Start a thread somewhere along those lines somewhere Lynn, Bev, or Jean! (And anybody else here of course!)

We will all need new thread beginnings to suit our upcoming New Year!

Then we'll know we're working together at this love of gardening and all things related we have.

When that thread happens and in any category, I'm there with you!

Hmmmmmmmm............:

Lets grow and bloom together in 2015, Florida Gardeners! ?

Lets share those 2015 succulent beauties here this year Cacti and Succulent Gardeners! ?

Lets ROCK 2015 with our containers Container Gardeners! ?

2015 is the Year! Lets get into Miniature Gardening better then ever Miniature Gardeners! ?

Lets Grow and Show our 2015 Edibles Ya'll who do it. Grow a banquet!

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Words are fun and the ideas here are all free. If any of you come with one of your own similar to these, I will be a fan. Be yourself, and we will be needing some fresh threads soon to showcase our up and coming New Year!

Growing in 2015! Its gonna' be a bloomin' great gardening year. Its a fact!

Happy New Year!

Heres a new fun one in development...



This is the new batch made with it below.




I think this one should be called "Nessies Nest" :lol:

Awesome David. You are one productive creator of containers.

That last pic is the Swan - head on right.

Awesome David! I tried another batch and it all failed. I think I had perfect weather conditions before on my first go, but this time it just got way too cold and crumbled. Some had spots that were hard and some just never did anything but turn to flakes. I did paint some though and gave them for Xmas gifts. The sunflower I tried dipping did not work but I think now that it has some grip from the failed attempt I can try again and maybe have better luck. Here are some that I painted.






I have more to paint. The biggest one I did I am having a hard time picking out the colors I want for it. What is yall's vote? I really like this one it was the first one I did and it is super strong.

David your largest one has really inspired me. I want to do one like that water proof and have a smaller growing pond lily in it and have a small figurine that resides on one of the leaves. I'm gonna need to share some pics of my cheese on another thread I guess. I have been up to all kinds of goofy in my pots. Poor plants are stuck in close quarters with me during the winter and I have found the joy of decorating even my 4" cutting pots

I love greens and golds together Audrey and love your glowing finishes! That pond idea is great too...

DavidofDeLand said:I love greens and golds together Audrey and love your glowing finishes! That pond idea is great too...

Thanks, when I saw your large one I saw it as a pretty old bath tub with claw feet. I was thinking a pin up style fifties frog taking a bath on lily pad would be fun. Some of your others look like flowers. Was that planned? Thought you and Jean were gonna wait till spring? Glad you did not,I love seeing new pics. I will wait till I get another week of good weather and try my hand again. Woot wooot!! This stuff is just way too much fun for something like old man winter to get in the way Hope to be showing off my sunflowers soon.

Looking forward to seeing your sunflowers. I think if you dis-assemble then and start with first a thin dip and repeated dips, them reassemble, this could really work! It does look like an old fashioned tub.

......A Doll Tub!!! Gotta' find a cloth doll to soak then....................

The ones shaped like flowers were planned. I'm gonna paint them to look like faded flowers.

We will be having some nicer weather the next few days so I might try another batch and do my sunflower. I just got some burlap and have been itching to try it. I will post an update when I do.

David maybe you can glue some fabric on a Barbie doll for grip and then dunk her? Sounds messed up but it might work.

No.....it sounds creative and a great idea! I'm seeing it....................................."Barbie in the Concrete Jungle"

DavidofDeLand said:No.....it sounds creative and a great idea! I'm seeing it....................................."Barbie in the Concrete Jungle"

Ha ha yep I can too!!! I pretty much had just cast off my first try of the sunflower and tossed it under my work bench. I took it out today and was really wowed by how hard it was on the leaves that did take. It does work!!!! I have learned with this stuff that you really got to have your heart in it. Not to sound cheezy but if I am distracted or am not focused in them those are the ones that do not turn out all right. Todays weather was fabulous so I spent most of the day playing musical plant chair game until the next freeze. I did get the burlap cut up. So all is go.....

I

Sounds great Audrey. I'll be looking forward to hearing your updates.

Well, the sunflower thing is really not turning out so well. It is really hard to get the petals not to flop all around with the weight of the wet mixture. I am going to do a rose like one out of individual saucers I put together it would be much easier and better looking.
Here is my large one I got painted and another I made to hold my eggs I collect in the mornings for the kitchen. So far I am liking the burlap. I found a few places online that sells in bulk and is not that much money to throw down. It does take a little longer to set. That also might be because of the cooler weather though. I was in a rush to beat the rain yesterday and I took one off its form to do a second coat and it crumpled in my hands half way through. I wanted to cry and kick it, but stayed calm put it back on the form and covered it in another layer and left it. This morning it had been uncovered by last night storms and was surprisingly super hard, like I might not be able to get off the form hard I hope it works it is one of my faves so far.

Maybe get some loofah sponges and make the sunflower shape with those? Can you apply the mixture in stages? Put the form on wax paper and do one side, then flip it over to do the other side after that has hardened enough? Seems like the loofah sponges would hold it as well as burlap.

needrain said:Maybe get some loofah sponges and make the sunflower shape with those? Can you apply the mixture in stages? Put the form on wax paper and do one side, then flip it over to do the other side after that has hardened enough? Seems like the loofah sponges would hold it as well as burlap.

Hey Donald, I have some loofa seeds to plant this spring I think they would make great forms for vase like structures. My problem is that I do not have the patients it would take to do the leaves individually. It can work, it is just that I have gotten sloppy with it and do not like the way it looks. The leaves stick together and takes away from the beauty of the sunflower. I will take some pics after the weather clears up and see what y'all think. It is possible to make it work in many time consuming layers. I just don't feel interested in that project enough to pursue it anymore. Thanks for the loofa idea though. I have been meaning to plant those for two years now. Hopefully they are still viable.

Here are some of the pots I'm overwintering.



Doesn't show in pic but the lg one bottom right is a pale green. This was made over an octagonal rattan lamp shade.

I really like your pots Audrey. The pure Turquoise bowl is great and you clearly have a talent for arrangements. Beautiful.
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Jean. Thank you so much for finally sharing your pots in pictures with us. Now I know you really did them!!! Love that Bronze finish.

I think the old lampshade or wire hanging basket armature are a 'really Good Thing'. 'Martha' would agree................(without a doubt)...............

Awe, C'mon Martha Stewart,........Ya' know you're lurking out there watching us ( even if its paid aids to find new ideas) talented little folk to get ideas for your show!!!!!......................................

Did I just say that? You bet!!! Welcome Martha!

Great seeing your pots Jean, thanks for posting your pictures. Are they covered so they do not get wet?

David that is just plain funny

Need rain, I just realized that you probably meant that cutting the loofa sideways would make flower shapes.... duh.... sorry I can be a bit slow

Not exactly Audry. I was just thinking of the texture of the sponge and wondered if it could be used in lieu of something like burlap which would be flatter and not as stiff as the loofah. Then you could maybe shape it or use several sewn/attached together with twine or something to give them shapes beyond what cloth provides. Form the loofa(s) into a flower shape and then drape it over something relatively shallow over wax paper. Something that would turn loose easily. Then you could perhaps flip it over and go at from the other side. It wouldn't matter how it was cut or handled if it would serve as a substratum for the mix. Poppies or tulips might be easier than sunflowers though . I'm not doing them, so I'm just speculating based on reading these posts and looking at the photos. Those big straw filters used in swamp coolers might another means for substratum. Or cut off some sections off a roll of coir. That stuff is pretty tough but big enough to cut out some interesting shapes easily enough with just a pair of scissors.