Succulents in Containers

On a recent trip to a local garden shop, I noticed these beautiful potted succulents and couldn't help but be taken in by the layers of texture and the various gradations of green, which work together to create a miniature landscape.

Planting succulents in large groups within a single container is a great way to unite some of your favourite varieties. The portability of a container means you can also bring the pot indoors once the cooler weather sets in, although many forms of succulents can tolerate cooler temperatures.

The key to keeping succulents in containers is ensuring sufficient drainage. A blend of coarse sand, crushed gravel and a soil-less potting mix will be best. Succulents grow in arid climates, such as deserts or alpines, and are tolerant of significant periods of drought since they store water in their dense bracts. They can stand more watering during their growing season, but generally prefer dry to slightly moist soil, never wet. Their roots should always be kept dry. Succulents also prefer bright light.

A blend of Orostachys and Sempervivum look beautiful when crowded into this vintage container. Succulents do well in dense plantings such as these.
The black of this iron urn makes the colours and textures of these succulents pop.

Guy Wolff Pottery at Restoration Hardware

One of Martha's favourite potters is Guy Wolff. Based in Washington, Connecticut,Guy was discovered by Martha years ago on one of her many excursions through the state to seek out the best craftspeople and artisans. He has since become her favourite potter and her homes are filled with examples of his pieces, many of them custom-made for Martha. Wolff has been doing his art since 1971 and he is a big believer in architectural pottery, pots that stand the test of time, both in terms of their functionality and their style. Drawing inspiration from the 18th and 19th centuries, Wolff is as prolific as any of the great masters. Martha has had him on her show numerous times and always extolls the virtues of his work.

Now, any of us can enjoy the beauty of his work in our own homes, thanks to a recent wholesale partnership with Restoration Hardware, a home-furnishings store that launched in California over 30 years ago and that, today, has become a leader in the industry. You can view some of his pieces below or at the Restoration Hardware website.

Here is Martha trying her hand at pottery in Guy's Connecticut studio with Guy as her guide.
The line of Guy Wolff pottery at Restoration Hardware comes in both classic terra-cotta and in white clay, part of his Regency collection, which is exclusive to Restoration Hardware.
Graceful lines and soothing tones define the style of these "Long-Tom" pots in the Regency Collection. Long Toms are a traditional favourite for bulb planting and deep-rooting plants.
Molded handles embellish these elegant Peabody pots, named after a small Massachusetts town that was the center of pottery creation in America during the 18th Century.
One of Wolff's best-loved creations is his classic orchid pot. This particular one is based on the style of those found at the conservatory at Windsor Castle in England. The holes in the pot allow the orchid's roots to breathe, which is required for their survival and healthy growth.
These ceramic seed pans are so lovely, embossed with multiple stamps of Wolff's classic insignia. They are also perfect for succulents and cacti plantings inside the home.

Good Things for...Hoses?

While looking through a past issue of Martha Stewart Living (I prescribe myself at least one issue a day, and this one was the July 2001 issue) I came across three Good Things that I felt I had to share, given the season. All of them are connected to the rural outdoors and to the use of hoses. I've always been a sucker for themes.

This is a Good Thing I've always loved. As a frequent cottage-goer and beach comber this time of year, there was something very alluring about its casual practicality. Designate a grassy spot a step away from your porch or patio as the place for washing sandy feet before re-entering the house. Make a weatherproof frame with four three-inch-tall boards. The box shown is 16 inches square. Fill it will several layers of smooth, flat stones - river stones look particularly handsome and are easy on the soles. Sand rinses away into the stones and grass below, leaving bare feet clean.

A standard, galvanized paint bucket makes a multipurpose garden-hose caddy. Drill three holes in a triangular pattern in the bottom of the bucket. Depending on your wall surface, bolt or screw the bucket to the wall; use washers to strengthen the cut edges of the holes. The space inside the mounted bucket provides additional storage; a sprinkler fits nicely inside.

Designating a spot in the garden for washing up is always a Good Thing. This little station includes a small wire caddy for a sponge and liquid soap. The bar of soap was altered with a rope to make it easy to hang, and therefore difficult to lose. To make soap on a rope, use an apple corer lengthwise through the soap, which should be large enough to withstand the coring. Fold a three-foot length of cotton rope in half and push both ends through the hole; tie a square not at the bottom of the soap and hang it near an outdoor faucet.

