Garden blog about succulents and other low-water, drought tolerant plants. Debra Lee Baldwin's garden adventures.

Gardening Gone Wild is the blog I share with other garden authors and photographers, including Fran Sorin and Saxon Holt.

"Gardening Gone Wild sports a very impressive list of contributors, so check it out. They do all kinds of interesting things as a result of having put so many clever people together in one place." -- Amy Stewart

Aeonium Flowers

When an aeonium elongates into bloom, you know the rosette is toast. But the flowers are spectacular. It’s a life lesson: Enjoy the moment. Beauty is fleeting. This is Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’.[Read more ->]

Robin's Succulent Sphere

Robin Stockwell (right), owner of Succulent Gardens Nursery, has a reputation of creating over-the-top displays for the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show. Like two years ago, a cube house with succulent walls and a moat. He made this huge succulent globe for the 2013 show. Here are photos of the globe under construction. [Read more ->]

Celebrate Ice Plants!

I showed this photo recently at one of my presentations. In the back of the room, a little girl climbed atop a chair to see better. I understood; as a child growing up in Southern CA, I also was captivated by brilliant ice plant blooms. [Read more ->]

Living Rocks (Pleiospilos nelii)

These odd little African succulents start out egg-shaped, then split open to reveal a smaller capsule that in turn splits open at right angles to the first.

In spring, being ice plants, they produce neon-bright, multipetalled, daisylike flowers. [Read more ->]

South African Adventure

One of the great things about being a horticulturist specializing in succulents is that I’m part of a worldwide community of like-minded enthusiasts. Case in point is an email I received this week from Jeremy Proctor, who lives in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. He had visited South Africa and sent me a link to a Picasa page with his photos of the marvelous succulents he saw. Below are some of the highlights, with his comments and then mine in italics.

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Why I Love Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense)

Of all the succulents I grow, ghost plants are among the easiest and most remarkable. They are true survivors. Damaged stem? No problem. No water? The plant hunkers down and looks pretty much the same for months. Frost? It’s gotten down to 17 degrees in my garden, and the graptopetalums were fine. [Read more ->]

Warm Wishes from GGW

Nature is astonishing, isn’t it? How delightfully ironic that the flowers of many cacti resemble water lilies and the tops of some, snowflakes. Here are 18 examples to warm you this chilly season. Apologies to cactiphiles; I wasn’t able to identify all of them. If you would like to provide one or more IDs, please do! — Debra [Read more ->]

Of Succulent Wreaths and Cuttings

I’m often asked to recommend sources of succulent cuttings for wreaths, topiaries and other projects. Unfortunately, most online sources sell cuttings for around $1/apiece, which means a wreath—not counting its moss-packed wire donut—may cost $100 to make. But pre-made wreaths available this time of year not only cost much less, they’re also a great source of cuttings. Garden Life offers wreaths similar to those shown here for $30 plus shipping. Another good mail-order supplier of seasonal wreaths as well as assorted cuttings—including a mix of highly desirable echeveria, sedum and sempervivum rosettes for vertical gardens—is Robin Stockwell’s Succulent Gardens. Continue Reading ? [Read more ->]

Succulent Extravaganza Recap

See the seahorse? It’s sempervivums planted in vertical panels. This was one of many lovely and unusual sights at the second annual Succulent Extravaganza at Succulent Gardens nursery in Castroville, CA last week. [Read more ->]

How to Create a Succulent Tide Pool Garden

An article I scouted and wrote for Sunset is in all regional editions of the September issue. (Most Southern CA garden articles appear in the Southern CA edition only.) One reason is Brett Gum’s gorgeous photography. These are my own photos here. [Read more ->]

Are Succulents for the Birds? You Bet!

