Category Archives: MB Maher
The Face of the Earth Remains the Same
I found this interesting take on the seasons in the 2/11/10 New York Review of Books, from Christian Carryl’s review of Robert Walser’s The Assistant. Carryl quotes this excerpt from the book: “And the world, was it changing? No. A … Continue reading
Posted in Ephemera, MB Maher
Tagged gunnera, New York Review of Books, Robert Walser
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Mauve
The paths of the garden at Western Hills, which I visited a couple weeks back, were crowded with the mauve blossoms of self-seeding honesty, the biennial Lunaria annua. Because it was ubiquitous, I took no photos but of course now … Continue reading
Posted in MB Maher, Plant Portraits
Tagged biennials, chemical dye, Lunaria annua, mauve, MB Maher, Western Hills, William Henry Perkin
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Unidentified Giant Composite
If you saw 8-foot tall daisies planted to the very edges of the geometric template that usually holds a suburban front yard lawn, in an upscale community in San Francisco, wouldn’t you assume the owners of the house were a … Continue reading
Posted in MB Maher, The Hortorialist
Tagged Elements Hotel, garden show, Lithodora diffusa, San Francisco, Senecio glastifolius
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Western Hills
The story of Western Hills can’t be fully told by an outsider, of course, so this will in no way be an attempt at a complete history. The former nursery and now endangered 3-acre garden have woven through Northern Californian … Continue reading
Garden Show Road Trip
Can there exist a more potent rite of spring than the garden show road trip? Can’t think of any offhand. This week’s road trip was up to the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, continuing through this weekend. Driving up … Continue reading
Spring?
Seems impossible that just two days ago I was having that tender moment about spring. Yesterday and today heat records were broken, and now everyone is grousing that it’s hotter than Jakarta (really only mid 80’s but we’re a delicate … Continue reading
Posted in Ephemera, MB Maher
Tagged ' Phlomis italica, bronze fennel, MB Maher, Prostranthera ovalifolia 'Variegata
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Boundaries
I’m constantly accused of not respecting boundaries, of letting plants take over spaces which some people feel should properly remain under the control of humans and not the plant kingdom. That a sight which gladdens my heart, a pathway seeded … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, MB Maher
Tagged Agave 'Mr. Ripple', Agave salmiana, MB Maher, Papaver rupifragum
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Drought Buster
Tibouchina heteromalla holding on to a raindrop. Photo by MB Maher. I understand the impulse. We’ve been promised a solid day of rain, but so far it’s only been a fitful one. Possibly more tonight. Euphorbia cotinifolia, Caribbean Copper Plant, … Continue reading
Posted in Bulbs, MB Maher
Tagged drought, Euphorbia cotinifolia, MB Maher, Scilla peruviana, Tibouchina heteromalla
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Three-Quarters Full
Day job intrudes on blogging, which is good (half full) in the sense the economy must be picking up if I’m busier, but which is also not so good (half empty) since I can’t grab a few minutes to blog … Continue reading
Posted in Ephemera, MB Maher, photography, Plant Portraits
Tagged angelica pachycarpa, coprosma, Hellebore argutifolius
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Miracle on 28th Street
A minor miracle, just an urban meadow. This is a large medical complex that has been undergoing lots of construction and expansion of new hospital wings. The meadow, although just adjacent to the entrance, is slightly below grade and ringed … Continue reading