Category Archives: climate

Gilmour’s Interactive U.S. Planting Zone Map for 2018

Posted on May 22, 2018 by Denise

“Planting zones are broken down into thirteen areas, also known as USDA zones, which cover the entire United States, including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. Each agricultural zone covers a 10-degree range. Zone 1 is the coldest, with an average … Continue reading →

wednesday vignettes 5/2/18

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Denise

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 Garden Conservancy Open Days, landscape architecture, Nord Eriksson, Pasadena | 3 Comments

Garden Conservancy Open Days season (Pasadena)

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Denise

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 Garden Conservancy Open Days, landscape architecture, Nord Eriksson, Pasadena | 7 Comments

rainy thursday 4/19/18

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Denise

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 Aloe peglerae x marlothii, Berlandiera lyrata, Fremontodendron 'Ken Taylor', Phlomis 'Sunningdale Gold', Salvia carduacea, sarracenia leucophylla 'Tarnok' | 5 Comments

A River Runs Through It; A New Landscape Paradigm April 7/8

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Denise

Day 1, Speaker Forum: Saturday, April 7th, 9:30 am-4:30 pm, Descanso Gardens. Day 2, the 3rd Annual Garden Tour: Sunday, April 8th, 9:30 am-4:30 pm. There could not be a more well-timed moment for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers’ … Continue reading →

Posted in climate, Department of Instruction, design, garden travel, garden visit, inspire me | Tagged APLD 3rd Annual Watershed Approach Garden Tour, APLD; A River Runs Through It, Day Zero, watershed approach | 5 Comments

Australian garden design

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Denise

Australia. Big continent. Vast, you might say. My familiarity with Australian garden design, however, is the opposite of vast. Southwestern Australia is one of the five true mediterranean climate zones, like where I live here in Los Angeles — dry … Continue reading →

Posted in artists, climate, design, garden travel | Tagged Australian design, Fiona Brockhoff, Greg Lyons, Michael McCoy, photographer Claire Takacs, The Gardenist, The Planthunter | 10 Comments

Occasional Daily Weather Report; Thomas Fire’s impact on gardens and plant nurseries

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Denise

Stepping out the back door this morning, my skin instantaneously felt the difference. Running to check the hygrometer on the front porch, that immediate sense of all-encompassing hydration was confirmed. The needle registered over 90 per cent humidity. The pergola … Continue reading →

Posted in climate, Occasional Daily Weather Report, plant nurseries | Tagged Australian Native Plants Nursery, Instagram, Lotusland, San Marcos Growers, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Taft Garden | 10 Comments

summer is overrated

Posted on November 25, 2017 by Denise

Agave bracteosa ‘Monterrey Frost’ I know those are fighting words, especially depending on where you live and your opinion of winter in general, and I’m not trying to pick a fight. We all miss those long days that stretch luxuriously … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, Occasional Daily Weather Report, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged Aeonium balsamiferum | 19 Comments

postcards from Santa Barbara gardens

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Denise

Ever since the area became accessible by car and rail in the early part of the 20th century, it has been a favored location for estates and marvelous gardens, among them El Fureidis, Val Verde, and Lotusland. — The Lightest … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, garden ornament, garden travel, pots and containers | Tagged "A Genius for Place: American Landscapes of the Country Place Era", American Country Place Era, Austin Val Verde, Casa del Herrero, Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, Isabelle Greene, Jeff Chemnick, Lockwood de Forest, Lotusland, mediterranean climate, Mediterranean Garden Society, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden | 6 Comments

Sunday clippings 9/3/17

Posted on September 3, 2017 by Denise

Did the Powerball mania descend on your home too a couple weeks back? Just because I never buy Powerball or lottery tickets, magical thinking really kicks in when news of the big jackpots reaches even my normally oblivious state of … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, clippings, design, garden travel, garden visit, succulents | Tagged Austin Val Verde, Casa del Herrero, Isabelle Greene, Laure Joliet, Mediterranean Garden Society 23rd Annual General Meeting, Montecito, Toro Canyon House | 7 Comments