A Jellyfish Planter

No creature exemplifies the oxymoron of deadly beauty better than the jellyfish. Ethereal, elegant, quiet, lethal – they prowl the seas, their poisonous tentacles floating innocuously like the fronds on an Australian’s hat. They are fascinating and horrifying, sitting uncomfortably outside the definition of fish, their purpose, in their glutinous glittering forms, being seemingly only to float and eat, pausing occasionally to sting. And yet, despite this sinister aspect, a jellyfish has won the Loves vote for AnOther’s social media and editorial assistant Daisy Woodward, in the form of this wonderful aerial planter by Cathy Van Hoang.

It’s not unusual to find our houses filled with benign facsimiles of the fearful. Take dogs and cats, domesticated hangovers from the age of the wolf or mementos of sporting success: stuffed fish on plaques, a fox’s tail as fly swat, or the lion skin rug, a once majestic head raised in a perpetual, impotent growl. And then there are the likes of this jellyfish – a monstrous creature rendered witty through the combination of sea urchin shells and succulent fronds. The perfect way to celebrate the jellyfish without fear of getting stung.

So as we start hanging our planters, Woodward considers her favourite underwater creatures, while dreaming of a day spent in Liberace's pool.

Why did you love this planter?
It’s just really fun and clever idea – the lady who makes them runs a little Etsy shop with lots of different ones and they’re all really brilliant. Plus they come with the ready-to-grow plants, which is good for me as I’m not much of a gardener.

Where would you keep it if you owned it?
In my kitchen window.

Jellyfish – fearful or beautiful?
Both in equal measure I think. I’m yet to be stung though, I’m sure that tips the balance… 

What's your favourite expanse of water?
Liberace’s piano shaped pool was pretty amazing, but in terms of the places I’ve been – I love the Welsh coastline and Kabak in Turkey is unbelievably beautiful. You can stay in tree houses on a mountain side right next to the sea. Dreamy.

What is your favourite underwater creature?
Sea horses – they are so intricate and bizarre and when they pick their significant (seahorse) other, they swim side by side holding tails.

What's your favourite water scene on screen?
It’s between the swimming pool in The Graduate and the lake lift in Dirty Dancing (swoon). 

Other than this one, what is your fantasy planter shape?
I’m not sure – would a Medusa one work, with spindly green hair?

What are you looking forward to about February?
A long weekend in Rome, one of my most favourite places.

What was the last thing you bought?
I just booked online tickets for the Borghese gallery (in Rome) – the Bellini sculptures there are some of the best things I’ve ever seen.