Tag: plants

Coldspring, Nature, Providence Acres

Making a Trellis

Karen

In November we took a trip to Crockett, Texas and stopped in a cute shop in Trinity that we we drove by called The Way You Live.

Check them out on Facebook if you get a chance. They have the cutest outdoor patio in the back with some great outdoor furniture and decor. One thing The Social Planner and I both liked was a trellis made from 4 x 4 posts and pipe.

I decided to give The Social Planner a trellis like it for Christmas. Things happen, we had a new grandson, it was a cold wet winter here…life happens but we finally got not only one but two of the trellises built.

Not great but these are photos of the inspiration pieces.

This isn’t an inexpensive trellis. Plan on spending about $125 for one when you factor in the posts, galvanized pipe, and end caps. We used 2 eight foot treated 4X4 posts, 4 three foot galvanized 3/4 inch pipes, and 8 end caps for each trellis.

We are lucky enough to have a drill press and it made the job much easier. My husband has a paddle bit which makes a hole to fit the pipe exactly.

Use a level to make sure you are drilling the holes exactly vertical.
We spaced the holes 36 inches from the bottom, then every 14 inches from the there.
The husbands used post hole diggers to dig the holes 28 inches apart then threaded the pipe through the holes and screwed on the caps.

Once the vines grow it is going to be amazing!

DIY

Getting on the Succulent Bandwagon

Karen

Unidentified hens and chicks
Unidentified hens and chicks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Crassula ovata, Jade plant.
English: Crassula ovata, Jade plant. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Spotted forms of Aloe vera are sometimes known...
Spotted forms of Aloe vera are sometimes known as Aloe vera var. chinensis. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have loved succulents for years.  I just didn’t know they were called succulents.  My mom has raised a plant she calls hen with chickens for years. According to EHow the real name is Sempervivum, derived from the Latin “semper” meaning “always” and “vivo” meaning  “to live,” the presence of a large mother plant surrounded by smaller offshoots  characterize the hens and chick plant.

My father in law raised aloe vera  for years at his shop.  Even when he was ill he would drive over to the shop to water the plant occasionally just to keep it alive.

My husband was able to keep a jade plant alive for his college years in his apartment, in spite of the mistreatment it got.

All of these plants are succulents.  Who knew?  I just thought they were super hardy plants that could survive being ignored, dry soil, and heat or cold.

I decided after being shamed into it on Pinterest to  make my own succulent planter.  I already knew how easy it would be. I had seen others abuse them for years.

I purchased an inexpensive bowl at Walmart, some cactus potting soil,  and several succulents at Ikea.  I purchased sentimental succulents; a hen with chicks, a jade plant, and an aloe vera.  Here are the “easy peasy” results.  I added rocks on top of the soil that I already had on hand to complete the project. They look great on the back porch. I hope I don’t manage to kill them.   My family would be so disappointed.

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