Author Archives: Denise

chasing agaves

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Denise

Last Saturday, while millions marched their way into the history books, I was driving south to San Diego to meet agave expert Greg Starr. I had been looking forward to this 2-hour road trip for some time, as a beacon … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, garden travel, plant nurseries, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Long Beach’s illustrious architect Edward Killingsworth

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Denise

New Year’s Resolution No. 22: Check my hometown newspaper out more often. Included in the Los Angeles Times end-of-year roundup on “The 11 most popular home and garden stories of 2016,” was a piece I had missed that contained some … Continue reading →

Posted in design, driveby gardens | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

eat your dahlias

Posted on December 26, 2016 by Denise

I’m halfway convinced to fill my vegetable garden this summer with dahlias. Beans and tomatoes were an epic fail last summer, and though zucchini were OK, I can find them cheap and local. But these beauties, however, will never be … Continue reading →

Posted in cut flowers | Tagged | 10 Comments

a holiday visit with Dustin Gimbel

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Denise

Now that garden designer Dustin Gimbel has branched off into ceramics, I can buy a few holiday presents and visit his incredibly inspiring garden. Coming in the little side gate, there’s this silvery vision of Acacia pendula, faced down by … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, artists, design, garden visit, pots and containers | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

friday clippings 12/9/16

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Denise

There. How’s that for proof of some holiday spirit stirring? You can keep the poinsettias. I’ll take my holiday colors in the form of Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras.’ And then there was that very festive plant swap meetup this past week … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

rainy day clippings 11/27/16

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Denise

I’ve been up in my rainy “fort,” the open air, half-roofed lookout over the laundry shed, piles of soggy New Yorkers and Gardens Illustrated at my side, overindulging in a reading feast this blessedly stormy weekend. A copy of conversations … Continue reading →

Posted in clippings | 7 Comments

Bloom Day November 2016

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Denise

Daylight Saving Time and the electoral college. I think we can agree that these are two areas worthy of further study. May Dreams Gardens collects Bloom Day reports the 15th of every month. My excuse for posting on the 16th? … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bloom Day, Bulbs, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

This is no game

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Denise

(This piece by Jack Handey, which appeared in The New Yorker January 9, 2006, made us laugh just as hard again this morning. Thank you, Mr. Handey!) This is no game. You might think this is a game, but, trust … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Wednesday vignette 11/2/16

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Denise

Ever wonder what Huntington Botanical Garden employees display on their file cabinets? Luisa Serrano (Crow & Raven) and I got a tiny glimpse when we visited the Huntington in early October. The rest of these photos come from that visit … Continue reading →

Posted in clippings, garden visit, Occasional Daily Photo, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

end of month fav’s

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Denise

Plants and pottery, the twin joys of life. These are the cantaloupe bowls I’ve been coveting off Dustin Gimbel’s Instagram feed for some time. He’s selling them today at the Artistic License show held at Estancia Park, 1900 Adams Ave., … Continue reading →

Posted in artists, plant crushes, Plant Portraits, pots and containers | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments