Category Archives: agaves, woody lilies

a holiday visit with Dustin Gimbel

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Denise

Now that garden designer Dustin Gimbel has branched off into ceramics, I can buy a few holiday presents and visit his incredibly inspiring garden. Coming in the little side gate, there’s this silvery vision of Acacia pendula, faced down by … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, artists, design, garden visit, pots and containers | Tagged ceramics, Dustin Gimbel, Frankenia thymifolia | 10 Comments

friday clippings 12/9/16

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Denise

There. How’s that for proof of some holiday spirit stirring? You can keep the poinsettias. I’ll take my holiday colors in the form of Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras.’ And then there was that very festive plant swap meetup this past week … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings | Tagged 2nd Sundays, Aeonium 'Mardi Gras', Agave 'Monterrey Frost', flea markets, Los Angeles Grand Park, Renegade Craft Fair 2016, Rose Bowl Flea Market, Urban Americana | 8 Comments

Bloom Day November 2016

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Denise

Daylight Saving Time and the electoral college. I think we can agree that these are two areas worthy of further study. May Dreams Gardens collects Bloom Day reports the 15th of every month. My excuse for posting on the 16th? … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bloom Day, Bulbs, succulents | Tagged ' Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost, Aloe cameronii, Copper Canyon Daisy, grasses, grevilleas, Melinus nerviglumis, nerines, Passiflora 'Flying V', Senecio medley-woodii, Tanglefoot | 13 Comments

Unforgettable Fire! Natural Discourse 2016

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Denise

I usually have at least a hazy impression of the origin lands of the plants in my garden. Drawing from the five mediterranean climate regions for low-rainfall plant inspiration and choices as well as arid and semi-arid regions keeps my … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, science | Tagged Arundo donax, Big Bend National Park, Big Bend River Basin, Chihuahuan Desert, Los Diablos, Mark Briggs, Natural Discourse: Fire! (2016), Shirley Watts, World Wildlife Fund | 6 Comments

Occasional Daily Weather Report 9/20/16

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Denise

We’re having a spell of clammy, sultry weather, the kind that will boost passionflowers another foot in growth seemingly overnight. Passiflora hybrid ‘Flying V,’ was a gift from Max Parker, who blogs at Hook and Spur. ‘Flying V’ is a … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Occasional Daily Weather Report, pots and containers | Tagged Passiflora 'Flying V' | 4 Comments

reprising a 2010 visit to the Ruth Bancroft Garden

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Denise

(Ms. Bancroft is celebrating her 108th birthday this month — yes, that’s not a typo — and we’re all awaiting the upcoming launch later this fall of the book chronicling the making of her garden The Bold Dry Garden.) If … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, books, garden visit, succulents | Tagged The Bold Dry Garden, The Ruth Bancroft Garden | 7 Comments

at the Inter-City CSSA Show August 2016

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Denise

The funny thing about hard-core succulent shows is there’s often non-succulent treasures on the sales tables too. On arrival, I made a quick circuit around the tables and immediately became fixated on these decidedly non-succulent leaves. And the mottling on … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, plant crushes, Plant Portraits, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged Agave 'Tuxedo Mask', Agave bracteosa 'Monterrey Frost', Aloe branddraaiensis, Aloe camperi, Aloe melanacantha, Aloe sinkatana, Amorphophallus impressus, Astrophytum ornatum, Cylindropuntia ramosissima, Cylindropuntia tunicata, Dudleya palmeri, Echinocactus grusonii var. inermis, Euphorbia bongolavensis, Inter-City Cactus Show & Sale 2016, Matucana madisoniorum, Neoporteria nidus, Pachypodium namaquanum, Petra Crist, Rare Succulents Nursery, Stenocactus multicostatus, Sulcorebutia heliosa | 16 Comments

Bloom Day August 2016

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Denise

It must be August, because the Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ is billowing. This tender perennial becomes activated by the heat of August. I pull it out by the handfuls when it gets too rambunctious but always leave a few roots. Any … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bloom Day | Tagged ' Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost, Buddleia 'Cranrazz', Eragrostis elliottii 'Tallahassee Sunset', Grevillea 'Moonlight', Melinus nerviglumis | 6 Comments

31st Annual Inter-City Cactus Show & Sale

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Denise

31st Annual Inter-City Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale The LA County Arboretum in Ayres Hall 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007 Saturday, August 13, 2016, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday, August 14, 2016, 9:00 AM – 5:00 … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged Echinocereus rigidissimus var. rubrispinus, Gymnocalycium ragonesei, Inter-City Cactus Show & Sale 2016, Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Opuntia microdasys | 7 Comments

more shelves

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Denise

I don’t have any travel plans this summer, so July’s rhythm has been work, work, work, decompress in garden, shower, repeat. And I don’t really mind because the garden is so absorbing this time of year. At least once a … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, journal, plant sales, pots and containers | Tagged Building REsources, El Segundo Blue butterfly, Gymnocalycium friedrichii, House 1002 San Pedro CA, salvage | 13 Comments