Ruth Edgar’s fascination withteapots began when she purchased a tea set for her daughter nearly two decades ago.

"I’ve always loved teacups. They are one of the most beautiful things," she said.

But new sets can be costly, so Edgar spends lots of time browsing garage sales and thrift stores. She said she has never spent more than $5 for a teapot.

"Whenever I travel, I go to different thrift shops and pick up more pots," she said.

Her Aiea garden is filled with some of her bargain finds. She has more than 300 teacups and 200 teapots filled with succulents, cactuses and small plants. When potting her plants, Edgar uses layers of red cinders for drainage and horticultural charcoal for water absorption under a top layer of soil.

"These are desert plants, so they don’t need fertilizer."

The 54-year-old semiretired hairstylist started collecting pots and cups to create her unique garden about a year ago.

Working in the yard enables her to spend time outdoors with her 2-year-old grandson, Nixon Haze Edgar Domingo. He helps water and clean the garden and has his own collection of plants in cups and mugs that sport Mickey Mouse designs and other colorful motifs.

Edgar used leftover lumber to build shelving in her backyard to display a collection of teapots she can view out her bedroom window. Repurposed wine and spice racks and other old wire racks add varying heights to the scene.

"I spend two to three hours in the garden each day. I just love it," she said. "I have a small area, but I make use of the space. I put things in small pots so I can include lots of things. It helps to make the space look bigger."

Even as a young girl, Edgar sought outlets for her creativity. "My mom inspired me a lot. She would sew all of our outfits," she said.

Now she hopes her creative efforts inspire others. She decorates elaborate Christmas trees. For Halloween she fashions oversize spider webs out of trash bags.

"I don’t try to copy anyone. I like to make my own designs," she said.

Aside from her teapots and teacups, she has about 50 different varieties of aloe plants, oversize tillandsia and succulents placed in abalone shells. She doesn’t like using rocks in the landscape, so she incorporates driftwood, coral and shells instead.

Her goal is to emphasize the beauty of nature in her surroundings.

"I finally have my dream garden," she said.

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