Monthly Archives: September 2010

Not At Home

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Denise

When home during summer (in our non-air-conditioned home), I hang out on the cool east side of the house, religiously sweeping this small patio clean and smooth to receive scorched, bare feet, occasionally laying down rugs for the corgi and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Ironweed

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Denise

Autumn is a time to dream of American prairies, shoulder high with the blooms of plants bearing the names of forgotten explorers. Right alongside the list of places I’ve yet to visit is the list of plants I’ve yet to … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Rust Never Sleeps: Recent Work by Dustin Gimbel

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Denise

Congratulations to Dustin Gimbel of Second Nature Garden Design for the recent write-up in The Orange County Register on his landscape design work at a Huntington Harbor, California, home. If pets are chewing or foot traffic stomping your prize succulents, … Continue reading →

Posted in garden ornament, garden visit, MB Maher, succulents | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Of Elephants and Mobile Homes

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Denise

If one morning I was presented with a list of the garden tasks I would ultimately end up accomplishing that day, I would probably consider it an absurd amount of work and pitch the list in the trash. That’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Home Again

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Denise

The termite control crews have left, the gas is turned back on, and very little damage to plants has occurred. An enormous, ruffly echeveria as big as a cabbage was one of the few casualties, even though it seemed in … Continue reading →

Posted in garden ornament, succulents | Tagged | 1 Comment

Under A Big Tent

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Denise

If I named my home at this moment, something I’ve been mulling over for a while, Hotel Chaotica would be a good fit. The big tent is coming next week under which death will be dealt to the termites chewing … Continue reading →

Posted in creatures, Ephemera, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

A sultan of a succulent

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Denise

Erepsia lacera. A succulent with large, sweet sultan-like flowers. (At least what I call sweet sultan, the annual Centaurea moschata.) From Annie’s Annuals. A fast grower. As often as I trim it off the bricks, I’m surprised to see any … Continue reading →

Posted in succulents | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Some Good News

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Denise

If newspapers had come in two editions this past decade, one edition with only good news, the other edition with not-so-good news, the good news edition would have been slim indeed. Flung by the delivery person who always aims for … Continue reading →

Posted in garden visit, MB Maher | Tagged | 7 Comments

Fail Better (Summer Recap)

Posted on September 6, 2010 by Denise

I admit it’s a little early for a summer recap, but there is a penultimate feel to the garden today. By this time, whatever plans I’ve laid have either happened or failed to happen. It’s time to admit this is … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Mixology in the Garden

Posted on September 4, 2010 by Denise

A couple days ago a non-gardening member of the household burst through the screen door and out onto the porch and barked at me, “Grow me some cilantro!” I barked back, “Grow it yourself. The smell makes me retch. What … Continue reading →

Posted in Ephemera | Tagged | 6 Comments