Monday, January 30, 2012

Hanging container happiness found at Digs Inside & Out (and there may even be a cocktail recipe too)

Okay they aren't the orange Circle Pot that I’ve confessed my eternal love for but they also aren’t $89.
I stopped by Digs Inside & Out the other night because I had a gift certificate from Christmas (thank you husband) burning a hole in my pocket (or actually my handbag, as I don’t keep gift certificates in my pocket because that whole laundry thing could be a disaster). When I saw these fabulous hanging planters I knew they had to be mine.
Only $18 for the “basket” shaped ones and $8 for the round they are a bargain. They also came in white, which really would look better with a green plant, but since I can’t ever pass up a yellowish green piece of pottery…guess that just means I’ll have to hunt for something with dark foliage to put in them!
I was also in love with this planting. How beautiful are multiples of the same plant in a simple cement bowl?
No need to have many different succulents crowding a space when a planting of Sempervivum arachnoides can look so elegant, and it’s hardy too!
JJ (owner/designer at Digs) said 5 plants were planted in here just 3 weeks ago and they’ve already filled in.
There were also many many fabulous terrarium plantings in the store, which I should have taken pictures of, but it was time for JJ and I to go enjoy a cocktail…my first ever prickly pear margarita at Trebol! How have I never had a prickly pear margarita before? Is it not the perfect danger garden drink? You’ve got the Agave (tequila) and the Opuntia (the juice of the fruit) so dangerous! This is going to be my official house beverage on the patio this summer. Photo borrowed from here.
Click on the link for a simple prickly pear margarita recipe and one in which she countered the sweetness of the prickly pear fruit with a little jalapeno (oh ya!) and a great story about buying prickly pear fruit at Whole Foods and how the cashier was frightened of them…really go read it! Although I must warn you that she does say “prickly pears come from a cactus, tequila comes from a cactus”…and we all know tequila comes from an Agave which is not a Cactus, but I’m willing to forgive her if she forgives me for borrowing her picture.

26 comments:

  1. $18 for the big one, now that sounds a bargain for a stylish hanging pot! I wouldn't mind having something similar this year, can get creative with it using different succulents

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    1. Creative succulent planting...I can't wait!

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  2. Gorgeous and affordable, those cute pots!

    And you already know my prickly story about nopales in Southern California...good to hear you can buy them naked!

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    1. It seems that these pots would go well with your mid-century vibe.

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  3. Hi! Great containers and thank you for mentioning this place. I love to visit stores like this when I'm in PDX and I was not familiar with them. Do the planters have a hole in the bottom or are you using them as a decorative container primarily? Love the look of the margarita and yes, it is the perfect drink for you with your danger garden! I too must partake in those sometime when the weather warms a bit. Thanks for the link to the recipe.

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    1. Oh you must visit Digs when you're in Portland. There is another store in town by a similar name so be sure it's the one on Alberta that you visit!

      There is no hole in the bottom. Usually I would whip out my trusty pottery drill and take care of that but since they will be seen from the bottom I'm not sure I want to do that. Maybe I'll keep them water tight and use them to root cuttings? Maybe I'll just hang them under the shade pavilion and water sparingly? Maybe I'll use them for Tillandsia? So many possibilities....

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  4. Loree, It was a pleasure meeting you this weekend at HPSO! Looks like I have been away from Digs Inside and Out for too long (about 4 weeks, oh my!). I already have plans to do a single planting of Sempervivum arachnoides in a pot this year. I have the pot and the plant - now I just need to connect the two. I hope our paths cross again. Happy gardening! - Lisa

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    1. Lisa I'm so glad I got to meet you!!! I fear I babbled in circles...way too much caffeine that morning. I loved hearing about your garden and please do let me know if you ever decide to open it, I would love to see all that you've done!

      Four whole weeks away from Digs! Actually that's funny because we were talking about just how often things get changed around in there. They are always getting new stuff! JJ's in NY right now at the gift show...no telling what wonderful things we'll be seeing soon.

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  5. What material are those hanging pots made of? Love the cement planters too -- that reminds me that I want to try making some this "winter".

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    1. They are a glazed ceramic, too thin to be frost proof. More like and interior quality...like a vase.

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  6. Looks like you had a terrific day. Those planters are perfect for your garden. Amazed to see how the Sempervivum arachnoides filled in so quickly. I will have to try that.

    The Whole Foods story is both funny and odd to me. Prickly Pear fruit are easily found in Houston at most grocery stores. Around here the fruit is usually called "tuna" and the pads are "nopales".

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    1. Tuna? Why? How odd. I can honestly say I've never seen the fruit in the store, I'll have to look closer but I thought maybe I'd do a variation with prickly pear syrup, that I know you can buy.

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    2. Tuna is the spanish word for the fruit and I've always thought it came from some variation of the word Opuntia, but can't confirm that with a search at this point.

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    3. (Oh duh)...that makes sense!

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  7. Mmmmmm! That sounds good! And those planters are seriously epic! Sounds like quite the day! I think in going to have to borrow that sempervivum planting idea, it looks sooo good!

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    1. I agree, there is something about the web that really visually ties the little plant shapes all together.

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  8. The tall hanging pot really speaks to me, but I'm afraid I would need all three to make the proper statement: there goes the bargain aspect. I think it will fit right in with what you already have going. Which one did you get?

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    1. Oh ricki...you know me better than that! I bought all three....

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  9. What time is cocktail hour on the left coast?

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    1. What time are you free? Actually I believe we held off until a very respectable 5:00.

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  10. Oy I just was there last week and went home with like 5 of those half egg airplant holders that are gold leafed inside..I also need about 50 more....I love that store a bit too much.

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    1. I know exactly what you're talking about. Every time I'm there I pick one up and consider starting to collect, because like you I would need a lot!

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  11. Loved your prickly pear/cashier story. The spines from Opuntia are called glochids and they are evil little fish hooks that seem to leap from the plant if you get too close and embed themselves in your skin. I can understand why he was terrified.

    Those planters are pretty cool too. I can't believe those Sempervivums filled in in just three weeks.

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  12. Definitely the perfect danger garden drink! I like the look of the sempervivums in the cement bowl. The planters are a bit pricey for me. Never anything over the equivalent of $12 in a place that experiences regular typhoons regularly. Think of what all the flying debris would do to hanging ceramics. :-(

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  13. I LOVE the cement bowl. I wish I could find something just like that here in Pittsburgh, especially for the S. arachnoides I just bought :)

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  14. Wow!!! It is so beautiful to see the sempervivum in this pot!!
    Is it for sale?

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