Category Archives: succulents
2012’s end
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
starting over with Kalanchoe ‘Pink Butterflies’
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
driveby gardens 12/17/12; studies in textures
It’s been chronically drizzly the past few days, perfect weather for thinning and transplanting some broccoli rabe seedlings at my community garden plot. On the drive home I slowed for some interesting front gardens of contrasting character, some shrubby, some … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, driveby gardens, garden visit, succulents
Tagged Adenanthos sericeus, Aeonium 'Kiwi', Agave attenuata, buddleia, Coastal Woollybush, Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga, manzanita, Phylica pubescens, pittosporum, Romneya coulterii, Salvia apiana, westringia
5 Comments
Bloom Day December 2012
The last Bloom Day in 2012 — I’m keeping this one short, but if interested you can use the search function on the blog for more information/photos on any of these. Helleborus argutifolius Perlargonium echinatum Gerbera ‘Drakensberg Carmine’ Senecio medley-woodii, … Continue reading
OC Mart Mix needs to host a garden show
Another weekend misspent ostensibly holiday shopping (why pretend?), but in actuality just enjoying plants and landscapes, these courtesy of The OC Mart Mix. Although The OC Mart Mix was patterned after the Ferry Building gourmet marketplace in San Francisco, it’s … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden travel, garden visit, plant nurseries, pots and containers, succulents
Tagged Agave vilmoriniana, Cornerstone Sonoma, Ferry Building Marketplace San Francisco, Inside Out 365, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, OC Mart Mix, Rolling Greens Costa Mesa, Senecio mandraliscae, The Late Show, The Late Show Gardens
7 Comments
friday clippings 12/7/12
The tulips are planted, and now the vegetable bin in the fridge is once again restored to its rightful purpose of chilling vegetables. I went beyond the required six weeks of prechilling this year, but overchilling is not the problem … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bulbs, clippings, plant crushes, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits, succulents
Tagged Agave 'Blue Flame', Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor', Agave parrasana 'Fireball', Aloe polyphylla, Annie's Annuals & Perennials, Far Reaches Farm, Gertrude Jekyll, glaucium, High Country Gardens closure, Lincoln Avenue Nursery, Native Sons plant nursery, Othonna cheirifolia, Senecio viravira, Sideritis oroteneriffae, Sideritis syriaca, silver foliage
5 Comments
plant this book
With apologies to Abbie Hoffman (’60s radical and author of counterculture best-seller Steal this Book) Via Desire to Inspire Literally, sheet mulching for the bookish set. Scanning my book shelves, I just can’t come up with a book to sacrifice. … Continue reading
Posted in design, garden ornament, pots and containers, succulents
Tagged Abbie Hoffman, Desire to Inspire, sheet mulching, Steal This Book
4 Comments
how to gift wrap an agave
I had some time late yesterday afternoon so decided to dip my toe into holiday retail. In truth, all I did was look at plants. And even bought a few. For myself. This season of giving is off to a … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden ornament, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, succulents
Tagged Agave 'Blue Flame', Agave 'Blue Glow', Agave desmettiana 'Variegata', Agave guadalajarana, Aloe bainesii, Aloe marlothii, Astelia nervosa, Carex trifida 'Rekohu Sunrise, Chamaerops humilis, Euphorbia milii, Ligularia dentata, mediterranean fan palm, Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum', Roger's Gardens, Variegated Tataki Grass, Yucca 'Bright Star'
9 Comments
Plant portrait; Agave attenuata and St. Augustine grass
Clean, bright simplicity. Agave attenuata underplanted with variegated St. Augustine grass, by garden designer Dustin Gimbel. This tough, subtropical grass works beautifully in holding this slope, and is allowed to grow long and shaggy or clipped and tidy, according to … Continue reading
porpoising (sunday clippings 11/18/12)
Surfacing briefly, like the porpoises I watched slicing the surface of the ocean on the ferry boat crossing to Catalina Island Friday. A visit mostly all business*, the pleasure coming mainly from the 30-minute walk to the conference room at … Continue reading