Bird houses, bird nests and bird cages with succulents…some of the designs I’m seeing are quite fetching. There must be something eggy about succulents, or they have the look of plants that grow on thatched roofs. [Read more ->]

Echeveria Flowers

Echeverias, native to Mexico, have the most amazing blooms. [Read more ->]

Why I Can't Resist Cactus Flowers

I can’t help it. I’m fascinated by cactus. [Read more ->]

Alien Cactus at Grigsby

I saw many strange plants on recent visit to Grigsby Cactus Gardens in Vista, CA. This one seems to be greeting a fellow citizen of another planet. [Read more ->]

Proteas Please and Tease Me

The Proteaceae family was named after the mythical god Proteus, son of Poseidon, because the flowers have so many forms. Proteus could foretell the future, but changed his shape so he didn’t have to. Doesn’t the king protea above look like a snow cone? [Read more ->]

Roger's Garden

In Southern California, Rogers Gardens is famous, the largest independent nursery on the West Coast. But this post is about a different Roger’s garden, one cultivated by Roger Martin for 40 years. When I visited him and wife Gerry, Roger pressed plants on me—anything I admired or asked about was added to a box of cuttings and potted plants Gerry thoughtfully packed up for me. Roger, you see, can’t bring himself to throw away a cutting when he’s pruning back his succulents. So he pots them up. He sells them, too, for the cost of the pots and soil plus a little extra for his time. If you live in the San Diego area, do look him up (gmartin@san.rr.com). He has some treasures, not to mention a garden only a mountain goat could love. [Read more ->]

Terrariums on the Skybridge in Seattle

At Seattle’s Northwest Flower & Garden Show, I shot photos of succulent container gardens on the skybridge, a glass-enclosed walkway. It wasn’t until I downloaded the images that I realized most included terrariums. The display “Portholes in Time: Gardens on a Minor Scale” created the pleasantly weird feeling of viewing a window on the past, complete with old-time music that fit the show’s “Floral Symphony” theme. [Read more ->]

The Perfect Potting Area

Every so often, when visiting a noteworthy garden, I see a potting area I envy. Like this one, in Modesto, CA, which doubles as a dog grooming station. [Read more ->]

Glass that Enhances Gardens

I’m enraptured by anything that glistens. I enhance my living spaces, indoors and out, with prisms, rhinestones, crystals, globes, mirrors and more. As the sun shifts during the day, these objects flash and glitter. I become a child again, living entirely in the moment. Sometimes this happens in other gardens, too. Like this Aloe marlothii in Patrick Anderson’s garden, bright with mid-winter blooms and a perfectly placed golden orb. [Read more ->]

The Easy Way to Paint Watercolors

Several years ago, I met artist Diane Palley McDonald while doing an article about her studio’s makeover for the San Diego Union-Tribune. (The news angle was that it was on HGTV’s “Designer’s Challenge.”) When I saw Diane’s paintings, I wistfully told her how much I loved watercolors. She asked, “Well, then, why not paint your own?” I said I couldn’t possibly, never having done it, not to mention being too old to learn and too busy. She showed me paintings by her students—adults who’d never before taken a class and were convinced they had no artistic ability. They were amazing! Diane graciously invited me to attend a class, and I ended up taking a dozen. Since most of my subjects are garden-related, and you might want to paint your own flowers and plants, here’s what I learned. [Read more ->]

Lani's Garden

I hadn’t been to Lani Freymiller’s garden for nearly a decade—not since I covered homes, gardens, architecture and interior design for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Would it be as incredible as I remembered? So few gardens stand the test of time. The occasion was a visit from Bay Area designer Rebecca Sweet, and we weren’t disappointed. If anything, Lani’s garden was better than ever. [Read more ->]

The Exquisite, Elusive Spiral Aloe

Alan Beverly was fresh out of college and a Peace Corps volunteer when he discovered a plant that became a lifelong passion.
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Oh, My, Aeoniums!

