Sept 16: Upcycle and Plant returns to The Other Plant Sale (with a special guest)

We enjoyed these prickly pear sour beverages on a hot summer evening on the patio, but how could I just recycle those amazing cans? I could not. So I found a great saucer to catch any run off (because of course the cans have drainage holes added) and planted them up with an assortment of different prickly pear, aka opuntia.
Gravel top-dressing keeps everything tidy.
This agave is a true dwarf agave that tops out at about 4", so it won't be overpowering this planter anytime soon.

And yes, the planter really is a lava-lamp base. It was tempting to leave the cord so you could plug in your agave, but in the interest of safety I removed it and covered the hole. It's 8" tall and 3.25" wide.

MOUNTED JUNGLE CACTUS (Lepismium cruciforme) $50

Lepismium cruciforme is an easy going low-light tolerant epiphytic cactus, it really doesn't get much easier than this.
Plus, it blooms! Mine go outside in the summertime where I've seen a hummingbird visit these petite flowers.
There's moss and soil behind the folded and tacked burlap so all you'll need to do is thoroughly wet it down every once and awhile.
The front piece is held onto the back with magnets so it's easy to remove for watering.

The 12" round back is solid (unless you chose to add a nail hole) so it will keep your wall dry!
"a" IS FOR ALOE, AGAVE, AND AEONIUM, $25
You know I have fun putting these together, right? I mean that's really the whole point. I had a lot of fun with this one. Aloe erinacea, a pup of Agave lophantha 'Splendida' and an aeonium cutting. I was trying to decide if I wanted to plant the agave pup or the aeonium and (of course) the agave one. The aeonium is just a bonus.
This piece measures roughly 4" wide, deep and tall—with the aloe exceeding that height measurement by a bit.


The bottom of both containers is open, the soil is held in place with a piece of screen, you'll want to water these over the sink.
DEUTEROCOHNIA BREVIFOLIA SQUARE, $10
Another piece with an open bottom, this allows for great drainage, but again you'll want to be sure to water it over the sink.
If you know Deuterocohnia brevifolia you know it creeps and mounds, covering rocks and oozing over the sides of planters. This little guy will only get better with time.
MANGAVE ‘RACING STRIPES’ DISH PLANTER, $40

I do love me a specimen quality mangave and this one ticks all the boxes, plus what would an Upcycle and Plant event be without a signature dish planter.
The addition of a bit of rubber tubing (for grip) around the extra wide base means that the dish can easily tilt, all the better to see those orange teeth...
Of course there will be a few copies of my book Fearless Gardening on hand for $20, should you—or someone you know—be scheming on an upcoming garden redo.
So, that special guest... who could it possibly by? Yep, my husband, Andrew. I've featured his artwork here on the blog, but this is the first time we're both selling together in person. The work he's bringing (around 15 pieces) all measure 4" x 6" and will be selling for $35 cash, $40 Venmo (we do not have a credit option, just cash or Venmo). All are paintings (watercolor on wood) with carved figures. Here's a small sampling...

"from a great distance in just days"
His work has always been difficult to photograph. Either the carved figure is in focus, or the words. Never the two together.
In his words: "I make pictures of situations that I want to think about and look at. My pictures have carved wood figures with wire appendages that are mounted over drawings on paper. I am inspired by the natural history museum dioramas and display cases I spent time in front of in my early years and that I continue to find and absorb. My figures are people-animal-shape configurations, and the drawings have landscape elements with plant shapes added in to charm my wife."
This shot is to help illustrate how the figures are mounted.
"storm rollin in"

Another shot of the figure mounting.
"big eat little, little grows big"
Yes, those are opuntia.
"thin sweet dark"

Indeed I am charmed by the plant shapes.
Here are the sale details, mark your calendar and I hope to see you there!