Author Archives: Denise

meet Billie

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Denise

She’s a little sleepy right now, which is the best time to point a camera at her. Born January 9, 2021, we picked her up on March 13. Just this morning I noticed how she’s becoming less madcap puppy and … Continue reading →

Posted in creatures, journal | Tagged | 8 Comments

Green Touch Nursery fills a void with plant fairs

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Denise

Oscar and family are growing the local cactus and succulent community one plant fair at a time on the grounds of his Green Touch Nursery in Bellflower, Calif. And why not? They’ve got the space and, most importantly, the can-do … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, plant nurseries, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents | 5 Comments

bloom day May 2021

Posted on May 15, 2021 by Denise
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bloom Day, pots and containers, succulents | 10 Comments

back to Greece

Posted on May 10, 2021 by Denise

It’s been two years since Mitch visited Greece. When I first saw his photos, it was the giant fennel in its native habitat that grabbed all of my attention. With my giant fennel taking its sweet time to bloom, Mitch’s … Continue reading →

Posted in garden travel, MB Maher | 5 Comments

what’s on the table

Posted on May 6, 2021 by Denise

In the garden, the development of this little silene has been incredibly exciting, however much it underwhelms the camera. My normally sober-as-a-judge succulent garden is having a deliriously frothy moment this first week of May.

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, journal, pots and containers, succulents | 5 Comments

Worldwide Exotics Nursery

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Denise

It was that article in the Los Angeles Times sometime in the ’90s, accompanied by a photo of Gary Hammer crouched in a rock crevice or slot canyon with a curtain of waterfall flowing behind him. The article that christened … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, plant nurseries, pots and containers, succulents | 8 Comments

a day of mystery plant shopping

Posted on May 3, 2021 by Denise

It started off mid-Saturday morning May 1 at Ray and Netty’s plant sale at their home in Atwater Village. There in the driveway was a 3-gallon plant beckoning me with the intriguing tag “mystery euphorbia.” Ray Valentine really knows how … Continue reading →

Posted in garden visit, journal, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents | 7 Comments

Laurel Stutsman Design

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Denise

I found this photo in a 2015 folder on my old photobucket account. The photo was tagged “wildlife-road-malibu2” with no accompanying description. I don’t normally keep unidentified garden photos, but something about it obviously grabbed me in 2015, and it … Continue reading →

Posted in artists, design, driveby gardens, garden visit, inspire me | 5 Comments

clippings 4/28/21

Posted on April 28, 2021 by Denise

For Southern California gardeners: Melianthus ‘Purple Haze’ was spotted at Plant Depot in San Juan Capistrano this month, a single plant. After planting, try not to move it around too much; in zone 10, placement that avoids afternoon sun is … Continue reading →

Posted in books, clippings, plant nurseries, plant sales | Tagged | 5 Comments

spring-blooming Aloe camperi

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Denise

There are so many, many great aloes. A collector’s garden of aloes in zone 10 is a serious temptation. As are agaves. My desire skips like a stone across both these great groups of succulents, trying not to sink into … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits, succulents | 3 Comments