Started the form with materials I had at home, then once realizing it was going to be larger than I envisioned, I needed to add interior support since it was almost 4' tall and 2' wide. "Buddha" sits on plywood base made with chicken wire with 4" ABS pipe in two locations thru the body, and 1/2" dowels in shorter areas. The ABS is filled with soil and I drilled large holes in the ABS so that the soil could drain when watered. The center core is soil carefully put into the outer sphaghum moss form I pressed from the inside to the wire..As it is watered and dries. I have restuffed it with more moss so that it is tight for the roots to take hold. In this pic it has about 30 plants and So far, it has over 100 Sempervivums, and am adding more this weekend, project taking multiple weekends and most likely will take a full season before filling out altogether. I'll add more photos as I fill it in more until completion.

Welcome to the Sedum, Semp and Jovi Cubit, Den.

Wow, that's quite a project! Sounds like you've made it really sturdy, which is a good thing because its so big. Do you already grow semps so you have a bunch to use or are you having to purchase them to put on Buddah? Yes, please share progress pictures - it's going to be awesome when it's all filled in! Do you know the ID of the last picture? It's such a pretty color.

Wow Den, that is bigger than I pictured in your description yesterday. That is going to be one impressive Buddha when it is completed. Your shaping is wonderful.
And great choice for the lotus on top of his head, it really does look like a lotus. I'm with Chris, would love to know which cultivar that one is, such an unusual color.
Can't wait to see updates as you go, then next spring and summer as it fills in.
This thread will be Dens for updates to keep us all informed on his progress. Thank you so much for joining us Den and sharing your creative side.

My OH My....WOW....what a wonderful project. It is going to be fantastic. Welcome and thanks for joining. I will love seeing all your projects with your great creativity. Please do keep us updated as you progress on this...so exciting to watch it develop.
Linda

I believe that the topknot is Rose Queen, but I will go back to my notes as I was building the frame and check the plants I initially was working with to make sure. I still have to make the crossed legs and attach those. This weekend I am working with a large order from North Hills that is tremendously generous with many babies in each bag. They are the easiest to use putting into the chicken wire. I'll take another photo after I get them all in. I was waiting for the moss and soil to settle, so that I can now back fill his back and make it tighter so that the roots can reach something to grab onto, and then fill the back with plants which currently has no plants on it. I do have a pretty big garden and supply of semps, but not for use in this project, as they are well established in pots, some in ground. I did use one tray I had set aside that had rootbound babies from a few orders ago, and they were a perfect start to the project.

Wow, that's quite a project! Sounds like you've made it really sturdy, which is a good thing because its so big. Do you already grow semps so you have a bunch to use or are you having to purchase them to put on Buddah? Yes, please share progress pictures - it's going to be awesome when it's all filled in! Do you know the ID of the last picture? It's such a pretty color.

Sounds great - looking forward to more pictures!

Looking forward to seeing your project progress!

You have a very creative imagination Den. I look forward to seeing the progression of your project. Are you keeping track of how many plants it takes to complete it?

This is the newest version. I have not kept track of how many plants, but this is the 3rd order of over 50 plants I have gotten from North Hills to work on the project. I use mostly the babies, but the mother plant fits sometimes in areas that are flat. The front, head and arms are mostly complete. I now need to fill in the back, and make the legs, and that will take at least another 50 plants. Will probably wait till early Spring to get more plants, the rest of my garden needs pre-winter work and I'm at hopelessly behind. Click on the photo to see all of the head and base.

Den I can hardly believe how quickly that is coming together. That is a huge project. I am so happy you have had a few moments to spare so we can watch this creation progress. Thank you so much for sharing. We will be watching for updates. Really something to look forward to this spring when everything takes off growing and we get to see it in all it's glory.

That is really looking nice. Going to be a real masterpiece when it's done!

All I can say is ...WOW...this is fantastic. What a huge undertaking and it is coming along quickly. It will be gorgeous and I've never seen anything so large out of the the semps. This is great for me to watch the progress, as I am fairly new to collecting semps.

Thanks so much for sharing and keep use updated.

WOW!! My little 9" wreath doesn't NOTHING compared to this!! You are my hero for this for sure!! LOL

Laura H

I think he is a hero to all of us Laura. That is SOME project. We can't wait to see if as a finished Buddha. It will be amazing.

Yes he is....I'm looking forward to next update!

Den, how is your Buddha topiary coming along? Would love to see a recent photo. I bet your cool moist SF weather is really making them happy about now.

That's going to look absolutely amazing Den!

Den, we're waiting to see how this looks now - do you have any pictures for us?

I bet it is all filled out and beautiful by now Jacki. Can't wait to see it.

I hope Den put an alert on this forum!