Author Archives: Denise

driveby gardens 12/17/12; studies in textures

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Denise

It’s been chronically drizzly the past few days, perfect weather for thinning and transplanting some broccoli rabe seedlings at my community garden plot. On the drive home I slowed for some interesting front gardens of contrasting character, some shrubby, some … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, driveby gardens, garden visit, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

sunday clippings 12/16/12

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Denise

I was skimming through the design archives of the Wall Street Journal online yesterday, a wonderful trove of good reading, and recognized the pressed leaves of Macleaya cordata, the plume poppy, used by the shoe designer Christian Louboutin to decorate … Continue reading →

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Bloom Day December 2012

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Denise

The last Bloom Day in 2012 — I’m keeping this one short, but if interested you can use the search function on the blog for more information/photos on any of these. Helleborus argutifolius Perlargonium echinatum Gerbera ‘Drakensberg Carmine’ Senecio medley-woodii, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bloom Day, succulents | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Amsterdam houseboat gardens

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Denise

Can you string together three other words that conjure as much bliss as those? Perhaps you can. But having been obsessed with some garden or other most of my life, and having lived with a boat captain most of my … Continue reading →

Posted in driveby gardens, garden travel, MB Maher, photography, pots and containers | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Agave titanota (crush with eyeliner)

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Denise

Let me change the holiday music channel, if ever so briefly, by sharing the soundtrack that plays every time I walk by this agave, my crush with eyeliner. Agave titanota hybrid ‘Lanky Wanky’ A silly, last-round-at-the-pub name for a sideways-leaning … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

OC Mart Mix needs to host a garden show

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Denise

Another weekend misspent ostensibly holiday shopping (why pretend?), but in actuality just enjoying plants and landscapes, these courtesy of The OC Mart Mix. Although The OC Mart Mix was patterned after the Ferry Building gourmet marketplace in San Francisco, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden travel, garden visit, plant nurseries, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

friday clippings 12/7/12

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Denise

The tulips are planted, and now the vegetable bin in the fridge is once again restored to its rightful purpose of chilling vegetables. I went beyond the required six weeks of prechilling this year, but overchilling is not the problem … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bulbs, clippings, plant crushes, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

flowering tobacco in December

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Denise

I’m still puzzling over the winter exuberance of the nicotiana I sowed from seed early last spring. Now over 5 feet tall, the seed came from ‘Ondra’s Brown Mix,’ a selection made by Nan Ondra from her garden Hayefield. Annie’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Occasional Daily Photo 12/5/12

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Denise

After leaving NYC, MB Maher headed to Iceland. Only a California photographer would want to visit Iceland in December. But Maher says the light there now is “permanent Malick,” that is, what three or four hours of daylight there is … Continue reading →

Posted in creatures, MB Maher, Occasional Daily Photo, photography | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

High Line in late November 2012

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Denise

Must I really squeeze in one more post on the High Line in 2012? Have we become bored and cynical already about this dream of a garden on an abandoned railway trestle made real against seemingly insurmountable odds? (Yes to … Continue reading →

Posted in design, garden travel, garden visit, MB Maher | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments