Author: Nancy Morrow

Categories
Events House Plants Sales and Open House Events

Kokedama, Terrariums and Carnivorous Plants, Oh My!

Come see me at the Germantown Farmers Market on July 21 from 4 to 7 pm and bring all your questions about plants, gardening, and particularly tropical houseplants.  I’ll be demonstrating the fascinating art and science of making kokedama and terrariums, and will have some cool carnivorous plants on hand, too.  It’s too hot for most terrarium plants to be outside right now, but I’ll have a few on hand for sale along with some terrarium kits and plants to buy and plant at home.

The Germantown Farmers Market is located in the Bobby Lanier Farm Park at 2660 Cross Country Drive in Germantown.  You can give me a call at 901-828-3685 or leave a comment or question below for more information.

Never heard of kokedama?  They are REALLY cool additions to patios, porches, shady balconies, etc., in the summer, and can easily be brought inside in the winter.  Kokedama is a bonsai technique from Japan, where suitable plants are planted into specially mixed soil, sphagnum moss, and potters clay, then covered in living moss and wrapped with waxed thread to keep it all together.  Done properly, it forms a  beautiful living container that is actually very easy to maintain.  They can be displayed on saucers with pebbles, but are most spectacular when hung in groups.   Come see me to learn more and start your own hanging garden!

Ferns are traditionally used in kokedama. This holly fern is a beauty, don't you think?
Ferns are traditionally used in kokedama. This holly fern is a beauty, don’t you think?
Kokedama3closeup
Closeup of the moss ball covering the roots. The potters clay in the soil keeps it all tidy, no soil washes out when you water. I promise!
In foreground, a Kentucky Blue rabbits foot fern is beginning to send its odd feet running out over the moss. It makes me happy to come home to these mysterious flying plants on my front porch!
In foreground, a Kentucky Blue rabbits foot fern is beginning to send its odd feet running out over the moss. It makes me happy to come home to these mysterious flying plants on my front porch!
 

Categories
Build Your Own Terry Classes and Workshops Events Uncategorized

Build Your Own Terrarium Sunday June 12

I collect and propagate miniature exotic tropical plants suitable for low light and high humidity conditions, for use in my living art creations, and my mini-greenhouses are popping their tops with an abundance of extras, so I’m having a build your own workshop to share the largesse.  If you want to learn the art and science of designing, building, and maintaining these miniature rainforests from an expert, don’t miss this opportunity.

Sign up today, space is limited to 6 people for each workshop, then come have fun playing in the dirt with us. 

 The first workshop is from 1 to 3 pm, the second is from 3:30 to 5:30, on Sunday June 12, at 700 North Belvedere in Midtown Memphis.

Here’s how it works:


The base price of $45 includes the gravel, activated carbon, sphagnum moss, and my special soil mix designed for use in terrariums; detailed instructions and information from the Memphis Plant Lady herself, and an ongoing hotline for answers to any questions you may have as your little green friend grows and changes. Then, customize the terrarium to suit your space and taste by your choice of glassware, plants, and accessories.

Plants cost $5 to $15 each (most are $5 but for the true collector I have a few rare gems I can share).


I’ll have a variety of sizes and shapes of glassware on hand, from $10 to $60 or so dollars, or better yet, bring your own glassware with you. Make sure the glass is clear, no ripples or waves, and that you can get your hand easily through the opening; it should be at least 10 inches deep; it must be watertight; remember it will be much heavier going home, so not too big.


Accessories are things like geodes and crystals, petrified wood, fairies or dinosaurs. Again, bring your own to make it just how you want it, or buy some from my huge stash of little interesting things. No metal or plaster items are suitable.


You can make more than one; an additional charge for the planting substrates may apply. Send me a message at the link below or call me at 901-828-3685. Hope to see you there!

 


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Categories
Uncategorized

Happy Mother’s Day Plant People!

This is the first post on my newly revamped website.  Thanks, Rod Kirby, for your patience and diligent help in getting me up and running in time for Mom Shopping!

imageMom like birds?  This secret moss bowl, with a magpie on top, and a little red hen inside, nestled in a bed of soft, growing moss, may be just the ticket at $45.image

 

 

 

 

 

 

imageOr something a little more dazzling?  This ten inch tulip vase is more than a year old, with a beautiful espicia that blooms under very low light conditions.  Little Dorothy is filled with crystals, geodes, and more to form an impish wonderland, and will grow to fill this container in a year or so if not kept trimmed.  $125

 

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Or, best of all, book an afternoon Build a Terry party for mom and a crew to get their hands in the dirt and make their own living art to enjoy for years to come.  Pricing for parties vary based on materials chosen for customizing, but basic 8 inch bowl and three basic plants is $75 per person, minimum of two and maximum of five people.  Bring your own wine …

Get your hands in the dirt
Get your hands in the dirt
cp8Give me a call at 901-828-3685 or drop me an email using form below.  Thanks for stopping by, and remember to follow this site for cool news, info, and event listings.

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Categories
House Plants Interesting Tidbits

Logee's Tropical Nursery!

I love exploring nurseries when I travel, and  my trip to New York City via Connecticut was a true delight.  Opened in 1892 in Danielson, Connecticut, Logee’s has been in continuous operation by the Logee family ever since.  You can read about this fabulous place here: Logee’s

    

This large tropical nursery, around an entire city block entirely under glass, is in a small old country town.  They specialize in mail order sales, but are open to the public.

I was fascinated by the Connecticut architecture and landscape, like this abandoned factory across the street,

  

And these apartment houses down the block
  

 

The outside entrance doesn’t look like a door to a rainforest, but MMMMM smell the warm air rushing up those stairs into the shop
 

I spent several hours winding through the various greenhouses, it was heavenly

  

This Ponderosa Lemon tree was planted in 1900 and still bears many many lemons.  It is about 40 feet around, hard to convey in the photo.  I walked under its limbs without bending over.

  

Some of the greenhouses were conservatory gardens
  

Bananas in Connecticut, Hooray!

  

Coffee beans, oh yeah!
  

I wanted two of everything but since I was far from home, I had to settle for babies and miniatures, shipped to meet me in Memphis 
  

My shipment came in, all wrapped in damp paper.  My heart went out to all these little travelers as I unpacked them, and thanked them for coming all this way to live with me.
  

Some made it easier than others.  This precious little begonia is pretty bedraggled, but I think he will perk up nicely.

     

A few of the baby tropical vines and miniature rainforest begonias getting a drink and misted after unpacking
  

 

Sensitive plants

   

They may be small now, but a good repotting, some fresh air and sunlight for a few months and boy, howdy, look out!