As some of you know, I like to create with clay. I enjoy building pieces that allow my creative side and my Master Gardener side to merge. The plants that work the best for what I make are succulents. I use a wide variety at any given time.

It became apparent to me that if I was going to adorn each piece with succulents that I either have to purchase the plants, propagate them or both.

Here is where the poor Japanese Maple Tree comes in. My mom had purchased a small Japanese maple tree to plant in a pot and place on her deck. The tree was planted and several months later died in that very same pot. We moved the tree from place to place, ignored and babied it all without any success. First, we thought it was shock then too much water, not enough water, too much sunlight then not enough. For me when a tree dies it's very sad.

We decided to leave the tree in the pot on the deck because I could see the character in its branches. Now comes the part with the realization that I needed and will continue to need succulents. Slowly I would buy what I need for my pieces and “borrow” a piece for my later needs that I've planted around the little tree. Gradually the propagated pieces began to grow and fill in to the point that I now harvest from it.

On an occasion I purchase a new succulent, still being sure to “borrow” from it for the maple tree harvest garden. The pictures are of the pot with the dead tree from January, 2014 and current with the garden thriving.

We've added a few clay leaves to its branches, which works wonderfully as a wind chime. This goes to show you that there is hope for everything, you just have to look at it with a different set of eyes.

photos by Toni Greer