Author Archives: Denise

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Posted on October 4, 2011 by Denise

If you ever walk your neighborhood wondering why it looks the way it does, or wonder why you never want to walk in your neighborhood at all, you may be interested in The New York Times opinion piece, “Shifting the … Continue reading →

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Beer & Art

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Denise

I’m not arguing that these are the twin pillars of civilization or anything. Just pointing out that there is a surreal alliance between the two that has been taking place for years in a local abandoned brewery. The old Pabst … Continue reading →

Posted in design, garden visit, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Mid Century Modern Madness

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Denise

Yesteday, the Modernica sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A couple wire, Eiffel-Tower-base chairs were tentatively on my list, like these: But the sale itself was such an amazing spectacle of Mid Century Modern mania that I lost my focus, … Continue reading →

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Garden Miscellany

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Denise

Since the post on the tree collard continually gets a surprising number of hits, full disclosure is in order: I’ve composted the tree collard. It is a defiantly ugly vegetable. My hat is off to fellow tree collard growers who … Continue reading →

Posted in creatures, edibles, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Salvia macrophylla ‘Upright Form’

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Denise

Large-leaved sage, Salvia macrophylla. Insistently, emphatically, imperially blue. And since I’ve officially entered the fall season of travel lust I tumble into every year, a more sinister association also comes to mind, that of Mayan Blue, a sacrificial blue. The … Continue reading →

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Pep Talk

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Denise

With the light weakening as lowering sunbeams diffuse through the atmosphere, in my garden that signals the coincident scraping and dragging sounds of pots being moved to find any part of the garden still trapping the precious, goldeny stuff. Or … Continue reading →

Posted in pots and containers, shop talk | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

a monday collage

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Denise

A new week, slightly out of focus. Feed the cats, make the coffee, read Paul Krugman’s column. Routines are the pitons hammered into the seams of blurry grey rock that is a Monday morning. A quick check on the garden. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bulbs, Plant Portraits, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hebe ‘Western Hills’

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Denise

Hebes are the kind of tidy plants so perfectly composed they can be accused of conveying a touch of smugness, of rendering a garden a little too safe and suburban. I take the personal position that it’s best to resist … Continue reading →

Posted in MB Maher, Plant Portraits, pots and containers | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Plant Hunting in Namibia

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Denise

I didn’t need to know too much about the Crassula mesembryanthemoides I bought last week, just some elaboration of the nurseryman’s comment that the stem tips drop, root, and spread everywhere. Very few search hits available. Add its home, Namibia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The California Look 2011

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Denise

The Los Angeles Times L.A. At Home section has been asking for readers’ input in a poll to determine the “California Look” for 2011. Results of the poll can be found here. Offered as inspiration for the poll is this … Continue reading →

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