Succulents in Birdcage

This birdcage has been around my garden for years. How it came to be a part of our garden is a detail which has been long forgotten. I seem to remember it once held a stuffed parrot. For many seasons it has been empty in the garden, hanging from one nail another, or sitting on one table or another. Lately it has been hanging from our pergola.

Recently I have seen photos online of wire birdcages holding succulents but I didn't put two and two together. Then the other day I went into a little shop that specializes in succulents, and there were lots of adorable wire birdcages used a planters. That's when it struck me that I have the perfect birdcage just waiting for some succulents. 

This is one of those quick and easy projects that gives instant gratification. I bought dried moss and some succulents. I already had some cactus mix so I used that. 

Soaking the moss in water makes it much easier to use. 

Work with a handful at a time. Squeeze the water out and form it into small flat pieces.

Line the bottom of the birdcage.

Then line the sides as high as you want to go. Take care to fill any gaps.

Add the cactus mix to the center then start adding plants.

I wanted to add some plants along the side, poking out through the bars of the cage. First I used my finger to make a hole in the moss and soil.

Then I removed as much of the excess soil as possible to make the root ball small enough to be pushed between the bars.

It took some effort, but it squeezed through.

Once all of the plants were situated, I added more cactus potting mix to fill the gaps. All that was left was lightly watering the plants and hanging it.

Hanging Succulent Planter - It's Living Art

This is the year of the succulent on my little deck. Gone are the struggling plants which are always parched due to neglect. Because the deck has no automated watering system, these plants only get water carried by hand. That is to say, they rarely get watered. I'm hoping succulents are the answer, and I've been thinking about making the switch, then for Christmas I received two very thoughtful gifts from special people in my life. One is this beautiful driftwood succulent planter given to me by my daughter's boyfriend. 

I adore it, and him. You can read about it here.

The second gift was this vertical succulent planter which was a gift from my dear friend, Ramona.

To know her is to be inspired by her. She is a successful business woman whose boundless energy is contagious. She packs more into a day than you can imagine. In addition to being ambitious she is thoughtful, generous, sincere, athletic, pragmatic and beautiful. Her loving nature makes the world a better place for her family, friends, pets, plants, even the fish in her pretty pond. I just love that woman and am so very lucky to have her as a friend. Oh, the adventures we have had!

Today she is on my mind as I put together this vertical garden. Isn't that one of the best things about gardening? The quiet allows our minds to wander; restful therapy for our overloaded brains. 

The kit came with instructions but I didn't follow them exactly. The back panel slides out. There's a hook for hanging it which is at the bottom of this picture.

The planter has a black cloth barrier that is intended to keep the soil in place. 

I decided to use moss instead, so I removed the black cloth and discarded it.

I replaced the back panel and turned it right side up, then filled it with cactus potting soil. 

Laying the plants out first allowed me to arrange and rearrange them until I was happy with the way it looked. I almost forgot to make sure that the hook was at the top. Good thing I checked because I had it upside down. After fixing that issue, it was time to plant.

The wire grid leaves spaces which are only about 1 inch squares. In order to fit the plants into the squares, I very carefully loosened the soil around the roots to remove as much of the soil as I could. I found that gently tapping the rootball was the best technique for getting the soil to fall away without injuring the tiny roots. 

For the larger plants, I cut away some of the wire to make larger holes.

The smaller plants I just very carefully poked through the gaps.

To keep the soil from falling out when it's hung, I used moss. Soaking the moss in water for a couple of minutes makes it easier to use because it is less dusty and clings together better. Squeeze out the excess water,

then tuck it all around the plants.

I think the moss looks much nicer than the black cloth would have. What pretty little plants!

Thanks, Ramona!

Succulents in Driftwood Planter - A Special Gift

This succulent and driftwood planter was a Christmas gift given to me by my daughter's precious boyfriend. He came to celebrate with us for the first time this year, bearing unexpected gifts for the family. It touched me so to see him carrying those gifts into our home. Knowing him, I should have realized he would come with an armful. He is everything I have ever wanted for my daughter; a loving man, kind to the core, devoted, steady, tender, humorous, adventurous, supportive, accepting and so much more.  There is no greater joy than seeing your children happy and in love, creating fulfilling lives. 

So this beautiful planter is the perfect addition to one of my favorite places. My deck is where I enjoy my morning coffee. It is where I sit for a few minutes here and there throughout my day when I need a little fresh air. 

Like most gardeners I prefer to be outside and the deck provides a quick escape. I made the screen to give privacy from the neighbors and I have a few potted plants but the table remained unadorned. This little succulent garden is the perfect addition. 

The plants even coordinate with the screen fabric.

I love the combination of plants and the simplicity of the design and I wanted to share it with you.

Seeing it will remind me of how lucky I am to have a sweet, happy daughter who is loved by a very special man.