Steel wall planters are succulicious!
Ooh, I am so excited to show you my two steel wall planters that I commissioned last fall from talented metalsmith and Austin blogger Bob Pool at Gardening at Draco. It’s taken me all this time to hang them and plant them, but that was just as well since I wanted to stuff them with succulents, and needed to wait out any freezes.
If you’re a fan of Potted, the fabulous L.A. garden boutique and online store, you’ll see a resemblance to their iconic City Planter. Indeed, I had Bob riff on that design for me. His interpretation is a bit more rugged, less polished, but equally tactile and simply stunning when filled with succulent cuttings and hung on a wall or fence. (I hope Potted doesn’t mind! I love that store and have one of their Circle Pots.)
Bob made these out of scrap steel he had lying around. On this one he used a semicircular piece for the planter. Isn’t it great?
Bob welded it all together and drilled drainage holes in the bottom and hanging holes in the back plate. My husband helped me cut pieces of plywood slightly smaller than the back plates, and we hung the planters with the plywood in-between the wall or fence in order to prevent rust from dripping down the wall over time (I hope!). We used masonry screws to attach the rectangular planter to the garage wall, and wood screws to attach the semicircular planter to the fence by the back gate.
I’m in love with these planters. The deer better leave them alone!
And don’t forget: The Lawn Gone! Book Party is rockin’, and you’re invited! Seven bloggers are hosting 7 cool, alt-lawn related giveaways this week. Find all the links on my giveaway post, and leave a comment on each one for your chance to win!
All material © 2006-2013 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
These are really interesting. I like the rugged look.
I can tell you, they are heavy too. —Pam
Love them Pam!!
These are just your style too, Jean, aren’t they? —Pam
Those look so great and are so Pam Penick! I like the way the one brings out the richer colors in your brick too.
The rusty metal does look especially nice against the apricot brick. A happy coincidence! —Pam
Love the planters! Good luck with the deer. “My” deer feast on any unprotected succulents.
I’m worried! I hope I hung them high enough that the deer won’t look up and notice. —Pam
Oh, these are fabulous! Love metal in the garden and Rust is my middle name. Nicely placed and planted, too, Pam.
OK, Sandy “Rust” Lawrence, thanks for your comment. 🙂 —Pam
Perfection, as usual. Can’t beat the combo of your design ideas and Bob’s talent.
Aw, thanks, Vicki, but I did borrow this idea quite blatantly. Oh well, it is the sincerest form of flattery! —Pam
Love them!
Thanks, Loree. —Pam
They are gorgeous Pam and so artfully planted. Well done Bob. You are such an artist. Love those little birds too. I have looked longingly at these planters on the internet knowing that their cost was out of my reach. I have even thought of trying to make one from wood but then I have a zillion more projects I am thinking of doing! You knows how that goes.
Bob is very skilled at turning ideas into reality. Just think how many projects he’s done for the Austin bloggers. —Pam
Very cool!
Yup. 🙂 —Pam
Well done. Everything I’ve seen, that Bob has made, is gorgeous.
I know—he has a way with metal. —Pam
oooh, nice! Loving the rusty goodness of these guys! Wouldn’t another one make a really awesome giveaway ? (hint, hint)
Can you imagine the shipping charge on one of these babies? Whew! —Pam
Amazing effect, especially nicely oxidized – my favorite is the rectangular one mounted on the brick. Here – wabbit season; there – deer season!
Hope your plants are Thumper resistant, David. —Pam
Uh oh, I think we have a new word at our house. If “succulicious” isn’t in Webster’s, it should be!
I agree! 🙂 —Pam
Well done, all around.
Thanks, Greggo. —Pam
I’m so glad you like them, I just hate an unsatisfied customer. I really had my doubts about them as I didn’t think the proportions would work but with plants in them they seem to be perfect.
Oh, they are sized just right, Bob, and they really look great all planted up and hung on the wall. I just wish I’d gotten around to it sooner. Thanks again! —Pam
Great looking planters. Will summer heat toast the plants? You’ll have to show updates in the summer.
Kris, the plants in the rectangular planter may melt, as the sun gets pretty bright on that wall in the summer. Yes, I will update later if I have to switch out the succulents for cacti. The ones in the semicircular planter should be happy in bright shade. —Pam
All succulentites are going to want these. Is there a product waiting to be born?
Bob should go into business making them. —Pam