This was a 1 month winter project. I had a shower stall base in my garden for a few years and finally decided to use it to add a small "lily pond" to my front garden. I had already been 2 years into converting my front lawn into a xeriscape garden of dry or drought tolerant plants. This project was inspired by a picture of an 18" dish planted with succulents that can be seen in "Designing with Succulents" by Debra Baldwin and by Googling "succulent, marble, jewel".
The drain hole is functional and also serves to supply the low flow water sprinkler. I painted the tub with cobalt blue rustoleum paint, and then spray painted lightly with a speckled bronze.
The base is filled with small size (1/4"/5mm) pebbles. Then it is covered with a combination of glass "marbles". I used "alpha blue nuggets", dark blue opal 9/16", dark blue shiny opal 9/16", 9/16" green, and assorted large green "vase filler" glass [Target]. The green glass is used for some of the borders to give the appearance of algae. Even yeuch can be beautiful!
The succulents are potted in 4" plastic planters burried in the pebbles/marbles. I used a combination of Jovibarba: sobolifera 'Madam Lorene', heuff 'Jade' and 'Rusty Red', and hirta 'f/Belansky Tatra'. I am still looking for a flat green sempervivum though for the full lily pad affect. Thanks go to Don of SMG Succulents (web shop by the same name) for assistance and great service during winter in getting me the plants!
I am using snake plant, and asian and standard chives to give the appearance of border plants.
Result: I love it. It looks even better at night when moonlight and the outdoor lighting reflects off the shiny's and give a beautiful effect. It is also ready for water rationing this summer.
