Category Archives: plant nurseries

Sean Hogan at Western Hills 9/25/26

Posted on September 3, 2026 by Denise

Visiting Cistus Nursery over the summer, I was struck how walking its paths was so reminiscent of visiting Western Hills, a Northern California garden and nursery founded by Lester Hawkins and Marshall Olbrich in 1959, and which I visited regularly … Continue reading →

Posted in garden travel, plant nurseries, plant sales | 6 Comments

more from June

Posted on June 28, 2026 by Denise

Isn’t June great? I’ve decided to hang out with June for as long as possible, so bear with me for yet another post on what’s possibly my favorite month. Looking at other June gardens is a great way to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Bulbs, climate, journal, Oregon garden, plant nurseries, pots and containers, succulents | 7 Comments

Euphorbia ‘Copton Ash’ in early June

Posted on June 4, 2026 by Denise

I really like this bit of planting, and a lot of that has to do with the contributions of Euphorbia ‘Copton Ash,’ the dark eucomis, and the tawny leaves of the Arctostaphylos pajaroensis hybrid. The flowers of Euphorbia ‘Miner’s Merlot,’ … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, Oregon garden, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | 9 Comments

Euphorbia ceratocarpa at Cistus Nursery

Posted on May 26, 2026 by Denise

An HPSO open garden visit on Sunday took me about 20 minutes from Cistus Nursery on Sauvie Island, so I popped in to check on some plants I’ve been eyeing in their catalogue. After parking I wandered into the private … Continue reading →

Posted in garden visit, Oregon garden, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | 5 Comments

a cautious welcome to 2026

Posted on January 1, 2026 by Denise

A pot of posole bubbles on the stove as the garden soaks up last night’s downpour. I’ve moved on from coffee to green tea to quiet a scratchy throat. The spicy posole will be therapeutic as well. Then maybe a … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Los Angeles garden post 2024, plant nurseries, succulents | 8 Comments

winter-blooming aloes go about their business

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Denise

Returning from a 10-day trip over Thanksgiving, the garden buzzed with energy from emerging aloe flowers. Seeing the refreshed garden after the weeks of cleanup in October/November was a pretty special homecoming. Catching the aloes starting their winter bloom cycle … Continue reading →

Posted in plant nurseries, pots and containers, succulents | 8 Comments

shopping for phlomis at Windcliff

Posted on August 28, 2023 by Denise

“What looks good when the garden is just starting to stir in April? In my garden, in one word, phlomis. Unscathed, fully clothed, holding it together all winter. I didn’t expect phlomis could deal with this much rain, hail and snow, … Continue reading →

Posted in garden travel, garden visit, Oregon garden, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | 13 Comments

Flora Grubb Takes on LA

Posted on June 12, 2023 by Denise

Memorial Day Weekend was the official launch of Flora Grubb Gardens’ new location in Los Angeles. When I heard Mitch was going to take advantage of the opening 20% sale, I pleaded for a few photos. With the recent closing … Continue reading →

Posted in MB Maher, plant nurseries | 4 Comments

new garden update

Posted on January 22, 2022 by Denise

about the soil: “The Tillamook Series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils formed in mixed alluvium on stream terraces. Slopes are 0 to 15 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 90 inches and the mean annual temperature … Continue reading →

Posted in climate, garden travel, garden visit, journal, plant nurseries | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

APLD Plant Fair 10/2/21 at LA Arboretum

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Denise

The Los Angeles chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers puts on a helluva fall plant fair, and against some impressive odds they have managed to deliver another one for 2021 on October 2nd. And hooray for autumn plant … Continue reading →

Posted in plant nurseries, plant sales, shop talk | 9 Comments