The Making of a Terrarium

I have the terrarium bug again, and now I'm stepping up the game with interesting containers and more elaborate landscapes. Here, I will show you how I created this plant enclosure with steps and a pond.

I've always had a love of houseplants and terrariums, ever since I was 10 or 11 and my mom gave me one of those scientific growing kits. It came with a petri dish, a clear cone cover, and a bean seed. Within days the seed sprouted, traveled up through the hole in the top of the cone, and wound its green tentacles around my pole desk. It was fascinating to watch it grow, roots and all.

In my adult years, I took a liking to more elaborate terrariums. Here is a 40-gallon aquarium I turned into a jungle setting, fake snakes and all.

Now I am into smaller, more interesting containers, like this birdcage glass and metal enclosure I purchased as a Christmas gift to myself. Here's how I turned it into the finished terrarium.

1. First I sealed the bottom corners and part of the inside crevices with clear silicone since the enclosure it not 100% watertight. After letting it cure for a few days, I added a layer of dark gravel and activated charcoal. Then I covered that with black mesh.

2. Next I baked some sifted potting soil at 200 degrees for 45 minutes to remove any possible bugs or contaminants. I covered the pan with aluminum foil.

3. The pond idea I got after removing the top tray of a store-bought salad. The large round area would serve as the pond. Brilliant, right?

4. I placed the "pond" on top of the mesh inside the terrarium, then formed dirt around it so the back was higher. I kept the pond area covered with cardboard to keep the soil out.

5. Next I placed small slabs of thin slate stone to form the steps and secure the soil in the back.

6. Then I thought about where I wanted the plants. The moss I purchased at a local nursery that was kind enough to scrape a chunk from below one of their outdoor plant bins.

7. Now came the fun part: placing the plants and inserting the moss. The plants include a nerve plant (fittonia), a button fern that recovered after I almost killed it, and a peperomia puteolata. You don't need too many because plants will grow and fill out spaces.

8. I added dark rocks and water to the bottom of the pond, but it still wasn't enough. Then I saw these two guys at Dollar Tree: a Zen turtle and frog. I laid down a bridge with a couple of sticks, and now the pair can chill out within their peaceful surroundings. I may change it later, but for now, it's pretty cool to look at.

So there you go. It takes a little bit of preplanning (plants and hardscape materials), but now I have something alive that I can enjoy for months and hopefully years to come.

Day Trip: Front Royal, Virginia

I'm guessing it's been well over a decade, maybe even two, since I made the drive out to Front Royal and the Shenandoah. This seems like a shame because the trek is only about an hour away. With the weekend weather perfect for an outdoor excursion, I left home around 9 am and pointed the car due west.

One of the many overlooks along Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park.

My first stop was the historic district of Front Royal. Below are some of the many sites I took in with captioned commentary:

Murals abound in the historic district.

It's nice to see old-school theatres still a part of these small towns.

Another mural. I asked a man if he'd smoke his cigarette in front of it for the picture.

An abandoned building that could be something real nice one day.

A Confederate memorial in honor of locals who served stands on E. Main Street.

 A mom taking pictures of her children in front of a Virginia LOVE sign.

Not the best shot of downtown buildings. The district extends through several cross streets.

Sculptured naked men watching the town folk move about below.

An Earth Day celebration in the Town Square.

A couple resting on an ice cream bench in front of an ice cream store.

The outside of a pottery store.

Wonderful cups and pots made by Arlene. She introduced herself and we had a nice chat.

A tributary of the South Fork Shenandoah River called Happy Creek flows along the edge of town.

I noticed this stately home up on the hill of the east side of town.

The Randolph-Macon Academy can be seen up on the hills from the downtown area.

Next I headed for the entrance of the Shenandoah National Park just a few miles away. Passenger cars are charged $30 for a week pass (expensive), so I opted for the $80 year pass to all National Parks. Below are pictures of a few of the many overlooks in the first 20 miles of Skyline Drive.

I tried to get artsy here with an Impressionistic filter on my camera.

A couple visiting from New Jersey and I took several pictures together on Range View Overlook.

Day Trip: Leesburg, Virginia

After two days of working until the wee hours of the morning on a new project, I decided I needed to get out and enjoy some of this wonderful Spring weather--before it gets too hot! So I set out this morning to nearby Leesburg, Virginia. Even though it is only 30 miles away, I don't believe I've ever checked out the Historic Old Town. Now I have.

A view down Loudoun Street in Old Town Leesburg.

I began with a stop at the Virginia Magnolia Antique Mall on Rt. 15. I hadn't visited this place in probably a decade. Lots of interesting items, and now they have a basement and a two-story barn out back. I talked myself out of purchasing the $19 glass terrarium below. Here are some pictures:

I don't know. $18.95 is a little pricey for this.

One of those old barns where you feel like you're going to fall through the floor.

Always a war going on somewhere. This framed paper is dated May 13, 1898.

Next I drove into Old Town just about 4 miles up the road and parked in a free parking garage. It's a good thing I was in the shade, because I picked up a new buddy along the way. Picture at end.

Below are some various scenes along Loudoun and Market Streets.

The Delirium Cafe. I almost stopped here for lunch. They serve Belgian beer.

Cut flowers in a window on the top story of an old building.

The Loudoun County Courthouse. A Confederate statue called the "Silent Sentinel" was removed from the front courtyard on July 21, 2021.

Beautiful to see all the flowering trees in bloom.

Along the way, I stopped into a few shops. One was an independent bookstore that also sells plants! Here are some interior pictures of Birch Tree Bookstore:

Then there was this old movie theatre. I need to check out the inside next time.

Of course, I had to take some selfie pictures and other interesting shots to round out the day.

This is some sort of stuffed bear in front of a store.

A tribute to Stanley Caulkins, in front of where he ran Caulkins Jewelers for 61 years. He was also the co-founder of Leesburg Airport and a WWII veteran. "A role model for acts of kindness, charity and the greater good" is engraved on the plaque. Sculptor Jeffery L. Hall.

Nice ride. 1960s Camaro SS 327 at the intersection of Loudoun and Market Streets.

A very nice couple let me take a photo of their sweet dog. I wish I remembered her name!

Creepy-ass old photos of children in the Black Shutter Antique Center.

A colorful mural outside an eatery.

And finally, that little buddy I was telling you about. I purchased another carnivorous pitcher plant at one of two nurseries I visited. I felt I needed to save one of these "Little Shop of Horrors" plants that end up in just about every store that sells plants. This one looks as though it suffered from cramped space inside a container before it made it to the store. At a whopping cost of  $15.99, I promise to take very good care of it. Always check for new growth coming on any plant you buy.

Pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea)