Category Archives: agaves, woody lilies
signs of fall
Fall doesn’t announce itself ceremoniously draped in dramatic curtains of crimson and gold. We’re a little, ahem, minimalist and understated here in Southern California as far as seasonal transitions. But there are many autumnal similarities we share. Like everyone in … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, pots and containers, succulents
Tagged Adenanthos sericeus, Aeonium 'Zwartkop', Aeonium hierrense, Agave 'Snow Glow', Agave sisalana ‘Variegata’, Aloe 'Hercules', Anemone japonica, Euphorbia ammak variegata, Euphorbia lambii, Grevillea 'Moonlight', Huntington Botanical Garden, Jim Folsom, Natural Discourse; Flora & Fauna 10/17/15, Rancho Los Alamitos
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Bloom Day September 2015
Since I’m already running a day late for the Bloom Day reports collected by May Dreams Gardens on the 15th of every month, I’ll try to limit the repetition. September pretty much mirrors August, but here’s a couple oddballs, a … Continue reading
Lotusland, garden provocateur
More from that June visit to Lotusland, Ganna Walska’s 37-acre estate near Santa Barbara, California. In the comments to this post, Emily kindly provided a link to an English series “Around the World in 80 Gardens,” in which a visit … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, garden travel, garden visit, succulents
Tagged Around the World in 80 Gardens, Cactus and Succulent Society of America, cactus gardens, California gardens, Donald Culross Peattie, Geoff Stein, James Van Sweden, Lotusland, Madame Ganna Walska, March-April 2015 Cactus and Succulent Journal, Monty Don, Pauleen Sullivan, writer Catherine Phillips, Ysabel Wright's cactus garden Quien Sabe
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bug report & EOMV
“None of the ants previously seen by man were more than an inch in length – most considerably under that size. But even the most minute of them have an instinct and talent for industry, social organization, and savagery that … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, creatures, pots and containers, succulents
Tagged Adenanthos sericeus, Agave vilmoriniana 'Stained Glass', Aloe 'Rooikappie', Aloe capitata var. quartzicola., Aloe elgonica, Argentine ants, Artemisia pycnocephala 'David's Choice, Cotinis mutabilis, Crassula alba var. parvisepala, Cussonia gamtoosensis, end of month view, Eucalyptus 'Moon Lagoon', Euphorbia 'Lime Wall', Grevillea 'Moonlight', Linepithema humile, Senecio medley-woodii
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Wanda Mallen & Gary Vincent’s Fallbrook garden
The CSSA’s tour of private gardens for their 2015 Biennial Convention in June also included the 2-acre garden of Wanda Mallen and Gary Vincent in Fallbrook, Calif. This superb collector’s garden, started from scratch in approximately 1999-2000, is occasionally open … Continue reading
Wednesday clippings 8/26/15
So what’s shakin’ this muggy end of August? As little as possible, you say? There’s been all manner of weird stuff going on, including a recurring problem with street-parked neighborhood cars getting their gas siphoned. This on the heels of … Continue reading
DIY therapy
One of my boys is experiencing some painful romantic complications, which is frustrating for both of us because in grappling with the problem I necessarily have to accept the fact that my boys are now men. But he hurts, therefore … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, pots and containers, succulents
Tagged Agave bracteosa, Strobilanthes gossypinus
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aftermath of the Inter-City Show & Sale
As a kid, sneaking with my best friend into the unoccupied bedroom of her older sister and marveling at her sophisticated possessions, I still vividly remember finding the Rolling Stones’ album “Aftermath.” The older sister immediately rose several degrees cooler … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, pots and containers, succulents
Tagged Aeonium 'Mardi Gras', Aeonium tabuliforme, Agave guadalajarana, Echeveria agavoides 'Ebony', Echinocereus rigidissimus var. rubrispinus, Gymnocalycium ragonesei, Inter-City Cactus Show & Sale 2015, Opuntia microdasys, Stenocactus tricuspidatus
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Inter-City Cactus Show & Sale August 8 & 9, 2015
Thank goodness there’s a big plant sale to look forward to in August. 30th 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 8, 2015, … Continue reading
The landscape at Pitzer College; The John R. Rodman Arboretum
“It’s difficult to sum up the Arboretum in a phrase… Perhaps the core is a search for a third way between the two traditional American paths: the exploitation of nature and the worship of a sacred, untouchable nature … a … Continue reading