Author Archives: Denise

Yucca Love

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Denise
Posted in agaves, woody lilies | 1 Comment

Laughter in the Distance

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Denise

Not a title to a pulpy romance novel but a snippet of Hinkley’s hilarious prose from his infamous Heronswood nursery catalogues. (The nursery was opened in 1987, bought by Burpee in 2000 and closed by them in 2006.) The catalogues … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, essay, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Where are the Women Designers?

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Denise

In the aftermath of this year’s Chelsea show, the dearth of entries by women is discussed in this provocative article from the Telegraph. The article quotes a Sue Hayward, who wonders if the deficit can be due to the fact … Continue reading →

Posted in design, shop talk | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mergers & Acquisitions

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Denise

If nature abhors a vacuum, then I am nature’s willing handmaiden. By late May, the garden is stuffed, bursting at the seams like this potted Euphorbia tirucalli. Echevarias and sedums tucked into every available spot. Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ filling in … Continue reading →

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

Small Moves

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Denise

“Small moves, Ellie.” No, I didn’t read the book Contact by Carl Sagan but am quoting from the movie, where Jodie Foster as Dr. Ellie Arroway is advised as a child by her father to take it slow when scanning … Continue reading →

Posted in garden ornament, Plant Portraits | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Need A House? Call Ms. Mouse!

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Denise

Meet my heroine, Ms. Henrietta Mouse. “…she is an artist, a designer, a dreamer, a builder, a creator, all that and more too.” The Venice Garden Tour got me thinking about Henrietta Mouse again, a children’s book that was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ephemera | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Esquisses Pour Le Boulanger

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Denise

Spoke to MB Maher earlier this week as he edited a small road movie from his time in Northern California. He emphasized the throw-away nature of this piece, but also his embarrassing need to keep shooting, even with a 50-dollar … Continue reading →

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The Succulent Lady

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Denise

I kept telling everyone, “I’m going to a talk by the Succulent Lady!” Unlike my friends and family, most garden bloggers need no further description to know I’m talking about Debra Lee Baldwin, in Southern California promoting her new book … Continue reading →

Posted in essay, succulents | Tagged , | 7 Comments

The Smoke Monster

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Denise

You know what I’m talking about, and it’s not bronze fennel, though he does a pretty good impersonation.

Posted in Occasional Daily Photo | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Shuffle

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Denise

The annual summer pot shuffle. Which pots shall be plucked from the margins and take pride of place, beautiful specimens of their kind? Every summer brings a different answer. This Agave parryi’s spikes are kept well out of corgi eye … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden ornament, succulents | 3 Comments