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terrarium love

March 22, 2013

terrarium elements

Today, Friday field trip is a visit to my friend’s house.  Her name is Phyllis, and we are getting together for what she affectionately refers to as “a playdate.”  On this occasion, we are making terrariums.  We had recently picked up some terrarium plants and supplies at Terrain and we were very anxious to start creating!  I am sure we will have future field trips to Phyllis’s home since it is amazing!  I have so much inspiration I could share with you…her decor, her gardens, her handcrafted jewelry…well, everything!  But, for today, I will limit my sharing to our terrarium creations.

terrarium

When I got to Phyllis’s house we started right in…covering her large kitchen island with newspaper and taking out all our various supplies.  In addition, her entire dining room table was covered with assorted containers and possible decorative terrarium items.  She showed me the terrarium she had already completed.  Wow!  It is so beautiful…a little watering can!…and a hanging plant!  Isn’t it great?

Completed Terrarium

 

close up Terrarium

 

close up Terrarium view

Because Phyllis already knew all the terrarium basics, I didn’t have to worry about doing alot of research.  She explained about the rocks for drainage on the bottom (I think I would have figured that out) and a layer of activated charcoal (I would not have figured that out) before the layer of soil.  So, after a quick lesson on how to proceed, I needed to decide exactly what I wanted to put into the terrarium.

plant for terrarium

I figured I had two ways to go.  I could do an Easter/spring theme and use eggs and nests OR I could do my standard (coastal/beach) theme.  I decided to go with a ‘beachy’ theme and got some possible items assembled.  The interesting thing about putting a terrarium together is that you don’t really need as many plants or decorative items as you may think.  Less is really more.  So, I decided my main decorative item would be a sand castle.

terrarium elements

From there, I would use some rocks, shells, sea glass, and moss that reminded me of the beach.  For the plant?  Phyllis and I had both fell in love with a plant called Breynia Snow Bush that we found at Terrain and that would serve as the highlighted plant in my creation.

terrarium elements

And…this is what I came up with…what do you think?  I love it!  Isn’t the little colored gravel so great?  I think it is sold as fish tank decor.  I had some old glass ‘bubbles’ that were used many years ago with floating candles that lent themselves perfectly to the ‘beachy’ terrarium.

photo of coastal theme terrarium

Adorable, don’t you think?

closeup beach terrarium

You are probably wondering what Phyllis was working on…wait until you see!  Phyllis and I had both been intrigued by the ‘pussy willow teepees’ we saw in some of the terrariums at Terrain…like the one on this bunny arrangement.  So, Phyllis decided to create one in a pretty metal container she had on hand.

bunny terrarium

This beautiful arrangement is what she came up with!  So gorgeous!

pussywillow tent planting

She created the “teepee” from stalks of pussy willow.  She attached them on top by putting an elastic band around a piece of moss she harvested from her yard.  So beautiful…and with the pussy willow and the addition of some real quail eggs from Terrain, the perfect Easter arrangement!  You can see in this closeup that the elastic is not even visible once it is put into the moss.

making a pussywillow tent

Playdate successful!

Consider ‘shopping’ your basement and garage for possible terrarium containers and decorative items…Terrain has some really cool terrarium items if you want to purchase some or supplement what you can find around your house.  Miniatures from train sets or Christmas villages can also be used.  The sand castle I used was actually a repurposed photo holder – I just trimmed off the wire stand.  Just remember to use soil appropriate to the plants you select.

I hope you enjoyed my Friday field trip to create terrariums.  Special thanks to my partner in crime!  I forgot to mention the homemade golden pea soup I had for lunch (so yummy!) or the eggplant and famous key lime pie (heaven!) from The Pantry in Fairfield…ahhh..the perks of the playdate!  Thank you so much for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend, Jackie

I am sharing at Little Red House, Serenity Saturday, The Inspiration Gallery, Craftionary, Common Ground, Give Me the Goods Monday, and The Well Crafted Home.

Category: field trips, garden, sand & sea | Tags: , , , | 16 comments

  • Theresa N says:

    Love them all. Great job.

  • Laura says:

    I love these!! They are beautiful!! I must do this. Been putting off my planting..but what great inspiration! Thank you!

    • jackie says:

      Thanks Laura! Hope to be do outside gardening soon…the winter will just not leave Connecticut lol!

  • Doreen says:

    Hi Jackie,
    Just hopped over from The Well Crafted Home linky party. Love the terrariums. I happened to have just posted a vintage sifter turned gardening container, so we’re on the same wavelength. AND, I understand about the new empty nest thing! Now following, and I invite you over to visit me at Altered Artworks to say hello.

    • jackie says:

      Thanks Doreen! Did you see my post about visiting Marvin Gardens? Right up your alley lol :) I will be visiting!

  • Natasha says:

    That mini watering can is just soooo cute!!

    I would love it if you could share this on my link party ~ Serenity Saturday

    Natasha @ http://www.serenityyou.com

  • Mona says:

    Love it! This takes me to when I was a little girl… Reminds me of the castles in Cinderella, sleeping beauty…

  • Donna Wilkes says:

    I had forgotten how much fun terrariums could be. It has been years since I made one. Yours and your friend’s turned out so beautiful.

    • jackie says:

      I know exactly what you mean…it has been a long time for me too! It is definitely a happy activity :) We were very much inspired by the store Terrain. Hopefully my gardening will be outside soon :)

  • Jamie says:

    Oh I love this! I’m your newest follower ;) I would love for you to link this up to our new linky party, Give Me The Goods Monday! I am hosting with 4 other bloggers, 1 party but your links will show up on all 5 blogs!
    Happy Easter!
    Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

    • jackie says:

      Thanks so much Jamie! I will definitely link up and check out the fun at Give Me The Goods Monday :) Thanks for visiting…Have a wonderful Easter!

  • I love this! I saw these little gardens for the first time last summer and have been wanting to make one ever since!

    Thanks for linking up to Give Me the Goods Monday! Hope to have you party with us again next week!

    ~Chelsea @ Married Filing Jointly

  • […] from when I hijacked her magnificent yard for a charity garden tour or, from when I shared a terrarium making session at her […]

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