May 12, 2016, posted by Gina – Succulents have become very popular and it seems they are everywhere. I have been a fan of succulents for several years and just love their beauty and versatility. I work with them a lot and use them in arrangements, pumpkins and small planters.
Succulents have leaves that feel rubbery and are native to dessert type areas. The rubbery texture stems from the fact that they store water. They are very easy to grow and don’t need a lot of attention.
Last year, at the end of the summer season, my husband and I found a wonderful patio set for a great price. We set it up on our patio just before the fall. Now that warm, sunny days are here to stay I put a large bowl of succulents, pictured above, on the outdoor coffee table. I found a great container that coordinates perfectly with our outdoor set and filled it to the brim with succulents.
I had also planted a little container full of succulents and put it next to our St. Francis statue. Last fall it bloomed the most heavenly pink blooms that turned into an autumn red. This beauty is called Autumn Joy Sedum and is obviously a perennial as it returned all on its own. When I planted it it seemed like a variety that was familiar to me. I finally realized that this is the same succulent my mother planted around our mailbox when I was a child and it was there year after year. There are a few other succulents returning and peeking out just a little and can’t wait to see what they have in store for me.
A word about the St. Francis statue. St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, led a simple life and believed that a love of nature could lead us down a path of peace and love for plants, animals and people. To include St. Francis in your garden signifies it is a place of peace.