News flash: Terrariums are hot! No longer the domain of ferns and psychedelic sand art, this latest garden craze features highly sophisticated miniature gardens with succulents and air plants as the favored medium. Credit for the latest terrarium phenomenon goes to Holland, the epicenter of the floral industry, with its recent introduction of many new and unusual succulents. Wedding planners and floral designers, ever on the hunt for something interesting and different, quickly jumped on the bandwagon and a trend was born.
Linda Schmidt, co-chair of the Wilton Garden Club’s “Gardens Under Glass” Committee, was one of the first to bring their growing popularity to the attention of her fellow members. As she recalls, “Over the past year or so, we started noticing terrariums popping up everywhere — online, at flower shows, and at high-end floral shops and garden centers. I thought, ‘My goodness, people have developed a sudden rash of terrarium fever!’”
At her suggestion, the garden club decided to offer terrariums at its plant sale this year in a new section called “Gardens Under Glass.” It will feature a wide selection of different types of glass containers planted with unusual succulents and Tillandsias (or air plants, as they are more commonly known).
Noting that terrariums are great for people who don’t have the time or commitment to care for outdoor gardens, Schmidt adds, “They’re surprisingly low-maintenance and extremely long-lasting. They’re perfect for people with hectic lives, and they’re also a great gift idea.”
The Mother’s Day Plant Sale, which is the club’s primary fund-raiser, will be held Friday, May 8, from noon to 6, and Saturday, May 9, from 9 to noon, rain or shine, at Wilton’s Town Green. There will also be an early bird sale open to the public at the club’s greenhouse at the Comstock Community Center on Wednesday, May 6, from 9:30 to 12:30.