Monthly Archives: April 2011

Armchair Spelunking

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Denise

I’m a little excited this morning. Some clues… What do all these images have to do with each other? Explorers, cave paintings, spiritual communion with rocks… Ralph Fiennes as Count Laszlo Almasy, The English Patient; Anne-Louise Lambert as Miranda, Picnic … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema Botanica | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Urbane Nasturtiums

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Denise

I’ve been transplanting a few self-sown nasturtiums and tucked a couple in with some eucomis bulbs to spill out of an ancient cast-iron sewer pipe that somehow made its way here years ago. I wonder which previous car’s shocks had … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Pelargonium ‘Splendide’

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Denise

From Robin Parer’s nursery Geraniaceae “A scandent shrub; leaves are pinnate, grey and hairy; a truly splendid hybrid with red upper petals, a dark center and almost white lower petals; do not leave outside in rain and prune very carefully.”

Posted in Plant Portraits | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Horticulture’s Continuing PR Problems

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Denise

In a March 12, 2011 issue of The New York Times, in a column by Maureen Dowd entitled “In Search of Monsters,” Ms. Dowd comments on the suitability of Donald Rumsfeld giving current foreign policy advice: “You would think that … Continue reading →

Posted in journal | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The Kashmir Cypress

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Denise

A pre-dinner garden tour at Dustin’s. “What is it?” I asked. “You asked me that last time,” he answered patiently. “It’s psoralea.” “Oh, the Kool-Aid something or other?” (Strange, how memory works.) “Right,” he explained, “from Annie’s.” His psoralea is … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden visit, Plant Portraits, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Landscape Crit

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Denise

A new shopping center was planted with sharp plants four years ago. Agaves, yuccas. I was thrilled but also slightly alarmed.

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Whoosh

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Denise

This spring I am not going to be drawn into running out into the garden with my camera every time I hear the whoosh of a rapid aerial descent then the whirring of tiny wings. I don’t have the stamina … Continue reading →

Posted in creatures | Tagged | 6 Comments

Roof Dogs

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Denise

To every urban challenge, there is a potentially joyful response. Image found here. Roof Dogs, a movie by MB Maher.

Posted in MB Maher | 2 Comments

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch- Cherry Bomb

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Denise

Anyone else curious enough about “The Runaways” movie last year, based on the eponymous, all-girl, Los Angeles-based band of the mid ’70s, to see it in a theater? Cherry Bomb was their big radio hit, Joan Jett the post-Runaways star. … Continue reading →

Posted in pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Occasional Daily Photos

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Denise

On the trip to Lotusland last week, on arrival looking for a 7:30 a.m. cup of coffee, found next-door to The Sacred Space. Which is where I sipped my coffee and took these photos April 13, 2011. (My oldest brother … Continue reading →

Posted in design, garden travel | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments