows what it is but I'm dumb that way) acting as it's double on the left. Instead of a triangle taking your eye up to the height of the Opuntia at the top you get a sort of "valley between two peaks" look and then are left feeling like somethings missing (does that make sense?). I also like Shirley's suggestions. And I love the process shots! (and feel quite honored by the title of this sweet collection...)
I totally get the valley thing & I think I'll rearrange so that the opuntia is at the top and move the other pots over so that the blue evergreen can be its own thing. It's also in a pot so it may just move way over, too. Thanks!
DeleteI LOVE IT! free is the best price ever! but I had no idea you had that amazing danger gardenette going on!!! Is the big one opuntia santa rita?!
ReplyDeleteWow Louis, you're great at opuntia identification! Yup, It's Santa Rita. I've always had a major thing for succulents but it wasn't unitl I started reading Loree's blog, got to see her garden in person and received a gift of an opuntia paddle and a couple of adorable agave pups that I started liking plants that can hurt you so...danger gardenette.
DeleteHow can you have too many pots? I like it. Especially the sunglasses.
ReplyDeleteI know, right. Too many pots...who says things like that?
DeleteI'm having similar problems with my group of potted succulents. Right now there sitting in a big grouping in the vegetable garden. Once we have more sunny garden spaces I'm thinking maybe I can pop the pots in amongst other plantings.
ReplyDeleteFree pots are the best. Here we have a nursery that sells them discounted, but I've never found a place that gives them away. Jackpot!
It must have been my lucky day as they were making space for a new shipment & changing the dispaly. I usually ask and the damaged ones are only discounted.
DeleteThanks everyone for the great ideas! Re arranging with a goal in mind will be fun. Well, as much fun as getting stabbed, sawed, and covered with glochidia can be!
ReplyDeleteYou mean you haven't yet invested in full body armor?
DeleteI guess that's the next step down the Danger path!
Deleteor those long forceps that Loree got on one of her adventures.
DeleteI wouldn't change anything. That looks great to me!
ReplyDeleteYou are very kind!
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