The Sexy-Rexy Rose

When I saw a friend's photographs of a public rose garden recently, I zeroed in on one particular variety that immediately caught my eye. Its lush and luxuriant appearance is what attracted me. I asked Gordon what they were called and he announced the name proudly: Sexy Rexy! (They are also sold in nurseries as Heckenzauber or Macrexy roses.) He also told me they are intoxicatingly fragrant, which further sold me on their virtues. If I had a rose garden, these would be growing in profusion. Below is some information about this amazing rose.

This is Gordon's photograph of the Sexy-Rexy, which he took at the Thornden Park Rose Garden in Syracuse, New York.

Sexy Rexy is a floribunda rose producing showy, heavy heads of camellia-like, rounded, fully double, rose-pink flowers with abundant glossy, dark green leaves. It is categorized as a perennial shrub and grows to about 3 feet in height. They are hardy between zones 5 and 9 and bloom from mid-spring to mid-fall, allowing for a long period of enjoyment. Like most roses, the petals are edible and have a mild, delicately bittersweet flavour, and they prefer full sun. The soil can be sandy or clay loam with pH levels ranging between 4.5 to 8.

Contented Containers

As someone who has spent much of his adult life living in an urban setting, container plantings have been a blessing to me. I have a green thumb and a deep love of plants and flowers, but no land upon which to sow any seeds or plant any plants. To satisfy my plant urges, I've turned again and again to container gardening as a solution. Among the benefits of container gardening is the portability factor; you can arrange and rearrange your collection of potted plants on your deck or balcony as often as you wish. You can bring some of the plants indoors to over-winter them and you can pair plants and make unusual groupings within the same vessel to create your own unique collection of favourites. Below are some lovely examples.

A massive composition of potted plants like this looks stunning with its textures, colours and levels. You can mix tropicals with perennials, larger trees with smaller pots of flowers and exercise your imagination as you explore colour, pattern and placement.

A splash of pink adds charm to this concrete urn. Pink mandevilla mingles with matching bold caladium and a frilly silver licorice plant.

Globed barrel cacti contrast beautifully with the spiky mescal agave. These can reside indoors most of the year and be placed outdoors in the summer to lend an unexpected element to a patio.

Height and a limited palette of reds and silvery greens provide drama without overstatement: Red Abyssinian banana, Purple New Zealand flax, Casa Blanca Oriental lily, Nicky K dahlia, Dusty miller, English ivy, Blue fescue, Red bedding dahlia, Sizzler Burgundy salvia, Coral bougainvillea, Lion's ear, Honey bush and Meteor sedum.

A stunning collection of plants achieves drama and impact: Western mugwort, 'Margarita' sweet potato vine, 'Profusion Orange' zinnia, Dracaena, 'Snoho Wonder' dahlia, 'Intrigue' canna, 'Sonata' petunia and 'Rubiginosa' alternanthara.

Polly African mask, Dragon Wing pink begonia, caladium, golden creeping jenny and Summer Wave amethyst wishbone flower look exotic and alluring in a rustic wooden window box.

The striking silhouette of a variegated American agave is adorned by a skirt of pink ice plant (Lampranthus deltoides).

Even the humble tulip is elevated to new status when grouped tightly together in a pairing of terra cotta pots.

Potting Pleasures

At Anthropologie, we are creating a veritable landscape of inspiration in our stores this spring, owing much of its allure to the incredible assortment of garden product we're receiving this season. As someone who specializes in Anthropologie housewares, I am continuously excited and dazzled by the gorgeous creations we receive as part of our shipments. Any of my fellow coworkers who have witnessed me in the stock room will tell you that it doesn't take long before I gasp giddily at the discovery of a new home product. This season, I'm particularly taken by the garden accessories: the flower pots and urns and plant stands. I've selected a few of my favourites below. Next time you're in, please have a look.


Although they are brand new, these crackle-glazed flower pots look as if they've been part of the landscape for ages. They look even better when they're overflowing with herbs, ivy or moss. From left to right: $8, $18, $10.

