People who live in glass houses should not throw stones, but when Shannon Pocan mixes rocks and glass -- she makes magic.
Pocan is the green thumb behind Two Trees Botanicals. A walk through her Instagram is like stepping into a miniature world where golden bears hide behind cactus and a turquoise Tyrannosaurus Rex has ferns growing between its shoulders.
She builds terrariums and unique planters that jazz up any spaces that need a little breath of life.
"They are all very easy to care for. That is why I chose succulents and air plants, I chose stuff that works in Arizona," assures Pocan.
She stands over a variety of softball-sized glass orbs, each containing a variety of small succulents accented with miniature tabbys and Dalmatians.
"The succulents, they need sunlight and water then like twice a month," says Pocan, as she rearranges some soil in one she is building on the spot.
A glance toward the window reveals a curtain of living things. A half dozen terrariums gently sway in the air conditioning at Moon Age in Tempe. The shop features over 60 local artists, Shannon was one of their first and Moon Age were her first distributor. Nooks and crannies all over the store reveal itty-bitty planters blooming with live plants, some are safari animals prowling a bookcase while sporting jade plants and other are bright geometric shapes sprouting green tops like cartoon carrots.
Some of the terrariums even forego the rocks and soil.
"If you have a really black thumb then I suggest air plants.They are called air plants because they survive on air and water,' said Pocan. "The scientific name is Tillandsia. They are a non parasitic species that typically grows on the side of trees."
Pocan is a fan of their easy care.
"Air plants need to be watered once a week, they do very well in this environment," she said.
Pocan has created the ultimate, carefree garden using paper plants for the truly cursed.
"I took leaves off of my own succulents at home, scanned them into the computer, traced then out and made all different species," she said.
Pocan's tiny art gardens are available all the time at Moon Age in Tempe, Songbird Coffee in Phoenix and GrowOp Boutique in Phoenix. She also ships from her website.
