Category: gardening
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts

Succulent Pumpkins

Friday, October 07, 2022 6 comments


Recently, someone at work had one of these succulent pumpkins delivered and I thought it was so cute, but I had NOT idea how easy it was to make these!  I immediately started to research and bought the supplies.
I got two small pumpkins for less than $2 each at Trader Joe's.  I found some moss at the Dollar Tree, and I ordered 10 succulent cuttings off of Amazon.  
The key to picking a pumpkin, is picking one with a flat top.  And then, you add hot glue and press down the moss.  
Next, I added hot glue to the bottom of the succulents and pressed them into the moss.  This small pumpkin took about ten little succulent cuttings.  
I pulled off some of the bottom leaves of some of the succulent varieties.  After you get it arranged, you can spritz it with some water about once a week.  I've read that the succulents can take root, but regardless, these should last awhile b/c succulents are pretty forgiving.  When I'm ready to move from fall to Christmas decor, I'll probably try to slice off the top of the pumpkin where these lives and place it in a flowerpot and see what happens.



Composting

Friday, April 09, 2021 2 comments


Last year I joined the quarantine club and really got into gardening.  I have tried for years to successfully grow a little garden.  I finally found a spot in my yard that got the perfect amount of sun, BUT I left so often during the summer it never survived the drought that was my vacation.  Last year, I rocked the garden.  Sure, a squash bug moved in mid July and took out half my plants, but not all of them.  This year I added an herb garden and since the (above) photo I've had to trim it down twice b/c they are exploding.  All of this to say....I also took up compositing.  
I bought a barrel compost bin that has two compartments.  You fill one, then just start spinning it while you are filling the second side and by the time you fill side two, side one should be ready to roll.  I've learned a lot about bugs, a pile that's too wet or too dry, and what can and can't go inside, but I harvested some great compost this spring for my new hobby.  My dog and I visit the bin almost daily to throw in scraps, paper, hair, egg shells, and leaves.  

All this too say, I never thought I'd like gardening so much, but I'm redoing my whole back yard and hope to have a total oasis in the next few years....at least compared to what it is now.  

I miss traveling, but I've learned to love home even more and I'm learning so much just around my yard.  I'm making the most of having more time at home, and my hobbies have looked a little different over the last year, but I'm definitely adding my personal touches, even in the garden.