Spectacular Succulents

By Erin Ferucci
Celebrity Lifestyle Designer

The weather is changing, the holidays are just around the corner and with the economy what it is, more and more people are deciding to turn their attention to their current home. Why not take this opportunity to make your home a haven for you, your family and your guests. It doesn’t take a lot of money to create the ideal living situation, and if you take it in small projects it doesn’t even take much time. Planting succulents is a great weekend project.

Start with a winter makeover for your deck, patio, or balcony. Clean away any clutter of debris that has accumulated in the deluge of fall leaves. Then take whatever winter precautions are necessary for your furniture and appliances. In colder states, furniture may need to be stored or covered, in warmer states cushion might need flipping/fluffing or rotation. When the hard work is done it’s time for rewarding trip to your local Home Depot, Lowes or Do It Store. Make sure to take a list of any hardware that is needed for repairs or winterization, but the main reason for this trip is to do a mini splurge on succulents to accent your outdoor living or to spruce up your home. You don’t need to spend much money to create a lovely succulent wonderland. In colder states you may want to focus on bringing the succulents indoors and creating a lovely focal point.

This fabulous succulent wall was featured in the Methome July/August 2008 issue. The landscape designer is Mia Lehrer & Associates. I like the idea that this is living art.
Here in Southern California, I love to plant durable succulents dish gardens grouping several different varieties to make a colorful mini garden. They are beautiful, functional and extremely low maintenance. Their shallow roots require very little water. Even if you are someone who forgets to water, these plants never die. They are amazing. They love containers.Taking the time to winterize your deck, patio or balcony will help preserve your furniture and appliances and save you money. Planting succulents will increase your enjoyment of your home now, through the long winter and even in the spring.