Author Archives: Denise

Dragon Fruit

Posted on August 21, 2010 by Denise

The first bloom this year of the dragon fruit, that is, the first bloom that I can see, dangling over a boundary fence we share with a neighbor. Looking a bit more carefully, I could see more flowers and even … Continue reading →

Posted in edibles, garden visit, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Bivouaced With…Martha Stewart

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Denise

Not knowing this was going to turn into a series, or I might have chosen my words a bit more carefully, the “Bivouaced With” posts started when I first dragged published gardening material into my new lair, an off-world bivouac … Continue reading →

Posted in succulents | 7 Comments

Folly Bowl

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Denise

Another garden preview for the upcoming Gardening Under Mediterranean Skies symposium to be held this September 23rd to the 26th through Pacific Horticulture. Photographer MB Maher and designer Dustin Gimbel of Second Nature Garden Design visited artists Sue Dadd and … Continue reading →

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How The West Is Won: Garden Visit – Hessing/Bonfigli Garden

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Denise

I was invited to tag along with MB Maher on one of his garden photo assignments, this time to get some preview photos of the garden of artists Andreas Hessing and Karen Bonfigli, which is one of many to be … Continue reading →

Posted in garden visit, MB Maher | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Foliage Followup August 2010

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Denise

Jumping right in to some of the leaves I’ve been enjoying this summer. I’ve posted photos of this astelia before, but I’ve recently noticed that the astelia and blue vine salvia have a lot to say to each other, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

August 2010 Bloom Day

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Denise

Bloom Days are hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. For next summer I’m already planning on lilies again, this time for pots. Just an example of the power of Bloom Day posts. Another atypical overcast morning in Southern California … Continue reading →

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

Good morning, tetrapanax

Posted on August 14, 2010 by Denise

Everything gets to be dewy and succulent for a moment, however brief. And if you play it right, it’s just enough. (Barely.) But enough. (Happy weekend!)

Posted in Ephemera | Tagged | 5 Comments

Living Walls: Meet the Fedge

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Denise

More detailed information on living walls keeps trickling in, this piece from today’s LA Times, where Emily Green takes a contrarian stance. I have to admit, I’ve been silently skeptical but nevertheless reading all I can on this trend. The … Continue reading →

Posted in essay, succulents | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Life Without the Lawn

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Denise

Driving for work or errands, I can find myself passing by and through endless suburban housing subdivisions which look as though they’ve been dozing through the controversy over whether to keep or lose the front lawn. (This is Los Angeles, … Continue reading →

Posted in essay | Tagged | 4 Comments

A little blue grass

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Denise

I’ve been busy moving this little blue grass, Carex glauca, (really a sedge) to various spots the past few days. This photo, with Echeveria nodulosa, is from May 2010. A couple prominent blue echeverias have been sustaining heavy snail damage … Continue reading →

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