Category Archives: Plant Portraits
Foliage Followup December 2011
400 South Hope Street, Los Angeles Mellon Bank Center An enormous agave (A. weberi?) in a sea of Senecio mandraliscae, ribboning out into massed plantings of dwarf phormium, then masses of a smaller agave, replaced by blocks of feather grass. … Continue reading
Bloom Day December 2011
An unexpected afternoon cloudburst visited the garden this Bloom Day. In five minutes it was over, leaving enough time to collect some photos before sunset. Self-sown Orlaya grandiflora, the Minoan Lace. Rose ‘Bouquet d’Or still in a flush of blooms. … Continue reading
walkies
We’ve been pushing ourselves to take long walks, sometimes early morning, sometimes early evening, as much as 4 miles, mostly through Long Beach’s old downtown, which has seen many of its older buildings become frozen mid loft conversion. (Probably too … Continue reading
Occasional Daily Photo 11/30/11
I switched out the 50 mm lens today for a 24mm to get a bigger view. I’ve been leaning on the 50mm like a crutch — for such a small garden, it just seems easier to manage with the 50mm. … Continue reading
some quiet plant conversation
I suggest we leave the main table with its overturned wine glasses, scattered pie crumbs, gravy stains and increasingly madcap discussions and gather in an out-of-the-way corner to quietly talk plants. A kind of horticultural digestif. A couple weeks ago … Continue reading
Posted in Bulbs, creatures, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, succulents
Tagged Anthericum saundersiae 'Variegata', Armstrong Nurseries, Aster Frikartii 'Monch', Chlorophytum saundersiae, Echeveria ciliata x nodulosa, Gerbera 'Drakensberg Carmine', Graham Rice, Hayefield, Lilium 'Lankon', Monterey Bay Nursery, Nan Ondra, pollinators, Salvia littae, The TransAtlantic Plantsman
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Bloom Day November 2011
It can’t be November already. But the winter-blooming salvias don’t lie. Rosebud-like blooms are forming on Salvia wagneriana, and the slender wands of Salvia littae from Oaxaca, Mexico are budding up. The latter’s tall, lanky growth habit is very reminiscent … Continue reading
Posted in Bloom Day, Plant Portraits, succulents
Tagged ' Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost, Aechmea recurvata ‘Aztec Gold', Crassula sarmentosa, Hakonechloa macra ‘Emerald Glow’, Linaria maroccana, Passiflora sanguinolenta, Salvia chiapensis, Salvia littae, Salvia madrensis, Salvia wagneriana, Tetrapanax papyriferus, Thunbergia alata, Vriesea gigantea
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Lunaria annua
I’ve finally discovered the identity of the little clutch of seedlings under the smoke tree. Lunaria annua, which I saw lining the pathways of *Western Hills, the former plant nursery in Occidental, California. Western Hills photo by MB Maher. I’ve … Continue reading
seeing double
At Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery in West Los Angeles yesterday, I was surprised to find double blooms on a couple of popular summer tropicals, abutilon and mandevilla, something to keep in mind for next summer’s containers. (Abutilon for shade, mandevilla for … Continue reading
Posted in plant nurseries, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, shop talk, succulents
Tagged Abutilon 'Victorian Lady', bonsai, Ginkgo biloba, Hashimoto Nursery, Mandevilla 'Tango Twirl', Monrovia, sempervivums, Support Your Independent Nursery Month, The Jungle, West Los Angeles, Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery
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Chionanthus retusus
The Chinese Fringe Tree. A deciduous tree beloved by both gardener and birds for clouds of bloom in spring. Followed by those indigo autumn berries. Now about 15 feet in height, at maturity reaching 20-25 feet. True story: The fringe … Continue reading