Thursday, July 27, 2017

"One more project"...and the winner of the Potted book give-away

This project has been tumbling around in my head for awhile now. What I ultimately had pictured is a much (MUCH) smaller version of this, seen at Dig Nursery...

In my imagination I shrunk those concrete containers way down so they actually fit into/above my stock tank pond. Three concrete cylinders in the stock tank, with metal u-shaped pieces connecting them and water circulating throughout the whole thing. Totally doable, if one has power at the location and the means to make the concrete and fabricate the u-shaped pieces of metal. In other words I'm not giving up on the dream...but...

After seeing this fabulous project that my friends Laura and Charlie recently did, with a re-purposed light fixture planted up with a Gunnera...

I decided I needed to go ahead and get my interim idea up and running, rather than holding out for the someday dream. So I give you the stock tank carnivorous dish planters...

Because why not up the number of dish planters to 9? After all I've got 12 stock tanks, obviously I believe in repetition...

Originally I planned to sink a CMU block in the tank and use the two voids in the CMU to secure the metal posts, with rocks stuffed in to keep them upright. However talking this over with the husband it suddenly became one of those, bigger — and better — projects. Off we went to buy a bag of cement mix, and now he was making small footings for each post.

Tada! This is what they looked like after I peeled away the plastic buckets.

The next step usually just means planting up the dish and sitting it atop the base. However since these were planned to go in a tank full of water I was concerned about a creature landing on the edge and tipping them into the water. In the four years I've had these planters around my garden I've only had two tipped over (I blame squirrels)...but a tipped over planter in a tank full of water would be much harder to pick up. Andrew had all sorts of good ideas, but...I'd already planted up the dishes so most of them weren't gonna work. He got creative...a cut-off nail in the base...

Then a bent piece of metal was wired to a dish and around the nail...

Which then had magnets put in place...

And the planted dishes sat on top...

What he had no way of knowing is that I'd wanted to work in some Tillandsia usneoides hanging from the dishes but no matter what I did it just looked dorky. He gave me the perfect void to tuck the Tillandsia into.

I ended up only putting one planter in the tank, the other sits just outside. Oh ya, and the dishes each have a single carnivorous plant in them along with some rocks, moss, glass and bits of shells.

It's a bit arty, but I was channeling my inner Ganna Walska...

And I've had the shells for ages (I can't resist bringing back finds from the beach)...

I may tire of it all eventually and change it up somehow but for now I love it.

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So...(drum-roll)....this is when I announce the winner of the Potted book giveaway!


I assigned a number to each valid entry (those with a link to an active blog or an email address) and then used a random number generator to tell me who the winner was. Congrats Peter! Aka The Outlaw — I can't wait to see what creative things you come up with from the book.

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Weather Diary, July 26: Hi 86, Low 58/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

32 comments:

  1. Beautiful display. I can't imagine you getting tired of it, and I can't think of anyone better to win the book.

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    1. Thank you! And yes, I did think "how perfect" when Peter's number came up!

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  2. Hi Loree, fellow HPSO member here. I love the dish planters! What do you use for the dish portion? They look like barn light fixtures to me. Thanks!

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    1. Hi Audrey - they're the top to hanging chicken feeders, purchased at Linnton Seed and Feed (on highway 30). Also shown here::
      http://www.miller-mfg.com/product/9144.html

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  3. Wow. Wow. Wow. Dear lord I envy you, not only your imagination, but your implementation gene. It's great.

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  4. Carnivorous plants are a slippery slope! They really are fun. Is the plant in the pond Sarracenia 'Bug Bat'?

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    1. I know, these are my 4th and 5th! Love the name 'Bug Bat'...but no, it wasn't named (via Hughes).

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  5. Very ingenious. Turned out great!

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  6. Love your new carnivorous dish planters! Have you ever used colored slag glass before? I don't remember seeing it. It's awfully close to being garden art. And you do realize you just gave even more impetus to the most creative guy on the planet? Tacoma has just reached critical mass and is about to explode. Congrats Peter!

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    1. I've never used glass, slag pieces or as mulch. It's part of my ode to Ganna Walska (Lotusland). She was a big user of shells and slag glass...

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  7. Love this, and Laura and Charlie's too. I opted for a metal funnel for my pitcher plants too, since I read clay or concrete can mess with their pH. I've had mine in full sun, which is what I hear they need, but the pitchers are getting a little singed so I'm trying a different exposure of less afternoon sun. And congrats to Peter!

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    1. Hmmm...guess I should have read a little before I planted my others in concrete? Then again it's been years for one of them and they're doing fine. Maybe the concrete was sealed with something?

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    2. Loree, I think our water down here is more problematic, so I'm taking every precaution. Maybe the pH isn't such a dicey issue for you. If it's working, you've probably got nothing to worry about.

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  8. I like the metal dishes better than the concrete. Your plant choices a perfect. Great problem solving you two!

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  9. Totally cool planters and terrific technical support on Andrew's part. Congrats to Peter too!

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  10. Who enjoys these projects more, you or Andrew? :) Looks great, and I bet the whole process was really rewarding!

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    1. I hate working with concrete so I was rather opposed to that portion, it really was the perfect answer though. He's a great problem solver.

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  11. I've also admired that concrete water business at DIG. Your interpretation is equally fabulous and the repetition of your amazing dish planters fits well in your garden! Excited that I'm the winner of the book and look forward to playing with the authors' ideas. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    Two words about electricity at a desired location: (electricians, and people who do things correctly please avert your eyes at this time) extension cord. I'm not recommending this but I have this "friend" who simply runs heavy duty extension cords, plugged into a GFI outlet, out to various areas where running water is desired. They can be hidden under gravel or other mulch, behind plants, under pots, etc. A little duct tape and a sheltered hiding place for the joining of the pump cord to the extension keeps it dry. No problems in 20 years. It would put a whole new spin on the whole Danger Garden thing:)

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    1. I love your "friend's" solution! That's how we get power out to the shade pavilion in the winter. Hmm...something to think about.

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  12. P.S. extra points for using glass in your creation!

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  13. You are excellent. As is Andrew. The whole damn thing is excellent.

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  14. Fabulous! I can't wait to see this in person soon!

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  15. I love how it turned out! We are thrilled to be mentioned as a source of inspiration. Congrats to Peter.

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  16. Fantastic! I love a well-placed sarracinia. Actually I love any sarracinia. Question: On the third to the last photo, the one right before the book cover, there is a yellow flower, with pinnate leaves. Can you tell me what it is? You've got me intrigued with it too.

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