As an artist I look for inspiration everywhere. This
week, I checked out the Hawaii themed Philadelphia International Flower Show.
You wouldn’t believe the amazing things people can do with plants! It very much
reminded me of dogs at Westminster -– neither the dogs or the plants look the
same way in real life as they do at these events.
I rescue and find homes for Pekingese dogs. My dogs don’t
look much like the astonishing Malachy who won best in show at Westminster this
year. And my plants don’t have much in common with the fancy ones at the Flower
Show. Except in the case of the hot new trend: moss!
The Flower Show hosted a packed workshop all about moss that
was filled with moss enthusiasts like myself. Moss is having a moment because
its low maintence and eco friendly. Save the earth & be lazy -- that's a
perfect combo in my book. If you don't enough moss in you yard you can order
more online.
Because I love the challenge of making art and crafts with
recycled and found materials, I decided to unleash my inner floral designer and
make a moss dish garden using just what I could find in the house and yard.
I took a dish from the kitchen and filled the bottom with
stones for drainage. Then I added soil, driftwood, rocks, moss and little
plants. For maintenance I’ll water the plants at the roots when needed and mist
the moss frequently. This would be a good project to do with the kids because
you’ll see all kinds of little plants popping up that you might otherwise not
have noticed. Happy Spring!