Author Archives: Denise

impressions of Portland gardens (in the zone of filtered sunshine)

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Denise

Since returning from touring gardens and nurseries in Portland last week, I’ve been haphazardly researching what makes the Pacific Northwest so full of great gardens and nurseries. Not expecting any definitive answer, just scrounging around for clues. Portland’s enviably soft … Continue reading →

Posted in climate, garden travel, garden visit, Plant Portraits, pots and containers | Tagged 2014 Portland Garden Bloggers Fling, Cistus Nursery, Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web', Joy Creek Nursery, Modern Jackass/This American Life, Oregon, Pomarius Nursery, Portland, Rhus typhina Tiger Eye Sumac, Solanum pyracanthum, Willamette Valley | 12 Comments

Bloom Day July 2014

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Denise

It fell from midnight skies. It drummed on the galvanized – Joni Mitchell, Paprika Plains Marty’s been reciting those song lyrics ever since the rain came and fell in exactly that manner Monday night. We all raced out the kitchen … Continue reading →

Posted in Bloom Day | Tagged 2014 Portland Garden Bloggers Fling, Aechmea fasciata, Aristida purpurea, Dasylirion wheeleri, Gomphrena 'Fireworks', Pennisetum 'Sky Rocket', Ricinus communis 'New Zealand Purple', Silver Vase bromeliad Aechmea fasciata | 8 Comments

how Alison got her stripes back

Posted on July 9, 2014 by Denise

So very glad to find a moderate-sized phormium, a true 4-footer, I was willing to overlook the fact that many of this New Zealand Flax’s leaves age into a dull olive green, losing the pale bands that are the inspiration … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Plant Portraits | Tagged Agave 'Blue Glow', Brachysema praemorsum, Furcraea macdougalii, New Zealand Flax, Phormium 'Alison Blackman', variegated plants | 3 Comments

the French Laundry’s Culinary Garden

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Denise

“One score and seven minutes ago our partners brought forth on this town, a new restaurant, conceived in finesse, and dedicated to the proposition that all food is served soigné.” — Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry celebrating its 20th anniversary … Continue reading →

Posted in edibles, MB Maher, photography | Tagged California, kitchen gardens, MB Maher, Napa Valley, Thomas Keller's The French Laundry, vegetable gardens | 9 Comments

sunday clippings 7/6/14

Posted on July 6, 2014 by Denise

I think the conversation left off with brillantaisia, the salvia look-alike I stumbled upon at the local city college. Except it’s not really a salvia but a member of the acanthaceae family. I did go back for photos and also … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, artists, clippings, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged "Botany's New Boys" by Michael Tortorello, "Sowing a Garden One Knit Flower at a Time, Agave celsii var. albicans 'UCB', Agave x leopoldii, Aloe cameronii, artist Tatyana Yanishevsky, Brillantaisia subulugurica, Garden Designer Carolyn Mullet, Lavandula multifida, Melianthus 'Purple Haze', Paul Stamet's 6 ways mushrooms can save the world, Salvia 'Amistad', Tanacetum vulgare 'Isla Gold', TED talk, ” | 7 Comments

notes from the CSSA plant sale at the Huntington June 28-29, 2014

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Denise

Aloe cameronii from the Cactus & Succulent Society of America show and sale at the Huntington this weekend. An aloe famous for the deep coloring of is leaves, which requires harsh treatment to maintain, full sun and minimal water. I … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, garden visit, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged 29th Annual Intercity Show at LA County Arboretum, Agave bracteosa, Aloe cameronii, Cactus and Succulent Society of America, Cephalocereus urbanianus, Huntington Botanical Gardens, Notocactus magnificus | 4 Comments

Old California Style

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Denise

“Yeah, the architecture is really consistent, isn’t it? French next to Spanish, next to Tudor, next to Japanese.” Alvy Singer musing on Los Angeles architecture in “Annie Hall.” Adobe-style house in a polyglot landscape. California pepper tree, Schinus molle (from … Continue reading →

Posted in design, driveby gardens | Tagged California Pepper Tree Schinus molle, Crested Polka Dot Cactus, echium, Golden Barrel Cactus Echinocactus grusonii, Opuntia microdasys 'Cristata', Portulacaria afra, Stipa tenuissima | 4 Comments

streetside: succulent garden 6/24/14

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Denise

Another gem of a garden found via a traffic shortcut.* I’ve been admiring it for some time and stopped by last night for photos. Driving by, the tall succulents, a Furcraea macdougalii about the size of mine, Euphorbia ammak and … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, driveby gardens, succulents | Tagged Agave 'Blue Glow', Agave bracteosa, Agave desmettiana 'Variegata', Agave macroacantha, Agave potatorum, Agave stricta, Aloe plicatilis, Crassula 'Campfire', Eriogonum giganteum, Euphorbia ammak variegata, Euphorbia leucodendron, Fouquieria splendens, Furcraea macdougalii, kalanchoes, Ocotillo, opuntia, Pelargonium sidoides, St. Catherine's Lace, Sticks on Fired/Euphorbia tirucalli | 11 Comments

sunday clippings 6/22/14

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Denise

Future shock for me has arrived in the guise of an orange wristband. “Congratulations! You moved 24,995 steps, 12.07 miles, 249% of goal!” Jawbone’s UP pedometer calculates all that aimless garden puttering and tallies up some surprising stats. My orange … Continue reading →

Posted in clippings, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged "Green is Good" by D. T. Max, 2014, Annie's Annuals & Perennials, Brillantaisia subulugurica, Cissus discolor, Commelina coelestis, Dypsis decaryi Triangle Palm, Edyn garden system, Ganna Walska, Garden Bloggers Fling 2014 Portland, Hellstrip Gardening by Evelyn Hadden, Huntington Botanical Garden plant sale June 28-29, Jawbone UP wristband, Lotusland, Musschia wollastonii, Oregon, Philodendron melanochrysum, Senecio scaposus v. addoensis, Tanacetum vulgare 'Isla Gold', The Nature Conservancy, The New Yorker May 12, Timber Press | 4 Comments

summer in Judy Horton’s garden

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Denise

A couple weekends ago, the Southern California Horticultural Society hosted another “Coffee in the Garden,” and included was a garden that I had been advised not to miss should it come up for tour. (Thank you, Shirley Watts!) For her … Continue reading →

Posted in artists, design, garden visit, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged Acacia boormanii, Aloe plicatilis, Beechwood Canyon, begonias, Blechnum brasiliense, CA, Echeveria agavoides, garden designer Judy Horton, Hollywood, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, Southern California Horticultural Society, Teucrium fruticans | 8 Comments