Under The Spell Of Succulents

An overview of succulent plants in cultivation and how we engage with the hobby.

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Celebrated artist and lead character designer of Brave, Ratatouille, and Despicable Me, Carter Goodrich, shows that sometimes, even the prickliest people—or the crankiest cacti—need a little love. Hank is the prickliest cactus in the entire world. He sits in a pot in a window that faces the empty desert, which is just how he likes it. So, when all manner of creatures—from tumbleweed to lizard to owl—come to disturb his peace, Hank is annoyed. He doesn’t like noise, he doesn’t like rowdiness, and definitely does not like hugs. But the thing is, no one is offering one. Who would want to hug a plant so mean? Hank is beginning to discover that being alone can be, well, lonely. So he comes up with a plan to get the one thing he thought he would never need: a hug from a friend.

Container Succulents is the perfect book for container gardening beginners who don't have a lot of space to work with. The beautiful photographs of succulent decor are sure to inspire your inner gardener, interior designer and all-around house plant lover. Learn how to care for and display individual succulent varieties, or get creative with groupings that combine multiple plants with complementary colors, shapes and sizes. Whether you prefer a garden that is simple or intricate, this book covers all the basics of container selection and succulent care to ensure healthy plants. This book shows you how to: Use the colors and textures of your containers to enhance the tones and textures of the succulents to create stunning visual combinations Repurpose old cans and kitchenware to create interesting and healthy new homes for your succulents Use unconventional and openwork containers (like an antique birdcage) to add a new dimension to a composition Plant succulents in antique urns and pedestals for a touch of the unexpected Use traditional planters and baskets to create interesting design effects Create attractive soil surfaces and use cuttings to create original arrangements And much more! Each arrangement includes a "floor plan" showing you how to mix the colors, shapes and textures in ways that are pleasing to the eye and healthy for the plants. A reference guide to over 120 succulent varieties explains the different plants' characteristics to help you create compatible groupings. Even succulent beginners can get involved in this low-maintenance gardening trend. With the help of this inspirational guide, anyone can have a beautiful succulent garden in no time at all!

Give terrariums a modern makeover! Clean lines and bold color: these aren't your average terrariums. Author Megan George presents 25 easy-to-make terrariums and living landscapes that push the boundaries of traditional terrarium design. From hanging brass himellis adorned with air plants to a wooden centerpiece bursting with succulents, you'll find creations perfect for placing in your home or office. Get creative with: • Step-by-step directions for 25 air plant and succulent designs • An overview of the author's favorite popular plants, including tillandsias, cacti, succulents, tropical plants and mosses • Complete care instructions to keep your terrariums looking their best Planning a celebration? Take your terrariums a step further and incorporate them into your next party. Living letters make a charming, personalized piece at a wedding when used to spell the new couple's names. Turn your next summer picnic into a midsummer night's dream by hanging an air plant chandelier. No matter where you display them, these living landscapes will instantly give your space a whimsical, modern vibe.

Design a succulent garden of your own, with inspiration, advice, and instructional step-by-step projects for container gardens, small-space gardens, mixed gardens, and more. You can't help but be mesmerized by the eye-catching geometric forms and jewel-toned colors of succulents. But how do you grow these beauties in your own garden? One of the only books dedicated to succulent garden design, Striking Succulent Gardens is a stylish, modern gardening book for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Known for his colorful approach and bold use of varied textures and shapes, garden designer Gabriel Frank offers practical ideas, simple concepts, stunning full-color photography, step-by-step instructions for a dozen different gardens, plant recommendations, basic succulent care, and an inspired approach to creating living art in your own garden. For those in colder climates, there is a list of cold-hardy succulents and advice for bringing container gardens indoors for the winter, making succulent gardens achievable no matter where you live. Tough, water-wise, wildly popular, and nearly indestructible, succulents will transform your outdoor space, providing gardens of every size with minimal maintenance and maximum impact.

In a city of fast cars and movie stars, these folks are crazy about cacti. Until a killer joins the club . . . Joe Portugal likes people. But he likes plants better. That's why the former theater actor turned small-time L.A. commercial star is a prominent member of the Culver City Cactus Club. Unfortunately, so is a killer. The club's president is dead--a poison succulent lodged into her mouth. With a father who knows a thing or two about murder, and police breathing down his neck, Joe can recognize a jam when he sees one. But when he begins searching through a colorful cast of plant lovers, plant dealers, and even international plant smugglers, he doesn't find the answers he needs. Meanwhile, the killer has struck again, working his way through the Cactus Club with a garden variety motive--and a very green thumb--for murder. . . . Includes The Joe Portugal Guide to Botanical Nomenclature

Soft Succulents provides an overview of the primary soft, non-spiny succulents in cultivation today. Some of the primary genera covered are Aeoniums, echeverias, kalanchoes, sedums, crassulas, senecios and dudleyas. 300 pages with over 1000 color images, text and photography by the author, a nursery owner with over 25 years in the business.