Author Archives: Denise

Bloom Day June 2014

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Denise

Bloom Day on Father’s Day? Really? I figured this out about 7 o’clock last night, but by then I was too sun-blasted to muster a post. Marty wanted his day spent at a local Irish fair. Guinness and “trad” music … Continue reading →

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Dustin’s June 14 Plant Fair

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Denise

Coming this Saturday at Dustin’s house and garden. Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. or thereabouts 1750 Sherman Place Long Beach, CA 90804 Nicely coinciding with the bloom of the giant Dutchman’s pipe vine, Aristolochia gigantea. Saturday, June … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, plant nurseries | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Aeonium ‘ Copper Penny’

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Denise

The potted manihot doesn’t seem to need great gulps of water so works well with these succulents sharing container space.  The main stalk became two when a nearby Euphorbia cotinifolia tree snapped, crashed, and sprawled over the garden last summer.  I think … Continue reading →

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museum Sunday

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Denise

Frida Kahlo in the Sun by Leo Matiz In what now seems like the dim past, the family photo album was a holy book, kept on prominent display in the sitting room, perhaps atop the piano draped in a fringe … Continue reading →

Posted in artists, photography, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

better know an agave

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Denise

A rogue’s gallery of agaves from Jud’s garden. Some of these I know, some I’m guessing at, and some have really stumped me. If you have an idea, I’m all ears. Agave potatorum? With Agave macroacantha in the background Agave … Continue reading →

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Cussonia spicata and the value of plants

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Denise

I have these weird unwritten rules when buying plants. For example, $30 is usually deemed way too much to spend on one plant. It’s not a conscious rule, it’s just after checking the price, unless it’s spectacularly, once-in-a-lifetime rare, I … Continue reading →

Posted in plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Euphorbia ammak’s big impact

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Denise

Despite its small and underwhelming size, I finally decided to plant this euphorbia in the ground, hoping it grows faster here than in its pot. Surprisingly, everybody seems quite impressed, including Evie, who wrapped herself around it like a snake … Continue reading →

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driveby agave garden details

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Denise

Some details from Jud’s garden. It was this beet red crassula and Coppertone Stonecrop (Sedum nussbaumerianum) that first drew my attention to this bit of detailed planting. The crassula looks like C. pubescens ssp. radicans. The longer I looked, the … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, driveby gardens, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Fishing with Senecio radicans

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Denise

From a recent garden tour. The fishhook senecio, Senecio radicans, doing what it does best, throwing its lines of hook-shaped leaves not from a pier but from a second-story balcony. Maybe I’m reading too much into this arrangement, because it … Continue reading →

Posted in Occasional Daily Photo, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , | 3 Comments

driveby agave garden revisited

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Denise

I’ve been thinking of Jud’s garden. Did the recent unseasonal heat waves bruise any agaves? I didn’t memorize the address, so it took a while to find again, which seems to be a recurring theme with this garden. Was it … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, driveby gardens, succulents | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments