Spring Cactus and Succulent Show at ZBG!

Today I got to go to the Austin Cactus and Succulent Society plant show and sale! First of all, I must say that the Zilker Botanical Gardens is very lush and beautiful right now (especially after the bit of rain we got mid-morning). It was quite wonderful to stroll the winding paths with my husband this damp Sunday afternoon.

Here is what I learned:
Most succulent varieties are drought tolerant and cold-hardy if planted outdoors (look for varieties that come from climates similar to Texas).
Cacti and succulents like to be fertilized regularly in spring. Eric Pedley from East Austin Succulents says he uses 20-20-20 fertilizer or fish emulsion. Seaweed works great too!
Top dress your potted succulents with pebbles or hardwood mulch.

In my latest experiments I've concluded that it is best to leave your succulent in its pot when using in a "dry" terrarium. Succulents need a combination of soil, sand and perlite to thrive in their environment. They tend to get sad over time if planted in sand alone. It also makes it easier to re-pot your succulent as it grows. You can add it right back into the terrarium once you're done! Look for a post on assembling a terrarium kit to illustrate this better soon. It is also a good idea to thin any "pups" and pot those separately for future terrariums.

If you find yourself drawn to the strange and awesome world of succulent plants, be sure to check out The Austin Cactus and Succulent Society website and their upcoming events. Their next scheduled sale will be Labor Day weekend.

Here is a recipe I've found for making your own succulent potting soil:
2 parts coarse sand
2 parts good-quality potting soil (I like Vortex Potting Mix from The Natural Gardener)
1 part perlite, vermiculite or pebbles (perlite and vermiculite are not considered organic as they do not break down organically, but I'm OK with that)

Organisms under glass

Most of my friends and family have recently been gifted a terrarium I've made. What may seem generous on the surface is actually, sort of, not. When I first began all of this, earlier this year, I needed an experimental group of people to "test" my product on. A focus group, if you will. You see, most people say, "I can't keep a plant alive," or "I'm really good at killing plants." Pish-posh, I say. Now, I know for certain that those people can keep a plant alive because I gave them one, and they did. Terrariums are the perfect thing for those who have such little faith in their plant-care abilities.

This is an example of a "dry" terrarium (or a desertarium, really). Succulents are a pretty big deal, at the moment as they are very easy to care for and they look so cool! Oh, the variety! Oh, the oddities! They really make a statement. I've seen them used in so many ways from wreaths to wedding bouquets. I wish I had thought of that...
Anyway:

This one became a birthday gift to a very good friend of mine last February. It is a beautiful specimen of Echeveria, "Topsy-turvy" (right) and Sempervivum (left). I made its home from a small brandy glass my mom had given me (I hoard glass now, for obvious reasons). It is rooted in fine, white sand and adorned with chartreuse reindeer moss (aka, lichen) and some tiny shells. It has a "beachy" feel to it. 

After almost two months, this specimen is still quite happy in its home. 

Tip: Spritzing the sides of the glass with a spray bottle will help keep the glass clean-looking and the water will seep down to the root systems slowly, which is the best way to water succulents. You can also spray the plant itself to give it a little shower and keep it looking nice, too. Click on the "Terrarium Care" section for more info.

Nature walk, after the rain

Spring arrived in Texas early this year, as it usually does. We had a very temperate winter with only a few days of freezing. My friends and I enjoyed prosperous winter gardens that those who live in the colder parts of the country would be most envious of ("green" with envy...bad pun). Later, when it starts scorching and everything dies by about, July, I'll have to go back to this post to remember that this is why I live in Texas: temperate winters and early springs.
So, I got my daughter Viola in the jogger and we took a nature walk on the running trails near our home. There had been a storm a few nights before. One of my favorite times to go on these walks is after the rain because it never ceases to amaze me how lush all the vegetation looks right after the rain. I'll share some photos from our stroll. Highlights include bright orange moss and budding cacti. Also, catch my terrarium tip of the day at the end of this post!

Next I need to capture some landscapes with all the bluebonnets. They are doing great this year and I still haven't done the annual "take pictures of your kids in the bluebonnets" thing yet.

Tip: for those who harvest their own mosses like I do, here is a link about how to wash your moss properly from The Fern and Mossery blog: wash your moss!

What is an apothecary?

a·poth·e·car·y: Could I have the language of origin, please?


1325–75; Middle English  (< Old French ) < Medieval Latin apothēcārius  seller of spices and drugs, Late Latin:  shopkeeper,equivalent to Latin apothēc ( a ) shop, storehouse (< Greek apothḗkē; see apo-, theca) + -ārius -ary  [from dictionary.reference.com]

It took me forever to think of a good name. After agonizing about it for over a month, I settled on this one. But what, really, is an apothecary? Well, as it seems, it can be a rather loose term depending on the language of origin. I can work with that!
 My little shop does not sell pharmaceuticals, nor am I a chemist (it would be pretty cool if I was, though). I sell terrariums. Actually I want to sell them so I can afford to keep making them. This is my early, beginning attempts to take my obsessive hobby and do something with it. If you love plants like I do, you might enjoy what's in store. If you are one of those people that "can kill anything," come learn a thing or two from someone who has killed a few, too. I'm a learn-as-I-go kind of girl. Stump me with questions so I have to go research an answer. Or better, just check back soon and see if this really leads to anything. I hope it does.