Look for my small-plants story in Garden Design magazine

January 11, 2013


I opened my mailbox to find the latest issue of Garden Design in there and was delighted to see my latest article, “Small but Spry,” on page 16.


It’s about the huge trend in small plants and small-scale gardening, as evidenced by the resurgent popularity of terrariums, miniature gardening, and fairy gardening and also of container-sized edibles. Big fun! Small plants. Check it out.

Speaking of small plants, are you on board with this trend? Do you have baby lettuces, a fairy garden, or a tiny tillandsia suspended in an elegant blown-glass vase? Do tell!

All material © 2006-2013 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

14 responses to “Look for my small-plants story in Garden Design magazine”

  1. Diana Studer says:

    no, but I have packed up a box of empty bonsai pots. In a sea breeze garden it will be worth planting them!

  2. Jenn says:

    I was just starting to collect miniature hostas when we then up and moved to Phoenix. I had a large drive that I used as a patio, and envisioned a little landscape of miniatures in a sort of japanesque style in a series of barrel planters.

    Now I’m collecting aloes and agaves, which are cute when young, but don’t always stay small.

  3. Girl, I saw this article already. Good job.

  4. Anna says:

    Great article, Pam! I love my bonsai trees but I haven’t planted any other miniature plants. I love finding mosses and ferns on hikes hidden in rock crevices and on rotten logs. I could get into planting minitures

  5. Laura says:

    Good going with the article, Pam.

    No, I pretty much don’t follow any trends (gardening or otherwise), but I’m okay with other people who do.

  6. I haven’t yet received this issue but now I know which page I’ll turn to first! Yay for you!

    As for small plants not here. I’m still lusting after big unusual leaves…I’m never quite on trend.

  7. Ally says:

    I’m intrigued by that photo above the article of zucchini growing in a pot. That’s amazing. It looks very productive. I think I’ll give those small veggies a look.

  8. Lisa Pizinger says:

    I received my magizne yesterday and enjoyed your article. I have 4 raised veggie beds and am always looking for ways to fit more in! Have you tried these varieties in your Austin garden?

    No, I haven’t tried any of those small veggies, Lisa. The extent of my edibles is a few herbs. —Pam

  9. sandy lawrence says:

    Well, finally I am “in trend” on something! I’ve always been taken with tiny or tiny-leaved plants and especially the ones that look very delicate but are hard as nails, like baby tears sedum. I like to plant up log planters with these as groundcover around larger-leaved (but still small) succulents and interesting rocks and natural fossils, like Texas Hearts. This is my way of coping with the fact that I can’t have those incredible nurse logs in the killer heat of TX the way I could if I lived in the PNW.
    I also enjoy maintaining a large, jar terrarium inside with small plants, rocks and mosses, or should I say vivarium, since there is a happy poison dart frog occupant?

  10. sandy lawrence says:

    Congratulations on publication of your article, Pam! Looking for this issue at the book store tomorrow!

  11. David says:

    Hi Pam!
    Wow, that’s my favorite gardening magazine and YOU are in it!
    Way to go! Looks like a great article from what I can read using my microscope. LOL Guess I should wait ’til I get the real magazine.
    David/:0)

  12. Les says:

    Congratulations! I have let my subscription lapse, so I will have to pick one up.

  13. Mamaholt says:

    WONDERFUL, Pam!! I love that magazine.

    My whole garden is miniatures because I rarely get anything to grow to its full potential. hahaha.

    No, really, LOVE fairy gardens and terrariums so much.

  14. What a great article 🙂 I have also noticed this trend….and to answer your question I think I could get on the train. Maybe. I would love to make an appealing terrarium. Mostly right now I have so much big stuff to do. Although this year I find myself way into containers (normal sized ones-ha!)….and I am really REALLY enjoying that.