Aeoniums are native to the Canary Islands, off the coast of Africa. They do really well in Southern California, because they like our dry summers. Aeoniums go dormant during the summer, and if they’re watered during that time, they may rot. Most of those shown here are cultivars. [Read more ->]

Spectacular Succulent Flowers

Is it any wonder I’m such a fan of succulents? In addition to being easy care, low-water and having architectural shapes, they send forth spectacular flowers. Some of the most amazing are those of aloes, most of which bloom in midwinter (in temperate climates). Shown above is Aloe x ‘David Verity’, in Patrick Anderson’s Fallbrook, CA garden. [Read more ->]

Heliconias in Heaven

The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (HTBG), a 40-acre, former estate garden near Hilo, occupies a rainforest canyon. The first plant that blew me away was this bromeliad near the visitor center. [Read more ->]

Succulents that Like Stress

If there’s a good thing about our too-hot Southern California summers, it’s that heat makes certain succulents turn color. A case in point is Aloe nobilis, which in my garden grows in nutrient-poor decomposed granite with minimal water. [Read more ->]

The Suggestion of Water

These vignettes suggest water—flowing, tumbling, cascading, splashing or dripping water—yet there is none. Each illustrates the ingenuity of a garden designer in the dry, hot Southwest, where water is scarce. Yet the same concept, of creating the look of water, might apply to any garden. [Read more ->]

Bling for Pots: Crushed Glass

Leave it to LA. Designers in that city are using crushed glass to snazz potted plants. The glass, tumbled so the edges are smooth (it’s often from recycled bottles) lends a splash of glamor. Landscape designer Laura Morton married a pink-edged phormium with an Italian terracotta pot, using a topdressing of peachy-pink glass that also draws attention to a yellow sedum’s pink tips. (Photo from Succulent Container Gardens.) [Read more ->]

How to Fluff Your Succulents

In about 5 minutes, you can transform an overgrown succulent bowl like this... [Read more ->]

The Scent of Confederate Jasmine

This time of year, South Carolina’s warm, moist air is fragrant with Confederate (star) jasmine, above, and robust gardenias like those in the garden below. I was there recently to address the Charleston Horticultural Society (CHS) on my specialty, designing with succulents. Naturally I wondered if I’d see any. [Read more ->]

Grow This Succulent For Its Flowers, Then Throw It Away

Prior to hosting the 2011 biennial convention of the Cactus & Succulent Society of America, a San Diego hotel replaced water-thirsty annuals in planters with succulents. After several months, hotel management discovered a surprising benefit: $4,000 in reduced water bills and labor costs. Ironically, a showy succulent used extensively by the hotel, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (dubbed “supermarket kalanchoe” in my book, Succulent Container Gardens) probably didn’t impress hundreds of cacti-and-succulent collectors who came from all over the world. [Read more ->]

My Garden's White Lily

Arguably, there is no better gardening companion than a dog. My husband says he knows where to find me by which way the Westie's nose is pointing. [Read more ->]

Dogs in the Garden

The above photo captures a sweet moment between artist Cathy Carey and one of her golden retrievers. [Read more ->]

Art in the Garden

What defines “art” is subjective, and its forms are infinitely variable. But in general, when positioning a delicate sculpture in your garden, silhouette it against a solid surface or the sky. Otherwise, the piece may disappear. (Photo taken at Taliesin West, near Phoenix.) [Read more ->]

The Twelve Days of Cactus

Feel free to hum along: On the First Day of Cactus, my true love gave to me: A dove in a prickly pear tree. [Read more ->]

Succulent Centerpieces

The ideal centerpiece…
– Is low so guests can see over it.
– Is festive, in keeping with the holiday.
– Has colors that convey the season.
– Looks good with your decor and china.
– Doesn’t take up too much table space.
– Is simple to assemble and can be done days ahead.
– Is in a pretty container.
– Is a conversation piece. [Read more ->]

The Sea-Sand Plants of Desire

Every year, as Halloween approaches, I recall my visit to Professor Mordant’s garden on the forbidden island of Desire. I call it forbidden because it was rumored to be an eerie, inhospitable place—a volcanic outcropping devoid of vegetation. Nothing like the mainland resort where I and other garden writers had been sunning ourselves in style. [Read more ->]

