A Pot of Succulents...

It's hot, really hot, and it seems the whole West is on fire.  The smoke in the air makes me feel sticky, like a thick gray brown film has covered me.  This is what summer in the West has become, a race against the heat of fire and the cool of water.  One thing that thrives in this desert inferno is succulents.  They somehow manage to survive the heat, wind, and drought.

I have to share a few photos of my favorite pot.  I planted an old white iron pot that has rusted through with succulents.  The pot is perfect for these plants.  It is one of the most delightful things to glance at as I walk past the porch.  I love the texture of them.  Some are thin and whispy, others are fat and squat their thick round leaves hoarding the water and the sunshine.  The textures play off each other, enhancing the fineness of one and the lumpiness of another.  It's great fun.  I feel like a kid in a candy store picking them out at the nursery and placing them in their pot.  

If you need a little coolin' off, you might try planting a pot of succulents in a nice shady spot with a glass of lemonade!  Get creative, play with texture, have a party pairing colors and shapes.