Thigamotrope Satellites with Air Plants from Flora Grubb

Thigmotrope Satellite is the easiest way to make a vertical garden indoors. Just screw it in the wall and your tillandsias have a stylish new home. Thigmotrope Satellite is a steel tripod with a threaded base, designed to be a screw-in perch for tillandsia air plants.

A close up thigamotrope

A Christmas ornament from Laura Eubanks

On the Web:

Australian Native Plants Nursery (Ojai) is featuring a very beautiful plant this week called Eucalyptus “Moon Lagoon”. Owner Jo O’Connell also has a new shipment of books for holiday gifting. Check out her website by clicking on the button to the right.

Attention: Palm and Cycad lovers: Owner Phil Bergman of Jungle Music (Encinitas) is offering a very desirable selection of palms and cycads, many of them new to his nursery. Some are collectable; there are cold tolerant plants on offer. Phil is very helpful to beginners and will make sure you get the right plant for your needs. He is also well known to collectors, and carries specimens from all over the world. Go to www.junglemusic.net (619–291-4605) for photos and info.

My succulent Christmas tree

This is the somewhat lumpy succulent Christmas tree I assembled recently. I am so obsessed with these splendid spongy plants that I could not resist buying a green foam cone and giving it a try. Last week I fell in love with and featured a tillandsia lamp, another exquisitely forgiving plant. Don’t forget about the other yueltide use for tillandsias, or air plants: the living Christmas ornament designed by Flora Grubb in San Francisco  (available online @ www.floragrubb.com). Even the blackest thumbs can keep these alive with a little spritz now and then. As for my tree, I’ll dismantle it before too long and replant my succulents; it’s so easy, and that’s why I love them so much. For information on recycling your BIG trees see below. And have a wonderful Christmas!

Tillandsia ornament at Flora Grubb Gardens

Tree Recycling:

Ventura County: http://portal.countyofventura.org/portal/page/portal/PUBLIC_WORKS/wasteManagement/residential_recycling/miscellaneous/christmas_trees

Los Angeles tree recycling: Curbside collection by placing the tree next to the green waste bin on collection day.

Christmas Tree Recycling in Orange County (From their website): We will collect and recycle Christmas trees for the first two weeks following Christmas on your regular collection day. Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half. Please remove all decoration including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands. Place the tree at the curb. Flocked trees will be collected but cannot be recycled.

San Diego tree recycling: Green Gardens Nursery will p/u and dispose of your tree now thru the end of January for $20.00. Call (858) 483‑7846. City of San Diego Recycling program also recycles trees.

Now this is a bicycle!

I was impatiently anticipating Flora Grubb Gardens and was not disappointed! I was in fact wowed by this ultimate urban garden resource. Set in an industrial area of downtown San Francisco, Flora’s green kingdom  encompasses a soaring industrial building filled with witty displays, vertical gardens and unusual plants and containers. Services offered include cutting edge floral designs (succulent wedding bouquet, anyone?), garden design and maintenance and a palm brokerage. Flora Grubb Gardens has a terrific website and newsletter: check it out @ Floragrubb.com. She also offers seminars and speakers.