Plant rental garden

Five Ways Live Plant Rentals Enhance Events

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Floral arrangements have long been a staple of special occasions, but live plant rentals have, until fairly recently, been more of an event planner trade secret. Now, it’s easier than every to rent plants short term for weddings, parties, graduations, and more. Here’s how live plants can enhance any venue, from humble to high-end.

 

Plant rental event garden themeMake a Familiar Venue Your Own

Short term plant rentals are a great way to personalize venues, and make familiar spaces feel special. Groupings of palms and philodendrons, for example, can quickly transform a gym into a jungle. Even if you have a ritzier venue, a touch of greenery offers an opportunity to put your mark on the space.

 

Dampen Sound

Acoustics in large spaces can be tricky. Large, leafy plants, like ficus trees, can help absorb echoes and other ambient sound. Outdoors, live plants can help create a barrier to soften the sounds of traffic from outside or music from within.

 

Crowd ControlPlant rental for gala

Larger live plants are great for helping define areas where you’d like people to go–and discourage them from areas best avoided. Use them to create a sense of enclosure or paths between areas. Plants are also great for creating a sense of intimacy in larger areas, like conference halls or large lawns, or even inside larger tents when arranged near posts.

 

Add Color

Plants can be used to add color and interest to a space. This can be accomplished by adding blooming plants, like guzmanias, as standalone arrangements or underplantings on larger trees. It can also be accomplished with colorful foliage plants. Some of our favorite colorful foliage plants include “Red Sister” Ti Plants (burgundy and fuchsia), Lemon Lime Dracenas (striped with white and two shades of green), and Glaucas (green with blush at the base).

 

Add Light

String lights make a great addition to our ficus trees. At evening events, they add a soft glow. Underlighting is another option that works especially well with palm trees.

 

Interested in exploring short term plant rental options for your next event? Contact Plant Parents for more information–we look working on event design!

Colorful Plants In Office

Three Unique Plantings We Love

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Every space has its unique challenges–and often those challenges are part of their charm. It’s always a treat when we can find ways to use those unusual nooks and crannies as part of a plant program.  Below, check out three recent favorites!

From The Space Under The Stairs to The Space Everyone Wants to See

Colorful Plants In Office

An empty stretch under the stairs can be tricky to design around. Even if it’s not closed off, it can become a de-facto storage area, which isn’t always pretty. With a little creativity, this client was able to take full advantage of their space, filling in a small depression with black polished stone and topping it off with bowls brimming with tropical color, creating a memorable installation that draws visitors from inside the building and off the streets.

 

A Custom Orchid Wall For A Busy Cafe

indoor orchards

This cafe owner loved orchids–but with a busy business, there was only so much space to add more. We worked with them to develop a system for adding orchids to this wall installation for an eye-catching take on the green wall. It’s easy to customize this piece with fresh plants and accessories, making it a great conversation piece that always has something new to offer.

 

Succulents Spruce Up A Wooden Wall

 

Succulent Wall

This bar had a really interesting, geometric wood wall. The wall was striking empty, but adding small succulents to the built in pockets upped the ante. A mix of upright and trailing pieces creates a look that’s on trend and so very Instagram-able.

 

Have an odd spot in your home, office, or business you’d like to transform? Give us a call! We’d love to work with you!

Plants on Urban Balcony

Outdoor Privacy Plantings For Balconies

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A great view is a great thing…. Except when that great view is in to your home. While a nice balcony is a must for many condo owners and city dwellers, it can be tough to enjoy your space when it feels too exposed. The right privacy plantings can help provide coverage and create a more personal, intimate feel on your balcony and in your home without obstructing the view you love. Here’s what to consider when looking at privacy planting options.

Plants on Urban Balcony

Height isn’t Always Right

Generally, a little elevation for your plantings is a good thing–but too much and you’ll risk losing any view at all. Hip-high or so planters do a good job of softening a view and creating a more private environment. Choose mid-height shrubs to add some additional height with more coverage.

If your concern is exposure from above (i.e. another apartment or condo across the street), a taller, wind-hardy selection may be in order. Avoid anything too top-heavy, and select a more more sizable container to allow your planting to achieve height.

 

Stability Is Crucial….

Many taller, rectangular planters have relatively narrow bases, which is bad news on outdoor balconies for two reasons. First, you need a container that can withstand the weather. Anything too narrow will tip, even with rock or other weighted material in the base. Second, narrow planters limit the type, height, and longevity of the plants you’ll be able to use.

Tropical Privacy Screen

….But Consider Mobility, Too

Some condos may require plants to be moved indoors during certain weather events, such as hurricanes or tropical storms. If this is the case, it’s good to make sure you have planters in a material like fiberglass that are going to be relatively easy to move.

 

Keep You Plants Simple

Privacy plantings are generally in the least protected parts of balconies, on the edges where they are exposed to sun, wind, and for many in our region, salt. It’s important to pick plants that can tolerate these conditions and thrive, especially because they will be so visible. For the most coverage, think bushy shrubs–a mono-culture can look very chic and modern. To add in color, consider smaller succulent bowls or sun-hardy flowering varieties in more protected areas of your balcony. Alternately, mix in colorful foliage plants with shrubbier varieties to get a pop of color while still having a solid barrier.

 

Interested in exploring privacy planting options for your balcony? A professional plantscaper can help you select the right varieties to achieve the protection and style you want, and will have the experience to know what holds up in your locale. In the Sarasota-Bradenton area? Give us a call for a free consult!