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Jan 25, 2013 9:39 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
I had the pleasure of visiting a store with some great fairy garden plants, and a nice big display garden and was instantly completely addicted. I've heard of this before, and even seen a few in person, but something clicked when I walked in there. I can't wait to put something together this spring with the tiny plants I've collected randomly over the past few years.

Is mini gardening something you eased into, or did you have "a moment?"

Here's the garden that so inspired me, and a few new plants I got there.
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Pilea
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Kalanchoe - blossfeldiana?
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Peperomia
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The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
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Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
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Jan 25, 2013 11:54 AM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Purple those are really cute! I have always loved mini plants but thus far haven't put any mini garden together, photos on this forum are inspiring though! So this may be the year for it! Also had to have the "gnome" badge Thumbs up
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Jan 25, 2013 9:06 PM CST
Name: Cinda
Indiana Zone 5b
Dances with Dirt
Beekeeper Bee Lover Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Cottage Gardener Herbs Wild Plant Hunter
Hummingbirder Butterflies Birds Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Organic Gardener Vegetable Grower
The garden above looks to have a large variety of plants , some house plants and some garden . Was it in a greenhouse or conservatory?
It is a nice lay out.
To answer your Question
I eased into the mini garden thing
at first I just put little things I had into pots that were planted Thumb of 2013-01-26/gardengus/71329e
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Then I began to plan the plantings around the little things Thumb of 2013-01-26/gardengus/b032c0
..a balanced life is worth pursuit.
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Jan 25, 2013 10:26 PM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Cinda that's cute!! Nice photos! Hurray!
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Jan 26, 2013 11:05 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Yes, very cute!

The garden above is in a semi-outdoors location. I was so busy looking at the plants, I realized later I felt like I was outside the whole time, but not all the way. When I get back there, I'll have to pay more attention to those details. The lines between house/garden plant start to become blurred as you get this far south.

Didn't have a real camera, so that pic is sadly not very clear. I didn't know what many of the plants were, and there were at least 30 different kinds in that display. Some I can name...
Haworthia
Sansevieria
Hypoestes
Peperomia
Pilea
Crassula
Sedum

I will take a real camera when I go back, this place is amazing!
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
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Jan 26, 2013 12:58 PM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Thanks Purple!
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Jan 29, 2013 8:20 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
I went back to Dothan Nurseries yesterday with more money and a real camera! Can you believe I forgot to look UP again? I'm so ashamed, but that means I have to go back and finish the job, right? (And to get a Tillandsia that I mustered the willpower to leave at the store - for now anyway...)

More detailed pics of the giant mini garden above:
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These pots are about as big as a dime and have real extra-tiny plants in them. What kind? IDK...
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The whole thing:
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A garden in a bird bath:
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A closeup of the path in the birdbath garden:
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Garden in a red pot:
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Another red pot garden:
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Not sure what all of the plants I got are...
Little plant with buds and fuzzy, thick jade plant-like leaves:
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Some kind of Sedum or Crassula with 2 rooted leaves at the soil surface:
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Lonicera fragrantissima:
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Bonus pot with 3 plants, not even sure which plant is the "primary" one. Portulacaria, Selaginella, and hopefully the tiny brighter green sprout is Cymbalaria, but I'm not sure. The Portulacaria has a TON of branches that can be propagated and the Sel. has aerial roots on the parts dangling past the pot rim:
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Cymbalaria?
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Hope the pics convey a modicum of the inspiration from seeing these in person! Been looking through the house to gather tiny things that might be cute in a mini garden and realized that because I've always loved tiny things, I've collected quite a few little tchotchkes over the years. When I set everything on a table to look at it, there's 2 different sizes/scales really, so obviously I will have to make at least 2 gardens. I also realized that Barbie and Legos had some great items to contribute, so y'all might want to check those toys the kids aren't playing with anymore for cute little mini garden baubles.
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Image
Jan 29, 2013 12:31 PM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Wow purple how cute!! I love the variety of mini plants!! Hurray!
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Jan 31, 2013 5:59 PM CST
Name: Gordon
Brooklyn , New York
Charter ATP Member Miniature Gardening Container Gardener Region: United States of America Butterflies Garden Art
Tropicals Plumerias Roses Ponds Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader
verry cute Purple.. Yes minatures are addicitive for sure... something about fabricating a bench in 40 secods.. although looking for the right bit might take hours... it's deceptive... your scenes are grand....
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Feb 1, 2013 10:11 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Thanks, GG. I LOVE the plant next to your name! So pretty.

Glad you liked the pics, Gordon. The already completed gardens are only mine in the form of a picture, I haven't made one yet. Those were at the awesome store that gave me such ideas! When I get started, I'll put more pics. Can't wait!
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Image
Feb 1, 2013 10:50 AM CST
Name: Cinda
Indiana Zone 5b
Dances with Dirt
Beekeeper Bee Lover Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Cottage Gardener Herbs Wild Plant Hunter
Hummingbirder Butterflies Birds Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Organic Gardener Vegetable Grower
Nice photos , what a beautiful place to visit in the winter .
Thanks for making me feel a bit warmer
3 degrees this AM with a windchill of -20 ( Blinking Having a bit of zone envy here)
..a balanced life is worth pursuit.
Image
Feb 7, 2013 1:44 PM CST
Name: Melissa E. Keyes
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Zone 11+
Charter ATP Member
Zoysia grass would work in a tiny garden, but it would have to be clipped rather often...
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Feb 12, 2013 4:57 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Got a ton of cute tiny plants in trade yesterday. It was fun putting them in the tiny pots I also got yesterday.

