Plants are Difficult; Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery.

Last Saturday there was a big football game going on between the Seahawks and another team.  The winner of that game would move on to play one more game, the winner of which gets to go to the Super Bowl.  I don't know what any of that means which explains why we decided on that day, in the driving rain and gale force winds, to motor for an hour to visit  Molbak's Garden and Home.  The rain was coming down so hard  (and sideways)  that it was not  possible to take any outdoor pictures.  Fortunately, Molbak's has quite a bit of covered space and extensive indoor areas. The sounds inside the nursery were amazing - The pounding of waves of rain against the plastic surfaces was deafening at times and the wind smacking the panels around made me wonder if there were a hurricane shelter somewhere. Molbak's like just about every other large plant retailer in the area is having a 30% off sale on all houseplants and pots during the month of January.  Although there was a time in the 1970's  when I threw stoneware pots and tied macramé plant hangers and had a room full of houseplants, I'm not really a houseplant person.  A strange statement since my house is full of plants all winter but those are really outdoor plants having a little vacation.  Anyway, a plant sale is a plant sale and I'd been admiring some bromeliads (Aechmeas and a Vriesias) for a year or so but the prices were a little too high for me.  Armed with some extra Christmas cash and the hope that those plants would be part of the sale, we ventured forth. 

 

 

 I'll share more about the houseplant sale and the explosion of spring happening in the covered outdoor spaces later.  This post will deal with selections for people who have given up  growing  houseplants.  Artificial plants have come a long way since the plastic flowers of the 50's and silk Ficus leaves drilled into white birch branches of the 80's! 

I honestly think that some of these are lovely and they certainly require less water than the succulents they're imitating.  Plus, I dig the pots that look like they were made from used cans.

And in case Tillandsias are too demanding for you, these only require a little bit of water to wash the dust away every year or two. 

Also, unlike real plants, these will never outgrow the composition and require repotting. They also won't get leggy if you  have insufficient light.

There's even black mondo grass!

Agave 'Blue Faux'?   (Get it? Blue Glow?) 

Loving these!

What's more exciting than a Christmas cactus full of buds?  Having one in full bud forever!  Sorely tempted but I think my living ones might get jealous.

 There were some great artificial plants to play with here but I decided to pass on them for now. 

I know that we gardeners like the challenge and change of real plants but some of these are kind of cool.  What do you think?  Would you ever have faux plants in your home or is this sort of thing simply beyond the pale?    One wonders WWMD?  (What Would Martha Do?)