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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Friday, June 3, 2016

Playing with Concrete at Rare Plant Research

If you've ever visited Rare Plant Research or remember my previous visits you know that Burl Mostl, it's creator and owner has a way with concrete (more correctly, a Portland cement/polymer blend.) While the plants and gorgeous setting are draw enough, another reason I like to go to the open house is to see what new creations Burl has come up with.

I wonder if Burl liked making mud pies as a kid?  Blow up a beach ball, mix up a bit of mud...

A little hardware fabric and voila... (notice the blankets in this images.)

Throw one of those blankets in concrete and toss it over a five gallon bucket and you get this.

Loved this one with the rusty metal stand.  Bet it was made on an exercise ball. 

Add a collar to a sphere and you've got an ancient jar. 

Looks even better next to an "ancient" urbanite wall.  

This one was already sold.  Rats.  Reminds me of a Leonard Cohen lyric:  
"Ring the bells that still can ring,  
Forget your perfect offering,  
There is a crack in everything, 
That's how the light gets in." 

Here's one of last year's creations holding Jabba the Hutt.  It's actually the caudex of  Ipomea platensis. I was very tempted by this combination but it's one of those things that to look its best would require uncluttered space of which I've very little.  

Another  cool thing about Burl's creations is that they're  inexpensive.  There was a second sphere that rode home with me as well.  

Stay tuned for more magic from this year's  Rare Plant Research open house. 

20 comments:

  1. So you bought one of those draped blanket creations? There's a woman who does a hypertufa blog who posts tutorials on making them.

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    1. Now I'm trying to figure out where to put it. The spheres were easy; they got added to the sphere collection.

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  2. Nice choices, his concrete creations are fun and very well done. I've been thinking of trying the draped method since seeing it on pinterest. Time to get mixing!

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    1. Keep us posted. It'll be interesting to see how yours turn out!

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  3. I like them a lot especially with the rusty tiny he puts into some of them!

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  4. Does that man know how to have fun or what?!

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    1. I love that he has space enough in one of his greenhouses to do this in the winter! He's a marvel!

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  5. I like people who play with concrete!

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  6. It's amazing what you can do with a bit of concrete!

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  7. Leonard Cohen sure does have a way with words.

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  8. Very cool! I love the one done with the blanket! Very creative!

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  9. Last year's spectacular/peculiar creation is good to stay where it is as a promotional piece. Truly an attention getter. I would love me some hypertufa containers. I got all the instructions and videos for the how-to, now I just need a little motivation to go along...

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  10. Loved to see all your pots. Each one looks beautiful...

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  11. Way to cool ! I want to try this...not sure when but I will.

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  12. I would have grabbed a few of those spheres myself. It's exactly the aesthetic I love for my garden. Needless to say we don't have cool places like Rare Plant Research where I live...

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.