how to create a hanging succulent garden with seashells and driftwood for mother's day gift

A Gift From The Sea for Mothers Day

I am going to say something, and it might sound weird at first. But just hear me out. Since I left home when I was 17, I have never really missed it much. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my family, but the distance has never bothered me. At college I quickly made amazing friends. A few years later I got married to my best friend. We had an amazing little baby girl. Life has been pretty smooth sailing the past eight years.

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

But this year my attitude changed. I’m finally starting to really miss my family! I feel like Zander’s entrance into the world really shifted my perspective. The morning he was born, I watched Zoey meet him for the first time, and it was like she had grown three sizes overnight. It was a stark realization that she is not a baby anymore. With a growing family, there are more and more milestones on the horizon that I want my family to be a part of.

The thing that has really been the focus of my thoughts lately though is this: nobody loves me, and my kids, as much, and as unconditionally, as my mom. So I have been dreaming lately of the day when I will be able to have her in my daily life. Hopefully in the next couple years when Kris finishes school! My sister and I made a plan with my mom when we were really little, we would find three hills next to each other and build a house on each one. I feel like this plan should happen soon…

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

Just because we don’t live in the same state (or even the same country currently) doesn’t mean we can’t stay in touch and be really close! Our talks, though short and often disrupted by our kiddies, are something I always look forward to. When you are talking to your mom there is just a connection and understanding that you don’t have with anyone else, no matter how far apart you are. And when my mom does come to visit, she makes up for lost time. She honestly treats me like a queen. Cleaning the house, sending Kris and I out on dates, doing crafts and activities with Zoey, cooking meals, helping me with work, and so much more – she quite literally is super mom/grandma.

I wanted to do something extra special this Mothers Day to express in some small way the gratitude I have for my mom and the feelings I have been having as of late.

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

I know my mom so well, and when I was thinking of what to get for her, her love of the ocean kept coming to my mind. My mom and dad just purchased a new home and it will be the first time in about 18 years that they will no longer be living next to the sea! I decided to create for her a seashell succulent hanging garden, for her new home.

I packaged it all up and sent it out in the mail yesterday to my sister, she is going to take care of it till my mom gets home from her trip out of country. It turned out so beautifully that I actually made one for myself too and hung it next to my piano. If you want to make your own the instructions are below. It really is the perfect mothers day gift. Simple, beautiful and unique. It takes about an hour to make!

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

Succulent Seashell Hanging Garden

What You Need:

3 Large Seashells

Driftwood (I found some at the beach!)

3 Succulents

Hemp String

Adhesive Hanging Hooks

Glue Gun & Sticks

Scissors

Spoon

Mothers Day Card, Tissue Paper, Gift Bag

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

Instructions for Making your Succulent Seashell Hanging Garden:

1. Cut three lengths of hemp string, about three feet long each.

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

2. Fold about 5 inches of the string over itself three times and tie a not at the top, cut the loop, so you have three strands of string about five inches long at the end of each length of hemp.

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

3. Tie the three ends in a knot and place the shell in the middle of them. Glue the shell in place with the glue gun so the opening in the seashell is facing upwards.

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

4. Remove each succulent from its pot, over a bowl, use the spoon to gently loosen the dirt from the roots, be careful not to break the roots.

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

5. Pack a spoonful of dirt into the bottom of each shell, place the plant inside and then pack more dirt on top around the succulent.

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess
Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

6. Wrap each seashell plant in some tissue and tie it with a piece of hemp string.

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess
Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

7. Wrap the driftwood, hanging hook and some extra string for hanging the garden from the ceiling, each in separate pieces of tissue and tie them all with a bow!

8. Package it all up in a beautiful gift bag. I am shipping mine to my sister who will be seeing my mom soon, and I included everything to wrap it up in the top of the box. The succulents I chose only need a little spray of water once a week, so I just shipped it priority to make sure they would stay healthy and watered them right before I shipped them!

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

9. A handwritten card is the perfect finishing touch to your gift and be sure to include the below instructions in the card.

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

Instructions to Include In The Card:

  1. Tie the hanging plants to the piece of driftwood and attach the extra piece of string to the ends of the driftwood.
  2. Use the adhesive hook to hang your seashell garden it from the ceiling.

Copy the instructions above into your Mother’s Day card.

I got a random selection of Mothers Day cards (like 5 of them). I can never decide on one because they have so many beautiful options, plus I know a lot of beautiful mommas that I want to give cards to, so I knew I would use all the extras. Zoey drew a picture of herself and my mom in her card. I added a personal message to the card I chose. It just felt like the perfect finishing touch to really personalize our package.

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

Now every time I see my hanging garden next to my piano I think of my mom. I know she is going to love hers! It is totally her style and I am glad she will have something to bring a little bit of the ocean into her new dessert home.

What are you doing for your mom for Mothers Day? Will you be apart for Mothers Day, or will you get to spend it with your mom?? Would your mom love a hanging seashell garden as much as mine?

Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess
Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess
Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess
Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess
Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess
Create a Succulent Hanging Garden in Seashells For Mothers Day by Rachael Burgess

2 Responses

  1. I totally agree about missing mothers. I am 40 and I still miss my mother. I love having her around and having her watch my children grow up. I loved your garden. It was so beautiful!!!

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