Contain Yourself

If you’re able to somehow over-winter tender plants like agave & sedum – DO IT.😉😘 Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor' gains mass each year kept bone dry in a lightly heated cold frame from November to March. The acid yellow margins on the leaves of this collectible Mexican agave make it the undisputed star of every container it lives in. (He don’t play.) Classic urns like this should be planted asymmetrically so that they’re interesting from every angle – but also to mess with their inherent formality. Notice how the agave & unbelievably funky Golden Monkey Tail Cactus (Cleistocactus winteri) are off to one side? These pieces – a seasonal installation for a distinguished client & friend – prove that like fine wine, planted urns get better over time.⏳ The goal with containers in our Zone 5 is to compose tight compositions that are spilling/bursting/glowing by the end of July. Always group plants with the same needs together, but vary the texture. We’re on our way…

Welcoming spring with a blast of Aeonium ‘Medusa’, showing
off it’s long-lasting leaves in happy hues of violet, coral & lime.💜🩷💚 (No these are not the flowers.) Footed blue pots in sky blue glaze make the perfect home for my nifty telescopic sea flowers. The colour actually intensifies in cool weather! Aeonium (from the Canary islands) love full sun & little water. They are super easy to propagate from stem cuttings (or snappings☺️) & attract attention as the focal point of any container planting.

"The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason." - Jelly Roll😎