One of the things I look forward to at the start of the summer season is the stage dressing of the garden. This is such a fun thing to do and an opportunity to slightly vary the look of the garden from year to year by just a few modifications here and there. Changing accessories, a few rearrangements, new bedding plants among others can make a difference and freshen up a familiar looking place.
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| Playing with positioning of pots. Stage dressing of the garden for the summer has begun |
And one of the new things I'll be doing this year will be incorporating a bit more mixed succulent planting in pots especially on the top patio.
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| Materials assembled |
Our patio (or should be called a terrace as one of our friends insist) just outside the conservatory is still due a more permanent makeover and will be the subject of a few dedicated blog musings which will come up in the following days. But for this year at least it will be graced with some mixed succulent plantings.
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| There's some variation in each Echeveria agavoides and yet they come from the same batch |
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| Echeveria agavoides 'Taurus' at the front looks so shiny, even metallic looking |
My preference is still very much towards one plant per pot, solitary in their containers over several crammed together. Mixed planting however can look amazing and I do appreciate them. A few in the garden this year won't hurt and adds an element to doing something new and slightly out of our norm.
Saying that, by the end of the weekend I still did mostly potting up succulents on their own in a pot and only one mixed planting. I'm pleased with it and should fill in nicely as the season progress. I'll do more over the next few days but have to say...
My heart still firmly belongs to one succulent one pot.
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
What happens when it's a succulent that creates pups? :)
ReplyDeleteI inherited some great single-succulent pots, but also some with several jammed in -- they're both nice. (Sometimes it's good when somebody else makes the choice)
Yours all look great btw!
Still technically one plant per pot Alan, until you separate them that is :) the echeveria agavoides can fill in a pot on its own and seems to self limit itself once it has, have one like that untouched for years
DeleteLike you, I'm a fan of a single plant or kind of plant per pot but enjoy a nice mixed pot here and there. Your garden dressing is looking marvy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter! Nice to have a bit of variety even if there's preference to a particular type :)
DeleteI like too much the Agave bracteosa (or is it other thing?) in that beautiful metallic or shiny pot. I also like a lot the mixed planting you did. I like single and mixed planting, hehehe. And those blue pitchers are marvellous.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa :) the blue pitchers are Portuguese pottery btw
DeleteHi Mark, what a nice assortment of succulent plants you have there (I am referring to the second and third photo from the top)! It is funny to have found an ally, as I am also a "one container - one plant" person :-). By the way, the metal bowl containers are really cool!
ReplyDeleteChristina
Thanks Christina! That's probably the reason why it took me ages to work out a mix as it's not something I tend to do but it was fun :)
DeleteOh those Agave bracteosa shiny silver pots!!! WOW!!! I love them. Perfection. (Okay honestly I want to steal them and make them mine).
ReplyDeleteI think they're a perfect match Loree, glad you like them :) only thought about putting them together Sunday morning
DeleteI am a one succulent per pot person too...been considering a few combinations...but haven't quite got myself to do it. Those poor plants are still in the plastic pots they came home in. I am looking forward to seeing your progress!
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurin! Some succulents are too pretty to be mixed in with others :)
DeleteI've certainly been more successful with the one plant per pot approach. When a mixed planting actually works, it's cause for celebration. but I find that it eventually needs to be pulled apart. Some plants always do better than others over the long haul.
ReplyDeleteThat's very true Ricki, one or two plants eventually dominate and it can be cringey when the time comes to take them apart. You can't go wrong with one plant per pot approach, or hard to at least :)
DeleteWith so many offsets, I've starting mixing things up too because there's so many plants to go around now, but I generally prefer one plant to a pot. The Taurus is amazing! And those silver pots -- what a smashing "terrace" you'll have this summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise, we hope so :) the Taurus possibly won't look like that for long, where it was in the greenhouse was a bit shady
DeleteA most eye-catching display :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna!
DeleteI NEED Echeveria 'Taurus'!
ReplyDeleteIt'll look great in your newly revamped beds Kris!
DeleteWhat a wonderful collection! I love those big blue pitchers and your silver pots. Accessories really do lift a garden's spirit. Summer has arrive here with heat and high humidity. The tropical plants are flourishing, but I am beginning to wilt.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debs and do stay cool and under the shade :)
DeleteI know what you mean, I have planted one 'mixed pot' but the rest that are in pots are 'stand alone' x
ReplyDeleteCan't beat solitary beauties Libby :)
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