Sweeten Your Writing with Metaphors

One of the challenges of being a professional writer is to think metaphorically---to describe an item in terms of something else, so that readers make an association that clarifies, enlightens and perhaps also entertains. Metaphorical thinking can be learned and is a great memory aid. Food metaphors often occur to me when describing plants. [Read more ->]

Blue-Ribbon Succulents

The annual cactus and succulent show at the Los Angeles Arboretum is the largest in the world. It’s a 2-hour drive for me, but I wouldn’t miss it. When I see a plant I’ve never seen before or a perfect specimen of something I’m familiar with, I go slack-jawed and stare. And this year there were dozens. [Read more ->]

A Salute to Saguaros

Saguaro (pronounced “sah-hwah-roh”) cactus evokes Arizona and the desert Southwest. With arms raised to the sky, each tall cactus has great personality. [Read more ->]

The Joys of Cholla

Recently when I addressed the Tucson Cactus & Succulent Society, I made the mistake of saying I don’t recommend that anyone grow cholla (pronounced “choy-ah”). I mean, look at it. Could there be a more unfriendly plant? Well, you’d think I’d insulted a favorite son. [Read more ->]

Fierce Color

Why are we so shy about color in our gardens? What’s with all those pastels? Give me loud hues, fierce and bright. Like this pair of ice plants, which is anything but icy. [Read more ->]

April Fool Garden Photos

In anticipation of a day famous for pranks and spoofs, I offer a few garden photos that are not at first what they seem. Like this pagoda. What exactly are you looking at? If you guessed a reflection, you’re right. In fact, most of the photos below are reflections. I hope you’ll have fun with them and perhaps be fooled by a few. [Read more ->]

Tiny Vases

I collect tiny vases, but seldom buy them unless I’m out of town. There’s something about being on the road that revs me up for shopping, but that’s also the worst time to buy anything big. So I browse antique and gift stores for tiny vases. Even wrapped in tissue, they take up no room at all. [Read more ->]

Wabi-sabi in the garden

Autumn is a good time to look at the garden in terms of wabi-sabi, the Japanese aesthetic that finds beauty in imperfection and transience. In seeking wabi-sabi, one cultivates an appreciation for the ordinary and becomes aware that age offers its own poignant beauty. Because wabi-sabi evokes a feeling, it sometimes is defined as the ability to see the invisible. For me, it’s savoring what normally is ignored. [Read more ->]

Firewise Plants

Wildfires making national news are a wake-up call for us Southern Californians who live near canyons and wilderness areas. Hot Santa Ana winds blow from the desert, desiccating already stressed plants and threatening to push backcountry brush fires all the way to the sea. We’ve had no rain for months and everything is tinder-dry. [Read more ->]

Uh-oh. My agave’s blooming.

I’m going to miss my toothy Agave potatorum, shown here beginning to form a bloom spike. When an agave flowers, it is not a happy event, unless you’ve been waiting forever to collect its offspring. Agaves are monocarpic, meaning they die after flowering.[Read more ->]

Luther Burbank’s Garden

Luther Burbank (1849-1926) sent this to my grandmother, an elementary schoolteacher who had her class write letters to the famed horticulturist. Burbank, though childless, enjoyed children---something I learned recently while touring his historic home and gardens in Santa Rosa, CA. [Read more ->]

Sharklike Agaves: Why I’m Fond of Fangs

I’ve gone from disliking thorny-edged agaves to loving them, because their leaves have embossed patterns that are fun to hunt for. I used to overlook such shadow lines. Now, the spikier the agave and the more wickedly fanged, the more I lean in for a closer look. [Read more ->]

Aloes Sizzle in Southern California Gardens

Aloes brighten Southern California gardens this time of year. Shown above is the most widely grown aloe, Aloe arborescens. The location is about halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles, in Laguna Beach. This is an artist’s enclave, and not surprisingly, aloe flowers against [Read more ->]