The 'Scallops & Speckles' glazed ceramic flower pot may look diminutive in this photo but its 19-inch diameter and 11-inch height make it perfect for a bit lot of pansies or fancy-leafed begonias on the patio. My inclination would be to use it indoors for a ficus or an azalea: $88

This is my all-time favourite plant-stand. A pair of stork legs rising up to a summit of feathers to hold a flower pot of your choice. I would love it indoors or outdoors. Made of iron with a rust-like aged patina: $78

Part of the same wild family, obviously, this pot stand with its alligator feet gives any vessel it holds a Tim-Burton like spirit of its own. Iron with rusted patina: $78

About to scurry away, the "Fossilized Pot" (13-inches in diameter) is the perfect fit: $48

I'm planning on buying both this pot and the pot below for use indoors. I love the spicy tones and the linear designs: Secret Parrot Pot $78

Subtle relief indicates the outlines of tropical birds amid the foliage: Secret Dragonfly Pot $78

Part of the same collection of aged herb pots, shown above, this blue one would add a pop of colour: Excavated Pot, Small $8.

A Vancouver Garden

I am a fairly proud Canadian. I enjoy maple syrup; I ski; I speak French and I'm pleased that we're hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, one of Canada's most beautiful cities. To further highlight the beauty of this seaside city on Canada's west coast, I thought I'd showcase a garden there that I have loved for several years. It is the private, residential garden of Thomas Hobbs and Brent Beattie, both artists and both owners of the renowned Southlands Nursery. It has continued to inspire me.

The home itself was built in 1933 in the Mission Revival style, nestled in the nape of a hillside above a beach known as Spanish Banks. Hobbs and Beattie took possession of it in the 1980s, making a dream come true for Hobbs, who had admired the home since he was a teenager:

"A friend drove me by in his sports car, knowing I would be enchanted by its faded Hollywood awnings and intricate tile roof. I was more than enchanted; I nearly got whiplash. The street was still unpaved at that time and difficult to find, and the house looked almost abandoned. Strings of old Christmas lights were falling off the eaves and a poor looking stuffed pheasant stared sadly out of the living room window. On the cliff side, concrete stairs with rickety wooden handrails rose through blackberry bushes. I returned occasionally on my own to sneak around. There were three underground garages, I discovered! I imagined Norma Desmond's car was still inside one of them and that 'Max' was probably watching me from one of the windows."

The house, with its pink stucco walls and arched windows, is reminiscent of Old Hollywood. Giant Chamaecyparis lawsoniana trees (left) dwarf the house and are becoming a rare species of tree in the region. The views of the mountains and the city across the bay are breathtaking.

When Hobbs was 33, 19 years after he first spotted it, the house was at last his. He Christened it Casa Triangulo, because of the multitude of triangular shapes that govern the architecture. More than a decade later, the home's refurbishment was still not complete, but it was a labour of love and passion that he likens to the drive and ambition of a prolific painter. Of particular interest to Hobbs, a professional landscaper and designer, was the garden and the home's spectacular grounds.

Hobbs says his style of gardening was influenced greatly by the landscape of this property and almost none of the original plantings remain. The property's dramatic slopes and curves brought the bold, dramatic side in Hobbs (a side that was always very evident, by the way) to his gardening philosophies. Among his design signatures: zone-defiant planting, unusual foliage, terra-cotta pots overflowing with succulents, and black iron furniture, tucked mysteriously into the nooks and crannies. Below are examples of his style and the gorgeous results of his efforts to restore the home.

Palm trees in Canada, you ask? Well, yes! Vancouver's temperate climate (Zone 7) allows for the growth of many plants and trees that are found nowhere else in the country, including the non-native Trachycarpus fortunei, the hardiest of all palm trees. Hobbs also grows species of Yucca and Magnolia on the property, and has great success with all manner of succulents.

The sweeping terrace at the back of the house was built by Hobbs and Beattie to maximize views of downtown Vancouver and the bay. Gold-leaved Fuchsia, Ballotta and Abutilon spill out of a raised, circular planter in the foreground. Another palm tree, one of five on the property, has proven to be completely winter hardy. "Uplit at night, it is easy to imagine oneself on the Riviera," says Hobbs.

