Author Archives: Denise

still lifes with flowers; work by artist Laura Jones

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Denise

A welcome sight mid January are these lush, color-soaked still lifes by Laura Jones, an artist in Sydney, Australia. Nice interview, too, via the design files.

Posted in design | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

UCBG Natural Discourse: Form and Function 1/11/13

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Denise

The final event in the unique, year-long collaboration that the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley undertook with “artists, architects, scientists and poets in the garden,” Natural Discourse, was held Friday, January 11, 2013. As co-curator Shirley Watts explained … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden travel, garden visit, science, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

no-burn day

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Denise

On the drive to work this morning, my local public radio station advised that today is a no-burn day. I had never heard that term before, though I’m familiar with the reasoning behind it: “A ‘no burn’ alert is in … Continue reading →

Posted in science, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Occasional Daily Weather Report 1/6/13

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Denise

Nighttime temps haven’t dipped into the 30s yet, still the calamintha was somehow dusted with ice crystals yesterday morning Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) always looks chilly The daytime temps, anyway, make for perfect biking weather. My Christmas present to Marty … Continue reading →

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

Natural Discourse; Form & Function 1/11/13

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Denise

Some important dates. Natural Discourse, the multimedia exhibition installed in the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley, is closing January 20, 2013, so it’s now last-chance-Texaco time to get over there and have a look at its many wonders, … Continue reading →

Posted in artists, garden travel, garden visit, MB Maher, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2012’s end

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Denise

What a beautiful, tragic, maddening, saddening, intoxicating, infuriating, sublime and silly year 2012 was. While I indulge a bittersweet mood with Picasa’s collage editor, I’m wishing you the very, very best for 2013 — heavy on the sublime, light on … Continue reading →

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

starting over with Kalanchoe ‘Pink Butterflies’

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Denise

Its lifespan as fleeting and evanescent as a butterfly’s, the mother plant’s single stalk ultimately elongated to over 4 feet tall, bloomed, and dropped all but the topmost leaves. All in less than two years’ time. Seen here in better … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Plant Portraits, succulents | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

passionflower

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Denise

Passiflora loefgrenii, also known as the garlic passionfruit vine from Brazil, is making an unlikely, late-December flowering debut in my garden. This December show is probably a one-time fluke for a summer bloomer that will settle down to a more … Continue reading →

Posted in plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

gift-wrapped

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Denise

Yesterday was the winter solstice, so one of the best holiday presents of all, the gift of lengthening days, has already been delivered. I’ll take that over new socks any day. Huzzah! I’ve gift-wrapped AGO in some images from 2012, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ephemera, Plant Portraits | Tagged | 12 Comments

you are here

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Denise

Don’t laugh, but it was cold, relatively speaking, in Los Angeles yesterday. Last night was down into the low 40’s. Marty and I took the Metro up to the ArcLight in Hollywood to see Hyde Park on Hudson, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in design | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments