Category Archives: agaves, woody lilies

prepare yourself for summer plant sales

Dyckia ‘Uncle Ray,’ Exhibitor Bryan Chan, (San Fernando Valley Bromeliad Society) won best in its class at the recent World Bromeliad Conference in San Diego, or so I was told by a docent at the Los Angeles Cactus & Succulent … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

small taste of summer

For summer, valerian and nicotiana light up what’s mainly a planting of shrubs and succulents the remaining seasons. As much as I love intoxicating displays of summer abundance, this little garden has to remain sober and on duty all 12 … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden visit, journal, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Dustin Gimbel’s garden in May

I’ve talked about Dustin’s ceramics a lot lately, but how’s his garden growing this very grey-skied May? Last week Shirley Watts was in town for talks on the next installment of Natural Discourse’s installation at the LA Arboretum in spring … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, artists, design, garden visit, MB Maher, pots and containers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

multifaceted Mirador house, Austin TX

Heroic in scale, the agaves and Cor-Ten steel undulating walls wet with rain, topped by a grove of Yucca rostrata at the rear entrance to the property. I was so intrigued by this garden I visited in Austin earlier this … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, artists, design, garden travel, garden visit | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

wrap-up; Garden Bloggers Fling Austin 2018

the last night’s post-tour dinner in a field of larkspur Austin opened its friendly arms wide, Texas-style, in a full-circle welcome to garden bloggers from all over the world. These annual soirees and orgies of garden touring and plant talk … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, garden travel, garden visit, pots and containers | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

wednesday vignettes 5/2/18

More Palm Springs-style landscape architecture from the recent Pasadena Garden Conservancy Open Days, in this case overlooking a deep arroyo, with some of the foothills’ iconic bridges in the distance. The landscape design zealously protects views and is as much … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, design, garden visit, succulents | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

monday clippings 4/30/18

Have you checked on your dudleyas lately? (“Stolen succulents: California hipster plants at center of smuggling crisis; Demand in China and Korea has led to thousands of dudleya being stolen from California as officials lament ‘plant poaching.”) Lots of pruning … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, cut flowers, design, pots and containers | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Garden Conservancy Open Days season (Pasadena)

The Garden Conservancy Open Days season is upon us, and I want to go to every single open garden, from here to Maine. Be sure to check the schedule for when gardens reasonably close to you will be included on … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, artists, climate, design, garden travel, garden visit, pots and containers | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

rainy thursday 4/19/18

Would you look at that — wet pavement! The corrugated roof on the pergola starting lightly pinging about 7 a.m., and I froze stock still and listened. Could it be? The clouds seemed indecisive for a few minutes, like they’d … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, clippings, journal, Occasional Daily Weather Report, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

scenes from the popup (big thank you!)

photos by MB Maher Here’s a look at the tables as they were first set up, before the sale. Dustin Gimbel’s footed “log” pots were a big hit and sold out. (Luckily, you can find the “Gimbel Marbelized Trunk Planter” … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, artists, commerce, design, garden ornament, MB Maher, photography, plant nurseries, plant sales, pop-up, pots and containers, shop talk, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments