Here’s another creature that survives the winters out here. Below is a photo from September 2020 – when this infernal alien amalgamation was spawned into existence. It is comprised of custom concrete horns, glass eyes, sphagnum moss, and the fantastically strange S. purpurea “Smurf”. The gnarled and twisted pitchers were the perfect plant for the crest. Sphagnum moss was used as a top dressing. As the moss grew in, it secured everything into place. This planter is going through a third winter and still looks decent.
The stone horns were custom cast by Kierstin at SmogTeeth, and eyes conjured by Megan’s Beaded Designs. Before putting this together, I had soaked the concrete horns in water for a few days to leech out any minerals/salts. I then sealed the horns using a soy-based concrete weather seal. The seal serves a barrier to keep water out, and to keep excess minerals from leeching into the planter. Honestly I wasn’t sure if it would work, but we are now going through the third year and so far so good. Sarracenia are still alive! The glass eyes were set into a small plastic lid and then sealed with silicone seal, then incorporated into the planter. Those eyes paired perfectly with the horns! The ceramic bowl was obtained from a local thrift shop
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Winter 2021 to the right.
Dragon is dusted with snow.
And now, a few more photos below from the recent cold snap.
Winter, 2022.