Category Archives: agaves, woody lilies
CSSA road trip June 2015
Enormous Quiver Tree, Aloidendron dichotoma, and cycads in a Fallbrook, California private garden It’s so true that passion bestows courage on the meek. A passion for plants put me on a bus one early Wednesday last June, a bus filled … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden visit, succulents
Tagged Aloidendron dichotoma, Cactus and Succulent Society of America, Claremont garden of Rico Leon, cycads, Debra Lee Baldwin, Field Guide to Cactus & Succulents of Arizona, Loran Whitelock, Orange Coast College Horticulture Department, Vonn Watkins
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Bloom Day July 2015
The planting under the Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’ is all fairly new, except for the Plectranthus neochilus. Stinky or not, it’s a great addition to a dry garden. Gomphrena ‘Balboa’ is the clover-like flowers with silver leaves, which blends in seamlessly … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bloom Day, pots and containers
Tagged Abutilon venosum, Agave 'Snow Glow', Agave franzosinii, Agave gypsophila 'Ivory Curls', Agave vilmoriniana, Aloe distans, Aristida purpurea, Berkheya purpurea, Cordyline ‘Electric Star’, Cosmos ‘Double Click Cranberry', Crithmum maritimum, Eryngium pandanifolium, Gaura 'Belleza', Glaucium grandiflorum, Gnidia polystacha, Pelargonium sidoides, Pennisetum 'Sky Rocket', Phygelius 'Diablo', Plectranthus neochilus, Ruellia macrantha, Sesleria autumnalis 'Campo Verde', Sonchus congestus, Sphaeralcea 'Newleaze Coral', Yucca aloifolia 'Blue Boy'
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clippings, 4th of July
My neighbors have been diligently practicing for 4th of July celebrations since May, the little darlings. Fireworks are illegal here, a fact which obviously adds zest to surreptitious, after-dark escapades ending in window-rattling booms and blasts. Seeing as it’s the … Continue reading
potted plants on the move
The summer containers in nondrought-stricken gardens can become quite a virtuoso display. I’ve understandably pared things down the past few years but am always amazed at how even a relatively small group of pots can exclaim “Summer!” All the pots … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, journal, pots and containers
Tagged Aeonium 'Cyclops', Agave 'Blue Flame', Chionanthus retusus, Corokia virgata 'Sunsplash', Cussonia spicata, Euphorbia ammak, Fortnam Gardens, Homecrest chairs, Los Angeles Harbor, Manihot esculenta 'Variegata', marine salvage, Maurizio Zucchi, MB Maher, Mina lobata, Potted's City Planter, Schefflera 'Amate Soleil', Shirley Watts, Streptosolen jamesonii, Warehouse No. 1, Xanthosoma 'Lime Zinger'
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Monday clippings 6/22/15
It’s almost the end of the month, a good time to unpack some random June impressions. Dustin’s potted Aloe ‘Johnson’s Hybrid,’ the mother of my little one I mentioned recently. See how spectacular? Blooms nearly year-round, and Dustin says it’s … Continue reading
terraced Spanish Colonial Revival house & garden
For those of you who enjoy gawking at houses and their gardens as much as I do, here’s a look at the house that belongs with this post from September 2014. I don’t think I looked up much from the … Continue reading
traditional with a twist
Here’s another house nearby that warrants a second look and always brings a smile. It’s the traditional front lawn setup with a bit of a twist. All the supporting plants are exclusively dry garden plants, some rare like the cycads. … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, driveby gardens, Plant Portraits, pots and containers
Tagged cycads, dry gardens, lawns
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Pepper Tree courtyard
Spotted locally around dusk, a front-house courtyard with Pepper Tree (Schinus molle), stone paving “grouted” with Dymondia margaretae. Planting includes euphorbias, agaves, phormiums (or dianella) a small Cercis ‘Forest Pansy,’ and purple irises in bloom near the side gate. There … Continue reading
the east fence
In case I’ve left the impression my only collection of pots resides on that little table under the pergola, there are more. Lots more. This group of pots lines the east fence. Morning shade, afternoon sun. The topmost plant in … Continue reading
favorite plants and an end-of-week nursery browse 5/29/15
All the new and interesting dry garden shrubs on the smallish side seem to be coming from Annie’s Annuals & Perennials. Gnidia polystacha from South Africa is a light-limbed shrub with needle-like leaves that readily give away its Thymelaeaceae family … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, journal, plant nurseries
Tagged Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak', Agave salmiana var. ferox 'Medio Picta', Aloe deltoideodonta ‘Sparkler’, Annie's Annuals & Perennials Nursery, Beaucarnia recurvata, Dasylirion wheeleri, Echeveria pallida, Emilia javanica, Ethiopian Spur Flower, Gnidia polystacha, Lincoln Avenue Nursery, Los Angeles Cactus & Succulent Society Annual Drought Tolerant Plant Festival, Plectranthus coerulescens, Tradescantia cerinthoides 'Greenlee', Yerba Buena Nursery
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