Fabulous Little Things: The Terrarium



The offending party.  Never again.

 I'm not going to lie, I used to hate Terrariums.  All the teachers I had in grade school had one on the corner of their taupe Steelcase desks with the laminate imitation wood tops.  I remember them as they truly were; gauche fish bows filled with dirt and gravel with a fern and an African violet stuck inside.  If the owner fancied herself artistic or witty, you might be lucky enough to find a smiling ceramic frog or snail tucked inside, their googly eyes looking up at you.  Gag me.  The condensation and calcium crust that circled the soil line did not build a bridge to my black bitter heart either.  I was a complex person, even in child form.

But things are changing for the better.  Terrariums are once again in style, but they are actually quite stylish.  Gone are the fish bows and 3" potted plants.  In their places are hand blown terrariums, faceted glass and brass cases, and the good old fashioned cloche; all filled with Orchids, Fly Traps, and the occasional Bromeliad.  They're lovely on a kitchen counter, the dining table or any place you want to add a little life and dimension.  And don't feel bad about filling these with faux plants.  Just because you have a black thumb doesn't mean you have to be honest about it.

- Ian

From Anthropologie, a suspended style by Esque Studios of Portland, Or.
Hanging from a leather harness, this hand blown piece connotes teardrops
and bowling pins.  At 26" tall and 16" wide, this piece is not short on
impact.  With a retail price of $1,450.00, hang this one in a safe place
far from kids, pets, drafts and swinging doors. 

The Conservatory Cloche from restoration Hardware.
At an immense 25" x 31" could dramatically house in Neo-Victorian splendor
exotic lady slipper orchids, or an air garden of Bromeliads.
The cloche retails for $595.00.

Hanging bubble Terrarums from Shane Powers at West Elm.
The over wrought Terrariums Hipster/Granola younger sibling.
The one who likes flannel and Tom's and Soy.
Minimalist geometry shows plants as art forms, each
encased in a transparent bubble.
Sizes range from 4" to 13".  Priced from $9.00 - $24.00. 

The Francesca Jars from Z Gallerie could be filled with Succulents planted
in sand, pebbles, or even tiny shells for a wonderful effect.
$49.00 - $59.00.  Sizes 10" x 15" and 9.5" x 23".

Wisteria offers two sizes of the classic glass cloche.  The large is shown here.
Made of soda glass, the simple cloche comes with a stone plate.

Fill with your hearts desires.  Perhaps a miniature Rose or Azalea

or, for something more poetic, a single large Magnolia blossom. 

16" x 14".  Retails for $99.00

Peonies!

To help Peonies open, place them near a natural light source and place fresh cut
stems in warm water.  The warm water helps the flower food dissolve faster
and also encourages the blooms to open faster.





Peonies at Trader Joe's, front and center.

It's that season again, people.  Peonies are in full bloom and just waiting for you to take them home and suffer their charms.  I get mine at Trader Joe's, because they're cheap and good quality.  While I do enjoy a good European style arrangement overflowing with various colors and textures, there is nothing like the simplicity of one type of flower exploding from an elegant vase in a monochromatic wave of beauty. 

So, grab your pocket book, head to TJ's, and buy 3 bunches (they're only $6.99 for 5!) in the color of your choice (blush, fuchsia, salmon, burgundy or white) chop those stems at and angle and watch as the golf ball sized buds open into beautiful blooms of jagged flouncy petals.  Be sure to buy flowers in bud, but not tight.  I find the tighter buds fail to open, and nobody likes a girl that won't put out after you've paid out.

- Ian



Peonies in the Ian Patrick House.  Chopped to the same height,
crammed into an Antique Silver Plate water pitcher. 
Utter simplicityand charm.  I filled in with stem cuttings
that still had leaves attached.
My pitcher is wonderfully tarnished; I actually like the look of
wear and age.  How convenient, right?

 

Michael S. Smith fills a collection of Blue & White with a
bounty of Peonies and Garden Roses.  Completely welcoming and
maddeningly intoxicating.