Far Out Flora

Gardening in the Outerlands of San Francisco

Outer Sunset Super Garden

April 26, 2012 by Megan | 22 Comments

Sweet Succulent Planter

Last Friday before I headed to the San Francisco Botanical Garden I had to pay a bill, so I took a different route to the muni stop than normal to hit up a mailbox. I busted out my camera when I saw this awesome example of a succulent planter. Lots of different colors and textures, plants that are practically impossible to kill in our neighborhood and common enough people won’t steal them (succulent theft is a problem here).

Super Sweet Succulent Container

Then I saw this in front of the next house and kind of freaked out. Seriously? Agave attenuata ‘Kara’s Stripes’ and a bunch of other cool plants thoughtfully arranged in containers. There are tons of succulents in our hood, but not usually put together with this much care.

The Container Craziness Continues

Wholly crap, it doesn’t end! Graptoveria ‘Fred Ives’ looking hot next to a golden Sedum with a dark purple Aeonium backdrop. Then something crazy happened. The owner of the house was out front saying good-bye to visitors, saw me freaking out taking tons of pictures and invited me out back to check things out.

Really?

Look at the beautiful raised bed down the center full of edible greens! This is how I envisioned our garden in a perfect world, but we drew the line at messing with hardscaping. As renters you have to draw the line somewhere.

Kalanchoe 'Fang' & friends

Dudleya pulverulenta (I think)

Man, this is embarrassing. You’d think I could easily pick out the difference between D. pulverulenta and D. brittonii by now, but I can never tell unless the two are both next to each other. My guess is for D. pulverulenta since the leaves don’t seem as narrow as the brittonii.

Lettuce land

Echium candicans

Big thanks goes out to Alan who let me check this fabulous garden out. I didn’t get to meet his wife/garden designer, but she did an amazing job!

 

 

Sprucing up Shiny

December 7, 2011 by Matti | 11 Comments

Shiny Succulent Container - Nov 27, 2011

Shiny Succulent Container - Nov 27, 2011

A tad past two years ago, I found this shiny object which I jammed packed with a ton O succulent cuttings. Well, it’s been way over due for a little sprucing up. Above is the result. Check out the side by side at the end.

Shiny Succulent Container - Nov 2009

Shiny Succulent Container - Nov 2009

Here’s how it looked 2 years ago…it’s really more if a game of survivor. Cruising the Mission hood for funky stuff, I found this UFC (Unidentified Found Container. 35 cuttings from our backyard later, it was filled with hope, dreams, and promise. Our Thrift Store Succulent Storage post tells more of the story.

Shiny Succulent Container - Nov 27, 2011

Shiny Succulent Container - Nov 27, 2011

Why did it need a replanting? Well, rarely do plants look superb forever, unless you’re using plastic. Here’s a recent pic how it’s been looking. That’s what a year of total neglect looks like. Shocking anything is still alive.

The cool thing is that I have a better idea which of these succulents can handle a some stress. Taking a peek above, looks like the tough guys are a couple of aeoniums, some Sedum rebrotinctum, a sempervivum, Crassula tetragona, and some other crassula & sedum.

Feb 2010ish on Left -- Nov 2011is on the Right

Feb 2010 on Left -- Nov 2011 on the Right

Check out this before and after (clicking our pics make them big). There’s about an 18 months span from left to right. Game on, let’s see which will endure thru 2012.

– Far Out Flora

DIY Succulent Bar

October 29, 2011 by Matti | 12 Comments

Succulents DIY style.

Succulents DIY style.

Can we say that Urban Bazaar Rocks!?!  Since last time we visited them on 9th Ave and Judah in San Francisco, they added a whole new aspect of coolness called the Succulent Bar.  You come…pick out your pot, pick out your plant, and do it yourself…leaving the mess to them.  Hey, it’s a great way to make those cool gifts you always wanted to give, and funstar #1 to make.  Or just keep for yourself….shh your secret is safe with us.

Pots to select.

Pots to select.

Seeing the Succulent Bar for the first time during the Inner Sunset Fair, I was impressed that they’re offering Urban FarmGirls pots available for your sweet succulent babies.  UFG is top notch in my book.  They make the best hypertufa pots, bar none…light weight and with an attractive rustic-mod feel.

Ton O succulents.

Ton O succulents.

Here’s where I love to gaze…the succulents.  All from growers that obviously cares about succulents.  Bold and colorful textures.

Crested Echeveria Doris Taylor.

Crested Echeveria Doris Taylor.

Okay, now you sold me.  Really?  You have a cresting Echeveria ‘Doris Taylor’ in a two inch pots?  No way!  They’re always doing fun events at their place so great way to keep up to date is via their facebook & twitter.

Top Dressing.

Top Dressing.

I’ve gotta admit, that I’ve resisted the term ‘top dressing’ for a long time.  Hey, I don’t mind mulching my pots with rocks, sand, or wood bits…but does it really have to be called top dressing?  Starting a new term today… Hydro Accumulating Topper… aka H.A.T.  Yes, now it’s time to add a HAT to your succulent pot.

and...done.

Wait for it...and...done.

There you are.  One awesome score from Urban Bazaar.  Every DIY Succulent Bar planting is unique and for a fraction of buying all those bits in bulk for yourself.  Click for more Urban Bazaar fun.

– Far Out Flora

February 4, 2011
by Matti
75 Comments

DIY Succulent Table

Mission DIY succulent table complete.  I’ve wanted to make this baby for months.  It’s a dissected old shipping crate and some other random scraps of wood lying around the house turned into a patio side table with a planting strip … Continue reading