"The garden is actually quite small," says Hobbs. "It encircles the house, and a path of cast-concrete pavers that look like mellow Yorkstone allows you to see it all without much effort." The entry fountain, above, is edged with Asplenium scolopendrium, Thalictrum Elin and Bergenia.

Hobbs abhors anything typical or tacky in the garden. And that goes for garden hoses, too. He opted for a black garden hose, barely visible wound around a pair of copper hooks on a stucco wall that is laced with Abutilon Huntington Pink and Hedra Helix Goldheart. Stipa arundinacea frolics about while scculents in a shallow moss-and-chicken-wire nest adorn the top of the wall, looking as if they had always grown there.

Here is another garland of echeverias, sempervivums and other succulents. This one, studded with coloured-glass ornaments for dramatic effect, is growing along the staircase leading up from the terrace.

Hobbs has an extensive collection of handmade terra-cotta pots from Impruneta, Italy. This one holds the very dark Echeveria "Black Prince" which constrasts well with a chunk of coral, creating a sort of undersea vignette. So extensive and unusual are Hobbs' succlent plantings that he has taken to calling them Echeveria pizzas: "A little of this, a little of that."

An antique plant stand from France holds personal favourites. Pots of Saxifraga fortunei would get lost if they had been planted in the garden. Elevated here for all to see, their primary status in Hobbs' list of preferences is evident.

An inexpensive antique cabinet from Indonesia stands gracefully along one of the garden walls. Inside, a pillar candle illuminates the dark leaves of Cimicifuga simplex.

Thomas Hobbs has written two beautiful books on gardening: Shocking Beauty and The Jewel Box Garden. Both are highly recommended.

Garden Bouquets and Beyond

Although I have never met her, Suzy Bales feels a bit like an old friend. The prolific garden columnist (Family Circle, Homes & Gardens, New York Times, Huffington Post) is the author of 14 books, including the Down-to-Earth Gardener and, my favourite, The Garden in Winter. The words and photographs in her books have kept me company on cold winter days when I'm home alone. She always gets me thinking about the outdoors in new and creative ways.

Over the years, Suzy has been kind enough to send me advanced copies of her books, some of which have been sweetly autographed, and her most recent offering arrived in my mailbox last week, much to my delight. The new book, Garden Bouquets and Beyond, is a fine showcase of the best blooms and foliage plants the northeastern garden has to offer with instructions on how to grow them and arrange them in gorgeous bouquets.

The book has a classic feel to it. After reading several chapters I emailed Suzy to let her know that I think it is timeless, both in its style and its advice. Make no mistake, though: the book is not 'modern.' If you're looking for asymmetrical arrangements in edgy, monochromatic tones in angular vessels you're looking in the wrong place. The arrangements are derived from the flowers grown in Suzy's own garden in Oyster Bay, New York, and reflect the pastoral, country life she has so happily created. But, the knowledge she imparts will serve any gardener well, especially one who is anxious to learn more about the art of arranging what she grows.

Bouquets and Beyond is divided into two parts: Seasonal Gathering from the Garden and Tricks of the Trade. The first portion deals with the practical ideas on how to plant a cutting garden that will offer the best colours, textures and scents all year round. (No, Winter is not ignored. The "Beyond" element incorporates arrangements, garlands and wreaths with twigs, coniferous boughs, winter berries and pinecones.) She troubleshoots, too, and discusses some of the dilemmas of the gardener and flower-grower, always managing to find optimistic solutions. In the second portion, Suzy examines the specifics of the art of arranging, including the principles of bouquet design, wreath making, garlands, using foliage correctly and how to use flowers in all sorts of projects, from mock topiaries to fashion accessories. This section also includes a very useful guide with tips on how to prolong the vase life of each and every single flower Suzy mentions in the book. It's indespensible!

I'm reading the book slowly, taking time to smell the proverbial roses, as it were, as I turn each page. The book is available now at bookstores.

Suzy Bales in her New York garden sets the scene for one of her famous garden parties. (Thank you, Suzy, for all the wonderful books and timeless advice!)

The photographs by Steven Randazzo bring Suzy's garden to life on the printed page. The reader can almost drink in the fragrances.

