Last year Don teamed up with Cheryl Maddocks to create a stunning succulent ball. The succulent they chose to make the ball was Echeveria secunda (sometimes sold as Echeveria glauca), which has grey-green leaves arranged in flattened rosettes. The ball looks even more spectacular now, because the echeverias are in flower. Succulents are easy care and so versatile – as well as making the ball, Cheryl planted more succulents in old buckets, pots on their sides, teapots, and even a chandelier!
Recycle those old shoes!
Don spray-painted some old shoes in a range of bright colours. When the shoes were dry, he drilled holes in the soles for drainage, added some free-draining potting mix and then planted a succulent in each. (Tip: the potting mix was added via a newspaper funnel, to keep the shoes clean.) The succulents Don used included echeverias, sedums and sempervivums. Finally, the succulent shoes were displayed on a rack near the back door to create an eye-catching garden feature.
Further information
This story is in the February 2003 edition of the Burke