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And had to hit that store again, for Iresine:

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More Iresine:

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An Alternanthera:

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Peperomia prostrata:



Also got some florist wire. I made the chair, DH made the table:

Thumb of 2013-02-12/purpleinopp/c88fe2

Hope to get started putting something together by the end of the month. Appreciate all of the input so far, very helpful!
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Image
Feb 12, 2013 6:43 PM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Sweet plants, and how cute you 2 sit in front of the fire and shape wire! Sticking tongue out Hilarious!
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Feb 13, 2013 9:34 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
LOL! That rhymes. Wish we had a fire some nights! Last night DH made me a fairy door to put at the base of the pecan tree in the back yard, and I made a section of hurricane fence for a tiny beach scene.

Thumb of 2013-02-13/purpleinopp/a1bed2

These little trade plants are anxious to get outside for some sun. And I couldn't help "planting" a little pack of plastic flowers temporarily in the tray of Semps.

Thumb of 2013-02-13/purpleinopp/7afefe
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Image
Feb 19, 2013 5:59 AM CST
Name: Chris
Ripon, Wisconsin
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Seller of Garden Stuff I sent a postcard to Randy!
Sempervivums Sedums Region: Wisconsin Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Avid Green Pages Reviewer
That nursery sure does have a lot of inspiration from their fairy gardens. I love how lush and thick the plantings are.

Cinda, I love your little birdbath with the bird, how the green makes it look so real! Lovey dubby

Purple, cute creations with the wire!
Image
Feb 19, 2013 11:45 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Thanks, Goldfinch! I've made a lot more little chairs, more sturdy ones that look more like wrought iron with upholstered seats. (Years after I stopped working at a furniture store, I'm still trying to use all of the fabric samples I saved from being dumpster'ed. This is a GREAT way to use some - tiny furniture! So, BTW, ask your local mom'n'pop furniture stores that do special-order upholstery for fabric discards if interested. Most companies discontinue several styles once or twice per year and they usually get thrown away unless there's a crafty person working there.)

Also made some tiny wind chimes with beads and fishing line, and some lengths of "chain" out of wire to hang them. DH hollowed out some wine corks that now look like tiny pots.

I will take my camera next visit to that store. After looking at their website, I realize they've just started with the whole mini thing this year. When I went last Monday, the lady who owns the store was potting tiny Alternantheras and Iresines (like those above) into tiny rectangle purses. And they had moved the "mini section" to a more prominent location, there were more mini gardens constructed, and a much wider selection of tiny plants from the previous week. Apparently other people are quite interested also. The previous plants were mostly gone. Holy cow, I've only seen the tip of the iceberg, and I'm going to have to visit often so I don't miss anything good, and do my part to patronize such an awesome store and people going way beyond just selling plants. The whole place is beautifully landscaped with fountains and paths, mulched beds with intriguing plantings, statuary, the stuff inside is displayed, not just on shelves or in bins, and there are other house plants, including giant gramma plants that are decades old, don't even have prices on them. Like a park where you can buy the stuff. Oh I'm babbling... too much fun.
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Image
Feb 19, 2013 12:24 PM CST
Name: Chris
Ripon, Wisconsin
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Seller of Garden Stuff I sent a postcard to Randy!
Sempervivums Sedums Region: Wisconsin Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Avid Green Pages Reviewer
That sounds like a wonderful place to spend an afternoon! Miniature gardening is really taking off everywhere. It's a fun hobby for people of any age, from little kids to us older kids! Whistling
Image
Mar 28, 2013 10:52 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Still working on the containers for these mini gardens, gathering plants, and hoping Jack Frost will stop visiting sometime SOON!

Here are pics I took of mini gardens at the garden center yesterday. Hope they are inspiring to you as well, get those creative juices flowing.

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The frustrating thing is that they don't sell a lot of the cool plants that show up in these mini gardens. For some cool reason, a nearby WM has had a vast selection of tiny succulents lately. I got about 30 of them between Monday and last Monday. A store near you might have some now, or when it gets a bit warmer. I go by this one about once a week, so I know they just arrived within the past 2 weeks. Here are some of the tiny plants awaiting placement in tiny landscapes.

What's funny is that they're all from cactuscollection.com where you can buy them - for $1 more than at WM.

Only typing the names that aren't clear in the pics...

Aloe zanzibarica


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Haworthia retusa:
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Sedum clavatum
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Haworthia
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The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Image
Mar 28, 2013 12:08 PM CST
Name: Greg Colucci
Seattle WA (Zone 8b)
Sempervivums Sedums Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Cactus and Succulents Container Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 1
Garden Art Birds Dog Lover Cat Lover Region: Pacific Northwest Hummingbirder
Love all the photos purple!

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