Careful Embrace - Succulents

It has taken a while, but I am in love....in love with succulents.  Some might say that is a bit of a strong feeling for drought tolerant plants, but take a look...

and another look...

Starting to grow on you right?

Living in Southern California & being an avid Sunset Magazine reader as I am, you really can't avoid the succulent.  But up until recently I hadn't embraced the concept for my garden.

In doing a project for a client, I started really enjoying the look of succulents. Working with her fabulously long reclaimed wood planter helped too.  It sits on a long zinc topped table in the blazing sun so succulents were the natural choice for the environment & the look.

I made my selection at Home Depot, added appropriate soil & rocks to the mix,

and got started!

Hard to capture the planter as it is over 42 inches long & 9 inches across.  Here come the rocks, which really set off the individual plants nicely.

Don't you agree?

These little plants have room to grow & will have "off spring" that can be propagated elsewhere in the garden or in other planters.  Here is an excellent tutorial from Apartment Therapy to show how easy it is to expand a succulent collection this way.

I was sad to give back the planter :(

I had grown to love those little plants.  Especially this one...

It resembles what I love in the garden.  Rather than be lovelorn, I picked up a few succulents for my own yard.  They mix side by side with my more traditional plants.

So I ask, what is not to love? ...eye catching, hardy, low maintenance and practically self propagating!  Embrace the succulent..albeit, carefully some can be a bit prickly!

Now that I am such a fan, if you have a favorite do share!

** Kelly **