- Author: Karen Metz
I have been inspired by all the clever containers I have seen other Master Gardeners use to plant in. So when our decorative table fan bit the dust, I was loathe to toss it. I liked the color and the faux carving on the base. My husband kindly snapped it so the fan portion would lie flat. He removed the heavy motor and snipped the electrical cord.I took the fan cage apart and removed the fan blades. I layered moss in both sides of the fan cage then put in the soil and started planting. The planting space was quite shallow so I tried to choose small plants. I found some small begonias for the center then surrounded them with alyssum and scotch moss, Sagina subulata. They are doing well so far on my back patio which is protected with shade cloth.
![Planted fan. (photos by Karen Metz) Planted fan. (photos by Karen Metz)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/USS/blogfiles/17405.jpg)
![DSCN2810 DSCN2810](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/USS/blogfiles/17406.jpg)
![DSCN2811 DSCN2811](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/USS/blogfiles/17407.jpg)