Part Three showcases unusual ways that designers use succulents, from patio
groupings, wreaths, and topiaries to vertical gardens hung on walls like living art canvases. Part Four is dedicated to the care and feeding of succulent
gardens, including information on judicious watering, overwintering,
recognizing pests, and how to take cuttings and start seeds to share the joy of
succulents with garden-loving friends.
Below are some highlights from this inspiring book, a valuable addition to any
library whose owner has interest in working with unusual plants in creative
ways:
• Apply the principles of contrast and repetition for remarkable results. One
agave in a pot is fine, but there’s architectural strength and beauty in numbers. Think about building a dramatic
garden wall with twenty or more of the same plants in the same type of pot, each held in place with decorative metal
potholders.
• Evaluate a succulent for its defining characteristics—color, form, and leaf texture—and keep them in mind as you shop for a pot. For example, a blue-green pot for
Aloe brevifolia would repeat the aloe coloration, while an orange-red pot would
contrast with it. Anticipate a plant’s flowers, too. The same Aloe
brevifolia has orange blooms, so that orange pot
will repeat the bloom color at certain times of the year.
• Pair tall, columnar succulents with loose, trailing plants. Sansevierias,
commonly known as “mother in law’s tongue,” and sprawling Sedum burrito make excellent companions in graceful vase-shaped
urns set atop classical iron stands.
• Strawberry jars make wonderful pots for sedums, Graptopetalums, sempervivums,
and other trailers. Or plant solely with the compact Echeveria elegans and make
the pot the focal point of your garden.
• Succulents are slow growing, so don’t make the mistake of planting a number of small four-inch pots with too much
space into a large decorative container. It will look oddly out of scale.
Instead, use a variety of leaf sizes and textures, plant closely, and build a
lush tapestry. You can always transplant later if the pot becomes overcrowded. 
