In ho-hum January, your mood and space may be in need of a perk-up. Plants are the answer.
Wall art: Wow. Combinations of wood, vials and plant trimmings turn into beautiful displays in the hands of the staff at California Sister. How do they do it? With these locally-made wall-hangings apparently. $28 (and up), California Sister, 6790 McKinley St #190, Sebastopol, 707-827-8090, californiasister.com
Excellent succulent: Choosing a quality plant is important and a single good one might pack more decorative punch than several less expensive options. Check out this stunner picked and potted by California Sister. $65, California Sister, 6790 McKinley St #190, Sebastopol, 707-827-8090, californiasister.com
Play-making pots: A whimsical vase offers a sweet interplay to the plant’s shape. These vases are hand-shaped, not thrown. $72 (and up), California Sister, 6790 McKinley St #190, Sebastopol, 707-827-8090, californiasister.com
Mushrooming modernity: The ZZ plant—or if you’d rather, the Zamioculcas zamifolia—is easy to take care of. They thrive in low light, making them a good choice for winter. And with water-storing capabilities in their bulbous stems, they’ll only need water about once a month. Mushroom pots are by L.A.-based Case Study Ceramics®. $35 (plant), $135 (vase), Petaluma Home & Garden, 516 Petaluma Blvd S, Petaluma, 707-778-6177, facebook.com/petalumahomeandgarden.
Mid-century meets crazy plant lady: Here’s a ZZ plant in a bigger vase! The classic Case Study Ceramics® vase in a metal or wood stand will make modernists swoon. $55 (plant), $160 (vase with metal stand), $180 (vase with wood stand), Petaluma Home & Garden, 516 Petaluma Blvd S, Petaluma, 707-778-6177, facebook.com/petalumahomeandgarden
Eat your greens: If looking at your plants doesn’t quite communicate your love, how about growing some you can eat? Kale is nice and hardy and does fine in the winter. Grab some citrus, chevre and...you know where this is going. $3.99 (6-pack), Garrett Hardware Ace, 340 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, garretthardware.com.
Holy container gardens!: Don’t let limited space stop you from farming a bit of your own greens at home. Here’s a bible for container gardening! $19.95, Petaluma Seed Bank, 110 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, 707-773-1336, rareseeds.com
Low-maintence beauty: And if once-a-month watering is too much plant care taking—no judgement here for reasons we won’t get into—then how about dried plants? Natural flowers are rendered into wacky gorgeousness here. Again, the work of ever-inventive California Sister. California Sister, 6790 McKinley St #190, Sebastopol, 707-827-8090, californiasister.com
Scattered beauty: And if sewing seeds is not in your skillset or on your Dream To Do list, don’t worry. Seed balls can be simply thrown on uncovered soil. This is a good time of year to scatter these since they need cool air to cue their germination. This line carries all California native flowers so there’s no need to worry about invasiveness. $8.50, Petaluma Seed Bank, 110 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, 707-773-1336, rareseeds.com/petaluma-seed-bank
Plant Yard: I didn’t pull out a measuring tape, but these narrow planters have to be nearly three-feet-long. Little succulents are repeated and then dressed up in pretty gravel. A stunning modern piece for a long table or dresser. $200, California Sister, 6790 McKinley St #190, Sebastopol, 707-827-8090, californiasister.com
Nature is so pretty, how can we refrain from hauling it inside? And in cool, ho-hum and newly “un-decked” January, you might find your mood and space in need of a perk-up. Plants are the answer. They’re the ultimate decorating accessory: gorgeous, waste-free and they clean the indoor air. Sonoma County stores are full of plants that can thrive in your space right now—click through the above gallery for details.