The book offers advice on how to make traditional tabletop arrangements as well as nosegays and posies. Be sure to visit Suzy's website for more: suzybalesgarden.com

China Asters in Arrangements

I count the China Aster among my favourite flowers. They are also among the most beautiful and resilient bouquet flowers, perfect for fall arrangements. Flower shops consider them a popular staple and you are likely to find several varieties at your local florist.

China Asters are Asian wildflowers that have been bred and cultivated over the centuries by European growers. They are not, in fact, actual asters but members of the closely-related genus Callistephus. Discovered in China in 1720 by a Jesuit missionary, the seeds were rapidly cultivated in Europe and grown prolifically in gardens. Decades of inbreeding, however, have made the China Aster susceptible to numerous diseases and fungi in the outdoor garden. With little resistence to pests and plagues, they are now among the more vulnerable and rarely-grown garden flowers in North America.

In arrangements, however, they flourish. Below are some examples of gorgeous arrangements of China Asters from the pages of Martha Stewart Living. I hope you find them as inspiring as I did!

Compatible curves unite a dome of 'Kurenai Dark Violet Purple,' 'Matsumoto Blue,' and 'Giant Princess Mix' with a twentieth-century English lustre cream pitcher. The ceramic's coppery glaze sets off the plum-coloured flowers.

'Matsumoto White,' 'Matsumoto Yellow,' and 'Kurenai White' bring out the highlights of a beautiful pearlware vessel. Orange dahlias and gomphrena supply vibrant contrast.

'Tiger Paws' adds splashes of bright pink to a fiery arrangement of 'Fan Deep Rose' and 'Fan Mix,' 'Kurenai Dark Pink' and 'Super Single Upright Rainbow Bright Mix' with 'Strawberry Fields.' I love the rusticity and simplicity of the arrangement, which would look beautiful in a country kitchen.

A flamboyant Victorian lustre pitcher suits and exuberant cluster of 'Duchess Mix,' 'Super Single Upright Rainbow Bright Mix,' 'Lilliput Blue Moon,' 'Matsumoto Blue Tip White' and 'Giant Princess Mix.' The deep colours of the arrangement are an ideal fall tableau.

Pale blush tones in 'Matsumoto Apricot,' and 'Florette Champagne' are echoed in the decorative scene on an early nineteenth-century English copper lustre bowl.

A close-up of the same arrangement reveals shows the textural contrasts between dense mounts of petals and airy clusters of quills. Fuzzy green rose-scented geranium leaves expand the palette.

Pioneer Nursery

I had the opportunity to visit my family in Ottawa this past weekend to celebrate my mother's birthday and to enjoy Canada's May long weekend, which is designed to celebrate Queen Victoria and her involvement as a founding member of Canada's confederation. One of the first things I did when I returned was to visit the Pioneer Nursery with my mom. Located just outside of the nation's capital in a town called Kemptville, the nursery is one of the best ones I've been to. The quality of the plants on offer, the knowledge of the staff and the beautiful variety available makes every visit there a treat. My mother had her eye on a few goodies for the garden, but we ended up loving just about everything we saw! Below are some highlights from the nursery and its greenhouses.
The entrance is welcoming. Inside the front building is a seed store and a section where houseplants are sold.

The expansive potting shed has a large assortment of ceramic, cement and iron vessels for outdoor plantings.

Potatoes, organically grown on site, are sold to visitors near the entrance.

A wide array of shrubs and small trees under the arbor.

There are eight large greenhouses where visitors can look at all kinds of potted plants and flowers for the garden.

The entrance to one of the greenhouses is a grand display of colour.

I loved the brilliant colours of this large fuschia flower. The petals almost look like intricately folded fabric.

Another gorgeous fuschia specimen.

These tuberous begonias were in full bloom, hanging above our heads. The stems were loaded with enormous flowers.

This deep pink tuberous begonia had already been sold to a lucky buyer.

This yellow begonia was my favourite of the day.

A pale pink fuschia that had yet to fully bloom.

This lemon tree had only one fruit, but it was large and looked ready to pick.

Fancy-leafed geraniums.

These alliums look like some kind of alien species silhouetted against the grey sky.

A brilliant spectrum of pansies.

They had many different varieties of heuchera.

These are flamingmound spirea - appropriately named.

I love the soft pallette of these salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki.'

Beautiful flowering almonds.

A weeping crabapple tree. I had never heard of such a thing.