Author Archives: Denise

another rainy day at the Huntington

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Denise

In a bizarre bit of repetition, two recent visits to the Huntington Botanical Garden have coincided with that rarest of occurrences, a rainy day in Los Angeles during our mega drought. April especially is late in the season for a … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden visit, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

repotting Cussonia spicata

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Denise

Cussonia spicata, June 2014. Cussonias are also known as Cabbage Trees, all from South Africa, and I want every one I’ve ever seen. In my zone 10 they can be grown outdoors, where they will fulfill their ultimate destiny as … Continue reading →

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

Agave ovatifolia

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Denise

Treasured for being on the short list of agaves hardy to zone 7, this imposing agave is no less desirable in warmer zones. My recently planted ‘Frosty Blue’ has a ways to go before it looks like this: Photos of … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, MB Maher, Occasional Daily Photo | Tagged , | 8 Comments

the short but productive life of Agave mitis ‘Multicolor’

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Denise

There’s something about an agave bloom that’s crazy-making. Emotions are as variegated as the leaves of this nomenclature-challenged agave. (Bought as Agave celsii ‘Multicolor,’ it might even be chiapensis*.) I’m thrilled, sad, awestruck, and a little dumbstruck, too, at having … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

orange and blue

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Denise

I love garden surprises. Sure, there is some planning involved, but because the garden supports a collecting habit, the big picture is usually uncertain and often a mixed bag. What the collecting id of my psyche is up to all … Continue reading →

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

visiting Ms. Fish’s garden

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Denise

In 1993, when my boys were 5 and 10, we took our first vacation without them. It was a big emotional deal for all of us to be apart some 10 days, but I needed to see if there really … Continue reading →

Posted in books, garden travel, garden visit, journal | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

notes on some spring plant sales

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Denise

Is that a water pistol in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? I’ve been hearing from friends in the retail nursery business that the new water restrictions have them very worried. Indeed, I’ve been told retail … Continue reading →

Posted in Bulbs, climate, design, garden travel, journal, pots and containers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

friday clippings 4/24/15 (SoCal Spring Garden Show weekend)

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Denise

Southern California’s Spring Garden Show started yesterday, 4/23/15, and continues through Sunday, 4/26/15. It’s always held in the enclosed “Home Store Wing” of the South Coast Plaza. This wing includes, among many other stores, Anthropologie, West Elm, Z Gallerie, Crate … Continue reading →

Posted in clippings, design, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

eat your lilies

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Denise

How many times have we browsed through plant catalogue descriptions padded with chatty, ethnobotanic non sequiturs like such-and-such is an edible delicacy in its country of origin? Impatient to discover whether the object of your desire is frost hardy, does … Continue reading →

Posted in edibles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

my mom’s sweet peas

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Denise

thanks, Mom, for sending me home with sweet peas last night. As insurance, in the fall I planted sweet peas at my mom’s house as well as my community garden plot. I neglected to water the sweet peas at my … Continue reading →

Posted in cut flowers | Tagged | 13 Comments