Author Archives: Denise

Occasional Daily Photo 7/11/11

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Denise

Brugmansia hybrid ‘Charles Grimaldi.’ Incredibly voluptuous, scented trumpets…on a plant that rivals the hybrid tea rose for awkward growth and ugly legs. Just haven’t found the right approach yet to placing these subtropical shrubs in a zone 10 landscape, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Occasional Daily Photo, Plant Portraits, pots and containers | Tagged | 7 Comments

Big Daddy On The Move

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Denise

“You know what I feel like? I feel all the time like a cat on a hot tin roof.” Maggie the Cat, daughter-in-law of Big Daddy, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Me, too, Maggie. It’s clearly going to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema Botanica, design, MB Maher | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Mystery Mullein

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Denise

Of all the old seed packets kept stuffed in cigar boxes and metal tins, this one wasn’t saved. Started from seed from Chiltern’s about two years ago. One central inflorescence branching into smaller spikes. Leaves are green, not grey and … Continue reading →

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

Occasional Daily Photo 7/7/11

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Denise

Echeveria runyonii ‘Topsy Turvy’ in an urn at Big Daddy’s. (At the end of the month, Big Daddy’s will be moving from its Gardena location to Culver City and may possibly be more inclined to discount inventory rather than pack … Continue reading →

Posted in design, garden ornament, Occasional Daily Photo, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Journal July 6, 2011

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Denise

The garden saw some frenetic activity over the long holiday weekend. Over the long, extremely hot holiday weekend. Not since Nixon has a face dripped such copious amounts of sweat. Under these sticky, squalid conditions, one reverts to a feral … Continue reading →

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

Plant Societies

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Denise

Why has it taken me so long to check out local plant societies? I’ve been a member of the various conservancies, The Mediterranean Garden Society, but membership was mostly in a passive sense, as a means to attend tours and … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden travel, garden visit, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, shop talk, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Madeira Giant Bellflower

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Denise

Musschia wollastonii bulges out of this large pot at an angle as though off a cliff in its native haunts of Madeira, Portugal. It’s gaining size rapidly, pushing aside the cordyline, but I try to stay calm and suppress an … Continue reading →

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

Raw Salvage

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Denise

I first heard about Big Daddy’s architectural salvage and antique business from Reuben’s blog Rancho Reubidoux and had been itching to check it out ever since, which I finally did about a month ago. The contrast between the natural world … Continue reading →

Posted in design, garden ornament | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Falk

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Denise

Such a joy to watch Peter Falk in Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire. Here chatting with an angel at a Berlin food truck. photo found here So many good things. Wings of Desire

Posted in Ephemera | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Occasional Daily Photo 6/27/11

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Denise

Dasylirion longissimum, about 6:45 a.m.

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Occasional Daily Photo, Plant Portraits | Tagged | 3 Comments